FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 6 is in the books, let's run down all you need to know: all the stats, pass rush and punting charts, 3 up/down and odds and ends:
TWO THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
The offense was terrible: This was one of those practices that you have in the middle of the third week and it's like the third practice in a row. The Patriots, after a walkthrough in the stadium on Monday and a day off Tuesday, were basically hot garbage on offense. The quarterbacks combined to complete 48 percent of their passes. There were drops all over the field, fumbles, false starts, blockers like Dan Skipper (your current LT) falling on his keister twice, Josh McDaniels and Dante Scarnecchia screaming at players, and even the Patriots' vaunted running game was getting repeatedly stuffed. It was one of the worst offensive practices I've seen out of the Patriots, and I don't even think it was just the defense being very good. The offense came out with a bad pace and things didn't get better. It was so bad that on Tom Brady's final rep of the two-minute drill, it looked like the defense pulled up and allowed them to complete a pass. Maybe it was out of pity.
Ryan Allen facing uphill battle to retain punt spot: The Patriots didn't trade up and take Jake Bailey in the fifth round for nothing. He continued to dominate the on-field punting portion, and then Allen had to watch Bailey take every snap as the field goal holder in this practice. That's a tough look. Corey Bojorquez, the undrafted challenger who lost but then joined the Bills last year, didn't get a chance to hold until very late in camp. If that doesn't flip tomorrow, it could mean that the punting competition is all but over.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
New player: OG Martez Ivey, No. 63.
Physically unable to perform list: DB Nate Ebner, WR Demaryius Thomas, DB Ken Webster.
Non-football injury list: WR Julian Edelman, OT Yodny Cajuste.
Red non-contact jerseys: S Patrick Chung (left shoulder) and the QBs.
Returned to practice: WR Dontrelle Inman.
Full participants: RB Sony Michel, DE Deatrich Wise.
Out: None.
Limited: C David Andrews, LT Isaiah Wynn, DL Byron Cowart, RB Rex Burkhead.
New injuries: TE Lance Kendricks (appeared to sustain a head injury blocking on an inside run).
DRESS CODE
Full pads.
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
1:20 in brutal heat.
QB STATS
Tom Brady: 5 of 11.
Brian Hoyer: 4 of 9, INT.
Jarrett Stidham: 3 of 5.
Note: I do not have the number of reps that some other writers have because I do not count when the offense is "working off cards." Those are plays when an assistant coach literally brings out a play on a card and shows it to one side of the ball. They are not running their own plays so since there are so many x-factors — including the receiver running the right route, and blockers executing correctly — so I do not count those reps.
HANDS TEAM
Fumbles: James White (Jamie Collins forced).
Drops: N'Keal Harry 3, Braxton Berrios.
Pass breakups: Jonathan Jones 3, Keionta Davis 2, D'Angelo Ross 2, Jason McCourty, Terrence Brooks, Elandon Roberts, Joejuan Williams, Duke Dawson, Ja'Whaun Bentley.
Interception: Duron Harmon off Brooks tip (Hoyer).
TOP PLAYS
- UDFA WR Jakobi Meyers continued to open eyes by leaping over Keion Crossen in 1-on-1s.
- CB Joejuan Williams made his first play of camp by getting his hand on a Hoyer pass to Phillip Dorsett that was very late.
- N'Keal Harry had two really nice catches down the field that required good adjustments, but they didn't cancel out his drops.
Defense
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Offense
[table id=310 /]
Decisive victories
Cannon completely shutdown Wise on his first rep of camp.
Thuney stifled Butler.
Heavyweight bouts (starting-caliber players)
Cannon completely shutdown Wise on his first rep of camp.
Thuney stifled Butler.
Andrews stopped Pennel rather easily.
Cannon tied Rivers.
Mason stoned Wise when he moved inside.
Mason and Bennett split back-to-back spirited reps. That fun.
SHANK IT OFF
For now, there's a punting competition going on between the incumbent, Ryan Allen, and fifth-round challenger, Jake Bailey, so we're going to cover the hell out of it because Bedard's a nerd like that.
[table id=309 /]
This sort of speaks for itself.
THREE UP
RT Marcus Cannon: Nothing like a little more cash in your pocket to make you play a little better. Cannon has his best day of camp and was largely flawless in 1-on-1s.
Linebackers: There was some physical play on the interior and it seemed like the Patriots' linebackers were in the middle of it. Elandon Roberts might have concussed Lance Kendricks during a blocking battle. Ja'Whaun Bentley had a couple stuffs. Jamie Collins added one as well and was more impactful in the passing game. Even edge guys like Keionta Davis and John Simon were shoving blockers back.
CB D'Angelo Ross: The undrafted free agent really got after it in 1-on-1s with a couple of pass breakups. Definitely loves to compete.
THREE DOWN
LT Dan Skipper: Went 1-1 during 1-on-1s but really struggled when it came time for 2-on-2s. At one point in 11-on-11, Scarnecchia really got on Skipper. That was before he tried to make a run block by leading with his head. Skipper looks the part, has the tools, but he needs a lot of work. He's out in front of his pads too much and lunges. He obviously has some bad habits.
WR N'Keal Harry: Dropped two shallow crosses and then another dime down the sideline by Brady. Had a couple of really nice catches, but he has to get a lot more consistent. Harry also pulled up a little lame after the final drop. Great.
DE Deatrich Wise: Made his full-go debut at practice and that included his first rounds of 1-on-1. It wasn't good. Marcus Cannon completely blanketed him on his first rep, and Shaq Mason did the same when Wise tried his craft at three-technique. Wise did later manage a draw against James Ferentz.
QUICK HITS
- Stephen Anderson blocked the wrong person at one point.
- Lance Kendricks made the lead block as an H-back in the hole against Elandon Roberts (I think) and was instantly stunned a bit. He later left the field with a trainer, who was carrying Kendricks' helmet. That's usually a sign of concussion protocol.
- Duron Harmon and Terrence Brooks opened up as the deep safeties but there was a heavy rotation.
- J.C. Jackson split some time with Stephon Gilmore.
- Even in practice, Duron Harmon gets Duron Harmon interceptions. Terrence Brooks provided the blanket coverage and deflected a Hoyer pass ... right to Harmon.
- This was the two-minute sequence for Brady's group: Checkdown to White, Drop by Harry, Incomplete to Berrios (Jones PBU), Incomplete to Berrios (Collins in way), Complete to Berrios because it looked like the defense eased up.
- By the way, Harry is still running ahead of Maurice Harris as the starting X receiver. That might switch at some point.
- Hjalte Froholdt worked a lot at RG today. He's been flipping both guard spots.
SCHEDULE
Thursday: 9:15 a.m. walkthrough, 9:25 a.m. practice
Friday: TBA
Saturday: TBA (off?)
Sunday: Travel to Detroit.
Monday: Joint practice with Lions.
Tuesday: Joint practice with Lions.
Wednesday: Off?
Aug. 8: Patriots vs. Lions, 7:30 p.m.
