What We're Watching For At Patriots OTAs
BOSTON (CBS) -- If you're starving for some football -- you know, real football and not talk about air pressure and all that jazz -- Thursday is a nice appetizer for the 2016 season.
Patriots organized team activities (OTAs) got underway at Gillette Stadium on Monday, and the media will get their first look at the 2016 squad on Thursday. No, players won't be wearing pads or really hitting each other just yet, but the team will be putting in plenty of work as they take their first steps towards the upcoming season.
Here are five things we'll be watching for on Thursday, and throughout the rest of the OTAs:
1. Quarterback Snaps
You have probably heard that Tom Brady may not be available for the first four weeks of the season. That makes these OTAs all the more important for backup Jimmy Garoppolo.
We'll see how the snaps are split up between Brady and Jimmy G, and who works more with what team. Garoppolo didn't get any extra run with the first team last season even when it looked like Brady may miss the first quarter of the season. But with Brady's ban much more likely this time around, Garoppolo can probably expect a bigger look with the top offensive team.
Third-round pick Jacoby Brissette remains the only unsigned member of this year's rookie class, so we'll see if that changes before Thursday's session. If not, that means more snaps for Jimmy.
2. First Peek At The Newcomers
We've heard the rookies talk, now we'll get to see them take the field. The most intriguing players of the nine drafted are corner Cyrus Jones, who will also make a big impact on special teams, and wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell. It should also be entertaining to see what the versatile Kamu Grugier-Hill, on the depth chart as a defensive back and a linebacker, can bring to the defense.
We'll also get our first look at the players Bill Belichick signed or traded for during the offseason, including potentially key contributors like Martellus Bennett, Chris Hogan and Chris Long. We'll get our first glance of Bennett sharing the field with Rob Gronkowski, which should be a very potent tight end duo for Brady (and/or Garoppolo) this season.
3. Dante Scarnecchia With The Offensive Line
The legendary offensive line coach was plucked out of his two-year retirement to come fix the mess that was the O-line last season. He has a new crop of players to mold like Johnathan Cooper (acquired from Arizona in the Chandler Jones swap) and rookies Joe Thuney (who has experience at all five positions along the line) and Ted Karras.
While Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer are familiar with the tutelage of Scarnecchia, players like Bryan Stork, David Andrew, Shaq Mason and Tre Jackson are enrolling in Scar U for the first time. We'll see just how much of an effect Scarnecchia has on this crop of young players, and it all starts with OTAs.
4. Players On The Mend
As with any football season, some players didn't make it through the 2015 campaign. The Patriots suffered several notable injuries on the offensive side of the ball, and a few of their key contributors went under the knife over the offseason.
Dion Lewis dazzled in the backfield for seven games before an ACL tear ended his first season with the Patriots. He'll reportedly be ready for Week 1, but we'll get our first look at how the highlight machine looks on Thursday. That also goes for fellow running back LeGarrette Blount (who didn't return after suffering a hip injury in Week 14) and offensive lineman Nate Solder (whose season ended in Week 5 because of a torn biceps).
The same can't be said for Julian Edelman (foot) and Danny Amendola (ankle), who both underwent offseason surgery. We'll have to wait on them, but maybe we'll get a video of them protecting and serving in Gillette Stadium since they'll have some free time.
5. The Receivers
Now is the time to get on Tom Brady's good side for the new receivers. Chris Hogan and Nate Washington were added to the mix, along with the rookie Mitchell, this offseason. Hogan and Mitchell are both likely locks to make the roster come August, but they'll be in a battle for playing time. A good spring showing will help any of the newcomer's cause to become one of Brady's targets in the fall.
It's also worth keeping an eye on Aaron Dobson, who is barely hanging on to his roster spot after three disappointing seasons.
Bonus: Will Abiola Aborishade Get A Chance?
This story sounds more like a Disney movie, but former UMass-Dartmouth receiver Abiola Aborshade has been standing outside of Gillette Stadium for the last month (after completing a day's work at his actual job) in hopes of getting a workout with the Patriots. OTAs are a great time to take a look at even the biggest longshots to make the roster, and since other teams tend to bend the rules during these sessions, maybe the Pats can make a dream come true for a day or two.
After Thursday's session, the Patriots will hold two more on-field practices next week on June 1 and 2 (both closed to the media), followed by a three-day mandatory minicamp from June 7-9. There will be three more OTA sessions on June 13, 14 and 16, with training camp expected to get underway sometime in late July.
