FOXBOROUGH — Patriots practice No. 12 finished earlier today — the final session here's what you need to know:
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Passing offense starts to develop a little rhythm: Look, everyone was in shells and the QBs are still in their red jerseys, so no one is going to say they've arrived or anything ... but after a rough Week 2 of camp (the first week was heavy on installation and the run game), the Patriots' passing offense looked a little more ... well ... competent today. It started against the second team defense, but it continued against the first team as well when things started to get a little more competitive. Against the first time in a down three points scenario, Newton went:
- Complete to Dalton Keene.
- Complete to Harry on a dynamite catch where he fell to the ground on a hitch and still caught the ball.
- Incomplete to Keene when Joejuan Williams broke it up.
- Complete to Mohamed Sanu against JC Jackson.
- Snuffed out screen.
- Complete to Sanu to stop the clock before Nick Folk had his second miss of camp from 49 yards.
I had Newton going 8 of 11 in competitive drills, and he's clearly the starter — don't let anyone tell you differently. The competition is among the backups, and Stidham has ground to make up there as well.
Where's Julian Edelman?: Making the offensive performance even more impressive was the fact that Edelman was on the field to start practice and disappeared. Hopefully it's nothing too serious. The Patriots are kind of used to the fact that Edelman makes inconsistent appearances at camp, and they just want him right for the season.
Kicking competition should be over: If it wasn't over before this practice, it should be now. Justin Rohrwasser was just 2 of 6 overall in this practice, while Nick Folk was 4 of 5, with his one miss coming off the right goalpost. Rohrwasser badly missed two kicks wide left, although they weren't quite porta-pottie bad.
The camp totals:
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Physically unable to perform list: RB Lamar Miller (knee).
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs, WR Jakobi Meyers.
Returned to practice: LB Cassh Maluia.
Out: DT Beau Allen, LB Chase Winovich, CB Michael Jackson.
Limited: S Adrian Phillips, WR Julian Edelman, TE Devin Asiasi.
New injuries: DT Michael Barnett hurt his leg and limped off.
DRESS CODE
Shells and shorts.
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
2 hours on a beautiful day.
HANDS TEAM
Fumbles: None.
Drops: N'Keal Harry.
Pass breakups: Ja'Whaun Bentley, Joejuan Williams.
Interception: Joejuan Williams (Hoyer)
TOP PLAYS
- Harry catching a hard-thrown pass while still on the ground after slipping.
QB STATS
Cam Newton: 8 of 11
Brian Hoyer: 4 of 8, INT
Jarrett Stidham: 2 of 4
QB Of The Day Award: Newton.
Looked much more in command of the offense, including directing some pre-snap motion and telling a few players where to line up.
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.
- Newly signed WR Andre Baccellia practiced for the first time.
- Both Kyle Dugger and Joejuan Williams wore basically big oven mitts on their hands during 11-on-11 drills.
