New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins Preview & Predictions

Julian Martinez: [00:00:12] James, you're coming to us from Boston. So what's the read around the town on this current iteration of the New England Patriots? [00:00:19][7.3]
James Puopolo: [00:00:20] Matt It is so polarizing around here. You have the people who still think they can do no wrong. There are people who have tried to tell me in Boston that Bill Belichick was intentionally putting out like a poor product on the field because he wanted to like hide stuff from the people he was cutting or like hide stuff from the team. So no one knew what was really doing on offense. Okay. Did you see that Mac Jones passwords through right to a linebacker that was out of Bill Belichick, like in his ear like type of thing. And then there's other fans who were like, oh, my God, we're in panic mode. That dude we drafted, Tyquan Thorne was supposed to be the hot shot receiver out for. But I'm going to say the year he's supposed to be only out eight weeks. Realistically, he'll be eliminated for most of the year. Running backs. Nobody knows what's going to happen with Damien Harris. Apparently, that's their strong suit. But receivers Devante Parker and Kendrick. [00:01:17][56.1]
Kyle Ledbetter: [00:01:17] Aguilar are still there. Aguilar is still sticking around. [00:01:19][2.4]
James Puopolo: [00:01:21] Their offensive line is average. Everything else in the team is in. Their cornerbacks are a rote like I was going to go and get one, but just atrocious. It's a bad situation in Boston. [00:01:33][11.8]
Julian Martinez: [00:01:35] Who they decide on call plays. Kyle was a matt Patricia or Joe Judge. [00:01:38][3.0]
Kyle Ledbetter: [00:01:41] It's so great. It's so great. It's Matt. Patricia, it's Matt. Patricia. And I was laughing at Ben McAdoo, calling plays for the Carolina Panthers as the funniest thing that could ever happen. No. Matt Patricia, who again, was the defensive coordinator for seven years in New England, will be calling offensive plays or. [00:02:00][19.7]
James Puopolo: [00:02:01] For. [00:02:01][0.0]
Kyle Ledbetter: [00:02:02] The Patriots this year of everything of every fiber of my being says they're going to finish third in that division and be as good as the Carolina Panthers. And at the same time, it's an ultimate testament to Bill Belichick that they have the last three years, that last Brady year, in the two years since they have an above 500 record, they have made two playoff appearances and won an AFC East with an offense that has never been ranked higher than 21st in the league like their offenses have been piss poor terrible for three years now and they've been able to make the playoffs twice and win the AFC East one of those years like the Patriots. You got to put a lot of faith in Bill Belichick being the smartest defensive coach ever and the fact that although you lose Jesse Jackson, although you lose Chase whenever they cut that safety, who was drafted a few years ago and the fact that they brought in Malcolm Butler from retirement to replace Jesse Jackson and now Malcolm Butler's on injured reserve. Like you got to be putting a lot of faith in Bill Belichick's abilities as a defensive coach to believe that the Patriots will be able to replicate the success of last year. Because I am I'm definitely not on any kind of Mac Jones hype train. I am still you know, we agreed. Blake Jude, who's our draft guy in me, agreed. He was an early third round grade in that draft when he was picked and happen to get picked in the first round. So obviously he had a pretty good year last year. But man, the Patriots are just such a confusing team this year to follow, especially because like James is talking about, there are some people who believe that this is all part of Belichick's master plan and they believe in the Illuminati and Belichick can do no wrong. This is one where you got to put a lot of faith in his ability to build a defense, to look at the Patriots and say they're going to win a large amount of games this year. [00:03:51][108.7]
Julian Martinez: [00:03:51] Strange coordinators decisions and strange draft picks that's defined the Patriots offseason going into this game. Mike McDaniel actually put it out there pretty well that there's not a greater coaching disparity in terms of experience than him going against Bill Belichick. Certainly McDaniel has the better team, or at least based off the offseason. I think he has a better team. I don't know what duo will become. We've talked about that one can to ever live up to his draft stock. Probably not. He's probably as good as the left handed Jimmy Garoppolo. But with Tyreek Hill, Terron Armstead, the improvements to the running game, their defense already being on the top half of the league. There's a lot to like there. Going back to last season when they had that little stretch where they start to pull it together, you start to see the flashes and now I think with a more creative offensive mind and Mike McDaniel, I think that this team should be able to scheme up some stuff that will keep the Patriots guessing and keep them on their toes and speed kills. And I just don't think that the Patriots have enough speed to keep up with this fully healthy Dolphins team. Jaylen Waddle just got cleared to go back in in practice, so now they have their full complement of wide receivers. I just like this Dolphins team and we talked about them is about a 8 to 9 win team, at least 8 to 9 wins guaranteed off of their schedule last week. And I'm just sticking true to that. I think that this is going to be a win against the Patriots in week one. Vegas currently has this is a three and a half point line in favor of the Dolphins. Patriots also have to travel. They're playing in favorable conditions for Mac Jones, for what it's worth, in terms of him not having to play in the cold, which I know later in the season was a problem for him, he might throw more than three pass attempts during the game. And yeah, in terms of Mac Jones second year development, I just don't know what a second gear looks like for Mac Jones. I don't know what that next level, that upgrade is for him. People, when he was drafted, it was like, Oh, is he going to be the many Brady? I just don't see him having that same career path. Obviously, a career path that includes seven world championships and multiple MVP is that's just something based off his rookie year. I just don't see likely especially with again a defensive coordinator calling offensive plays and not even the most talented defensive coordinator, mind you, to the fact that Mac Patricia is still in the league kind of baffles me. I know everyone claimed during the job hiring process that he was genius, but Watson's defense is ever really that good. [00:06:18][146.6]
Kyle Ledbetter: [00:06:19] Just the one Super Bowl one that was about it. But he was in the job long enough that all the Belichick assistants got hired. You also brought. [00:06:25][5.9]
Julian Martinez: [00:06:25] Up even Point Patriots, but he was the one they set up by Nick Foles, right? [00:06:28][3.0]
Kyle Ledbetter: [00:06:29] I think he got it. Yeah. He got hired after the Nick Foles year, but he got hired based off of the year before when they beat. The Falcons in the Super Bowl. But yeah, he had already been named the Lions head coach before he got lit up by Nick Foles in the Super Bowl, which was a little messed up on his part. By the way, you brought up a great point. Patriots don't have a defensive coordinator, just no defensive coordinator this year is just not going to name the position at all. It's just that's how they roll in this year. [00:06:55][25.9]
Julian Martinez: [00:06:56] James, does Boucek have anything in his bag of tricks to get the Miami Dolphins this week? [00:06:59][3.6]
James Puopolo: [00:07:02] I mean, no, he's always had a hard time, but this just continues on my like me being in Boston where there's like the two sides, right? Then there's like Elmo, me Elmo, I mean, with like the fires. And then above that just says Bailey's AP season. I want that towards AP. So that's the secret weapon. That's what he's keeping. That's his tactical nuke in the pocket. Bailey's AP waiting in the wing to take over for Mac Jones and ride off into the Sunset Guy. [00:07:25][23.0]
Julian Martinez: [00:07:25] What's your game prediction? [00:07:25][0.5]
Kyle Ledbetter: [00:07:26] Well, I'm going to tentatively take the Dolphins, and I will also acknowledge the fact that the forecast for this game is supposed to be 91 degrees in Miami with 74% humidity, which is for those who don't know, really, really humid and the possibility of scattered thunderstorms for this game. So weather doesn't know exactly what it's doing for this football game. And that is Mac Jones's backyard, apparently because he's from Jacksonville, Florida. So that is what Mac Jones is used to, apparently. But weather is going to be chaotic. That Dolphin Stadium does not do well for heat on the field. It usually feels like 100 degrees for some of those games. So reserve the fact that it could be one of those chaotic games based on weather. But I will I will tentatively take the Dolphins to get to one another on the season because they are three point favorites against the Patriots. And I trust that Vegas is following all the weather patterns and weird coaching hires by both sides. [00:08:22][55.7]
Julian Martinez: [00:08:23] All right, guys, you probably notice the segment's a little different. Not just Kyle and I, but we also joined by guest James James from Bota. James, we need you to drop all the obligatory plugs. That way, people know where to find you. [00:08:34][11.3]
James Puopolo: [00:08:35] Hey. Well, thank you for having me. You can find us everywhere at Bota sports. Bota, Instagram, Tik Tok is the biggest one. There's also a Twitter, but it's really not worth them. 500% honest about it. Yeah, you can find all of our stuff everywhere just by searching about esports. [00:08:50][15.3]
Julian Martinez: [00:08:51] Okay, guys, find that below in the bio we a like on this video subscribe to the channel from juju talk sports and Kyle Ledbetter. Stay safe, happy and healthy. We'll see you on the next one. [00:08:51][0.0]
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