3 problems Patriots are already dealing with in training camp

As the Patriots continue training camp and prepare for their second preseason game against the Eagles this Thursday, issues are becoming apparent as practices continue. While some of the struggles were expected, others were not, adding more difficulty to an already dramatic offseason.

Many issues teams run into during training camp and preseason can be easily adjusted or fixed, which can certainly be applied to most of what the Patriots are dealing with. However, struggles surrounding the roster aren't as easy to address.

Based on what we've seen through three weeks of training camp, three issues stand out the most. There are still about three weeks until the roster cutdown deadline, giving Jerod Mayo and the new regime more time to evaluate the roster and make adjustments, and hopefully, that's exactly what they do.

Otherwise, the 2024 season might be more of a struggle than initially anticipated.

3 problems Patriots are already dealing with in training camp

Deciding the starting offensive line is still ongoing

One of the weaker parts of the offensive roster was and has been the offensive line, prompting the new regime to double-dip with linemen in the draft earlier this year. They are already facing uncertainty with Cole Strange, who is dealing with an injury he sustained late in the 2023 season, and a departing Trent Brown destroyed the left side of the line.

The Patriots have been hoping rookie Caedan Wallace or free agent Chuksuma Okarafor would be the starting left tackle in Brown's place but are yet to have one prove they are the right guy for the job through three weeks of training camp.

Mayo has also been experimenting on the right side of the offense live, moving recently extended Mike Onwenu to right guard and Sidy Sow to right tackle. Although moving these two isn't a big deal, it shows how uncertain Mayo is with the current group, which isn't a great position to be in at this point in the preseason.

The kicker competition hasn't been very competitive thus far

After completing a struggle-filled rookie season in 2023, the new Patriots staff gave Chad Ryland another chance to win the kicking job for the season ahead. It was an unexpected decision, given how poorly he performed last year, but with Bill Belichick out and Mayo taking things over, it appears the new head coach wants to establish a forgiving reputation to start his tenure.

Because Ryland was the only kicker rostered, veteran Joey Slye was signed earlier in the offseason to bring some competition. He has spent time with six teams before signing with the Patriots, and that experience was expected to outshine Ryland and/or set a fire under him to prove he should remain the team's kicker.

Unfortunately, we have yet to see the competition that the coaching staff was hoping for, as Ryland and Slye are neck and neck so far through training camp. Neither has looked impressive, yet they haven't performed poorly either.

They have done well enough to get the job done, making it difficult to say whether the position is in better hands.

Offensive free agent additions are not shining the way they were expected to

Heading into the first free agency without Belichick making the roster decisions and some of the most cap space available to spend, expectations were high for the Patriots to sign top talent to add to the team. Despite all the factors working in their favor to accomplish that, Eliot Wolf decided to re-sign or extend nearly every in-house free agent instead, only spending a smidge of their budget on outside free agents.

The leading incoming players, Antonio Gibson, Austin Hooper, and K.J. Osborn, were believed to be solid signings. None were expected to move the needle much, but they certainly added much-needed depth and veteran experience to their respected positions.

They have done that since signing with the team, but because they were all offensive roster additions, there was hope they would make enough of an impact to show why Wolf decided to sign them this offseason, but we're yet to see any really shine this preseason.

None have looked disastrous just yet, besides perhaps Mitchell Wilcox, who continues to struggle during practice, which is a good sign. However, the offense needed a lot of help in many areas, and these veterans have yet to make a noticeable difference.

There is still time to change the narrative surrounding the free agent signees of this year's offseason, and hopefully, they will do that over the next few weeks.

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