FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots open 2023 NFL training camp July 26 at Gillette Stadium. Here’s a closer look at a few storylines:

Biggest question: Will the Patriots’ exceed the projected win total of 7.5?

It has been a while since external expectations were this low for the team. Part of that is tied to the Patriots having the NFL’s toughest schedule, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. But another part is that the Patriots’ roster is still feeling the trickle-down effect of lean drafts from 2017 to 2019 and a free agent spending spree in spring 2021 that produced mixed results (e.g., four years worth up to $50 million for tight end Jonnu Smith and two years worth up to $26 million for receiver Nelson Agholor -- both of whom are no longer with the team).

All of which has turned up some heat on Bill Belichick, the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach, entering his 24th season, whose team has finished below .500 in two of the three seasons since quarterback Tom Brady’s free-agent departure. Consider that during Brady’s 20-year run with the team, the Patriots had finished sub-.500 just once: when he was a rookie sitting on the bench.

Player with the most to prove: Mac Jones, QB

The third-year quarterback followed up a promising 2021 rookie season with a step back in 2022. Jones had 22 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions in 17 rookie outings but dropped to 14 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in 14 games last season.

How much of that was a result of Belichick overhauling the offense and assigning longtime defensive coach Matt Patricia to carry out his vision? How Jones performs this season, with an experienced coordinator in Bill O’Brien and an offensive system closer to what he ran as a rookie, should provide clarity.

“I think some of the learning experience I had last year will really help,” Jones said. “I know that as a person, as a player, there’s things I could grow upon.”

Most impactful offseason addition: Bill O’Brien

This is bold when considering Belichick often makes it a point that players win games, not coaches. But that doesn’t fully capture the importance of a coach putting players in the best position to succeed, which is why O’Brien’s return to the Patriots as offensive coordinator rates higher than other possibilities such as free agent signings Mike Gesicki (replacing Smith at tight end) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (taking Jakobi Meyers’ spot at receiver), and a potential CB1 in first-round pick Christian Gonzalez.

With O’Brien and new offensive line coach Adrian Klemm combining their past experiences to build the Patriots’ new offensive system, it has players optimistic for what’s ahead. “You can tell he knows what he’s doing in all areas of the offense; receiver, linemen, running back ... he knows how to engage with all of us, so it feels good,” receiver Kendrick Bourne said.

Fiercest fantasy-relevant battle: Running back

Usually, the Patriots' backfield is mired in a running-back-by-committee situation, which means no single player shines in fantasy. But there really isn't a battle in the backfield this season -- it’s Rhamondre Stevenson and then a big question mark behind him.

So unless the Patriots surprise by signing free agent Dalvin Cook, or one of the other available running backs on the market, this is arguably the most clear-cut RB1 situation the Patriots have had under Belichick since 2004 with Corey Dillon (franchise-record 1,635 rushing yards). Second-year players Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris, third-year man J.J. Taylor and nine-year veteran Ty Montgomery are the other running backs on the roster.

Will the offensive line hold up?

For all of the talk about Jones at quarterback, the new offense and the team's flirtation with free agent receiver DeAndre Hopkins before he signed with the Titans, none of it will matter if the offensive line doesn’t hold up. Offensive tackle was widely viewed as one of the team’s top needs entering the draft, but it wasn’t until the fourth round that the club selected Eastern Michigan’s Sidy Sow (No. 117), who might need developmental time before emerging.

Also, starting right guard Mike Onwenu missed all spring after undergoing ankle surgery, and his status bears watching. The tackles entering camp are Trent Brown (missed the first day of mandatory minicamp), Riley Reiff, Calvin Anderson, Conor McDermott, Sow and Andrew Stueber.