NFL Notes: A Dozen Training Camp Questions for the Patriots

Chad Ryland struggled through his rookie season, connecting on just 16 of 25 field goal attempts. As a result, the Patriots brought in veteran Joey Slye to provide some competition. Both closed minicamp practices with field goals and Slye was slightly more accurate on kicks ranging anywhere from 35-48 yards in distance. Slye has enjoyed some success in his five-year career but also has suffered through problems with consistency. This is expected to be a true competition, and both will get their fair share of opportunities to win the job.

Sticking with kicking, how will the new kickoff rules play out for the Patriots?

There has been much written about the new kickoffs rules and how they might impact teams in the early stages of the season as coaches experiment with various schemes. Will Mayo want bigger bodies on the field or stick with faster athletes who can tackle in space? Will he favor smaller, quicker returners or look for a bigger body to break tackles and fight for extra yardage? The Patriots kicked off in a variety of ways during the spring, but camp and preseason should offer a glimpse of how they might handle things once the games start for real.

Will contract status lead to limited participation for any veterans?

Last season Matthew Judon worked his way onto the field slowly before a restructuring of his contract accelerated his workload midday through camp. Could a similar situation unfold this summer? Judon said he regrets the way he handled things a year ago, but he’s also underpaid and could want an extension. Davon Godchaux, who is also entering the final year of his contract, was present for minicamp but did little more than individual conditioning work. He stated his dissatisfaction with his deal via social media recently and clearly wants more money as well. How might those veterans – and perhaps others – handle their demands and will it affect their participation?

Who are some candidates for a Year 2 jump?