FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 10 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
Players take the field as they obviously feel a weight: With the NBA postponing games and other leagues likely to do the same as this country tries to confront obvious and longstanding racial problems, the Patriots did take the field. But don't think the players don't feel the issues that happening. They are. Very heavily. We don't delve into these areas very much at BSJ, but this is not a political issue to me — it's a human rights issue and the players and your neighbors deserve to be heard. I suggest you take a few minutes and listen to hopelessness and hurt in the voices of Devin and Jason McCourty. They are people and if you support them on the field, the least you can do is listen to them.
"If there was no football, I don’t think people are still going to care about black and brown people in our country," Devin McCourty said. "I just don’t think that will be result of it. Like I said, I’ve been at a loss with what to do, what not to do, what is acceptable. It was powerful seeing the NBA and all those guys not play, but does it really matter if they go and play? I don’t know. I’m not saying they’re wrong. I’m just being honest with you. I don’t know. I don’t have those answers. I don’t know what’s the right thing to do. It’s just been tough. I think all throughout the day, you have emotions – being happy to be out there on the football field. You have emotions of talking about something that has nothing to do about football when we’re out there. I think as a player and as human beings, we’re all figuring out a way to continuing to press on."
The defense is kicking butt and taking names: This is starting to get repetitive, but in scrimmage situations, the Patriots' defense is strutting its stuff and telling the offense about it. On other days I thought it was bad offense. Today, I thought the defense was just dominating, even though the offense again had its share of issues. The scary part for the offense: this wasn't just 7 on 7 passing or a string of third downs. These were regular down and distance situations where Newton is a factor because of his legs, and they still struggled ... even against the backups! For example, here's one drive of the offensive starters against the defensive backups:
Newton throwaway after no one is open
Newton incomplete to Edelman as he holds the ball forever
Newton scramble with no one open
Harris run
Harris run
Michel touchdown on a deceptive play that got Isaiah Wynn out on Joejuan Williams
Newton incomplete to Edelman with no one open
Newton throws into end zone but deflected by Deatrich Wise
That was against the backups. One successful play out of eight.
Season prep ramping up: Not only was this entire practice just about all 11-on-11 periods, but there were officials on hand for the first time. With a 1 p.m. practice scheduled for Friday, you can sense the Patriots ramping up the season prep. I don't think the time is a coincidence. I would expect the team to almost use it as a dress rehearsal/lively scrimmage for the season opener.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Physically unable to perform list: RB Lamar Miller (knee).
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs.
Returned to practice: RT Yodny Cajuste, S Kyle Dugger, WR Jeff Thomas.
Out: DT Beau Allen, WR Will Hastings, S Devin McCourty, LB Josh Uche, LB Cassh Maluia.
Limited: WR Jakobi Meyers, LB Terez Hall, TE Devin Asiasi (right foot).
New injuries: LG Joe Thuney (left hand) did not return. RB Damien Harris (left calf) stayed in. CB Michael Jackson limped around but stayed in.
DRESS CODE
Full pads.
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
2 hours in autumn temps, some rain and mostly cloudy.
HANDS TEAM
Fumbles: Damien Harris (Jason McCourty).
Drops: Gunner Olszewski (Stidham), Ryan Izzo (Hoyer), Isaiah Zuber (Lewerke)
Pass breakups: Joejuan Williams (Stidham), Michael Jackson (Hoyer), D'Angelo Ross (Newton)
Interception: Terrence Brooks (Newton).
TOP PLAYS
- On the first play of the scrimmage, Damien Harris busted through a huge hole over the right side between Shaq Mason and Jermaine Eluemunor for what would likely be a 70-yard touchdown. Jason McCourty ran Harris down and forced a fumble but it appeared Harris did score.
- Hoyer tossed a beauty touchdown to Olszewski to beat Justin Bethel.
- Hoyer deep to Ross on a post that was really pretty.
QB STATS
Cam Newton: 1o of 19, INT, 2 sacks.
Brian Hoyer: 5 of 11
Jarrett Stidham: 5 of 14
QB Of The Day Award: Hoyer.
Got the least amount of reps but had two of the best passes of the day to Olszewski and deep to Ross.
Stidham's first set of downs was 0 for 4 with a drop, a ball behind N'Keal Harry, late to Harry and broken up by Williams to Burkhead.
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.
AIN'T THAT A KICK
Today's kicking competition update:
Justin Rohrwasser looked the best he has on the field, but he was still just 2 of 3 while Nick Folk was 3 of 3 and continues to be perfect in his return.
- Brooks' interception of Newton in front of James White likely would have a been a sack by Ja'Whaun Bentley.
- White had a nice diving touchdown off a short pass from Newton that beat Adrian Phillips.
- Byron Cowart had a sack of Newton that was negated by a secondary hold.
- Mohamed Sanu ran for a touchdown. He continues to be very involved with the regulars.
- Stidham made a really nice seam pass to Ross but Jonathan Jones' coverage was better, and then Stidham threw behind Dalton Keene.
- One play after Anfernee Jennings — who took Uche's reps — stuffed JJ Taylor, Keene knocked the stuffing out Jennings on a wham block to spring Taylor.
- A running back who will be anonymous threw a really nice pass to Olszweski.
- Yodny Cajuste was back and seemed to play well as he mixed in at left and right tackle.
- It was good to see Adrian Phillips and Kyle Dugger back in the mix, with Phillips more in the mix today. The team obviously has plans for him, if he can stay on the field.
- LB Anfernee Jennings has put together some impressive practices and I wouldn't be surprised to see if he's battling Josh Uche for a starting spot. He's a more natural linebacker and is very physical.
SCHEDULE
Friday: Stadium practice, 1 p.m.
Saturday: Players off.
Sunday: TBA.