Tag: 9572

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants defense will look different this season, which isn’t a bad thing considering it ranked 21st overall last year. When teams wanted — and needed — to score on them, they usually did.

The Giants were outscored 79-0 in the final two minutes of first halves in 2021. They were spared even more embarrassment because the opposition usually didn’t need to do it again in the final two minutes of the game during a 4-13 season that included 10 double-digit losses.

Defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale inherits a group that pressured opposing quarterbacks on just 24.2% of dropbacks last season, fifth worst per NFL Next Gen Stats. General manager Joe Schoen addressed the issue, using the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft on edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux to headline what is expected to be an aggressive defense that relies on the perception of pressure from all over the formation to stress opposing offenses.

“You want to dictate to the offense instead of sitting there and letting them dictate to you,” Martindale said last week. “I think this is a game of adjustments and matchups and everything else, but I would rather them have the headache and stay up five nights before we play them figuring out what we’re going to do and [we will] try to present different looks every time we play, because pressure does break pipes. That’s our philosophy.”

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It is embraced by his players.

“Oh, Wink, it’s really fun. I think we’re all enjoying it,” safety Xavier McKinney said. “You know, just so much aggression. It’s just giving us energy. We’re able to go out there and play without worrying about making mistakes, so it’s just giving us a lot of freedom to just go play, go attack and be the playmakers that we have on our defense.”

Martindale blitzed more than anyone in the NFL during his four years as the Baltimore Ravens‘ coordinator, when his defenses ranked first (2018), fourth (2019), seventh (2020) and 25th (2021) overall. Those units led the league in blitzing in his first three seasons at 39.6%, 54.9% and 45.3%, respectively, before dropping to sixth last season (31.1%) according to Pro Football Reference.

“Puts a lot of people at the line of scrimmage,” is how one scout described a Martindale-led defense. “He doesn’t coach scared.”

Enter Thibodeaux, whose first step and speed will be utilized throughout this defense. The belief is he’s the high-end pass-rusher the Giants have been missing for years, a player who can be the centerpiece for Martindale. New York has had only one true edge rusher (Markus Golden in 2018) record double-digit sacks over the past seven seasons. Baltimore also only had one edge rusher (Terrell Suggs, 2017) reach double-digit sacks during that same span, yet Martindale had defenses ranked among the top 10 in three of his four seasons as coordinator.

Martindale and outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins’ viewed Thibodeaux as the top-ranked edge rusher in the draft, in part because they can envision him rushing from various positions, including inside where they believe his speed can be a matchup nightmare against an overmatched interior lineman.

“He was just such a great fit for us in Wink’s defense,” Wilkins said. “He has all the skill sets we look for. He can be a dominant edge-setter, explosive, violent, relentless pass-rusher and then everything else you can see that is required.”

Martindale’s pressure often leaves his cornerbacks on an island, and in his four seasons as coordinator Baltimore played the fifth-most man-to-man defense (39.9%) in the NFL according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

It proved to be a problem last season when an injury-ravaged secondary contributed to the Ravens’ ranking last in pass defense.

“Don’t go to DoorDash to find a backup corner,” is what Martindale said he learned.

It could get tricky this season in New York, because the Giants lost top cornerback James Bradberry recently as a salary-cap casualty. Adoree’ Jackson, who has missed 22 games over the past three seasons, is their No. 1 corner and 2021 third-round pick Aaron Robinson is the favorite to win the other starting job.

The Giants secondary has a combined 111 career starts, which makes it a serious question mark entering the season considering what Martindale wants to do. Jackson welcomes the challenge.

“I feel like everything, it turns into [man-to-man coverage],” he said. “Whoever comes down and I’m playing whatever it is, zone, I’ve pretty much got them. I end up matching [up]. … It’s third-and-5 and he runs an 8-yard out? You’re going to match it … You’re not just going to stay in your third [of the field] because that’s what your task tells you to do. At the end of the day, it’s about being a football player and understanding what’s going on.”

With a retooled pass rush and questions in the secondary — the Giants signed unemployed former Ravens cornerbacks Maurice Canady and Khalil Dorsey on May 18 — the bar is set rather low for Martindale’s defense this season. He doesn’t seem to care.

“Look, we’ll control the narrative. That’s what I’ll tell you,” Martindale said. “People can say what they want to say. We’ll see when it’s time to kick it off down there in Nashville [against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1]. We’ll see where we’re going to be at by then. But we control the narrative in the room, and I’m excited about this season.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. Same ol’ Bill: Bill Belichick at 70 years old. Same as it ever was.

There were several takeaways from the media’s first look at Patriots spring practice last week, but perhaps nothing rates more significant than this:

As Belichick attempts to do what no head coach in the history of the NFL has done — win a Super Bowl after his 70th birthday — his tank looks full. Belichick at a Patriots 2022 practice looked no different than a 2012 practice, or one in 2002.

In fact, he might have been more involved with some of the fundamental teaching that is at the core of spring practices.

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“I’ve always said, when people ask me what’s Bill like, that he’s the model of consistency,” said Patriots safety and captain Devin McCourty, who has been with the team since 2010. “Showing up to your job every day, having the same attitude, the same messaging, and being able to do that over and over again is hard.

“He continues to come in here, Day 1 of OTAs, for however many years it is, and it’s the same intensity.”

This marks Belichick’s 48th season in the NFL and 28th as a head coach (including his stint in Cleveland from 1991 to ’95). His passion for the fundamentals, details and every facet of football still percolates, as evidenced by one moment in practice when he pulled practice-squad receiver Malcolm Perry aside, flashed his hands in front of him, and discussed how Perry should attack the ball.

Perry probably won’t be on the 53-man roster when the season begins, but there’s a chance he’s called on at some point to help the Patriots win a game.

It was peak Belichick.

“It’s fundamentals, doing the right things, the small things over and over again. He never slips up on that,” McCourty said. “This being my 13th year, I’ve seen that over and over again. It’s hard to replicate, but I think getting an opportunity to play for him as a player has made me a better player.”

Belichick has some notable challenges to conquer, and his heavy involvement with the offense in Monday’s practice amplifies it. Quarterback Mac Jones is a promising second-year player, but without coordinator Josh McDaniels, there is a significant transition on the coaching staff with Joe Judge working with quarterbacks and Matt Patricia the offensive line.

No coordinator or playcaller has been named, but it was obvious at practice that Belichick, Judge and Patricia are sharing the role until further notice.

Is there a concern that Belichick could be spread too thin? Perhaps, but those around him don’t see it.

“I’d say the thing about Coach, even though he’s older, I don’t even think he sleeps,” inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo said. “He wears multiple hats. You never know where you’re going to find him.”

2. Develin’s visit: The Patriots might be de-emphasizing the traditional fullback position in their offense (per former New England fullback Jakob Johnson), but that doesn’t mean they aren’t welcoming those who play the position to Gillette Stadium. Early last week, former Patriots fullback James Develin (2012-19) was a guest of the club, and he addressed players in a full-squad meeting.

Develin is a three-time Super Bowl champion. His football journey — playing defensive end at Brown University, joining the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz of the Arena Football, then the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League, before gutting it out on NFL practice squads for multiple years as a fullback — is a story of perseverance that any current player could benefit from hearing.

3. Mac’s blind side: With starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn not at voluntary offseason practices last week, veteran Trent Brown flipped to that side, with swing tackle Justin Herron elevated as the top right tackle. Brown was excellent at left tackle in 2018, before playing right tackle upon his return to the team in 2021. Could Wynn’s absence be the opening to return Brown to left tackle permanently, especially when considering the valuable chemistry he’s developing with left guard/first-round pick Cole Strange? At the least, it’s a question Belichick and O-line coaches Patricia and Billy Yates are probably asking.

4. Wynn in retrospect: Wynn is a good example of the challenges for teams in having to decide on the fifth-year option for first-round picks after just three seasons. When the Patriots decided to pick up Wynn’s option in May 2021, it guaranteed Wynn a salary of $10.4 million for the 2022 season. The Patriots’ decision-making seemed reasonable at the time, considering the premium position Wynn plays. But given the linemen the team now has in place, one wonders if there is some internal regret, as Wynn’s $10.4 million cap charge could create some much-needed space.

5. Mac’s accountability: Jones’ leadership continues to evolve, and one example from Monday’s practice highlighted the point. When one player makes an error, Belichick often sends the entire unit on a lap as a punishment; practices might be voluntary, but running a lap isn’t. So when Jones appeared to have a mental breakdown at the line of scrimmage, which seemed to affect the offense lining up correctly, he called out loudly to everyone that it was on him before taking off for a full-unit lap.

6. Trade intel: The Patriots’ draft-day trade in which they shipped a 2022 third-round pick (No. 94) to the Carolina Panthers for a 2022 fourth-rounder (137) and 2023 third-rounder was a result of Belichick’s aggressiveness. As shown by the Panthers’ in-house video team, Belichick called the Panthers to gauge their interest in the pick and asked for their 2023 second-rounder in the process. Can’t hurt to ask for the moon, knowing the counteroffer is probably where things ultimately land.

7. Classy Belichick: When Belichick met with reporters last week, he opened by publicly sending condolences to the family of Patriots Hall of Famer Gino Cappelletti. He had also done so privately a few days prior by attending Cappelletti’s wake, a classy gesture.

8. Fisch in town: Former Patriots quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch, who spent the 2020 season with the team, was back in town last week and a guest at practice. He enters his second season as University of Arizona head coach. This is the time of year when the Patriots host various college coaches, and there can be valuable information exchange/learning opportunities for both sides.

9. Russey on radar: The Patriots have had at least one undrafted free agent make the opening-day 53-man roster in each of the past 18 seasons — the third-longest streak in the NFL behind the Chargers (25) and Colts (23) — and University of Houston center Kody Russey is a leading candidate to continue the streak. Consider that the Patriots hosted Russey on one of their valuable 30 pre-draft visits at Gillette Stadium, and also guaranteed him $180,000 (most among undrafted players signed by the team). With starting center David Andrews not yet fully cleared as he recovers from shoulder surgery, the 6-foot-1, 301-pound Russey has a nice opportunity this spring to make a favorable impression.

10. Did you know? The Patriots are scheduled to play four straight prime-time games — Nov. 24 at Minnesota, Dec. 1 vs. Buffalo, Dec. 12 at Arizona and Dec. 18 at Las Vegas — for the first time in team history. The last team to play in four straight prime-time games was the 2017 Pittsburgh Steelers.

MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins‘ offense looks completely revamped on paper, with an infusion of playmakers at the skill positions led by receivers Tyreek Hill and Cedrick Wilson, and running backs Raheem Mostert and Chase Edmonds.

Add in the hiring of offensive-minded head coach Mike McDaniel, and the Dolphins’ attack, which ranked 24th in offensive expected points added last season, should be improved in nearly every facet.

That might translate to more victories, but from a fantasy perspective, Miami’s best players could prove unpredictable as the team’s scheme adjusts week by week.

On ESPN platforms, Hill is being drafted as WR7 and last season’s standout rookie Jaylen Waddle is being drafted as WR13. There is reason to be excited about at least one of the Dolphins’ receivers considering what McDaniel did with versatile receiver Deebo Samuel last season as the coordinator in San Francisco.

Samuel broke out in 2021 with 1,405 receiving yards and six touchdowns, adding another 365 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. Though McDaniel lauded Waddle’s yards-after-catch ability shortly after being hired in January, it was unclear if he would ask Waddle, who had two carries last season, to fill a Samuel-type role in Miami this season.

Then the Dolphins traded for Hill (league-best 20 touchdowns of 50-plus yards since 2016) in March, and it seemed like they found their do-it-all gadget player — or at least the closest thing to it. Hill has averaged 7.7 yards and scored six rushing TDs on 93 career carries.

“There’s probably going to be some overlap to some degree,” McDaniel said. “But Deebo Samuel evolved into that role because of both circumstance and because of skill set while in San Francisco. I expect no difference, really, with Tyreek, where we are going to start with the foundational elements of the receiver position.

“I promise you we’re not going to limit — or we’re going to continue the process of developing him and the Miami Dolphins football team.”

While Hill should live up to his WR7 average draft position, what should be expected from Waddle?

The 49ers’ No. 2 receiver, Brandon Aiyuk, finished last season with 826 yards and five touchdowns on 56 catches — good for WR35 in ESPN fantasy leagues. Waddle is a better receiver than Aiyuk, however, and doesn’t have to share targets with last year’s TE4, George Kittle.

Waddle was primarily used in the short-to-intermediate part of the field as a rookie, in some ways to make up for the Dolphins’ ineffective run game that ranked 30th (92.2 yards per game). He will still be used on intermediate routes to manufacture space for him to run after the catch, but the hope with McDaniel calling plays is that Waddle will be able to do so more efficiently.

Last season, Waddle finished eighth in the NFL in receptions (104), but 25th in yards (1,015) and tied for 101st in yards per catch (9.8). One of Miami’s primary goals this season must be to maximize Waddle’s skills.

“I think it’s a different team, a different scheme,” Waddle said. “Obviously we’re going to work to what we’re good at. I think Coach McDaniel does a good job of putting players in positions to make plays. I trust that he’s going to do that throughout the year.”

Miami tight end Mike Gesicki (73 catches last season) will siphon targets from Hill and Waddle, but Samuel and Kittle finished among the top 50 flex players in ESPN fantasy leagues last season despite mediocre quarterback play from Jimmy Garoppolo, who ranked 13th in QBR (53.3), and Kittle missing three games.

But for those expecting Hill to be the next Samuel as a receiver and rusher, keep in mind that Hill has finished no worse than WR11 in all but one of his six NFL seasons. That’s the player this Dolphins staff traded for, not the second coming of Samuel.

“You don’t look at it like ‘I need the next Deebo,'” McDaniel said. “Deebo wasn’t found by looking for Deebo. You look for good football players that are committed and passionate and maybe that challenge you as a coach to see ‘Hey, what other way can we utilize this skill set?'”

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — There was no ease-in period for Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal, the New York Giants‘ first-round picks in the 2022 NFL draft.

Thibodeaux, a linebacker selected fifth overall, was working alongside starting defensive lineman Leonard Williams and in front of linebacker Blake Martinez during drills at Thursday’s OTA practice. Neal, an offensive tackle taken seventh overall, was protecting for quarterback Daniel Jones and blocking for running back Saquon Barkley.

The Giants’ top selections have quickly made their presence known.

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“Evan has looked great so far, and you can tell he really wants to learn it,” Jones said. “It’s important to him.”

Said Williams of the Giants’ newest pass-rusher: “It’s just been a few practices so far, but you can still see [Thibodeaux’s] attributes, and in the three practices we’ve had so far he’s shown great speed.”

Coach Brian Daboll apparently has no qualms about throwing his top picks right into the mix, because the Giants are expecting a lot from them this season.

Thibodeaux and Neal are not alone. General manager Joe Schoen was limited this offseason by an undesirable salary-cap situation, so the Giants couldn’t make any splash signings in free agency (their biggest moves were for guard Mark Glowinski and backup QB Tyrod Taylor). That adds pressure to get production from their 11-player draft class.

Here is a look at what the Giants can expect from their picks this season after seeing them at rookie minicamp and OTAs:

Thibodeaux: He’s going to play a lot. That is obvious after just a few weeks. Thibodeaux moved around the defensive front during OTAs and dropped into coverage on a play when the ball was completed in the right flat to Barkley (not sure if Thibodeaux would’ve made the tackle). Regardless, he adds something this defense has been missing with his explosive first step and personality. “He brings a little bit of juice,” Daboll said recently.

Neal: He’s the replacement for Nate Solder at right tackle, and looks the part. Listed at 6-foot-7 and 350 pounds, Neal shouldn’t have much trouble making the NFL transition physically. He made most of the Giants’ other linemen look small at OTAs. The focus is on getting him reacclimated to the right side after playing left tackle last season at Alabama. “Really just transitioning everything back over,” he said. The Giants will get him as many reps as possible. Neal will face Titans pass-rushers Bud Dupree (42.5 career sacks) and Harold Landry (12 sacks last season) in Week 1, and the Panthers’ Brian Burns (9.0 sacks last season) in Week 2. Welcome to the NFL!

WR Wan’Dale Robinson, second round, No. 43 overall: He will be part of the receiver rotation immediately. Daboll hinted during the draft at a lot of four- and five-receiver sets, which would allow Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, Sterling Shepard, Robinson and Darius Slayton to get plenty of work. “I think when you put together an offense, you try to build it around the strengths of the players that you have,” Daboll said during the draft. “And if that’s a bunch of receivers, it’s a bunch of receivers.” Robinson could also get snaps out of the backfield alongside Barkley. It’s something he did in college.

G Joshua Ezeudu, third round, No. 67: He was the second-team left guard to start OTAs. Shane Lemieux, now healthy after missing almost all of last year with a knee injury, is getting the first crack at the starting spot. But it’s an open competition, and Ezeudu will get his opportunities. “Compete to start, probably inside [at guard],” Schoen said during the draft of the North Carolina product. Ezeudu could crack the starting lineup at some point this season.

CB Cor’Dale Flott, third round, No. 81: He will compete for a starting job. It appears it will be at slot cornerback, not on the outside where last year’s third-round pick, Aaron Robinson, took first-team snaps the first week of OTAs. “Ideally, [Flott’s] inside,” Schoen said during the draft. Third-year corner Darnay Holmes has the inside track in the slot, but given his inconsistent first two seasons, he’s hardly a lock to start Week 1. Flott is extremely slender (6-1, 165) for the NFL but doesn’t lack confidence though. “I’m ready,” he said at rookie minicamp about earning a starting job.

TE Daniel Bellinger, fourth round, No. 112: Bellinger should play immediately, in part because of the Giants’ lack of depth at the position. He worked with the starters for most of Thursday’s practice, though it could be because veteran Ricky Seals-Jones was dealing with a personal matter. Bellinger can provide value as a blocker, but is more of a project as a receiver. He had just 31 receptions as a senior at San Diego State, but has upside that might flash this season. “I think I have a lot to show, and of course a lot to improve on,” he said. “I want to come out and show that I can be a receiver and not just a blocker.”

S Dane Belton, fourth round, No. 114: The starting safeties are Xavier McKinney and Julian Love. Belton and converted cornerback Jarren Williams appear next in line. But if the Giants sign a veteran this summer, it could limit Belton’s contributions on defense as a rookie unless he convinces them he’s ready. Regardless, he should contribute immediately as a core special-teamer.

LB Micah McFadden, fifth round, No. 146: The Indiana product reminds of a slightly smaller version of Blake Martinez on the field and should be Martinez’s caddie this season. Maybe he will fit in some specific packages for his coverage in zone or as a blitzer. McFadden’s role could increase depending on how Martinez, returning from a torn left ACL, holds up.

DT D.J. Davidson, fifth round, No. 147: He has a chance to be a part of the interior defensive line rotation considering the Giants are thin at that spot. Expect Davidson to play some right away.

OL Marcus McKethan, fifth round, No. 173: McKethan (6-7, 335) will start out as a guard, but the plan appears to be for him to add tackle flexibility. This makes him a potential backup on a crowded line as a rookie.

LB Darrian Beavers, sixth round, No. 182: The inside linebacker out of Cincinnati worked alongside McFadden on the second-team defense during OTAs. He should fit in on special teams and specific defensive packages, likely as a pass-rusher with his experience playing on the edge in college.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. Happy with Zappe: One of the more compelling moments of ESPN’s broadcast on the third day of the 2022 NFL draft came when the Patriots selected Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe late in the fourth round (No. 137).

Host Rece Davis said what many who follow the Patriots might have been thinking: Help me understand this pick — especially after selecting Mac Jones in the first round the year before, and with other notable needs, particularly on defense.

It sparked an insightful discussion with analysts Todd McShay and Louis Riddick, which covered how it can be good business to draft and develop quarterbacks.

That was on point to former NFL GM Randy Mueller, who served in the front offices of the Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins, and was named NFL Executive of the Year in 2000 while with the Saints. He applauded the Zappe pick.

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“I wasn’t surprised. At that point in the draft, you’re trying to identify traits with players that maybe not everybody sees. And I think Bill [Belichick] and his crew have done as good a job at that as any, across the board at all positions,” Mueller said.

“I see a lot of positives in Bailey Zappe. When you get to the third day of the draft, I think it’s too much to turn your back on, regardless of position. Everybody seems to want to fill needs throughout [the draft], but I’m more about getting the best group of players and not bypassing good players to fill needs. And I think Bailey was one of those guys, although I don’t think everyone sees that.”

Mueller, who now runs Mueller Football Advising Services, studied all quarterbacks in the draft. While the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Zappe was the fifth selected, Mueller rated him No. 2 behind only first-round pick Kenny Pickett (No. 20 to the Steelers).

“Everyone’s criteria is always a little different, but what I saw is a guy who sees, anticipates and processes, all from the pocket, combined with some accuracy and the ability to make all the throws because he has plenty of arm,” Mueller said.

“I’m not looking for 6-foot tall quarterbacks, per se, but he plays a lot bigger than that. The fact he has the vision and anticipation from the pocket; I’m not saying he’s Drew Brees or Russell Wilson or anything, but … he trends more in that line just because of that anticipatory skill set.”

Zappe’s production was off the charts in 2021, when he completed 475 of 686 (69.2%) passes for 5,967 yards, with 61 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He had transferred to Western Kentucky from Houston Baptist, following his offensive coordinator, Zach Kittley.

Mueller noted the system Zappe ran, coupled with his production and skill set, in rating him so highly.

“The other guys, for me, there’s a leap of faith in the ability to process, to anticipate, to throw on time and to still be athletic enough to move within the pocket,” he said.

“I think he’s a natural, throws with the right trajectory, with touch. A lot of second- and third-level things he does, I’ve seen pro quarterbacks after four, five years still not be able to do. So I think he’s further along the learning curve than most give him credit for.”

2. Mueller’s memory: When Mueller spent 2002 to 2005 working as an analyst for ESPN, he visited Patriots practice — the first time he had attended a training camp other than with a club for which he worked. One thing he saw that day resonated.

“I remember watching Tom Brady, this was in Year 3 or 4 of his career, and his attention to detail with his footwork within the pocket. The fact he was still working on that stuff stuck with me forever,” Mueller said, adding that it altered his view when evaluating the position.

“I think that’s one of the things Tom doesn’t get enough credit for — the [movement] within the pocket — with footwork and everything else. I also saw some of that with Bailey [Zappe].”

3. Early riser: Patriots assistant Joe Judge, who is working with the quarterbacks, said Zappe was at the team facility very early Tuesday morning “trying to get ahead.” Such diligence is often the best way to make a solid first impression on coaches. It also might have been necessary, as Zappe, receiver Tyquan Thornton and running back Pierre Strong Jr. left town later in the week to attend the NFLPA Rookie Premiere in California, the annual event that introduces top marketable rookies to sponsors.

4. Kraft’s note: Who knew? When Patriots owner Robert Kraft received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sports Business Journal on Wednesday night, Eli Manning told the crowd how he received a handwritten congratulatory note from Kraft about five days after Manning’s Giants shocked the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. “The impact of a handwritten note has left an impression on me after all these years,” Manning said.

5. Vince’s honor: The date for Vince Wilfork’s Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony is TBD, but it would be fitting if he were honored at halftime of the home opener Sept. 25 against the Ravens. That’s because Wilfork said if there is one game that stands out in his career, it’s the 23-20 win against Baltimore in the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 22, 2012, when he rose up in the fourth quarter to make two clutch plays on defense — ripping down running back Ray Rice on a third-and-3 run and then harassing quarterback Joe Flacco on a fourth-down stop.

6. Perkins’ prep: The Patriots have a notable void at outside linebacker opposite Matthew Judon, and 2021 third-round pick Ronnie Perkins (Oklahoma) is one candidate to fill it. Perkins didn’t appear in a regular-season game as a rookie, in part because he was buried on the depth chart behind Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and others. Outside linebackers coach Steve Belichick said Perkins has stayed in Foxborough throughout the offseason to put himself in the best position to “take a step forward.”

“All that really matters at the end of the day is what happens when we put the pads on,” Belichick said. “But he’s done everything right to this point.”

7. Wade’s fresh start: The Patriots traded fifth- and seventh-round picks to acquire rookie cornerback Shaun Wade from the Ravens last September, but he appeared in only three games as a reserve because of a combination of acclimating to a new system and injuries. Cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino said it’s a “fresh start” for the 6-foot-1, 191-pound Wade, who is “a longer guy with good quickness.” Pellegrino also noted that Wade has improved this offseason after targeting a couple of undisclosed coaching points.

The Patriots have a wide-open competition at cornerback that also includes Jalen Mills, Malcolm Butler, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Jack Jones and Terrance Mitchell, and Pellegrino repeated multiple times the “best guys will play.”

Where Wade fits — similar to Perkins at outside linebacker — is one of several under-the-radar offseason storylines for New England.

8. Fins up: Why are the Patriots opening the season with the Dolphins for the third straight year? Partly because Miami requested to be on the road in Week 2 because of a Lady Gaga concert at Hard Rock Stadium that week. So that increased the odds they would be at home opening week, narrowing their opponent options to seven teams (Buffalo was already locked into facing the Rams). The Patriots were the pick when balancing other considerations, but don’t expect a Patriots-Dolphins Sunday opener in 2023. “I assure you we’ll keep an eye on New England-Miami in Week 1 next year,” said NFL VP of Broadcasting Mike North.

9. Walsh’s legacy: Ross Douglas joined the Patriots in 2021 with the official title of NFL coaching fellowship/defense, and he’s flipped to work with receivers alongside Troy Brown this spring. The Avon, Ohio, native credits New England director of skill development Joe Kim for helping him get his foot in the door, as Douglas first met Kim when he took his taekwondo class as a 5-year-old. He also credits the late Bill Walsh, because Douglas’ position was made possible through his diversity fellowship program.

“It means absolutely everything to me,” Douglas said. “A lot of good college football coaches and a lot of talented minorities, it’s hard to get into NFL buildings — whether it’s because of lack of resources, lack of connections. So that’s our gateway.”

10. Did you know? There were four NFL teams that played their first two regular-season games on the road last season, which is how the Patriots will open their 2022 season (at Miami and Pittsburgh). The 49ers and Broncos won both games, the Cowboys split, and the Vikings lost both.

MIAMI — When he entered the interview room Tuesday after voluntary organized team activities, Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel resembled more of an ad for high-end athleisure than a football coach — a gray sweatshirt and matching sweatpants with yellow Yeezy sneakers providing the only color to his outfit.

As Miami enters Phase III of offseason workouts, McDaniel has grown popular on social media for his fashion sense and among his players for his ability to connect with them. He was hired in February as an offensive guru, but his acumen appears to extend beyond X’s and O’s.

“He’s a players’ coach,” said receiver River Cracraft, who played last season for the San Francisco 49ers, where McDaniel was the offensive coordinator. “He gets along with players and he acts like he’s one of us in the sense that you can talk to him. He’s never going to big-time you or push you aside. … That’s what he’s doing with everybody here and that’s why I love playing for Mike, because you know what you’re going to get from him, just his honesty.”

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The Dolphins began their offseason workout regimen in the first week of April, with McDaniel and his staff laying the foundation for their offensive system.

Miami made it a priority to add playmakers this offseason, trading for receiver Tyreek Hill (league-best 20 touchdowns of 50-plus yards since 2016). The Dolphins also signed receiver Cedrick Wilson, who showed big-play ability with Dallas last season, and running backs Chase Edmonds (runs of 54 and 40 yards in 2021) and Raheem Mostert (top speed of 22.73 mph on a 2020 play was the fastest by a ball carrier in three seasons, according to NFL Next Gen stats).

The Dolphins also signed offensive linemen Terron Armstead and Connor Williams as they switch to an attack that is expected to feature a lot of zone blocking, stretch running plays and creativity.

Now that the team has moved on from classroom and film study and drill work, it can begin to create a foundation to build on once training camp begins in July, McDaniel said.

“Realistically you want guys committed to getting better and you want to really establish how you’re going to go about business,” he said. “We had two voluntary minicamps and … our second OTA, and what was important to me was you don’t skip steps in this business. So if we want to make strides and progress as an organization and as a football team, we have to position ourselves so that when we come back for training camp, we’re able to practice and operate at a high-caliber level that fits our goals.”

Miami missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season in 2021, finishing with a 9-8 record. Coach Brian Flores was fired the day after the season ended on Jan. 10, with owner Stephen Ross citing communication issues as one of the deciding factors. McDaniel, who comes from an innovative coaching tree that has produced head coaches Kyle Shanahan (49ers), Sean McVay (Rams) and Matt LaFleur (Packers), was hired to fix an offense that ranked 25th in the NFL last season and to galvanize the locker room.

So far, his players have raved about his work in both areas. McDaniel has kept things light but focused at practice, holding a putting contest during conditioning drills this offseason and implementing a “practice player of the day” award, with perks that include donning an orange jersey and having full control over the next practice’s music playlist.

“He’s doing a great job of just bringing us all together,” cornerback Nik Needham said. “In team meetings he’ll say some jokes or just funny stuff, show stuff on film … I think all that stuff is building the camaraderie on the team.”

Of course, camaraderie can only take a team so far without a proper system in place.

There won’t be tangible evidence of the effectiveness of McDaniel’s schemes until the preseason begins, but the offensive players are excited about the revamped approach.

“I mean it’s a completely different offense, as you guys can probably tell from watching San Fran’s film,” second-year offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg said. “It’s just different. New coaches, new style, new scheme. [I’m] trying to improve every day, trying to learn the offense the best that I can.”

Said Needham: “We all feel the energy in here, and it just feels like a different vibe this year for sure. You never know what happens, but we just want to keep it going. I love what he’s doing here for sure.”

RENTON, Wash. — Coby Bryant brings a lot more than a recognizable name to the Seattle Seahawks‘ secondary.

The fourth-round cornerback from Cincinnati also brings a decorated college resume and, if you ask him, the best ball skills of any defender in this year’s draft. In his fourth season as a starter, Bryant won the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back. He finished his college career with 10 interceptions and 45 passes defensed in a whopping 53 games.

The guy has played — and learned — a ton of football.

“He just seems like he’s comfortable,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after the first practice of rookie minicamp. “He understands it. He gets it.”

The learning was aided by regular study sessions Bryant and his defensive teammates held during the offseason. In between workouts and classes, they’d get together for what they called Football 500, where they’d dig into the Bearcats’ defensive scheme and figure out how offenses could attack them.

Cincinnati’s defense finished tied for the fourth-fewest points allowed in 2021 and the Bearcats lost in the CFP semifinals. Bryant, a team captain who sometimes led those meetings, thinks they were a factor.

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“Just taking the football IQ to the next level,” he said.

Being a student of the game will serve Bryant well as he tries to learn a new defense in time to earn a starting job as a rookie. Fourth-round picks don’t often start right away, if ever, but it’s realistic for Bryant. The Seahawks’ top two cornerback spots are open. And whereas former defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. developed a reputation inside team headquarters for a reluctance to play inexperienced players, that roadblock shouldn’t exist for Bryant and other young defenders under Clint Hurtt.

Here’s a look at how Bryant and the rest of Seattle’s draft class might fit into the team’s 2022 plans.

LT Charles Cross, first round (No. 9 overall)

The Seahawks didn’t make Cross their highest draft pick since 2010 to have him spend time on the bench. He’s a virtual lock to take over Duane Brown‘s starting spot from Week 1. But Cross still faces a learning curve coming from Mike Leach’s Air-Raid offense, which ran the ball infrequently and didn’t ask its offensive linemen to play from a three-point stance. The Seahawks had Cross as their second-rated left tackle in this year’s draft, ahead of Evan Neal, so they clearly think that transition will be manageable.

OLB Boye Mafe, second round (No. 40)

One NFL source says the Seahawks tried to trade up into the late first round for another outside linebacker, Arnold Ebiketie. The Falcons then moved up in the second round to snag Ebiketie two spots before Seattle was set to pick. But the uber-explosive Mafe looks like much more than a consolation prize. He generated first-round buzz after a seven-sack 2021 season and a strong showing at the Senior Bowl. He’s got some rawness to work through, according to scouts, but has experience with much of what the Seahawks will ask him to do in their new-look defense. Expect Mafe to factor heavily into Seattle’s edge-rushing rotation along with Darrell Taylor and Uchenna Nwosu.

Walker was Seattle’s most — and perhaps only — debatable pick this year. But while some felt this was too high for a team that’s likely a few years away from contention to take a running back, the Seahawks plan to lean heavily on the run and will probably need Walker to do a lot of the running as a rookie. There’s a big question as to whether Chris Carson will be cleared following neck surgery, and Rashaad Penny has a long injury history of his own.

Lucas faces a similar transition as Cross, having strictly played from a two-point stance in two pass-heavy college offenses. “Shoot, you would never have even known,” Carroll said after the first rookie practice. “I already had a chance to look at half of the film of some of the team work that we did. They’ve been working hard at it. They look very comfortable, and they’ll get better.” Lucas figures to start as a rookie, even if not right away. He’s got to beat out 2021 UDFA Jake Curhan, who played well while stepping in for Brandon Shell.

CB Coby Bryant, fourth round (No. 109)

Cornerback might be the Seahawks’ most wide-open position group outside of quarterback. They have Tre Brown coming off a promising but injury-shortened rookie season, brought back Sidney Jones IV on a modest deal and added Artie Burns for even less money. None of them are locked into starting roles.

CB Tariq Woolen, fifth round (No. 153)

Woolen didn’t do much during rookie camp while resting a hamstring injury. But the sight of his 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame brought to mind another towering cornerback from Seattle’s recent past. Woolen bears a strong resemblance to Tre Flowers, though he’s a little bigger and faster (4.26 seconds in the 40-yard dash) with a 42-inch vertical. Woolen converted from receiver in 2019, so he’s relatively new to the position. But Flowers played safety his entire college career and won a starting job at corner as a rookie despite Norton’s predilection for veterans. So you can’t rule out Woolen playing right away.

OLB Tyreke Smith, fifth round (No. 158)

Smith might be competing for a roster spot with Alton Robinson, who was not as productive last season as he was as a rookie in 2020.

WRs Bo Melton and Dareke Young, seventh round (Nos. 229 and 233)

Seventh-round picks face an uphill battle just to make the team, let alone make an impact. Melton, Young and others will vie for what might only be one or two spots behind DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Freddie Swain and Dee Eskridge. As always, special teams will go a long way in determining the back end of the receiver corps. Melton’s experience there will give him a shot.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. Thornton’s blazing speed: Running the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine is one of the ultimate solo pursuits for rookies looking to break into the league. All eyes are on them. No one is there to pick them up.

How former Baylor wide receiver and Patriots second-round pick Tyquan Thornton prepared for that defining moment — in which he posted a blazing time of 4.28 seconds, the fastest of any receiver this year and fourth fastest of any receiver since 2006 — is a notable story that potentially bodes well for his transition to the pros.

Thornton was planning to prepare in Texas but made a late switch to XPE Sports in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he was part of a training group with Baylor cornerback Kalon Barnes (seventh round, Panthers) and University of Texas-San Antonio cornerback Tariq Woolen (fifth round, Seahawks).

The three produced the fastest times at this year’s combine — Thornton’s 4.28, Barnes at 4.23 and Woolen at 4.26.

“They just kept pushing each other. It was a competition and it ended up working well where they all killed it at the combine,” said XPE’s Matt Gates, who has been training prospects for the combine since 2003.

Just as Thornton fed off the competition with Barnes and Woolen, the Patriots are banking on the same thing happening in a New England receiver room headlined by DeVante Parker, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne and Jakobi Meyers.

There is more to playing football than running a 40-yard dash, of course. So how Thornton’s scorching speed is blended into the Patriots’ overall system — and if he can master a variety of routes — will be one of the key determinants of whether the team had a successful draft.

Gates, who worked with the 6-foot-2, 181-pound Thornton for a 10-week stretch that began in early January, is optimistic.

“When we started pre-testing, I was like, ‘Man, we’ve got something here,'” he said. “Super smooth. Super explosive. And honestly, for a guy that is that fast, you don’t typically see someone who can change directions and catch the ball well. A lot of times you’ll see straight-ahead wide receivers who can blow the top off it, but they can’t run a route. Tyquan can do all that — he’s got good hands, he’s smart, he picks things up quick.”

One example of how Thornton picks things up came early in the 10 weeks spent training with Gates.

“His technique wasn’t great. Even though he had a track background, we just had to tighten up some things on his start and a few things along the way,” Gates said. “It clicked right away.”

2. Heat prep: With the Patriots scheduled to open the season in Miami, hydration and conditioning — always important — figure to be emphasized that much more throughout training camp. Along those lines, the Patriots and Raiders are planning to hold at least one of their Las Vegas-based August joint practices outside, with the other inside Allegiant Stadium. Las Vegas weather in August is often sizzling, with highs sometimes hitting triple digits.

3. Jedd’s guests? The Patriots might see a benefit of staying out West after their Week 14 game against the Cardinals, instead of traveling home and then turning back around for a Week 15 game on the road against the Raiders. Coach Bill Belichick has done that in the past, most recently with back-to-back road games in Los Angeles in 2020. If so, an extended stay at the University of Arizona — where former Patriots quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch enters his second year as head coach — would make sense.

4. Rookie intros: Offensive lineman Cole Strange and the rest of the Patriots’ 2022 rookie class were on the field for the first time Friday and Saturday in a closed-to-the-media rookie minicamp, and they will now spend the majority of the offseason in town as they transition to life in the pros. Members of the draft class were brought in two weeks ago for more of a brief introduction, and now the official onboarding process is underway and the daily on-site work begins. While always subject to change, May 26 is the first time media members are scheduled to have access at practice.

5. McDuffie & McCourty: University of Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie, whom the Chiefs traded up with the Patriots to select at No. 21 overall, was compared to longtime Patriots captain Devin McCourty by a scout when factoring in his combination of on-field talent and off-field traits. While the Patriots were widely acknowledged to have received excellent value in their trade down to No. 29 — gaining third- and fourth-round picks — the trade could ultimately be judged differently if McDuffie turns that McCourty comparison into reality.

6. Patriots’ request: One of the notable nuggets from NFL Vice President of Broadcasting Mike North was that the Patriots requested to play their games out West back-to-back if possible, which tied into New England ultimately getting four straight prime-time games. It’s a request other teams made as well, with North noting Atlanta, San Francisco, Miami and Las Vegas falling into that category.

7. Eyes on Watson: Any potential discipline that Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson faces from the NFL bears watching in New England when considering the Patriots travel to Cleveland in Week 6. Whereas the Patriots face Arizona later in the season and won’t benefit from missing DeAndre Hopkins during his six-game suspension, there’s an element of unknown with whether they’ll see Watson.

8. Kraft’s SBJ honor: A crowd of about 1,000 is expected at the Marriott Marquis Times Square on Wednesday night, when Patriots owner Robert Kraft will join esteemed company as he is presented the Sports Business Journal Lifetime Achievement Award. Kraft is scheduled to be introduced by Meek Mill. The award goes to leaders and pioneers who have helped shape the dynamic sports industry, and past winners include Dan Rooney, Jerry Jones and Paul Tagliabue — all of whom are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. SBJ publisher and executive editor Abraham Madkour highlighted how Kraft’s background as a fan has shaped his Patriots ownership tenure.

9. Ekuale’s choice: Defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale was elevated from the Patriots’ practice squad seven times last season and provided some interior pass-rush presence. Little-known story: He considered an opportunity to join the Bills for the playoffs but elected to stay in New England on the practice squad instead. Ekuale will now vie for a roster spot at a position that includes returning starters Davon Godchaux and Lawrence Guy, along with Christian Barmore, Byron Cowart, Carl Davis and sixth-round pick Sam Roberts.

10. Did you know: The Patriots visit the Vikings on Thanksgiving, marking the first time they’ll play a game on the holiday since 2012, and the sixth time overall:

• Nov. 22, 1984 — 20-17 loss to Dallas

• Nov. 23, 2000 — 34-9 loss to Detroit (Tom Brady‘s NFL debut)

• Nov. 28, 2002 — 20-12 win against Detroit

• Nov. 25, 2010 — 45-24 win against Detroit

• Nov. 22, 2012 — 49-19 win against N.Y. Jets (Mark Sanchez butt fumble)

MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins‘ 2022 schedule was released along with the rest of the NFL slate Thursday.

The 2022 NFL season will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 8 with the Buffalo Bills vs. the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. ESPN opens its schedule with Monday Night Football on Sept. 12 featuring the Denver Broncos at the Seattle Seahawks.

The NFL expanded to 17 regular-season games last season. The final regular-season games for the 2022 season will be played Jan. 8, 2023. The playoffs begin Jan. 14 and continue through Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona.

Here’s what’s in store for the Dolphins:

Schedule

Sept. 11: vs. New England

Sept. 18: at Baltimore

Sept. 25: vs. Buffalo

Sept. 29: at Cincinnati (TNF)

Oct. 9: at N.Y. Jets

Oct. 16: vs. Minnesota

Oct. 23: vs. Pittsburgh (SNF)

Oct. 30: at Detroit

Nov. 6: at Chicago

Nov. 13: vs. Cleveland

Nov. 20: Bye

Nov. 27: vs. Houston

Dec. 4: at San Francisco

Dec. 11: at L.A. Chargers

Dec. 17/18: at Buffalo

Dec. 25: vs. Green Bay

Jan. 1: at New England

Jan. 7/8: vs. N.Y. Jets

Strength of schedule: 21st, .481

Biggest takeaway

The nation will get a good look at the Dolphins. They get two prime-time games and a showdown on Christmas Day with the Green Bay Packers.

It’s also a brutal stretch to start the season with the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers all on the schedule in the first seven weeks.

Revenge game

Week 3 against the Bills. The Dolphins were swept in embarrassing fashion by Buffalo last season, and this Sept. 25 matchup is their first shot at beating the reigning AFC East champion in what should be a measuring stick for coach Mike McDaniel’s team.

What the oddsmakers think

They have the Dolphins’ win total at 8.5. On paper, there are seven games that Miami should win if it considers itself a playoff contender — if it takes care of business in those games and pulls out a couple of swing games, Miami should clear 8.5.

Bold prediction

The Dolphins will start the season 8-2. That stretch to start the season will be difficult, but it’s also littered with winnable games. If McDaniel’s system works and Miami clicks early, it can start the season on a scorching hot note.