FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 9 is in the books. Here's what went down:
FREE PRACTICE REPORT FROM LAST SATURDAY
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Decker debuts: New receiver Eric Decker was on the field for his first Patriots practice and was, as expected, being slowly brought along. There was an extended session where the quarterbacks worked with the key receivers without defense and Decker was involved. He's wearing No. 81, which was most recently made famous in these parts by the late Aaron Hernandez. And, truth be told, Decker looks a lot like Hernandez in that jersey with body type and even the way they move (Hernandez was a quicker-twitch athlete, but they're in the same ballpark). Maybe we'll see some of the same versatility.
(Adam Richins for BSJ)Physically unable to perform list: S Nate Ebner (knee), CB Cyrus Jones (knee), CB Jonathan Jones (Achilles), WR Malcolm Mitchell (knee).
- Allen had his three best punts of camp today (4.85, 4.84, 4.81). But Bojorquez had his two best, which almost lapped Allen (5.21, 5.13).
- Bojorquez had a poor punt where he kicked away from the coverage. That will likely be a big negative to special teams coach Joe Judge.
- TE Ryan Izzo had a tremendous catch up the seam from Etling where the ball was thrown to his back hip and he basically caught it there while he was getting popped by safety A.J. Moore.
- Against air, Edelman made a great over his shoulder, which elicited a "That's how you do it, baby!" and thumbs up from Brady.
- In one of the most bizarre scenes in recent Patriots history, Kenny Britt limped towards the locker room with 20 minutes left practice and stopped to play with his kids. Have never seen that before — usually that's reserved for after practice and not while the rest of the team is working hard on the other field — and you have to wonder how that will go over with the coaches.
- A lot of situation work included Hail Mary (Phillip Dorsett caught one) and end of game situations.
- Eric Lee had a sack in the lone competitive session between reserves.
- The offensive line was LT Cole Croston, LG Brian Schwenke, C Joe Thuney, RG Ulrick John, RT Matt Tobin.
- Interesting that Thuney got some center reps. He has that type of versatility.
- Christian Sam did a nice job avoiding a block by Tobin on the goal line but RB Ralph Webb still got in.