FOXBOROUGH — In what was very likely the final open public practice of training camp at Gillette (the Patriots go to West Virginia on Monday to face off with the Texans), the Patriots looked the part of defending champions as they had their way with the Jaguars.
Let's take a look at what went down:
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Gronk was back: We still haven't seen the whole "Gronk Experience" on the field since the first practice, but his play took a huge leap today and he was back to being the ultimate weapon in the red zone and third down. Whether it was one-on-ones with DBs, or in team drills, Gronk dominated the Jaguars' secondary. Not sure why Gronk was been muted as far as his post-play antics, but there's no question he has been. Could be something physical, or it could be as simple as Bill Belichick saw the film on the first day and said, "Hey Gronk, chill the hell out." Doesn't really matter, because all the Patriots want him to do is be healthy and dominate. We saw that today.
Brady, offense sharp: The first-team offense with Tom Brady at the helm had five drives of 11-on-11 in various situations, including goal line. They didn't go three-and-out on any of them, and I counted five touchdowns (some were in the same session, like goal line and low red zone).
Jaguars are not good: They have some nice pieces on both sides of the ball, but they are very far from being a good football team. QB Blake Bortles was either getting sacked, holding the ball and/or throwing it not close to his receivers on just about every play. And the defense keeps getting burned over the top. It was like the Patriots were scrimmaging their JV team.
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, CB Eric Rowe, LB Trevor Bates, LB Shea McClellin, OT Tony Garcia.
Returned to practice: Mitchell, but not in team drills. He's getting closer.
New injuries: None.
Visitors: Robert Kraft, Chip Kelly, Teddy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, Troy Brown, Galynn Brady.
DRESS CODE
Full pads.
TOP PLAYS
- Malcolm Butler beautifully undercut a soft pass from Blake Bortles to Arrelious Benn and knocked it away.
- Bortles tried to go up top to Allen Robinson but Stephon Gilmore was all over the coverage, and then Duron Harmon cleaned it up. Another underthrown ball.
- Devin Lucien keeps making plays, including one along the sideline from Jimmy Garoppolo that beat tight coverage from two defenders.
- Brady and Gronkowski hooked up on a beauty of a play where the tight end ran and out to the sideline and Brady fit it into tight coverage.
- Brady and Brandin Cooks hooked up on another touchdown in the left corner of the end zone. Cooks is buying real estate there.
- Nifty back-shoulder throw from Brady to Dwayne Allen, and a nice adjustment by the tight end for the touchdown.
THREE UP
TE Rob Gronkowski: Was the ultimate weapon again.
RG Shaq Mason: Outstanding in one-on-ones (2-0) and helped control the right side of the line with Marcus Cannon in team drills. Has been a bit up and down this camp, to the point that Ted Karras was getting into the mix, but we haven't seen that in a while.
Patriots defense: We'll give an overall Tommy Point to the entire unit because they made things rough on the Jaguars. Just about every pass was contested, and every run tough sledding. The unit had a nice look today.
THREE DOWN
OG Cole Croston: On back-to-back plays during 11-on-11, he gave up a tackle for a loss and a sack. He was also 0-2 in one-on-ones.
LB Kyle Van Noy: With McClellin out, Van Noy was asked to do more and he came up short trying to cover RBs out of the backfield and gave up one of the Jaguars' scarce scores. But he did have a possible sack where he was held by RB Chris Ivory.
Patriots LTs: Whether it was LaAdrian Waddle or Cam Fleming, there has been a huge dropoff from Nate Solder. Waddle's better than Fleming, but not by much.
ONE-ON-ONE REPORT
| OL | Win | Loss | Draw |
| Marcus Cannon | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Shaq Mason | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Fleming | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jason King | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Conor McDermott | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Jamil Douglas | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| David Andrews | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Joe Thuney | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| James Ferentz | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| LaAdrian Waddle | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Ted Karras | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Max Rich | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Cole Croston | 0 | 2 | 0 |
QB STATS
Brady finished the day 18-for-26, with three of his incompletions on balls that were thrown away or spiked to stop the clock. A good day for him, especially when it came to working with Gronkowski. Meanwhile, Garoppolo was 7-for-8. Jacoby Brissett did not get any reps during 11-on-11 -- only during "opportunity time" at the end of practice. He finished 4-for-7 with an interception on one of the last plays of practice.
QUICK HITS
Young receiver K.J. Maye impressive in a passing drill, showing a nice connection with Jimmy Garoppolo. At one point, he caught four passes from Garoppolo in a drill where the QB ended up going 5-for-6. The fight at the back end of the wide receiver depth chart between the likes of Maye and Devin Lucien (who is matching him catch-for-catch) is a good one.
Deatrich Wise had a sack on a stunt with Derek Rivers.
Stephon Gilmore had nice across-the-field coverage on Robinson to break up a pass. He later got called for pass interference.
DL Adam Butler keeps showing up with multiple pressures in pass-rush situations. Has a hard time holding up against the run, but can get to the passer.
Allen dropped a catchable play-action pass from Brady.
Dion Lewis looks as quick as ever, and Brandon Bolden just won't go away. Gets the edge well.
Chris Hogan might be the best WR blocker on the team.
LB Elandon Roberts had a sack but I think he was called for being offsides.
Butler nearly had a terrific interception but he just couldn't haul it in as he was going to the ground.
DT Lawrence Guy shows up all over the field against the run and pass.
SCHEDULE
Wednesday: Joint walkthrough with Jaguars, 9:30-11:30 a.m. (closed to public)
Thursday: Jaguars at Patriots, 7:30 p.m. (Gillette Stadium)