FOXBOROUGH — Football. Is. Back.
Enough of the pleasantries. Let's get into it:
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
They didn't exactly hit the ground running: Certainly, the team got a lot accomplished on the first day, but it was basically an extension of the offseason practices. The pace was leisurely, there weren't very many competitive drills ... it was as if Bill Belichick said, "Don't anybody go all-out on Day 1 and pop a hamstring." (Maybe it was the rainy weather that produced an occasionally slick field that prompted some to tap the brakes.) That might have been the case, and it might be as a result of the CBA, which totally changed things. It's certainly not new, but teams are still adjusting to the lack of padded practices and time on the field. We're a long ways from padded double- and triple-sessions in the heat of summer. The first two days of practice can't be in pads, so that's going to lend itself to an OTA-like feel. That being said, if this was setting the tone, then it's the same tone as last season ... which resulted in the blowout loss to the Chiefs (and, yes, I know, a Super Bowl appearance). Hopefully, it's just the Patriots being smarter about keeping people on the field and the intensity of practice will ramp up when the pads go on. What we saw Thursday was not training camp. It was an OTA practice.
Gronk was ... um ... muted (again): We noted last year that on the first day of camp, everyone got the full Gronk Experience — Rob Gronkowski was dominating on the field, catching passes all over the place and having a ton of fun with several dances, including one gyrating one behind Belichick's back. Then after that, it all stopped. He had an average camp and didn't look like he was having much fun. Then, we found from Tom E. Curran's reporting that Gronk actually contemplated retirement in last year's camp. That matched up with what he put on the field. Of course, once the season came and he was getting paid every week, Gronk was the best tight end in the league. This year, we have the backdrop of his contract. After a minicamp appearance where he appeared to be back to normal -- he celebrated one touchdown by firing a ball into a nearby tree -- it was back to subdued Gronk on Thursday. Ultimately, when it comes to his deal, I thought something would be done by Thursday morning. As far as we know, it has not happened yet. The Gronk I saw on Thursday was the one I saw most of last year's camp. While he was dominant in practice, he didn't look all that happy to be there, and didn't seem to be having all that much fun. Does that have to do with the contract? Does it have to do with some sort of team-wide edict to take it easy on the first day of what will be a long "grind" (to use Gronk's own word)? I don't know. But it bears monitoring.
Trent Brown opens at left tackle: With Nate Solder gone after seven seasons, the Patriots are looking for a new left tackle to protect Brady's blindside. The first one up was Brown, who was acquired in a trade for basically nothing (Patriots send them a third-round pick and received Brown and a fourth in return). At 6-foot-8 and 380 pounds, he certainly has the size to play there. There were no pads, so it's tough to gauge just how good he is (that will start Saturday) but he's certainly not close to the athlete Solder was (that guy was tight end in an OT body). Long ways to go for everyone. It was interesting that first-round pick Isaiah Wynn was the second-team left tackle, with LaAdrian Waddle was second at RT behind Marcus Cannon. I think we'll see Brown, Wynn and Waddle will all get reps at LT as we get going.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Reserve/injured list: WR Darren Andrews, WR Cody Hollister, S David Jones.
Physically unable to perform list: WR Kenny Britt (leg), S Nate Ebner (knee), CB Cyrus Jones (knee), CB Jonathan Jones (Achilles), ST Matthew Slater.
Red non-contact jerseys: Just the QBs.
Not participating: RB Brandon Bolden, WR Malcolm Mitchell (knee).
Returned to practice: None.
New injuries: None.
DRESS CODE
Shells.
TOP PLAYS
Not a lot going on in this department during this subdued practice, but this is what we picked up:
- Elandon Roberts had a nice interception on a seam pass from Brady to Gronkowski.
- Kyle Van Noy had a couple nice pass breakups, including one against Sony Michel, and nearly came up with a great interception.
- Dwayne Allen, after fighting the ball for most of practice, made a nice grab going to the ground against Ja'Whaun Bentley.
- Some of the safeties are starting play a lot closer to the line of scrimmage, especially Devin McCourty. Found it interesting that Brandon King often worked with the linebackers. Could this spell the end of Jordan Richards there? Please, if there is a God.
- Cordarrelle Patterson is fast even going sideline to sideline.
- Didn't notice Harvey Langi at all, which was strange for a guy who popped last year.
- Still not sure what's going on with Jason McCourty. Didn't do anything in the offseason and was with the 2s on Thursday and didn't stand out. On a veteran pace?
- Couldn't get a bead on where Dont'a Hightower was playing. In one drill he was the Mike and Roberts was the Will. In the next, Hightower was rushing as the Will and Roberts was the Mike. Looks to be a Swiss Army Knife.
- Good to see that outside of LT, the entire starting OL was intact, even Joe Thuney at LG.
- If I saw it correctly, I think the Patriots had a red zone drill with the aim of the QBs keeping the play alive deep into the down. Not sure I've seen that before.
- Patterson and Michel got a lot of work as kick returners.
- It sure seems like LB Nicholas Grigsby is part of a lot of plans, especially on special teams.
- I continue to be very excited about Phillip Dorsett this season, much to the chagrin of a couple of our readers.
- Nothing new or exotic about the defense. Trey Flowers (left) and Adrian Clayborn (right) were on the edge.
- Derek Rivers had a sack against Waddle.
- Jordan Matthews had a drop in the end zone, but continued to have good pop from his legs.
- Julian Edelman is still working his way back. Haven't seen his explosion yet. Chris Hogan is becoming Mr. Reliable. Didn't notice Braxton Berrios or Riley McCarron.
- Jacob Hollister is the move tight end.
- Mike Gillislee looked good.
- LB Christian Sam has a chance to make an impact if he learns quickly.