It’s not uncommon for NFL teams to play around and see what works with their preseason broadcasts, and Patriots fans will see New England shake things up again this year.
One of the notable changes the Patriots made in the past was in 2018 when they had their radio team Bob Socci and Scott Zolak call the television game broadcasts on Channel 4 with Dan Roche and Matt Chatham handling the radio call on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Another was last year when Devin McCourty and Jason McCourty hosted an alternate broadcast called “The McCourty TwinCast.”
Fans will see more of the McCourty twins as they will team up with Zolak on the two Patriots games on Channel 4 that won’t have a traditional play-by-play broadcaster, according to The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn.
“What better time is there to try something different than during a preseason game?” senior executive producer of the Patriots’ preseason games Matt Smith told Finn. “Devin, Jason, and Zo all have that ‘it’ factor. There’s not a shrinking violet in the room. There’s going to be some compelling dialogue between them.”
The idea is for more open discussion during the game with Zolak, who has served as the main Patriots color analyst on the radio since 2012, acting as a moderator of sorts.
“Fans’ interest in preseason is often more about who is doing what to make an impression and make the team than the outcome of a particular play,” said Smith, who told Finn that graphics will provide important information such as down-and-distance, field position, and so on.
“Say the Patriots pick up a first down on third-and-2. The discussion might be about the left tackle trying to earn a starting spot who made a great block to open a hole rather than the particulars of the play.”
New England begins training camp Wednesday, and its first preseason matchup will be against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8 at Gillette Stadium. The Philadelphia Eagles matchup on Aug. 15 will be broadcast locally, and the preseason finale against the Washington Commanders on Aug. 25 will be on NBC.
