FOXBOROUGH —Practice No. 7 is in the books, let's run down all you need to know: all the stats, pass rush charts, 3 up/down and odds and odds-and-ends:
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Tom Brady got benched: Yup, I was pretty stunned too when it happened, and I had to make sure I was seeing what I saw. But, yes, it happened for three plays. Here's what occurred.
After an initial 11-on-11 period that saw Brady go 3 of 5 with one throw at N'Keal Harry's feet and an overthrow in the flat to James White (Brian Hoyer was 1 of 2, Jarrett Stidham was 1 of 1), both the offensive and defensive starters took the field for short yardage. On the first play, Sony Michel was blown up by Elandon Roberts. Then Brady had a completion to Harry. On the next play, Shaq Mason jumped offsides. On the next play, it appeared it was Marcus Cannon. At that point, Belichick sent the entire offense on a penalty lap and then gathered them around, likely for a tongue lashing. On the very next play, Brady and Michel fumbled the handoff and another lap ensued.
Once the drill resumed, Stidham was under center with the starting offensive line and targets. He was 2 of 3 with two dime touchdowns to Jakobi Meyers and Harry. A third pass to Meyers was caught for a touchdown but it was just out of bounds.
When the second-team offense took the field, Brady was under center and threw a touchdown to Ben Watson in his two plays. Then Stidham took over as order was restored.
Why the QB switch? I'm guessing Belichick was sending a message to his offense, which was again terrible to that point, that enough was enough.
Jakobi Meyers runs with the starters: One of the more impressive players of training camp so far got his chance to show what he could do with the starters as Meyers got a promotion. He continued his strong play and will only continue to get more looks.
Defense stuffs goal-line runs again: After Brady tossed a touchdown to Watson on the first play of goal line, the defense would not yield any more yards. Jamie Collins and Danny Shelton stuffed Sony Michel on the second play. LB Terez Hall and Christian Sam stuffed Damien Harris in the backfield. Finally, DT David Parry was among a group that took Harris down again.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
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: None.
Full participants: DL Byron Cowart.
Out: TE Lance Kendricks (head).
Limited: C David Andrews, LT Isaiah Wynn, RB Rex Burkhead.
New injuries: None.
DRESS CODE
Full pads.
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
1:43.
QB STATS
Tom Brady: 8 of 13.
Brian Hoyer: 4 of 5.
Jarrett Stidham: 3 of 4.
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: Brady/Michel.
Drops: Ben Watson, Matt LaCosse.
Pass breakups: D'Angelo Ross 2, J.C. Jackson, Duke Dawson, Keion Crossen.
Interception: None.
TOP PLAYS
- Meyers made the catch of camp to date when a nice Stidham pass found him in traffic against Keion Crossen and Patrick Chung, but Meyers tipped the ball to himself as the defenders collided and Meyers scored by himself
- Harry had a great haul on a deep pass for a touchdown that left Duron Harmon upset with Joejuan Willams.
- Harry caught another pass from Stidham that beat Crossen.
Defense
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Offense
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- Mason completely stuffed Guy.
- Bennett danced around Mason and left him grasping at air.
- Kamalu got his first victory of camp by dusting Gauthier.
- Cowart bullied Froholdt in a draft pick matchup.
- Guy got his revenge by walking Mason back.
Heavyweight bouts (starting-caliber players)
Mason completely stuffed Guy.
Bennett danced around Mason and left him grasping at air.
Guy got his revenge by walking Mason back.
Skipper handled Wise then later tied.
Thuney shut down Butler.
Shelton shoved back Andrews.
Cannon didn't let Van Noy go anywhere.
Guy became one of the rare players to move Thuney around.
Thuney stuffed Bennett.
Andrews bullied Shelton.
- A tip of the cap of the coaches for giving a record 39 one-on-one reps. That was fun.
- James Ferentz and David Parry had three absolute death-match draws as you can tell they don't love each other.
- I'll say this much: no one works harder than Deatrich Wise. He had seven reps. Never heard of that before.
- Bennett is really fun to watch and he had some great matchups with Thuney and Mason.
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.
- No punts today, and Allen held for all the field goals after Bailey did the same on Wednesday.
THREE UP
WR Jakobi Meyers: While the rest of the Patriots' skill players seem like they're trying to catch up, Meyers takes the field day after day, and just makes plays.
Interior defensive line: Give it up to Lawrence Guy (2-0-1), Danny Shelton, Nick Thurman and Byron Cowart, who went a combined 9-3-3 in one-on-ones and were just stifling in all short-yardage situations.
QB Jarrett Stidham: Give the kid some credit. When he was thrown in for Brady, he delivered three dimes down the field to his rookie crew of Meyers (twice) and Harry.
THREE DOWN
The starting offense: Yes, it's still early. Yes, they have a bunch of new players. Yes, the defense is really good and a veteran group. But the past two days ... there's no excuse for that performance. The drops, the fumbles, the false starts ... just a complete slopfest. We're real close to a Brady punt into the stands.
DE Deatrich Wise: He's obviously working his way back from offseason surgery and trying to make up lost time (seven 1-on-1 reps!) but he's not getting results. He was 1-3-3 today and is now 1-5-4 the past two days.
TE Matt LaCosse: Had one drop and another one that was borderline when he couldn't haul in a back-shoulder pass from Brady.
QUICK HITS
- Good seam pass from Brady to LaCosse against Duron Harmon. We know what that pass means to this offense.
- Dontrelle Inman caught his first pass of team drills during camp. Baby steps.
- The defense continues to mix and match linebackers and safeties. Today you saw Terrence Brooks with Harmon and the starters, and Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung with the backups. Even spied Obi Melifonwu with the linebackers.
- David Andrews continues to mix in a little bit more into competitive drills.
- Hjalte Frodholdt was mostly at left guard today.
- Lines have been the same, from left: Skipper, Thuney, Ferentz/Andrews, Mason, Cannon; Lang, Froholdt, Karras, Gauthier, St. Louis.
- CB D'Angelo Ross keeps making plays. Look for his chances to increase.
SCHEDULE
Friday: 9:15 a.m. walkthrough, 9:25 a.m. practice
Saturday: OFF
Sunday: Travel to Detroit.
Monday: Joint practice with Lions.
Tuesday: Joint practice with Lions.
Wednesday: OFF/LIGHT
Aug. 8: Patriots vs. Lions, 7:30 p.m.
