NASHVILLE —Practice No. 12 (I'm not counting the walkthrough yesterday) is in the books and it was a spirited affair with the Titans. Let's run it down...
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Patriots have issues in the heat, are losing receivers: It has very hot when the sun was out (that was often), and the Patriots didn't seem to deal with it well. They were very quiet during the practice, while the Titans were constantly up and into it. David Andrews, who has been dealing with an illness, had to take a knee a few times and got sick. LT Dan Skipper had to leave at one point. But it was worse at receiver where both Phillip Dorsett and Maurice Harris left the field and didn't return. Toss in TEs Stephen Anderson and Matt LaCosse being out, and the ranks were thinned. At one point, Brady was even throwing passes to Ryan Davis.
Both teams got after it: The joint practices with the Lions were basically glorified games of pattycake for two days, although the second day had its moments. Didn't have to worry about that with the Titans and so many ex-Patriots on the others side of the field (Mike Vrabel, Malcolm Butler, Dion Lewis, Logan Ryan, etc.). It took about five minutes into the first competitive period for Michael Bennett and Taylor Lewan — both known as prickly — to get into it. Then there was Cody Hollister and Keion Crossen having to be separated. Finally, there was so much contact between the Patriots' gunners and Titans punt return team that they had to declare the gunners dead "not in the play" to dial it back. Even Matthew Slater and Butler mixed it up. Add on top the trash talk between Vrabel, Tom Brady and others, and this practice had some intense moments.
Patriots defense dominates, thanks to Titans QBs: In the words of Tony Massarotti, 'the Titans QBs suck, they blow.' Seriously, the Titans QBs are just bad. Marcus Mariota still isn't setting his feet and getting anything on passes. Ryan Tannehill is Ryan Tannehill. I feel bad for Mariota. I've always been a big fan of his potential but it's obvious that all the coaching changes — some guy named Arthur Smith, a career assistant who has never been an OC, is Mariota's FIFTH playcaller in his fifth season — have had an effect. That's no way to develop a quarterback.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Physically unable to perform list: WR Demaryius Thomas, WR Cam Meredith.
Non-football injury list: WR Julian Edelman, OT Yodny Cajuste.
Red non-contact jerseys: Patrick Chung, and the QBs.
Returned to practice: RB Damien Harris.
Out: LB Jamie Collins (unknown), WR N’Keal Harry (right leg), TE Matt LaCosse (left ankle), TE Stephen Anderson (unknown)
Limited: None.
New injuries: WR Phillip Dorsett (hand), WR Maurice Harris (unknown), LT Dan Skipper (heat).
DRESS CODE
Full pads
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
1:35.
QB STATS
Tom Brady: 5 of 6 in 4-on-4s, 11 of 16, INT in 11-on-11.
Brian Hoyer: 4 of 6 in 4-on-4s, 7 of 9 in 11-on-11.
Jarrett Stidham: 2 of 4 in 11 on 11.
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: Ted Karras (snap over Stidham), Stidham.
Drops: Gunner Olszewski, Maurice Harris.
Pass breakups: None.
Interceptions: Joejuan Williams 2, Chase Winovich, J.C. Jackson.
TOP PLAYS
- Jakobi Meyers made a diving catch of a Brian Hoyer pass while Amani Hooker was holding him and drawing a flag.
- Hoyer had a deep touchdown to James White down the right sideline while the Titans were asking for a flag.
- Chase Winovich picked off a Logan Woodside pass off a Deatrich Wise tip and returned it for a touchdown.
- J.C. Jackson jumped a Ryan Tannehill pass to Papi White and high-stepped it all the way for a touchdown.
Offense
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Decisive victories
Sharif Finch over St. Louis.
Jurrell Casey got a hold of Froholdt, pulled him and then flew around him.
Mason shoved Isaiah Mack to the ground.
Thuney stifled Austin Johnson.
Heavyweight bouts (starting-caliber players)
The Patriots did not get off to a good start as the current starting offensive line went 1-3-1 in their first reps, with Skipper the only winner.
Cameron Wake got around Cannon.
Mason and Casey had a great draw.
Andrews lost to DaQuan Jones.
Casey beat Thuney.
Skipper beat Kamalei Correa.
Mason beat Casey in a rematch.
Cannon draw with Correa.
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.
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- Not a good day for Bailey, but he still won out on Allen, mostly due to his final rocket with a hangtime of 5.0.
- There were a few low snaps from Joe Cardona. That's been a little bit of an issue in this camp.
THREE UP
CB Joejuan Williams: Had two interceptions today to go with his multiple breakups on Monday. It appears the game is now slowing down for the second-round pick and he's starting to make plays. This is the type of progress you like to see from rookies and now the hope is he starts to stack success.
DE Chase Winovich: He also had an interception but he's been more impressive in team drills where he seems to always be in the backfield or setting a strong edge. He's standing up all the tight ends he goes against. Would like to see some reps against tackles.
LT Dan Skipper: Ever since he had a really bad day a couple of weeks ago, Skipper has steadily gotten better to the point where he's now a solid if unspectacular left tackle. Went 2-0 in his 1-on-1 reps and appears to be doing a very good job in competitive reps.
THREE DOWN
CB Jason McCourty: The Titans didn't do much on offense, but most of it was against McCourty, who allowed three big passing plays, including two from Tannehill. With J.C. Jackson and, now, Joejuan Williams possibly breathing down his neck for a starting spot, the veteran doesn't want to give the upstarts an opening right now.
G Hjalte Froholdt: Seems like every day Froholdt has a big mistake and Dante Scarnecchia is starting get frustrated. Froholdt almost completely whiffed against Jurrell Casey (happens to everyone) but overall is having trouble moving his feet.
S Duron Harmon: Terrence Brooks got the majority of first-team safety reps with Devin McCourty. Harmon didn't see reps until Logan Woodside was on the field and, as usual, Harmon allowed a reception right in front of him when playing with instincts might have resulted in an interception.
QUICK HITS
- Not sure where Jamie Collins was. Hopefully, it was just a personal issue he had to take care of.
- Isaiah Wynn basically split snaps with Dan Skipper. That's another big step forward. Wynn even got tangled up in the wash and went to the ground but bounced right back up. Wynn really looks good in all his reps. He's got really quick feet and is stout.
- Jason McCourty got burned on two deep passes from Tannehill in 7 on 7s, one to A.J. Brown and the other to Taywan Taylor.
- Titans slot receiver Adam Humphries, who spurned the Patriots in free agency and looked really good early on, had to leave practice.
- Patriots defense largely dominated in this practice, but Mariota and the Titans did put together an extended drive in true game situations. He completed a third-down pass to Tajae Sharp against Jason McCourty, and then a deep in to Taylor.
SCHEDULE
Thursday: Joint session at Titans, 10:50 a.m.
Friday: Off.
Saturday: Patriots at Titans, 7 p.m.