OPPOSITION TERRITORY: New England Patriots

On this week’s OPPOSITION TERRITORY pod, we’re diving into the New England Patriots and what their coming 2025 season may look like. There’s a new head coach in Mike Vrabel, the offensive coordinator is back for a third time, and the quarterback is seemingly developing nicely in training camp. Can this team make some waves within the AFC East division this season? This week, Sara Marshall from Fansided's MusketFire.com joined us for a great discussion!
Topics Sara and Jeff dove into:
- What has been the overall vision for the Patriots’ growth during the offseason that should translate to a successful season?
- Realistic expectations of QB Drake Maye this season?
- How will the offensive balance itself out between the rushing game and passing attack?
- What is the biggest concern for the Patriots team as they head into this 2025 season?
All of this and much more during this week’s Opposition Territory show!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:25):
Welcome to Opposition Territory Here at the Philadelphia Sports Table
podcast show, the longest running weekly Philly sports podcast show
in the world, twelve years strong. We got a great
discussion coming your way here on Opposition Territory. This week
we are going to be diving into one of the
AFC East teams, who I'm very interested to see what
they are going to do this upcoming twenty twenty five season,

(00:47):
the New England Patriots. Are they going to be able
to get back on their feet after somewhat being in
the basement over these past few years. Here again, I'm
Jeff Warren. Here I am with my good friend Sarah Marshall. Sarah,
how you doing.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
I'm great?

Speaker 1 (01:03):
How are you good? Good? You're you're over at musketfire
dot com. You were the editors there, and tell everybody
where they can find you on social and where they
can find everything you're posting online for.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Well, I'm mostly on Twitter slash x. I'm a millennial,
so I'm gonna always call it Twitter, But yeah, s
marsh XO on there, I'm talking to Patriots and professional wrestling.
So if you're interested in professional wrestling, you can search
no Nights Off on YouTube and that is where you
can see me talking about WWE.

Speaker 1 (01:34):
Yeah. Well, I gotta tell you though, you know your
stuff when it comes to the New England Patriots. It's
one of the reasons why I asked you to come
on and let's get into this team. Here is we're
in the midst of training camp and kind of like
I alluded to you right off the bat, you know,
it's been a while since the Patriots have really been
a real threat and contender in the AFC. I mean

(01:56):
really when Tom Brady left, I mean that's when things
for this team really started to I don't I guess
you would say, go downhill.

Speaker 2 (02:04):
The dominoes fell, they fell from their pedestal.

Speaker 1 (02:08):
Yeah, yes, absolutely. So I want to start off the
conversation by getting into how this organization is being run
at this point and what their vision really is for
the future. Sarah. So, like, when you look at the
recent off season where this team and organization where they
actually want to go, how do you see the Patriots

(02:29):
in terms of their growth and what it actually means
to the future of this team an organization.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
Well, I think first of all, the biggest thing is
Mike Rable. Mike Rabel could not have been a better higher.
I think if we could have had him a couple
years ago, it would have been better. But obviously he
was not available, and we know Robert Kraft has wanted
him for a long time, but he wasn't outed from
Tennessee just yet.

Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yep.

Speaker 2 (02:56):
So I would say, like the last two to three
years I wish we could take back in New England
because it feels like those were just the worst of
the last five six years. So I really think Mike
Rabel coming in after the disaster that was a twenty
twenty four season is the perfect It's just perfect, a
match made in heaven. I would say incorporates a lot

(03:17):
of like the best aspects of Bill Belichick's coaching style,
but he also has that I don't even know if
this is a word personability, person you know what the connection? Yeah, Yeah,
it's a way that he, yes, the way he can
be personable yes with players, because he's a former player.
He's an experienced head coach, which was a huge thing

(03:39):
that girod Meyo lacked. So I think we're already seeing
the payoff from that because the team is so much
more motivated. They're excited to be at practice, Rabel is
getting in there, he's putting on a Penny jersey, and
he's getting in and participating in the drills. So I
think they're trying to bring back the best parts of
the Patriot Way under Belichick because we know that that

(04:02):
worked for them for a really long time. So taking
those those parts, adding in the personality and that connection
that Rabel brings, and bringing the attitude of putting the
team first instead of III. I think that is like
exactly what they need right now, and it's what Rabel's bringing.

Speaker 1 (04:20):
For bringing a culture, a new culture, culture that's needed
essentially right right.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
Yeah, that was something that I would say was definitely
a fault of Mayo. And I'm conflicted on how to
feel about the Mayo era because I think it's easy
for people to trash him. Yeah, i think it's really
easy for people to trash him. And I'm not trying
to defend how bad the season was, but I think
he was put in a position he was not ready
for and wasn't given like the cap space, proper roster,

(04:49):
like there was just nothing there for him. Nobody would
have thrived, but he was so inexperienced and he tried
to do everything the opposite of Belichick to kind of
create his own identity. But he did too much. He
tried to do too much of the opposite of Belichick,
and that is really what got them into the whole
players you know, checking out. There was allegations of a

(05:11):
mutiny happening behind the scenes. So I think that's why
Rabel was the right guy, and he's going to reinstall
that culture that's very important in New England.

Speaker 1 (05:20):
Yeah, well, I think when you look at that culture,
how does that translate to what we are going to
see on the field with this team and what Patriots
Nation wants to see on the field. So let's dive
into first the quarterback play and the development of Drake May.
I mean, it seems like he's trending in the right
direction at least here in training camp. From all that

(05:41):
I have read, Sarah, I'm wondering, you know, what, what
are you and Patriots Nation realistically and logically hoping to
see from Drake May this season in terms of his
overall growth development that's really going to put the offense
in a good position to take those next steps.

Speaker 2 (05:58):
So we definitely want to see him build upon what
he did last year. You know, the records and his
inner the turnovers are not going to make him look good.
But he actually had a really good rookie season all
things considered. You know, like he didn't start until Week six,
didn't have an experienced head coach, had basically nobody to
throw to. He had a running back who had butterfingers.

(06:19):
So it's like it just there was just nothing there.
There's a lot of injuries to the defense. It just
it was an absolute mess. So we really want to
see him build upon that. And Josh McDaniels is back,
the infamous Josh McDaniels is in his third stint with
the Patriots, so we want to see how that connection
is going to work. We've seen how Josh McDaniels has
worked with Tom Brady, he worked with Matt Castle, he

(06:40):
worked with Brian Hoyer, he worked with Mac Jones, made
Mac Jones a Pro Bowl alternate quarterback his rookie season
got them to the playoffs. So considering Drake may is
a much better quarterback than Mac Jones, we just are
hopeful there. We want to see more methodical play because
he definitely tried to overcompensate for what was not happening
on offense by holding onto the football too long or

(07:02):
trying to force a play where it just wasn't there,
so that that's what led to so many turnovers. Want
to see less of that this year. Also, want to
get him better at sliding because you know, the running
is great, but we don't want you to get a
concussion again because that happened last year. And hopefully the
offensive line is going to be improved enough to give
him more time to actually read the field, so that

(07:24):
also then contributes to less turnovers.

Speaker 1 (07:27):
Absolutely, And what a fantastic segue talking about the offensive line,
because that's what I wanted to get into next. I mean,
it's been pretty well discussed that the Patriots have had
one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL over
these years. Me I know, I know, I'm sorry, but
but look, they made some moves during this off season

(07:47):
to get out from, you know, under that title that
they've had basically, so, whether whether it was in the
draft or free agency, we're gonna end up seeing some
new talent on the Patriots offensive line this coming season.
So what are your thoughts on how this O line
may perform this season with the new talent and inevitably
how that's gonna help or help the development or Drake

(08:07):
may I.

Speaker 2 (08:09):
So I definitely think that they're in a better position
than they were a year ago because we already know
some of the people who are going to be starters.
We know Morgan Moses, who's a tenured veteran Jets, former
Jets guy, but he's a giant teddy bear. So I'm
like already obsessed with him. And I've never said that
I've like loved a right tackle before, but I'm obsessed.
So we have him at right tackle. Mike Onwinu is

(08:30):
able to stay at right guard. He did not have
that privilege last year. I don't know if you know this,
but last year, and I don't know the tumber the
number off the top of my head, but it was
almost every single week, the Patriots put out a new
starting offensive line group every single week. So the fact
that Onwinu is one of the ones that was moving
from right tackle, left tackle, right guard, left guard, he

(08:52):
keeps doing everything. This year he can stay at right guard,
which I think is best. He's best at guard, So
I'm excited about that. We also look like we have
an impending star in rookie Jared Wilson. He was drafted
as a center, but they've been using him at left guard,
which if that's where he thrives, that's where he thrives.
Exciting about that. So the main issue is going to

(09:12):
be the left side, just because we're we have Will Campbell,
but he's been a little bit bumpy over the last
couple days at training camps. We just have to see
if he can kind of maintain that level of play
that we obviously saw during his career at LSU. He
has some great mentors to work with. Morgan Moses is
working with him, so I think that they're definitely better

(09:34):
across the board. We're waiting on who's going to be
that starting center, which is a little problematic. David Andrews
retired earlier this offseason, so that's up for grabs. My
main problem would be just the depth. I think That's
what I'm a little concerned about because, like I said,
there were so much changes to the offensive line starting
group every single week last year, and so I just

(09:55):
want to make sure that they have enough depth that
that's not an issue, you know, because like injuries can
happen at any time, absolutely so it's they're definitely in
a better standing, but there's still some questions there.

Speaker 1 (10:06):
I think I look being an Eagles fan here and
seeing what the Eagles offensive line has been really for
so many years and how it is prioritized. It does
surprise me that more NFL teams don't try to emulate that.
And I know it may be difficult because we have
an offensive line coach in Jeff Stotlin who everybody, a

(10:27):
lot of folks know and understand who Jeff Stotlin is.
His development of players and players that go on to
other teams do well or not as well as they
did when they were with the Philadelphia Eagles. But it
does amaze me at times. But I think that I
think the Patriots, you know, brass, front office brass, is
getting it that you have to be able to have

(10:47):
a competent offensive line you're going to be able to
do anything offensively in the NFL.

Speaker 2 (10:52):
I think people in general overlook the importance of the
offensive line. They are like the least credited group, yeah,
an entire football team, Like people don't. I've gotten into
arguments with people about this because they don't get how
much depends on how good the blocking is from the
from the offensive line, like nothing can be good quarterback,

(11:14):
running back, wide receivers, nothing can be good without them.
So it is. It's been very frustrating to see that
not be prioritized by the Patriots, you know, trying to
throw a right tackle in at left tackle, like what
are we doing? Yes, you know, so like you can't
you can't create magic all the time. So I'm really
hoping that they've made the right moves this year where
it's just not going to be a factor. And maybe

(11:35):
whenever I'm here again, we won't have to even talk
about it. We'll be talking about how great they've been,
you know, like that would really exchange.

Speaker 1 (11:42):
Yes, maybe we will. Absolutely Again, folks, we are talking
to Sarah Marshall from Musketfire dot com and again, my friend,
let everybody know where they can find you out on
the socials out there if they want to, if they
want to follow you and follow the work you're doing.

Speaker 2 (11:56):
Out there, So you can follow me on Twitter at
s marsh x. Oh you can also follow musket Fire
if you'd like on Twitter which is musket Underscore Fire
and if you like wrestling No Nights Off on YouTube.

Speaker 1 (12:07):
There you go, all right. You can follow us on
various social media sites here at the Philadelphia Sportstable Podcast Show.
If you're watching on YouTube, you will see all of
our social sites in front of you right now. If
you're listening on audio, you can follow the show on Twitter,
slash x, We're on Instagram, I'm over on TikTok at.
Mister Jeff Warren, Eric and I are both over on

(12:27):
Blue Sky. We're on threads as well, and you can
like our Facebook page. Two. We'd appreciate if you're listening
to us subscribe like this video as well. In this interview,
we got we got a lot more good content coming
your way in the future. But now we're gonna take
a break. But when we come back, we got a
lot more Patriots talk coming your way. All right, we

(12:48):
are back with our good friend Sarah Marshall from Musketfire
dot Com. And as we continue to dive into this
Patriots team, what we're gonna see this season, what we're
seeing in training camp as well. I think, Sarah that
it's going to be really interesting to see how the
rushing and passing game manifests itself throughout this coming season
for this Patriots team. I mean there's some new receiving

(13:09):
talent as we know. In terms of the running backs,
Ramandra Stevenson and Trevion Henderson are at the top of
the running back depth chart. Here, I'm wondering, you know,
as I read various articles I follow what's been going
on in training camp for this Patriots team, how do
you see the offense moving forward, balancing out the rushing
attack and the passing game this year.

Speaker 2 (13:32):
I think it's going to be kind of similar to
what we've seen from Josh McDaniels before, you know, in
his Patriots stint, where it's going to be a balance,
but it's going to depend on the opponent. One week,
they're probably going to do heavy passing. The next week
they're going to do heavy running. Like it's not it's
just going to depend on who they're facing. And that's
something that McDaniels was always good at. You know, they

(13:54):
didn't go into every single game with the same plan.
It's going to do this, yes, exactly, And I think
that's important because you have to know the strengths and
the weaknesses of who you're playing, and if they have
a terrible defensive line, we'll take advantage of that. You know,
they have a one two punch right now and Ormandre
Stevenson and Treveon Henderson. They also have Antonio Gibson who's
back there, so they have the fortune of all three

(14:16):
of them also being people that they can use in
the passing game. So they could even use some trickery there,
which I think is going to be crucial for Drake
may because because of the question surrounding the offensive line
still they can use Henderson as a blocker, which is great.
So I do think it's just going to be a
balance just from like what I said with Tom Brady.

(14:38):
You know, sometimes he wouldn't even put up two hundred yards,
but that's because a running back, did you know. I
think we're gonna see a lot of that again, all right.

Speaker 1 (14:44):
Are in terms of the in terms of the players
going to be that are going to be catching the ball? Okay?
Of course you have Stefan Diggs, you know, I mean,
in all honesty, probably coming on the downslide of his
career at this point, would you say he's probably one
of the best past catchers or do you think there's
gonna be somebody else that really kind of just makes
their mark in terms of catching the ball on this offense.

Speaker 2 (15:07):
Oh no, it's going to be Stefon Diggs. That is
what he was brought in to do. And the Patriots
haven't had a number one guy since Julian Edelwin and
that was five years, five years.

Speaker 1 (15:18):
So yeah.

Speaker 2 (15:19):
They also haven't had a one thousand yard receiver since
twenty nineteen and.

Speaker 1 (15:24):
That was gosh, has it been that long?

Speaker 2 (15:25):
Yeah, and it was Julian Edelman. You know, like, what
are we talking about? Where you know, old beat up
Julian Edewin is the last one to do it. So yeah,
it's definitely gonna be Digs. But they've had really good
luck with Kyle Williams, the rookie that they drafted this
year in the third round. He's been performing really well
at training camp and he's definitely like right behind him.
But we have Da Mario Douglas who's going to be

(15:48):
right there too. So I think it's gonna be those
three guys are going to be the top three and
who is there beyond that is going to be exciting
because Kaishaon Boody has been looking great at camp. He
had a pretty good season last year despite everything. Yeah,
and beyond that, they're still competing. And that's really exciting
because I could not tell you the last time that

(16:08):
the Patriots actually had competition at receiver, where instead it's
always been all they have six guys. Yeah, that's who
they have. Yeah, like there's no competition. That's who's on
the team, right, So the fact they have eleven now
is exciting that.

Speaker 1 (16:21):
It's going to be interesting to see, especially for fantasy football,
you know, yeah, where the receivers are gonna like what
the receivers are going to do, I should say for
the Patriots and our fantasy leagues for sure.

Speaker 2 (16:31):
Well, usually you want to ignore a Patriots receiver, so fantasy, yes.

Speaker 1 (16:37):
Well, let's do a one eighty and talk about this
Patriots defense here, Sarah. Last year Patriots defense was thirtieth
in dv A. So obviously with new head coach Mike
Rabel coming in, who is as we know, he's a
defensive minded coach, along with some new talent as well.
We've got Milton Williams from the Eagles coming up there

(16:57):
on the defensive line, some other new talent as well.
I mean, this is likely going to be a much
better defense I think than last year. What are some
of the key aspects of this defense that we really
need to keep our eyes on as the season is
going to start.

Speaker 2 (17:11):
So I think the secondary is probably their best part
of the defense because they have Christian Gonzalez and Carlton
Davis leading the way. They also have some good safeties
with Jabrill Peppers who has been on fire. Kyle Dugger
is a little bit questionable, but if he can get
back to that twenty twenty three version of himself. His
last year, he actually had an injury that they did
not They misdiagnosed, so that was why a lot of

(17:33):
his play fell off. They said he had like a
sprained ankle, but he actually had something else I don't remember.
He had to have surgery. But I think the pass
rush is definitely going to be a lot better. It
was essentially non existent over the past several years. But
Keyon White has been looking rejuvenated from having Mike rabelin. Obviously,
like you said, my Milton Williams is a huge, a

(17:55):
huge addition. Christian Barmour is back in looking better than
ever after having to sit out last year due to
blood clots. If Harold Landry, who is also feeling good
being back with Mike Rabel. So I think the pass
rush is something to watch, and I think the linebackers
are going to be interesting. Yeah, Robert Spillane, I think

(18:16):
that he kind of went under the radar because I
think people kind of, you know, you knew about him
he was with the Raiders, but like, he has become
such a leader for this team already and has just
been killing it. And I get it, it's training camp,
so you get excited about little tiny things that don't
necessarily matter. But he's been looking so good and his
leadership is definitely needed on the defense after what was

(18:38):
going on last year. So I think as long as
everything goes according to plan and how good things have
been looking right now, the defense is going to be
in such good standing. Maybe some people have mentioned top ten.
I'm not saying. I'm not saying, I'm just saying what
other people are saying. So that would be awesome. That

(19:00):
would be a huge, a huge plus.

Speaker 1 (19:02):
It would be that would be astonishing, quite frankly, I mean,
that'd be Mike Rabel magic coming to fruition there. And
then again, there's a phrase I use on this podcast
platform all the time, and I've used it plenty with
Philly sports teams over the years who have stunk it up.
You can't really fall out of a basement window. So
I would think that the Patriots defense is really going

(19:23):
to elevate itself this coming season.

Speaker 2 (19:26):
And you know what the good thing is. And I
think you know, some people are saying, Okay, they're going
to be better, right, and they're giving them a little
I think it was Meanachimes that said maybe top ten, right.
I think they have the benefit of having quite an
easy schedule, so I think that's going to play in
their favor a lot, and that could result in maybe

(19:47):
them looking a lot better than anyone anticipated. And I'm
okay with it because I'll accept anything.

Speaker 1 (19:51):
There you go.

Speaker 2 (19:52):
A win is a win. A win is a win.

Speaker 1 (19:54):
Absolutely well, Sarah. Before I let you go, I got
a two part question for you. We've been asking this
some of our guests who come on our Opposition Territory
podcast every week, talking about the biggest concerns about the
team and also what you're least concerned about heading into
this season. So let's start off with your biggest concern
with this Patriots team heading into this season. What would

(20:15):
that be? And then we'll get into what you're least
concerned about.

Speaker 2 (20:18):
So I kind of already mentioned this a little bit,
but I'm just nervous about the offensive line. I think
that I have the right to be, you know, even
if they've already made like these changes and whatever, it's like,
the offensive line has continuously been a big problem for
the Patriots, and so even if they've added these pieces
that look good right now, I just I don't want

(20:38):
to get my hopes up about it, you know, because
they are relying on a rookie at left tackle, which
is a lot. It's asking a lot of a rookie
that's press. Yeah, and I think he can do it,
but again, training camp only tells you so much, you know,
and he's getting beaten by some guys on the Patriots defense,
which you know, the Patriots defense is better than the offense.
But it definitely does and ease my concerns. So as

(21:02):
long as that is smooth, then I'm feeling a little
bit less worried.

Speaker 1 (21:07):
Okay, what about the what's the least of your concern
heading into this season with this team?

Speaker 2 (21:13):
So I'm gonna say probably Drake May. Okay, I just
I have all the faith in Drake May. I'm not
saying he's gonna be MVP or anything, but I do
think that, you know, he has a great foundation to
build upon. He's in great hands with Mike Frable and
Josh McDaniels. They're definitely prioritizing building around him. So I
think he's, you know, the sky's the limit with him.
And then of course the secondary, I mean Christian Gonzalez

(21:35):
and Carlton Davis place I was. I'm I'm so excited
to watch them play and the fact that we have
like a one two punch again and the secondary is
so exciting because I think over the years, you know,
with like Stefan Gilmour, j C. Jackson, it's so fun
to watch. So I'm excited that we can actually look
forward to what the cornerbacks can do again.

Speaker 1 (21:56):
Matchups, matchups, matchups. I mean, at the end of the day,
that's how this Paydriots team is going to end up
developing on both offense and defense throughout the course of
their schedule throughout the AFC East. It's all gonna be
about the matchups. So it's gonna be an interesting follow
for sure. Again, folks, she is Sarah Marshall from Musketfire,
dot com. My friend, love having you on all the

(22:18):
time to talk Patriots, talk NFL football. Come back join us.
I'd love having you on here. It's your first time
doing streamyard on this podcast platform. I'd love to have
you back on again, my friend.

Speaker 2 (22:30):
Let's do it.

Speaker 1 (22:31):
That's gonna do it for us here on Opposition Territory
this week. Please share our podcast with your friends and
family members who are Philly sports fans or sports fans
in general. We thank you our listeners for being part
of this online community with us and within this space.
Make sure to check out our website, Philadelphia Sportstable dot
com for all of our podcasts, and follow us on

(22:53):
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we will catch you next time.