FOXBOROUGH — Finally, some real action on the practice fields behind Gillette. Ok, so it was only the Jaguars, but it was still a joint practice and a chance to measure up for the Patriots. Let's see how they did:
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Brandin Cooks struts his stuff: Still wondering why the Patriots would trade for the former Saints receiver? (You shouldn’t; I already told BSJ readers.) Well, it was on full display against the Jaguars as Cooks was sprinting by the defense to the tune of three touchdowns (one was caught with one hand) and another deep pass inside the 5-yard line. Even Jaguars CB A.J. Bouye (who was with the Texans last year) talked about it after practice: Cooks brings a deep element to the Patriots’ offense that it had been lacking.
Tom Brady in mid-season form: This could have been some throwaway game in the middle of the season against Jacksonville because Brady, with basically a full complement of weapons had little trouble moving the ball up and down the field. The Patriots may have been choppy on offense to this point in camp, but they turned it on today and had their way with the Jaguars.
Rob Gronkowski still off: If there’s one concern on the Patriots’ offense (aside from Nate Solder’s continued absence), it’s that their franchise tight end has continued to have a non-descript camp since the first practice. Today he dropped two easy passes, had an offensive pass interference penalty and was not much of a factor overall.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Reserve/injured list: DL Corey Vereen.
Physically unable to perform list: LB Dont’a Hightower, DT Alan Branch, OT Andrew Jelks (NFI).
Red non-contact jerseys: Just the quarterbacks, as usual.
Not participating: LT Nate Solder, S David Jones, WR Malcolm Mitchell, WR Matthew Slater, RB Mike Gillislee, TE James O’Shaughnessy.
Returned to practice: RB Rex Burkhead.
New injuries: None.
DRESS CODE
Full pads.
TOP PLAYS
- Malcolm Butler just came away with a really impressive pick of Blake Bortles in traffic. One of the sharpest defensive plays of the summer.
- Devin McCourty had a near pick of Bortles when he had great coverage against TE Marcedes Lewis and undercut the route.
- Lawrence Guy stuffing Leonard Fournette on the goal line.
- Brady going up top to Cooks after playaction for about 55 yards down to the 4-yard line over Bouye and Tashaun Gipson.
- Cooks snaring a Brady pass in the left corner of the end zone for a score.
- Cooks making the following one-handed catch in the back of the end zone
| DL | Win | Loss | Draw |
| Woodrow Hamilton | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Lawrence Guy | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Harvey Langi | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Augusta | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Deatrich Wise | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Caleb Kidder | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Darius Kilgo | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Adam Butler | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Derek Rivers | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Shea McClellin | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Trey Flowers | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kony Ealy | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Vincent Valentine | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Geneo Grissom | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Malcolm Brown | 0 | 2 | 0 |
- Kyle Van Noy was not part of this group for the first time. While he was likely needed in 7-on-7, I do wonder if his edge rushing days are over.
- Thought Langi made a big step today. He was tough to handle on the edge, and used a nice spin move to beat a backup tackle.
- Augusta put a reserve Jaguars lineman on the ground.
- Wise was decent today but not as strong as he has looked previously.
- Ealy hasn't made much progress. He just doesn't stand out at all.
- Guy continues to be terrific against the run or pass.
- Julian Edelman looked as good as ever getting off the line and finding open spots in the defense. He and Brady weren’t on the same page on one throw, but that’s not out of the ordinary.
- Eric Rowe was the third corner, and he was a little handsy. Jonathan Jones did get some reps as well.
- Bill Belichick was ticked off about his team’s penalties at one point.
- CB D.J. Killings showed up in good coverage a few times.
- Richards gave up a touchdown to someone named Neal Sterling.
- Belichick chatted up impressive young Jaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue after one play. Future Patriot?
- Patriots kickoff team: McCourty, Brandon Bolden, Shea McClellin, Malcolm Butler, Nate Ebner, Jordan Richards, Jonathan Freeny, Geneo Grissom, Jason Thompson, Patrick Chung. Useful to see how the bottom of the roster will fill out. Thompson’s inclusion is notable. He also had consecutive pass breakups in team drills.
- Cyrus Jones struggled a little in coverage.
- Thank goodness for Elandon Roberts. Without his hard hit once a practice, we might forget this is actual football.
- Fournette’s thighs are as big as tree trunks.
- Gronkowski and Cooks had easy drops on consecutive plays.
- Bolden continues to run well in place of Mike Gillislee.
- Ted Karras missed a block on a screen to James White, who also had a drop.
- Jaguars had a ton of drops. They also had Bortles run into the running back on the goal line for a fumble. Yup, they’re still the Jaguars.
- WR Tony Washington fought the ball today.
- Patriots’ defense had a few coverage busts on a red-zone sequence but were bailed out at the end by Butler’s interception of a Bortles pass intended for Allen Robinson.
- Kyle Van Noy was largely absent until he broke up a pass for Lewis late in practice.
- After scoring on his first goal-line snap, Bolden was stuffed when James Develin and Shaq Mason ended up on the ground. Develin had some issues at the point of attack.
- Of course, in the practice after I heap heavy praise on the rookie, Deatrich Wise looked largely ordinary in team drills and one-on-ones. He did have one noticeable pressure and a nice run stop, so it wasn’t a total loss.