FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 4 is in the books. Here's what went down:
FREE PRACTICE REPORT FROM SATURDAY.
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Defense shows toughness in the trenches: There were two short goal-line sequences, each with two running plays. And each time, the defense stuffed the offense. Sony Michel was cut down going over left tackle. Rex Burkhead went nowhere against Trey Flowers and Lawrence Guy. Brandon Bolden was stopped dead in his tracks by Deatrich Wise after he tossed Matt Tobin to the side. And Elandon Roberts found a seam to take down Bolden for a loss. A great show of physicality and toughness by the defense. But frankly, it was fairly embarrassing for the offense.
Matthews walks off with injury: Not sure what happened but midway through practice, WR Jordan Matthews was seen walking off the back of the field with his shoes in hand. If it's anything serious, then obviously that's not great news for a unit that has depth issues. Also, Matthews needs as much practice time with Tom Brady as possible.
New safety roles?: This could have just been a one-day thing for the coaches to take a look, or Patrick Chung could have just had a light day, but there was a lengthy stretch of practice where the veteran safety was not in the base defense and, instead, it was Duron Harmon. While things certainly fluctuate based on opponents, this would be a fairly sizable change if the Patriots stick with it.
Chung started 14 of 19 games last season, including the final 10. Harmon started four of 19. Usually, it's been Chung with Devin McCourty as the starting strong and free safeties, respectively. Harmon would enter as the deep safety, McCourty would kick to strong and Chung would be a pseudo-linebacker.
We've extensively documented how poor the Patriots were on first down last season, and how that had a huge trickle-down effect on their third-down defense. Also, how the additions of Danny Shelton and Adrian Clayborn (and the subtraction to waste-of-space Alan Branch) were likely aimed at improving on first downs. Combine that with Dont'a Hightower being back and in the middle of the defense, and perhaps the Patriots feel OK taking a good run defender like Chung off the field and replacing him with a better pass defender in Harmon.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Non-Football Injury list: WR Darren Andrews, WR Cody Hollister.
- Adam Butler's quickness continues to be off the charts. He dusted John with a quick inside move.
- Karras was a bit high against Valentine, but didn't pay the price in a draw.
- Poor Ferentz got tossed out the club by Wise.
- Shelton had a much better day today.
- Atkins continues to produce. Could be this year's Butler.
- Hightower and Van Noy have not shown well in these drills.
- Where's Marquis Flowers, who was last seen rushing against tackles in the Super Bowl of all games?
- Brown and Wynn continue to be top-notch. Quite a little battle they have going there.
- Cannon had a nice bounce-back day, and showed some nasty.
- John had two impressive victories today to get himself noticed.
- Cordarrelle Patterson made a a nifty acrobatic catch of a Brady pass.
- Eric Rowe had a nice, late pass breakup of a possible touchdown for Chris Hogan.
- Hoyer had two nice touchdowns to Jacob Hollister over Eddie Pleasant, and one to Edelman over J.C. Jackson in the corner of the end zone.
- Today's second-team offensive line: LT Isaiah Wynn, LG James Ferentz, C Ted Karras, RG Ulrick John, RT LaAdrian Waddle.
- We almost had a serious fight during a new drill the Patriots showed off where a RB or WR took a ball from on top of a pad and went either left or right against a tackler. The goal of the drill appeared to work on form tackling. On one of the early reps, Elandon Roberts dove at the left knee of Jeremy Hill, who rightfully didn't like that one bit. But it quickly settled down.
- On the same drill, Geneo Grissom blasted Jacob Hollister.
- Patriots had a long period where they worked on deceptive plays.
- Another day, another example of how Wise is just a different (in a good way) dude: at one point in practice, he ran about 40 yards to finish a play and congratulate a defensive back for making a good play. Nobody else does stuff like that (that's not a knock on anybody; it's Wise going the extra mile) and trust me when I tell you the coaches notice little things like that.
- Shaq Mason manhandled Roberts, and Trent Brown took apart Clayborn in separate running drill plays.
- Michel had perhaps his best play of camp where he took a screen, was patient with his blockers and then took it to the house.
- Brown can get out on screens too. Impressive.
Tuesday: