10 pressing questions facing the 2023 Patriots entering training camp

After a long offseason, Patriots training camp is finally upon us.

The 2023 Patriots are expected to report to the team facility at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, with the first open practice set for the following morning in Foxborough. Bill Belichick’s squad will hold training camp for close to two weeks before the slate of preseason games begins in August.

After a disappointing 2022 season marred with dysfunctional coaching and an ineffective offense, the 2023 Patriots are looking for a clean slate in a competitive AFC East field.

With plenty of new faces in place, this Patriots roster has loads of potential … and a ton of question marks.

Here are 10 questions facing New England on the eve of training camp:

On paper, there’s a lot to like about this 2023 Patriots team.

They return an elite defense that should be further buoyed by an influx of young talent. There is intriguing personnel in place on the opposite side of the ball that should offer up higher returns with a clean slate in 2023.

But let’s face it. The chances of the 2023 Patriots punching their ticket to the playoffs likely hinge on whether or not Bill O’Brien can right the ship for a woefully inept offensive unit last season.

In 2021, a Patriots offense crafted by Josh McDaniels led to a Pro Bowl campaign from a rookie Mac Jones. But the QB’s sophomore season was nothing short of a disaster, with an ill-equipped coaching staff led by Matt Patricia and Joe Judge further hampering the young signal caller’s growth.

The return of a seasoned coach and proven offensive play-caller in O’Brien offers hope that Jones can orchestrate a bounce-back campaign.

Even though it’s tough to glean much from minicamp and OTAs, the foundation of New England’s new-look offense was starting to be set during their limited looks in Foxborough back in June.

Whether it be plenty of two tight-end sets with Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki or more play-action calls added to New England’s offensive scheme, O’Brien has to create a system in place that gets the best out of Jones in 2023.

Of course, plenty of responsibility also falls on Jones to execute in this new system, especially with Bailey Zappe waiting on the sidelines. New England can’t afford to let drives stall out in the red zone due to poor throws and bad reads from Jones.

The Patriots lost out on the DeAndre Hopkins sweepstakes, with New England’s offer to the All-Pro wideout reportedly not in the same ballpark as the one he eventually accepted with the Titans. 

If New England believes it has enough talent in place to surround Jones with capable receiving targets, it’s time for a crowded wideout grouping to prove it. 

Barring any surprises (or injuries) in camp, expect Jones to rely heavily on his tight ends in Henry and Gesicki (who functions more as a big-bodied wideout than a traditional TE).

DeVante Parker will likely serve as New England’s “X” receiver after inking a contract extension last month, while free-agent pickup JuJu Smith-Schuster is likely Jones’ new slot receiver if he can put a nagging knee injury in the rearview mirror. 

In terms of remaining reps, a bulked-up and motivated Kendrick Bourne could be a difference-maker if he regains his 2021 form. Second-year pro Tyquan Thornton has game-changing speed and can supply New England’s offensive unit a much-needed dynamic, but he needs to stay healthy. 

Rookies like Kayshon Boutte, Demario Douglas, Ed Lee and Malik Cunningham also project to be in the mix.

Even with talented right guard Mike Onewnu set to open camp on the PUP, the interior of New England’s offensive line should be an area of strength in 2023. 

A healthy Onewnu, center David Andrews and second-year Cole Strange should negate plenty of pressure up the gut in front of Jones and Zappe. Rookies like Jake Matthews, Atonio Mafi and Sidy Sow will further reinforce new O-line coach Adrian Klemm’s grouping.

The tackle position, however, is a different story.

Both Jones and Zappe were routinely knocked to the turf in 2022 due to some porous play on the outside from Isaiah Wynn and Trent Brown. After a lackluster showing in his limited time at Patriots minicamp, a motivated Brown needs to anchor New England’s O-line at left tackle.

If he’s locked in, the 6-foot-8 Brown offers the highest upside when it comes to protecting Jones’ blind side. If he falters, New England’s offense might be grounded before it ever gets a chance to take off this summer.

But even if Brown bounces back under Klemm’s tutelage, the right tackle position is also a murky spot on the roster. New England signed veteran Riley Reiff in the offseason, but the 34-year-old was leapfrogged in the spring by other tackles like Calvin Anderson and Conor McDermott.

Perhaps players like Anderson and McDermott have more to supply and can shore up a vacancy if needed. Still, this current tackle grouping doesn’t exactly inspire much in terms of confidence, especially in wake of a disappointing 2022 campaign.

Rhamondre Stevenson was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dour 2022 season for New England’s offense.

But as last season started to wind down, it became clear that New England’s heavy usage of Stevenson exacted a heavy toll on the talented back.

With Damien Harris now in Buffalo and New England cutting James Robinson earlier this offseason, the Patriots need to find a suitable backup option behind Stevenson on the depth chart.

Second-year pros in Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong will look to make an impression over the next few weeks, while a healthy Ty Montgomery offers plenty of appeal as a third-down, passing-catching option in the backfield.

If New England needs to bring in additional options, both Dalvin Cook and Leonard Fournette are available.

A healthy and effective Stevenson will be a key reason behind any potential resurgence from New England’s offensive unit. But the Patriots need to find other options in order to avoid running him into the ground.

The Patriots are already expected to return an elite defensive unit in 2023. The addition of poised rookie Christian Gonzalez offers hope that this grouping can be even better this fall.

After New England took Gonzalez with the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the 21-year-old corner was immediately thrown into the mix with the top unit during the Patriots’ minicamp.

He didn’t look out of place when matched up against New England’s top wideouts, with Gonzalez’s pro-ready frame (6-foot-1, 197 pounds), fluidity and athleticism immediately standing out.

If Gonzalez can hold his own and establish himself as a starting outside corner, the subsequent domino effect stands to benefit the Patriots.

New England can then slot either Jack Jones (more on him later) or Jonathan Jones to the other starting spot on the outside, with Jonathan Jones potentially given the chance to move back to his regular position at the slot if everyone remains in the lineup in front of him.

Gonzalez might offer the highest upside among New England’s rookie class. But he’s far from the only potential impact player in the Patriots’ next crop of young talent.

Marte Mapu was one of the stars of New England’s stars during OTAs/minicamp, with the third-round pick making impact plays both at safety and linebacker.

Mapu bulked up to 230 pounds over the off-season, but his hybrid game could come in handy as New England tries to bolster its safety grouping.

The Patriots should have no issue generating pressure against opposing quarterbacks with both Matthew Judon and Josh Uche on the roster. Still, second-round pick and imposing defensive end Keion White can further add to a strength on this club.

There’s no denying Jack Jones’ immense potential. James White compared him to a young J.C. Jackson, with his ball-hawk skills welcomed on a defense filled with big-play ability.

But it remains to be seen if Jack Jones is even part of New England’s roster as this preseason progresses.

Just after putting together a standout showing at minicamp, Jones was arrested at Logan Airport after officials found a pair of guns in his luggage.

After pleading not guilty and getting released on bail following his arraignment, Jones is scheduled to appear in court for a probable cause hearing on Aug. 18.

Beyond his legal issues, it’s unclear if Jones will face additional discipline from the Patriots and/or the NFL.

If he’s in the lineup, Jones has the potential to be a starting outside corner next to Gonzalez.

There’s no way to replace the veteran mettle and leadership that Devin McCourty carried with him for over a decade in Foxborough.

As for the vacancy created on the depth chart, the Patriots have numerous options to turn to at the safety position. Kyle Dugger will occupy one starting spot, with Adrian Phillips, Jabrill Peppers, Jalen Mills and Marte Mapu all expected to fight for starting reps next to him.

Mapu has plenty of momentum on his side after his performance in June. But Belichick offered up the most praise for Peppers last month when asked about his progression in his second year with New England.

“Oh my god, yeah. He’s a much different player now than he was last year at this time or even in training camp,” Belichick said of Peppers. “A full year after the injury, a lot of confidence in the communication, the system, his assignments. He’s playing fast, aggressive, helping out his teammates.

“Last year he was trying to learn things, now he’s helping out his teammates, anticipating, making calls or adjustments that maybe help him or possibly help his teammate be in a better position to defend a certain play or type of play. Yeah, he’s been great. He’s way ahead of where he was last year.”

The Patriots have regularly prided themselves on stout special teams play over the past two decades.

The 2022 season left a lot to be desired in that regard, with an influx of new blood this summer worth monitoring.

The Patriots hold kicker Chad Ryland in high regard after selecting him in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Maryland. Can he unseat veteran Nick Folk as the team’s top kicker?

Another rookie could play a key role on special teams, as 2023 sixth-round pick Bryce Baringer will compete with veteran Corliss Whitman for the team’s starting punter position.

The Patriots still have one order of business to settle from the offseason, as starting defensive lineman Lawrence Guy did not report to mandatory minicamp due to reported contract-related reasons.

The last thing that New England wants is for this holdout to carry over into the preseason. Even though Guy, 33, is getting up there in age, he is still a valued leader up front on the Patriots’ defense.

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Questions and answers from the ‘Car Doctor’

Q. I enjoy your column and have a question of my own regarding my 2013 Ford Escape with 41,000 miles. Recently I had the annual state vehicle inspection, tire rotation and fluid changes at my Ford dealer. Everything passed inspection but the service manager advised that some of the car’s lug nuts were swollen. He said if I had a flat tire the lug nut may not come off and the car would have to be towed for service. (I have AAA 100-mile towing) Never heard of this problem before and did some research on the internet. It is apparently a common occurrence with my model vehicle and some other Fords from the same time period. Ford was contacted by several owners but gave no relief. Is this something that I should pursue through Ford channels or just suck it up and pay the price for replacement myself? They did not tell me how many lug nuts were involved but I would replace all of them at the same time.

A. This is quite common on lug-nuts that use an aluminum or chrome cap over the steel lug-net. I have seen these designs used on a variety of vehicles including my own little boat trailer. Rust forms under the cap and causes the lug-nuts to become swollen. When this happens, a standard socket is in some cases impossible to get on the lug-nut. My suggestion would be to replace all the lug-nuts with a one-piece design. You can find one piece lug-nuts online, a custom wheel and tire shop or Dorman corporation that develops repair solutions for just these kinds of problems.

Q. I need a remote starter install in my 2020 Toyota RAV4. The dealer quoted me a very expensive price and warned me about possible warranty issues if someone else installs it. Where should I take it to ensure that I have the installation done right?

A. Any quality automotive electronics shop should be able to install a remote starter in your RAV4. Some independent repair shops will also do the installation, but I prefer the electronics shop, since they normally will have additional wiring harnesses, relays or switches on-hand for a professional installation. Regarding warranty, you are protected by the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act. The law clearly suggests warranties by vehicle manufacturers cannot be void if a consumer uses another manufacturer’s parts.

Q. My 84-year-old husband’s 2005 Dodge Dakota will not pass inspection at the end of September due to rust underneath. A local body shop will look at it and let him know if it is worth fixing. The mileage is under 85,000, and when he bought it in 2007 it had about 23,000 miles on it. So, you can see how little he drives it. It is not garaged; they live on Long Island, and the truck came from Michigan. My first question is it worth fixing a 2005? My second question is what the estimated cost would be (ballpark figure)?

A. Without inspecting the truck, it is hard to determine the cost of a repair. But if I had to guess. You are probably looking at $2-3000 to repair the rust if sections of the frame can be capped and welded. If the entire frame needs replacement, $10,000 or more and that is if a frame is even available. I would try a welding shop to see if they can patch it or a body shop for a full frame replacement. Regarding is it worth it, if the rest of the truck is outstanding, maybe yes, but if it is a typical Dodge Dakota, with age related mechanical issues and body rust, this may be a case of throwing good money after bad.

Q. My 1988 Lincoln Town Car, door lock control will not open back door locks, also the ventilation fan does not work and lastly there is a gas smell. I replaced all the gas lines and the gas tank. The car has only 68,000 miles on it and needs bodywork. What should I do?

A. Well, it sounds like age is certainly affecting your 35-year-old car much more than mileage. The gas smell could be an over saturated evaporative emissions canister or a leaking throttle body (part of the fuel system) or fuel pump. The window issue could be wiring, or the master control switch and the fan could be a faulty fan, fuse, wiring or the switch. At this point if it were my car, even with the low mileage I would take it to a trusted shop and spend an hour or two worth of labor and have an overall evaluation of the car to see what else is going on. If the gas lines rusted out, it is possible the brake lines and transmission lines are also very rusty and even the frame could be starting to rot away. It may be time to let your Town Car go.

Q. My 2008 Suzuki XL7 has nearly 200,000 miles but runs great. The issues are the check engine light is on, the RPMs dip and vary. I am thinking of a good tune up and maybe the timing belt could be changed? The car resides and is registered in Florida, so I am not concerned with state inspection, but would like the car to run properly and be safe. Where should I bring it for repairs?

A. The engine in the Suzuki XL7 uses a chain not a belt, not saying it could not be worn, but it is not normal maintenance. If the timing chain does need replacement, it is expensive, taking nearly 12 hours labor to complete. The idle speed variation could be worn plugs, lazy oxygen sensor or a vacuum leak. If you need a garage in Florida or anywhere, go to aaa.com/repair to find a local AAA Approved Auto Repair shop near you.

Got a car question, email the Car Doctor for a personal reply. jpaul@aaanortheast.com

As Shark Week 2023 Ends, I Finally Got An Answer To A Question I've Been Asking For Years About Discovery's Divers

Alas, another year of Shark Week action is coming to an end on Discovery after celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2023 with Aquaman’s Jason Momoa as host. As usual, I tuned in to as much of the shark programming as possible over the seven days, and was even able to speak with experts including Dr. Austin Gallagher, Forrest Gallante, and Tom “Blowfish” Hird during a Discovery press event. As a lifelong Shark Week fan, it was all I could have asked for… especially since I was finally able to pose a question that I’ve had for quite some time, and I got the answer I was hoping for.

Dr. Austin Gallagher led the team on two standout specials of Shark Week 2023, including the “Belly of the Beast” production that started out the seven days of documentaries (and delivered a downright cinematic finale) as well as “Monster Mako: Fresh Blood” that made the argument for which species of shark is most powerful. The special that focused on mako sharks involved Gallagher going on a daring dive down into an underwater kelp forest, with visibility low and odds of encountering a shark high. The sequence reminded me of something I’ve wondered for many years of watching Shark Week: how exactly are the divers having perfectly clear conversations with each other while underwater in dive gear? 

Now, could I have Googled to find the answer to this question during a previous Shark Week? Sure, but there’s nothing like getting an answer straight from the source, and Dr. Austin Gallagher was happy to explain the kelp forest sequence and how he remained in communication with his fellow diver. He explained: 

I was on that dive with Liv Dixon, who is the marine biologist at my organization Beneath the Waves, and they were using these underwater communication masks. They basically put these masks over their head and there's a speaker in their ear, and then they can also communicate to each other and to topside on the boat. So you basically push a little button, and then you talk to speak, and then you can hear each other.

The focus during Shark Week is of course on the sharks, so the specials generally don’t spend a ton of time focusing on the gear of the divers when there are decoys and domes and cages to show off. Of course, these kinds of masks weren’t exactly available in the early days of the Discovery event, which I wasn’t even alive to watch 35 years ago! Dr. Gallagher continued to explain the masks for communication:

It's a pretty good range, a couple 100 feet underwater. It's an amazing way to do these types of scenes where you need to be in good communication, talking about where you're going. Obviously, it's a really cool look to see the whole face of somebody underwater, and you can also educate the viewers as to what's happening.

Dr. Gallagher noted that he worked with fellow diver Liv Dixon for the kelp forest sequence in “Monster Mako,” who he also works with for the Beneath the Waves non-profit that promotes ocean health, protecting threatened species, and working towards climate change solutions. Protecting sharks and spreading awareness about the ocean is always a running theme throughout Shark Week’s seven days of aquatic action, even if the specials themselves can be very different. 

Even though Forrest Galante and the “Alien Sharks” crew encountering the world’s most famous shark-hunting orcas could hardly be more different from Tom Hird’s “Cocaine Sharks” show that created special shark cocaine, they had the message of the importance of conservation in common. On the whole, Shark Week 2023 was a pretty fun week of productions that leaves me ready to pencil the 2024 event into my calendar as soon as Discovery announces the dates. 

If you missed any of Shark Week and/or just want to check out some of the specials that I’ve mentioned, you can find them streaming now with a Max subscription.

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