2026 Training Camp and Practice Schedule

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chevss454 said:
Raridon is working out just fine

Patriots reporter @_AndrewCallahan
on rookie tight end Eli Raridon

Per: @bostonherald


“For a third straight practice, Hunter Henry has taken fewer first-team reps in favor of third-round rookie Eli Raridon…
Raridon's simply become a more consistent and trusted target for both quarterbacks…More specifically, Raridon is winning more decisively at the top of his routes and creating enough separation to pull away, which helps immensely as a long strider who can win short but primarily threatens defenses at the intermediate level”
Click to expand...
This probably has something to do with the relative value of the reps to Raridon vs Henry. Is Henry going to get much from each additional rep? Not really. Is the coaching staff going to learn more about his capabilities? No.

Compare vs Raridon (and Arkin) reps.
 
chevss454 said:
Raridon is working out just fine

Patriots reporter @_AndrewCallahan
on rookie tight end Eli Raridon

Per: @bostonherald


“For a third straight practice, Hunter Henry has taken fewer first-team reps in favor of third-round rookie Eli Raridon…
Raridon's simply become a more consistent and trusted target for both quarterbacks…More specifically, Raridon is winning more decisively at the top of his routes and creating enough separation to pull away, which helps immensely as a long strider who can win short but primarily threatens defenses at the intermediate level”
Click to expand...
And now we know why Henry jumped all over that team-friendly deal a couple days ago.
 
Flagg the Wanderer said:
This probably has something to do with the relative value of the reps to Raridon vs Henry. Is Henry going to get much from each additional rep? Not really. Is the coaching staff going to learn more about his capabilities? No.

Compare vs Raridon (and Arkin) reps.
Click to expand...

It appears to be both. He doesn't get the reps if he doesn't have the apparent skills. If that is a problem then I want more problems like it!
 
I was super excited when they drafted Raridon, and I’m even more excited to hear how well he is doing. I’m really high on this kid.
He may still need a year to get strong and for his blocking to develop though. It’s pretty recent that rookie TEs have been productive in the NFL. I’m not down on him at all, but if he’s getting blown up while trying to block that may limit his playing time to start out. But defenses in the NFL seem to be smaller these days so who knows.
They probably still need another body at TE.
 
Aloyouis said:
It appears to be both. He doesn't get the reps if he doesn't have the apparent skills. If that is a problem then I want more problems like it!
Click to expand...
Totally agree. The value to Henry taking the reps isn't huge, but it's probably bigger than Raridon getting them (with Maye) if it doesn't look like Raridon would be earning game snaps.

The more important point is that he seems to be doing well with the snaps he's getting. I'm going to try to watch his blocking very closely tonight.
 
rivshark86 said:
I was super excited when they drafted Raridon, and I’m even more excited to hear how well he is doing. I’m really high on this kid.
He may still need a year to get strong and for his blocking to develop though. It’s pretty recent that rookie TEs have been productive in the NFL. I’m not down on him at all, but if he’s getting blown up while trying to block that may limit his playing time to start out. But defenses in the NFL seem to be smaller these days so who knows.
They probably still need another body at TE.
Click to expand...
He was disappointing at ND, but in fairness he was only really healthy for a short stretch of his career there - probably only close to 100% for the last maybe 8 games this past year, and that's a lot of development time he missed in the tub.

He was only an okay blocker at the college level, which usually means trash against grown men. But he certainly has the ability...I'd just want him to live in the weight room until next summer. What concerned me more was the lazy blocking streak I saw - walking towards a pile before the play was done, that sort of thing. If he really mainlines the "aggressive, violent, finish the play" message he could be really good.

They badly need a true two-way TE. Even a solid true two-way TE is more valuable than a very good pass catcher or a very good blocker. Julian Hill was an excellent blocker and had the traits and abilities to also be very serviceable running routes. The impact of that injury on this offense was really underrated.
 
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Sounds like Dial had a good day yesterday. Interesting. He was good at SC. I was essentially living in SC for all of 2022 and some time surrounding, and I saw a bunch of their games.
I was excited that the Pats grabbed him late that year. He still flashed and caught the eye even though he was in the same defensive backfield with Cam Smith, Darius Rush, and Nick Emmanwori. There were a few occasions where he made a sick play and I reacted with "Damn, Cam," assuming it was Smith, but it was Dial...that's how I first learned who he was.

He's been hammered with injuries, but is an excellent special teamer and can play outside if needed even though he's best as a slot corner.

Probably a long road to make the roster, but honestly, he's been injured for how long now, and through 2 separate coaching staffs - and drafted by the staff prepped for Belichick - and he's still hanging around. They see something in him.

CB 5/6 is a really interesting battle right now. Vildor, Canada, Prunty, Minor, and now Dial have each had at least 1 session where they popped and were universally noticed making plays by the scribes. Prunty had 3-4 stacked together before he fell off some, and I assume he has the inside track for the 53.
 
5 WRs that you need to respect vertically, kind of nice. Not huge speed guys, but Brown, Doubs, Boutte, Williams, and Pop each will hurt you deep with Maye placing the deep ball the way he does.
 
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