FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 7 is in the books, let's run down all you need to know: all the stats, one-on-one totals, 3 up/down and odds and ends:
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Mac Jones has best day of camp: This was the first real passing session of camp. Free of the red zone (first five days) and the running game (Tuesday), the Patriots finally advanced to real passing practice sessions where they just lined up and tried to complete passes in a true 7 on 7 and 11 on 11 periods. Jones looked his most comfortable to this point and was basically dialed in for the start, completing 87.5 percent of his non-dropped passes. One incompletion was forced and nearly picked off. The other, an overthrow of Kendrick Bourne, was actually a smart throwaway. Jones probably made the wrong decision to throw where he did, but at some point he realized his mistake and sailed it out of danger on purpose. Kind of a vet throw. This was the Jones the Patriots drafted.
Bad Newton returns: After a couple practices of gains, Newton took a big step back today. He was late and inaccurate on his miscues. After throwing behind Hunter Henry for an INT on an early rep, on the first snap of 7 on 7, Newton telegraphed a pass behind Jakobi Meyers and was picked off. The next pass was way behind Meyers. On the next two reps, Newton took checkdowns just, it felt like, to make positive plays. Then he sailed a ball to Nelson Agholor that wasn't close. Sony Michel compounded the terrible period with a drop. It looked like the 2020 Patriots.
In 11 on 11s, Bourne and Harry had to make leaping passes of 10-yard hitches. Newton finished by sailing a ball over Bourne.
This was probably as bad as Newton has looked since early in OTAs.
N'Keal Harry coming on: Harry has been slowly building during this camp and today was his coming out party as he caught at least six passes, and several were either off the ground or competitive balls. Harry's doing a great job using his body and being more precise. He doesn't look like he's thinking through everything.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
New injuries: DT Akeem Spence (unknown).
Returned to practice: DE Henry Anderson (chest), DT Christian Barmore (left big toe),
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), LB Raekwon McMillan (foot).
Limited: DT Christian Barmore (left big toe).
DRESS CODE
Shells.
Count: Helmets (2), Shells (4), Pads (1).
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
2 hours on a cloudy day.
QB STATS
Cam Newton: 4 of 10, INT, drop. 2.93 seconds snap to throw.
Mac Jones: 14 of 19, 2 INTs (both on drops; three drops total). 2.82 snap to throw.
Daily Winner: Jones, TKO
Scoreboard: Jones 4, Newton 3 (Jones 2 TKOs, Newton 1).
- Two of Newton's completions were great catches of high, errant passes caught by Kendrick Bourne and N'Keal Harry.
HANDS TEAM
Fumbles: None.
Drops: Michel, Smith (INT), Nixon (INT), Stevenson.
Pass breakups: JC Jackson, Myles Bryant
Interception: Adrian Colbert (Newton), McCourty (Jones off Smith drop), D'Angelo Ross (Jones off Tre Nixon drop).
TOP PLAYS
- Only real standout play was a great in-cut throw from Jones to Gunner Olszewski that threaded the need in coverage. Pretty, pretty play.
THREE UP
QB Mac Jones: The QB competition really started today, and if this Jones keeps showing up, this is indeed going to be a difficult decision.
WR N'Keal Harry: He was in this spot yesterday and said he needed to start stacking days. That's two, at least. This is exactly why we were disappointed in Harry's trade request. He's a good player and this is his time, with a big opportunity. Keep competing, Big Fella.
Secondary: If Jones looked this good — and he took extended reps against everyone, then that means the coverage wasn't great.
TWO DOWN
QB Cam Newton: We'll give him a one day pass. But if this Newton keeps showing up with more consistency, he is going to lose his job.
QB consistency: Will someone take the bull by the horns already? If this roller coaster continues, I'd be calling the 49ers early and often.
QUICK HITS
- WR coach Mick Lombardi on Harry: "I know what was reported, and all that stuff, but I just know N’Keal is a guy that I’ve grown to really admire and love. He’s a player on our team and in our room and I think really highly of N’Keal for how he comes in here and works. I have a great relationship with N’Keal. We are business first. He comes in here and works extremely hard, and I appreciate that. He’s very hard working."
- DL coach Demarcus Covington on Christian Barmore, who looked limited today: "Christian is really, with a worker's attitude, trying to learn everything soak up everything on a defense learn everything from the coaches, also learn from the vets, the guys who, who, you know, done it in the league and done it at a high level and really coming every day is trying to give his best effort to help the football team out so, couldn't be more proud of his progress to the offseason to now, where he is in training camp. ... Barmore is right at where we want him to be at."
- Covington on Matt Judon's 40-yard sprint yesterday to chase a RB: "I think that speaks a lot of him, his work ethic, and I think the rookies learn from that, they see that on tape, they see a veteran a player that's had success in his league, and they see him hustling on a day to day basis and running 20 yards 30 yards 40 yards downfield, and then they can really look at themselves and say, 'This is what I need to do, this is how I need to practice,' or if it's a period where somebody else is working, he's on his side working on his craft. That's leadership right there and kind of leading by example. So that's what I'm talking about that he brings to the table, running down in the field, you don't have to say words, he's showing you how to practice, and that's what we're talking about by earning your reps, earning the right to play I earn in the respect of your teammates and coaches. That right there is example of earning the respect of the coaches and not only the players by showing your effort because that situation is going to come up in a game where we're going to have to run down and tackle the guy, and live to play another down. So, that's real football, and, everybody can really learn from that, not only the rookies, but also the other veteran players can learn from that and now that brings awareness where I need to run to the football too."
- Ivan Fears, on what Rhamondre Stevenson needs to improve on (had a drop today): "Everything, everything. What do I like about him? He’s here. I like that he’s here, other than that, everything’s gotta improve. That’s what we have to get done. He’s got a lot to learn, he’s talented, we’ll see what he can do in the games, but right now, he’s got a lot to learn . . . a lot to learn.”
SCHEDULE
Thursday: 9:30 a.m.
Friday: 6 p.m. (in stadium).