Musket Fire
FanSided

A dive into the Patriots offseason schedule leading to the preseason

By Justin Trombino

FOXBOROUGH, MA - JUNE 4: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots spins his whistle during organized team activities at Gillette Stadium on June 4, 2015 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - JUNE 4: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots spins his whistle during organized team activities at Gillette Stadium on June 4, 2015 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

For the better part of two decades, Offseason Team Activities, better known as OTA’s, were once made a point of emphasis for the New England Patriots, as it’s valuable time the team has together to start preparing for the season ahead.

The Patriots released their OTA schedule, although it’s always subject to change if necessary. The OTA’s conclude in the middle of June and roll into the start of minicamp for three days of on-field work before the actual start of training camp.

Here’s a look at the schedule and dates released by the team.

The first day is Apr. 17, when players are expected to report to the facility to begin workout programs and check in with the team.

The next important date is Apt. 27, the NFL Draft, as rookies will be expected to join the Pats shortly after the draft concludes on Apr. 29. The incoming rookies will have time to familiarize themselves with their playbooks and get to know the team, coaches, and the facility.

OTA’s officially begin on May 22, where the Patriots will hold ten sessions:

  • May 22
  • May 23
  • May 25
  • May 30-31
  • June 2
  • June 5-6
  • June 8-9

From here, the Pats roll into the start of minicamp on June 12-14, which will be fully available for the media, unlike OTA’s. This will give the fans and the media a proper first look at what the Patriots look like on the field for the upcoming season. We’ll see the coaches working with players and what groupings are on the field together, as this is the start of creating the depth chart.

After minicamp, New England will have a near month off before training camp starts, giving the team time to acclimate to the challenge ahead of them, as each player is in a different spot on the roster at this point in the pre-preseason for the Patriots.

For rookies, the time between being drafted and going into minicamp and training camp gives them time to learn their playbook, workout with their positional teammates, and absorb as much knowledge as possible to be able to perform in training camp to impress the coaches before the preseason and regular season begin.

At this point, the regular season is just around the corner, and it comes by fast. Teams will be required to do their first set of roster cuts throughout August from 90 players all the way down to their 53-man roster by the end of the month.

The Patriots currently have 74 players rostered and 11 potential incoming draft picks. OTA’s, mini and training camps will be valuable with all the new incoming and young players, not to mention a new and imported offense with offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien calling the shots this season.

Home/Patriots News