Tom King

It starts this week, signaling in many minds the end of summer.

What, on July 24 or 25?

Well, OK, but it does start the second and final phase of summer: New England Patriots training camp.

All the drafting, the trading, the free agent signings, the second guessing, the coaching staff overhaul, it’s all in the past now. Now it gets real.

Every camp we try to give you a glimpse of what you might see by answering a few of the questions you may have.

Here you go:

WHAT’S PATS’

WEAKNESS?

We’d say experience at linebacker. All the veteras are gone, although one wonders if the team will still try to sign free agent Dont’a Hightower. We say no, because the Patriots are all about getting younger and faster. Draft picks in the last couple of years like Josh Uche, Ronnie Perkins, etc. are going to be the norm with Matt Judon – one of the best players from that free agent haul of 2021 – the veteran leader. Fingers crossed.

WHO TAKES THE

PLACE OF CORNER

J.C. JACKSON?

Right now it looks like Jonathan Jones.The Patriots have a lot of pieces I their secondary, including old friend Malcolm Butler, and other versatile veterans such as Terrence Mitchell and Jabril Peppers. Don’t forget safeties Devin McCourty and Adrian Phillips They’ll be moving a lot of people around, and it will be interesting to see once camp starts how it all fits. It’s a different era, for sure.

WILL MAC JONES TAKE THE NEXT STEP?

Let’s put it this way: If he doesn’t, the Patriots will be in trouble. The answer we think is yes, because Jones has worked on his body and has a year under his belt. Look, folks, the Tom Brady days are over, so you’re going to have to deal with a quarterback who has some weaknesses. But field vision, moxy, leadership, and smarts aren’t any of them, because Jones will be better.

WHO RUNS THE

OFFENSE?

How about Bill Belichick, because he runs everything. Yes, Matt Patricia and Joe Judge were failed head coaches, but they were head coaches, which means they know something about football. Patricia isn’t cut out to be a head coach, and Judge’s troubles with the Giants on offense last year were more due to personnel. Will they help make the offense better?

That’s a wait-and-see.

WHAT VETERAN

COULD BE A CAMP

CASUALTY?

This is a real, real guess – but if veteran running back James White isn’t moving very well after hip surgery, as has been reported, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility that he could retire. And of course we’ll have to see how Butler plays after taking last season off. Those would be the two primary candidates, now that N’Keal Harry was finally dealt, although you can keep an eye on wideout Nelson Agholor.

SPEAKING OF HARRY, WHAT WAS HIS TRADE A SIGN OF?

That the receivig corps is much, much better. There’s Kendrick Bourne and Agholor, the free agents of 2021. They dealt for DeVante Parker. Jakobi Meyers was Jones’ favorite target, it seemed, but he’s not a big-play guy. And don’t forget second round pick Tyquan Thornton. A lot in the mix, and this could be the most visible competition for fans to watch in camp.

WHAT ROOKIE SHOULD

WE REALLY KEEP AN EYE ON?

We’d say Thonrton, the former Baylor Bear. He’s got speed, which is what the Patriots have lacked, as he ran a 4.28 40 at the Combine back in late February/early March. The thing is, can he catch? At some point, the Patriots need to hit on a drafted wide receiver, so it may as well be Thornton.

ARE DOUBLE SESSIONS A THING OF THE PAST?

They sure are. Single sessions only, and the first day of practice is this Wednesday, July 27, with other practices set for July 28, 29 and 30. But times as of this writing hadn’t been set, so you should check on the Patriots website before making the trek down. Before you ask, the parking and the watching is free.

ARE THERE JOINT

PRACTICES WITH

OPPONENTS?

Yes, one set in Foxborough Aug. 16 and 17 with the Carolina Panthers, and the other at Las Vegas the following week with old friend Josh McDaniels, the Raiders new head coach.

The practices with the Panthers will be the final sessions open to the public in Foxborough. Remember there are only three preseason games. The summer opener is vs. the Giants at Gillette on Thursday, Aug. 11.

ANY OTHER

VETERAN UNDER

THE MICROSCOPE?

Depends on how much we see him, but you’d have to think that tight end Jonnu Smith will take Harry’s place as a bust looking to burst. Let’s face it, Smith stunk last year and wasn’t nearly worth his pay, either as a blocker but certainly not as a receiver. Once they start running trick plays for you, you’ve got one foot out the door. Just ask Harry.

See you at camp.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.