FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 9 finished earlier today, and there was a lot to break down. Let's run down all you need to know: all the stats, one-on-one pass rushes and punting charts, 3 up/down, and odds and ends:
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Michel returns to the field: There were some reports that Sony Michel might not be back until the middle of the season as he stayed on the PUP list following offseason foot surgery. That changed on Wednesday as Michel was on the field for the first time this season. Now that he has passed his physical, Michel can't go back on the PUP list. He's either on the team, traded, cut or placed injured reserve.
Michel looked good on the field. Seemed a little more trim and lighter, and he looked quick through the holes and with some of his moves down the field. The Patriots are going to need at least two two-down running backs. With Lamar Miller still on PUP, Damien Harris and Michel look like a good combo.
(Silverman/New England Patriots)Passing offense struggles again: It seems like a bulk of the installation is over and the Patriots are now trying to fine-tune things that they've already learned, and in a pass-centric practice, that means an inexperienced passing offense is going to have a tough time against the Patriots defense, who were even missing the McCourtys. Cam Newton and Brian Hoyer got all the 11-on-11 reps and it didn't go well. In two-minute — or at least no-huddle; there weren't many runs to keep the defense off balance — period, Newton and Hoyer combined to go 8 of 18 with a Newton interception and a sack. That's 44.4 percent, and not many of the passes were down the field — it was a very horizontal passing game.
What's going on with N'Keal Harry?: It seemed like Harry was making progress in the previous two practices, but for much of Wednesday's practice ... let's just say he was in a secondary role. We're not allowed to report personnel groupings or first and second team reps, but Harry's role was not what you would expect it to be, or where it has been in other practices. They could have been telling him to take it easy for injury reasons because at one point, Harry had to have his right upper leg taped, but he didn't miss any reps after that. It's all very curious and I don't know what's going on.
Gilmore confirms his absence was personal, not contractual: Stephon Gilmore spoke to reporters for the first time since returning after missing three practices, and he confirmed that he was dealing with a personal issue and it did not have anything to do with his contract. "Everything’s good." he said. "Had something come up that, you know, is personal reasons so I told coach about it and we’ll leave it at that. ... It wasn’t because of (the contract). I had something come up and I had to deal with it, so it wasn’t for that reason."
Gilmore seemed appreciative that Bill Belichick gave him the time off.
"I think it helped out a lot," said Gilmore, who said he stayed in the loop by watching film on his iPad. "Everybody goes through things in life, you know when it’s something serious, you know, you don’t want it on your mind, sometimes you’ve got to handle things. I was able to do that now I’m back, back happy and ready to take on each and every day getting better."
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Physically unable to perform list: RB Lamar Miller (knee).
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs.
Returned to practice: RB Sony Michel (foot), S Adrian Phillips, WR Jeff Thomas, WR Devin Ross.
Out: RT Yodny Cajuste, DT Beau Allen, WR Jeff Thomas, WR Will Hastings, S Kyle Dugger,
Limited: WR Jakobi Meyers, LB Terez Hall, S Devin McCourty, TE Devin Asiasi (right foot).
New injuries: None.
DRESS CODE
Shells.
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
2 hours in autumn temps and blue skies.
HANDS TEAM
Fumbles: None.
Drops: Devin Ross.
Pass breakups: JC Jackson, Justin Bethel, Stephon Gilmore, Jonathan Jones, Terrence Brooks, Myles Bryant.
Interception: Brooks (Newton).
TOP PLAYS
- Jarrett Stidham threw a tremendous ball over the middle over tight coverage from LB Cassh Maluia and in front of the safety to Ryan Izzo. Stidham threaded the needle and that sort of teased his talent as a passer. Not sure if either of the other two QBs can make that throw, not that Stidham does it consistently.
- After a bad no-huddle session, the offense got one more chance on the 9-yard line and Newton lofted a perfect ball to the pylon that Rex Burkhead laid out for over Josh Uche. Not sure it would have held up under review — it appeared Burkhead use the ground to secure the catch — but we'll give it to him.
- Harry had a nice backshoulder catch from Stidham that rival Mike Jackson was pissed about allowing.
QB STATS
Cam Newton: 5 of 12, with sack, INT in 11-on-11
Brian Hoyer: 3 of 6 11-on-11
Jarrett Stidham: 6 of 6 (in 7 on 7s, no 11-on-11s)
Here are the plays from the QBs during the 11-on-11 period:
Newton late to Byrd (Gilmore PBU)
Run
Drop by Ross
Incomplete to Sanu (Jones dropped INT)
Sack
Run
Incomplete to Keene
Short to White
Run
Hoyer incomplete to Olszewski
Screen
Complete to Harry
Incomplete high to Izzo (Brooks near INT)
Complete short to Harris
Incomplete high to Harry (Bryant PBU)
Newton complete to Byrd
Complete to Edelman
Incomplete to Keene
Complete to Burkhead
Interception to Keene (Brooks)
Newton TD to Burkhead.
Just not very good at all.
QB Of The Day Award: None.
Stidham was good but he didn't get enough work to qualify. It was the first time he threw the ball with confidence since the second practice. Shame he got hurt. He can spin it.
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.
- Expect Thursday's practice to be very heavy and competitive after a light day and before their second of three days off during this truncated training camp. I would not be surprised at all if this is almost a controlled scrimmage, which I'm rooting for because it would give us more data on where the team sees certain players.
- Gunner Olszewski ran a slot route that completely dusted the cornerback after an inside fake and outside release. Very well done.
- Newton had a pass to Damiere Byrd broken up by Gilmore because Newton was late with the throw to the sideline and didn't zip it in there. He's lucky Gilmore didn't pick it off.
- Newton took a sack when he pulled down a pass to Edelman because he saw the Patriots were running a robber coverage.
SCHEDULE
Thursday: 10 a.m.
Friday: Players off.