What We've Learned from New England Patriots Training Camp so Far

The last time the New England Patriots were on the game field, they were completing the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. The next time they'll be on the field will be Thursday in their preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The team we're likely to see in the preseason is going to look quite a bit different than the one at Super Bowl LI. Yes, stalwarts such as Tom Brady, Dont'a Hightower and Malcolm Butler will be there, but so will new additions like Brandin Cooks, Stephon Gilmore, Kony Ealy and Mike Gillislee.

Obviously, the team we see in the preseason won't be the same one the Patriots hope to eventually take into Super Bowl LII.

The next few weeks will be spent trying to structure another championship team. The Patriots have a long way to go but have already taken some big first steps in early training camp.

Here's what we've learned from the Patriots camp with the preseason on the horizon.

Gillislee Looking Like New England's Top Runner

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

With LeGarrette Blount no longer a member of the team, the Patriots are looking for a new leading rusher for the 2017 season.

Holdovers such as James White, Dion Lewis and Brandon Bolden are in the mix, but the two leading candidates are likely newcomers Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead.

Right now, it's looking like the former has the inside track at the starting job.

"Gillislee should be viewed as the favorite to seize the starting job on running downs, or at the very least in short-yardage situations," Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald recently wrote. "Consider his track record: Of his nine touchdowns last season, seven came inside the 5-yard line, including three 1-yarders."

At 5'11" and 219 pounds, Gillislee has the size to be the team's top rushing option. He's also the only back on the roster who has logged more than 100 carries in a single season.

It's worth noting, though, that the Patriots are not going to simply hand Gillislee the starting job. On the Patriots unofficial depth chart, he is listed behind both White and Bolden, typically a special teamer.

Expect the Patriots' backfield situation to sort itself out in the preseason.

Brandin Cooks Working to Build Chemistry with Brady

Steven Senne/Associated Press

Earning the trust of Tom Brady isn't an easy task for a new Patriots receiver. Some of the team's pass-catchers have been working with the future Hall of Famer for years. So, while the addition of a speedy new deep threat like Brandin Cooks is exciting, there is the potential for growing pains.

Cooks, though, has been working hard to build a rapport with his new quarterback.

Brady recently explained, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com:

"[We] are building up a rapport but that takes a lot of time to be built. That goes all the way through the season. We're working hard at it. We're talking about things. There are a lot of things that go on to try to improve the learning curve, but he's just been so much fun to be around. He really adds to a great group of other receivers that I've been fortunate to play with for a long time."

Don't be surprised if it still takes some time for Cooks to be a go-to target for Brady in the vein of Julian Edelman or Rob Gronkowski.

As Brady himself noted, building that rapport takes time. Yet, New England fans should be thrilled with the fact Cooks has embraced the Patriots Way of learning, working and getting to know his signal-caller.

Once Cooks and Brady are completely on the same page, the Patriots offense will have a new dynamic in the passing game.

Amendola, Mitchell Dealing with Injuries

Steven Senne/Associated Press

One of the reasons why Cooks has been able to put in quality time with Brady is the fact both Danny Amendola and Malcolm Mitchell have been dealing with injuries in training camp. While their problems don't appear serious, they have kept the two wideouts from consistently working with the rest of the team.

"It's unclear as to what Amendola and Mitchell are dealing with," Phil Perry of CSNNE.com wrote. "They have been on the field to start practices consistently, but they typically head to another field when team drills commence."

Amendola is one of the receivers who has a longstanding rapport with Brady, while Mitchell began to build one late in the 2016 season. However, both also missed time with injuries last season, so further absences in training camp could be significant.

Cooks and Edelman are likely to be the team's top two receivers once the regular season commences. With Amendola and Mitchell both missing time, Chris Hogan could be cementing his spot as the team's No. 3 receiver.

Per Perry, Hogan has consistently been among "the top three players" on the field for team sessions.

Something Could Be Wrong with Gronkowski

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

Gronkowski has been a full participant for the vast majority of the offseason. By most accounts, he is 100 percent recovered from the back surgery that prematurely ended his 2016 campaign.

"I'm good to go, out there every play. Whatever they need me to do," Gronkowski said, via the team's official website.

According to Ryan Hannable of WEEI, however, Gronkowski hasn't looked like his usual self in early camp:

"Maybe he's just had a bad few days and that's all it is. This seems like the most plausible of all the possibilities. Even though it's hard to find an exact reason why, it's clear Gronkowski hasn't been himself in the last two weeks.

"(It also should be noted this isn't to be taken as a knock against the tight end, it is just pointing out he hasn't had a training camp like this in the past and whenever he isn't acting himself, it's cause for some concern.)"

From a health standpoint, Gronk appears to be Gronk again. However, the fact he hasn't been performing in typically dominant fashion is cause for concern. The Patriots simply might not be able to expect the same Gronkowski who produced 2,300 yards between 2014-15.

We aren't likely to see Gronkowski in the preseason, so the Patriots will largely have to hold their collective breath between now and the season opener on September 7.

Dwayne Allen Begining to Improve

Steven Senne/Associated Press

The Patriots acquired Dwayne Allen from the Indianapolis Colts in order to provide a complement to and injury insurance for Gronkowski.

However, his first few month of the offseason were worrisome; Allen struggled with drops and with acclimating to the Patriots offense.

"I think anytime you're adjusted to a new quarterback, new offensive system, everything, there's going to be some struggles," Allen said, per Henry McKenna of Patriots Wire. "And I certainly struggled early on. But I think coming out here, working my tail off, getting better—that's all you can expect from me."

It seems that Allen's hard work is beginning to pay off.

According to WEEI's Hannable, Allen has worked his way into the first-team offense during hurry-up drills—ahead of Gronkowski.

Considering Gronkowski hasn't played in the preseason for several years, we—and the Patriots—are likely to get an extended look at Allen in game situations over the next few weeks.

Harvey Langi Is Making a Case for Himself

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

The Patriots didn't have themselves a big draft class this offseason, choosing instead to spend draft picks to acquire veterans like Cooks, Allen and Kony Ealy. In fact, they only chose four players in the actual draft.

However, the Patriots might have more than four rookies on their 53-man roster at the start of the regular season. At least one undrafted free agent, linebacker Harvey Langi, has been making a strong case for a roster spot.

With Dont'a Hightower on the PUP list, Langi has been receiving reps with the first-team defense, according to Doug Kyed of NESN.com. While he almost certainly won't remain there once Hightower returns, this is a significant step for an undrafted rookie.

The Patriots appear to still be figuring out how to best use Langi, which is also an indication they're interested in keeping him around. According to WEEI's Hannable, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has been working the 24-year-old at both linebacker and defensive end.

At this point, it might be a mild surprise for Langi to not be on the roster in Week 1.

Stephon Gilmore Is All Business

Steven Senne/Associated Press

Stephon Gilmore was bought in to be the future at cornerback for the Patriots. Why else would the team give him a massive five-year, $65 million contract?

While we have yet to see how well Gilmore fits into the Patriots defense, he's already sounding like a typical business-like Patriot.

"There's not really no friends on the field to me," Gilmore recently said, per CSNNE.com's Perry. "Once I'm on the field, there's no friends. But off the field, [it's] very respectful. [I] respect everybody on this team. Talk to them. It's nothing personal. It's just when I'm on the field, I'm super competitive and there's no friends."

Gilmore was recently ejected from practice for fighting with wideout Edelman. This wasn't necessarily unusual, though, as head coach Bill Belichick has a strict no-fighting policy in training camp. All fights lead to ejections.

If Gilmore is to be believed, his scuffle with Edelman was nothing personal. The two players got physical with each other, just as a receiver and a cornerback might in a real game. Hopefully, though, neither player will be getting ejected from actual games.

Joe Thuney Could Be Poised to Take Next Step

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Joe Thuney started all 16 games for New England as a rookie last season. However, he wasn't always the most consistent player in pass protection. Pro Football Focus actually graded him 138th among guards and credited him with 32 surrendered quarterback hurries.

Thuney was a solid run-blocker, though. If he can improve his pass protection, he could develop into one of the better interior linemen in the league. According to NESN's Kyed, Thuney could be on his way to doing exactly that.

"Thuney has been the star of 1-on-1 pass-rushing drills, stone-walling anyone who lines up across from him," Kyed wrote.

The Patriots had one of the league's top offensive lines last season, with Thuney often the only weak link. If he is prepared to take the next step, the New England line could be even more dominant than it was during last year's Super Bowl run.