FOXBOROUGH — With full-throated chants and shouts about Ernie Adams following his final practice after 46 years in the NFL, the Patriots left the practice field for the final time Wednesday before training camp starts. It was a beautiful day for the final of six practices open to the media, the Patriots put in a full day of work and now we won't see them on a practice field until about July 28th.
So what did we learn in the totality of those sessions?
1. There will be a quarterback competition.
It's absolutely true that Cam Newton had a good all-around day for the Patriots. I would go so far as to call it great. After struggling on Tuesday and displaying poor body language as Mac Jones got more reps and attention, the Patriots received the full Newton experience from the start to end of practice. He was dancing, celebrating, leaping all over the place. And he was good on the field as well.
Newton was 17 of 21 in this practice, which was conducted at a lower pace than Tuesday. It felt like a review session. It was not as competitive. I will say, there weren't that many wow throws from Newton. And he missed his possible big plays down the field with a few overthrows. But Newton was a little more decisive, made quicker decisions and was more accurate with his throws.
Jones, on the other hand, was 11 of 17 with an INT in competitive drills. He did make a couple of throws down the field, but I would say his best work comes on shorter timing/touch passes. When a RB goes into the flat, Jones almost always throws a perfect touch pass in the right spot that allows the back to keep going.
Why the switch with Newton's demeanor?
I think the coaches noticed it as well and said something to Newton, along with telling him, "Don't worry about what we did with Mac yesterday. Just part of our program. Today's your day. You're our guy."
Now, do I believe them? No. The Patriots absolutely have conducted this camp to at least gauge if Jones can get where they need him to get in training camp to possibly start Week 1. And I think they got their answer in the affirmative. They also take great care in making sure Newton feels comfortable. This is not unusual.
If you're trying to gauge where things are during mini-camp, you're fighting a losing battle. Mini-camp is about teaching/testing and seeing if a young player can get the concepts down during training camp. After mini-camp, they have a good idea which rookies are worth investing time in as far as meaningful reps in training camp.
Jones is probably the only no-doubt rookie who will be in a camp competition. Christian Barmore would be next, but he's mostly getting rookie reps outside of injury situations. I would say everyone else, including Ronnie Perkins and Rhamondre Stevenson, is a longshot right now. But things can and often change, especially when an injury provides an opportunity.
But as far as QBs go, I would expect equal teaching to be done for about a week, as players become reacclimated. Then the competition will ensue.
2. The front seven is impressive.
What a difference a year makes. When the Patriots started camp in 2020, they barely had enough players to line up at defensive tackle, edge and inside linebacker. Now, it's hard to find people enough playing time — let alone the opponent having any clue where anyone is going to line up.
Being able to begin with a starting group of Lawrence Guy, Davon Gaudchaux and Henry Anderson, with Matthew Judon, Kyle Van Noy, Dont'a Hightower ... with guys like Ja'Whaun Bentley, Raekwon McMillan, Josh Uche, Harvey Langi, Deatrich Wise, Byron Cowart, Barmore, Montravius Adams and Chase Winovich in reserve ... that's a lot.
Uche has had a great camp, and I'm not even sure if there's room for him to start. I thought Winovich was staying away possibly to force a trade for more playing time and a real role, but a league source said it was a minor injury.
Good luck trying figure out where people are going to lineup. And we didn't even touch the safeties — and three have been on the field most of the time.
3. Dont'a Hightower is all in and looks good.
One of the popular offseason topics was whether or not Hightower would return, and whether or not the team wanted him back at that salary.
I haven't questioned either, and I see no reason to question it after his strong mini-camp with cobwebs.
"I don’t know what y’all want for me to say, man. I’m here. I’m working. I’m in minicamp, bruh," Hightower told reporters. "I’m not here to write a story for you, dawg. I’m here to work, man. I’m here. I don’t know what else y’all want me to say. If I wasn’t here, then I think that would be something to talk about. But I’m here. Hopefully that knocks all those questions out.
"My thought was, the opt-out was for 2020. And that was 2020. All the rumors about retirement, you all had me thinking someone was trying to kick me out. But, like I said, when I did what I did, it was for what I felt was best for my family. And, obviously, I feel a little different about the situation I’m in now. But if I had to do it again, if I had to go back and do it, I would absolutely do it again. It was really just for the season. I wasn’t planning or discussing anything like that.”
4. Cornerback is thin — with Stephon Gilmore.
With Gilmore staying away to deal with his contract, we've gotten a look the Patriots' cornerback depth and it's ... thin. Jalen Mills has taken Gilmore spot next to JC Jackson and Jonathan Jones, and that's been OK, although any Eagles fan would tell you to run for the hills (there was a reason he moved to safety). Just say Gilmore does come back and is starting ... if any injuries hit, look out. There are some solid players there (mostly Myles Bryant) but everyone outside of Michael Jackson is really small. Right now, you would have to say Jackson is next on the CB depth chart, followed by Bryant.
5. Receivers and tight ends have been ... ok.
Two injuries — Nelson Aghlolor on Wednesday and Jonnu Smith on Monday — hurt the depth of their units, but I wouldn't say anyone was lighting the world on fire before all that. There is a very long way to go, and I'm sure most of them are being affected by thinking too much through a new playbook to play fast, but of the new arrivals, only Hunter Henry has stood out, and I wouldn't say he was dominating or anything. Henry has been a good, solid dependable player in the middle of the field. He did not appear to be a big play machine but, again, it's early and not having Smith on the field will affect things.
At least Agholor was in OTAs and making plays there. Smith skipped OTAs, showed up to minicamp and got hurt in the first practice. That is not a good start.
Short yardage
A few additional thoughts...
- A year ago, we were talking about Justin Rohrwasser kicking balls off the portapotties ... now we're watching Quinn Nordin launch balls (accurately) onto the roofs of the actual building. The latter is much better.
- Nick Folk is still very accurate, but the strength of his leg appears to have diminished. He kicks very low from around 50. Nordin can kick it 70 yards with height.
- Love the offensive line of LT Isaiah Wynn, LG Mike Onwenu, C David Andrews, RG Shaq Mason and RT Trent Brown. Don't even suggest right now tweaking it, or you'll get my wrath.
- Devin Asiasi appears to be playing a little faster. Dalton Keene made a few plays today.
- Give me Damien Harris and JJ Taylor, or give me death.
- James White had some drop issues.