FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 5 is in the books, let's run down all you need to know: all the stats, 3 up/down and odds and ends:
FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Patriots take a teaching day before pads: I only had one true competitive period in this practice, and that was at the very end. The rest was played at three-quarters speed as the team appeared to want to gear up for the pads being put on Tuesday. "I think we both (offense and defense) want to put the pads on at this point," said Josh Uche. "Why? Because it's contact. It's football we're playing. What's football without contact?"
Mac Jones gets some rookie reps, but a lot of them: It may not have been a full-speed practice, but Bill Belichick played some mind games by putting Jones on the other field with Jake Dolegala at one point. Jones also directed the third and fourth teamers during an extended period. This was the type of session where Belichick gives the veterans a little bit of a breather, while giving the younger players more reps. Plus, it gives Jones a chance to show if he can elevate the less experienced players on offense. He seemed to do that, as Jones was very sharp throwing a lot of passes to the likes of Tre Nixon, David Wells, Isaiah Zuber, JJ Taylor and Devin Ross. Still, when it came to the last real session of practice, Jones was in his usual spot and got a snap or two with the first-team offensive line.
Jones gets thrown a curveball and aces it: To those of you who want to believe the QB competition is over, you can skip this. But I found it very telling that Belichick and Josh McDaniels threw a real curveball at Jones during his low red zone drive when after an unsuccessful fade from Jones to Jonnu Smith (good placement, Smith didn't get separation in time), the call came in for the offense to hurry to the line, snap the ball and throw quickly to the flat where Jones hit Jakobi Meyers for a TD. It was the type of play the Patriots often ran with Brady to pick up a quick first down. They never would have called that this soon in camp for any other rookie QB.
First team offense fails on 4th and goal: Belichick ended practice with a "gotta-have-it" play on 4th down from the 4-yard line. The result was typical to what we saw last year. The money play was a quick slant, this time to Nelson Agholor. Newton threw it 100 mph too much to the inside to Agholor, who didn't exactly fight hard for position and went incomplete. The entire offense, including the coaches, had to run a double lap (once around both fields) as a result. Agholor has not been great on in-breaking routes against man coverage.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
New injuries: DE Henry Anderson took a shot to the chest and did not return.
Returned to practice: None.
Physically unable to perform list: CB Stephon Gilmore (quad), QB Jarrett Stidham, DE Chase Winovich, LB Terez Hall, DT Byron Cowart, LB Brandon King, TE Dalton Keene.
Non-football injury list: LB Cameron McGrone (knee), S Joshuah Bledsoe (wrist).
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs, LB Kyle Van Noy.
Full participants: None.
Out: G/C Ted Karras (left knee), TE Devin Asiasi (Covid).
Limited: None.
DRESS CODE
Shells (third day).
Count: Helmets (2), Pads (0).
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
2 hours on a beautiful day.
QB STATS
Cam Newton: 3 of 4, 2.04 snap to throw
Mac Jones: 1 for 3, drop, 1.84
Brian Hoyer: None competitive.
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.
Daily Winner: Jones.
Scoreboard: Jones 3, Newton 2.
Most telling stretch was a playaction bomb from Jones to Isaiah Zuber, who beat Dee Virgin and D’Angelo Ross, for a touchdown. On a similar play, Newton overshot Smith by 10 yards.
HANDS TEAM
Fumbles: None.
Drops: Hunter Henry.
Pass breakups: Raekwon McMillan 2, Van Noy, Jackson.
Interception: Bentley (Newton).
TOP PLAYS
- Bentley's leaping interception of Newton's underthrown pass to Jakobi Meyers. On the same play on the other field, Jones completed a slow sliding catch by Devin Ross.
- Newton made a nice, decisive read to Meyers in the red zone in 1.87 seconds.
- Newton also had nice placement behind Kristian Wilkerson at the goal line to keep him away from the defender. Newton had some nice plays today.
TWO UP
LB Raekwon McMillan: Was very active in pass coverage today with a couple of pass breakups — and his best attribute is blitzing.
P Jake Bailey: He absolutely launched about five punts that sent the returners sprinting just to get close to. And almost all his punts were right on the sideline.
ONE DOWN
OL Alex Redmond: Had to run a double lap for something ... haven't seen that before. He also got an earful from line coach Carm Bricillo.
QUICK HITS
- Kendrick Bourne said don't compare 49ers and Patriots camp: "I’ve only been at one (other camp), obviously. My last team. But it’s definitely harder. We work harder here. I’m glad to be here, man.”
- Mac Jones apparently killed it as Cam Newton in the Rookie Show. "Mac, he came in dressed as Cam," said Jalen Mills. "He had the big hat on, he had the scarf on, came in, saying Cam’s slogans, different things like that. It was real funny to see him get out of character.” Christian Barmore was proud of his Deatrich Wise imitation that poked fun at the veteran's size 18 shoes.
- Belichick said he has discussed N'Keal Harry's situation with the player. "N’Keal and I have talked about it,” Belichick said. “We had a good conversation. We have a good relationship, so I’m not going to get into all of that.”
SCHEDULE
Tuesday: 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m.
Friday: 6 p.m. (in stadium).
