FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 11 is in the books, let's run down all you need to know: all the stats, 1-on-1 charts, 3 up/down and odds and ends:
TWO THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Patriots start to get down to business: Thanks to the CBA, this camp has been a very slow ramp up to actual football. First it was five days in helmets and then the Patriots needed to get their bodies acclimated to pads and contact. Today, the 11th practice of camp, finally felt like a true training camp session where the team actually had the types of scenarios — multi-play drives, two-minute situations — that are staples of QB competitions. They also had an extended session against scouting cards for the defense, then the offense. That it took this long — normally this is like Day 3 of camp — and now the Patriots just have the preseason game until Saturday for real work, is further evidence that Mac Jones may not have the necessary time to prove his case to be the opening day starter. But, he's being very competitive.
Jones makes most of opportunity but QBs fairly even: Once the Patriots got out of card mode (where the defense or offense is executing off literal cards that show the plays of future opponents), both Cam Newton and Mac Jones got drives with first-team offense against the first-team defense. That it came off that way was very much by design and purposeful. The Patriots continue to give Jones meaningful reps with the starters. Newton went first again, of course, but then instead of having Jones next up with the 2s — which is usually how it goes when the starter is declared — the Patriots gave Brian Hoyer a drive with the 3s. That gave everyone, from the first-team offensive line to the defense, time to rest up for another go with Jones. That does not usually happen in most camps. Another indication they are leaving a light on for Jones.
How'd they do? Play by play of the drives, and two-minute drills.
Newton's drive:
1st-10: Damien Harris run (big block by Jonnu Smith)
2nd-7: James White run
3rd-3: Newton nearly picked off by Kyle Van Noy on quick slant to Jakobi Meyers
1st-10: Playaction incomplete to Harry in end zone. Slightly overthrown. Decent throw.
2nd-10: Sony Michel draw
3rd-10: Dime throw from Newton over the shoulder to White down right sideline.
1st-10 (2nd o-line): Montravius Adams beats Marcus Martin for tackle for loss
1st-10: Michel middle
2nd-8: Newton complete to Kendrick Bourne but looked like it was ruled a sack.
3rd-5: Newton likely sacked by Josh Uche but throws interception behind Jonnu Smith and to Adrian Phillips. Newton held his head with his hands.
1st-goal: Newton keeper.
2nd-goal: Newton TD to Meyers on slant.
3rd-goal: Uche sack as Newton holds ball for 5.93 seconds inside the 10-yard line.
Jones' drive:
1st-10: Checkdown to Harris.
2nd-3: Michel no gain.
3rd-3: Toss to White.
1st-10: Incomplete to Kristian Wilkerson.
2nd-10: Harris middle.
3rd-4: Complete to Bourne.
1st-10 (2nd o-line): Michel middle.
2nd-10: Complete to Bourne.
3rd-7: Jones rolls right and puts a good pass low and at the sideline for Wilkerson, who dropped it.
1st-goal: Harris run.
2nd-goal: Jones touchdown to Wilkerson.
3rd-goal: Incomplete to Harry.
Jones two-minute drive, 2s vs. 2s (Scenario: 60 yards, no timeouts, need a TD)
Complete to Michel for 35 yards: Good throw but a ridiculous catch by Michel — yes, No. 26 — down right sideline, over his shoulder, falling out of bounds.
Checkdown to Michel
Slant to Olszewski
Spike
Jones backshoulder in left corner of end zone to Marvin Hall for a touchdown.
Newton's two-minute drive, 1s vs. 1s
Checkdown to White
Incomplete to Wilkerson
Newton scramble
3rd-10: Complete to Wilkerson (dubious if it got enough yards).
Spike.
Wilkerson drop.
Incomplete to Smith, thrown behind, Phillips pass breakup.
For the record, Jones looked completely comfortable directing both drills. He was very assertive in barking out two-minute orders.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
New injuries: DT Christian Barmore (right foot) left but returned.
Returned to practice: WR Nelson Agholor (unknown), DT Akeem Spence (unknown),
Physically unable to perform list: CB Stephon Gilmore (quad), QB Jarrett Stidham, DE Chase Winovich, LB Terez Hall, DT Byron Cowart.
Non-football injury list: LB Cameron McGrone (knee), S Joshuah Bledsoe (wrist).
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs.
Full participants: None.
Out: TE Hunter Henry (upper body), LS Joe Cardona, C David Andrews (hand), S Adrian Colbert (unknown).
Limited: TE Devin Asiasi, CB Dee Virgin.
DRESS CODE
Pads.
Count: Helmets (3), Shells (4), Pads (4).
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
2:30 hours under cloudy skies.
QB STATS
Cam Newton: 5 for 10, drop, sack, INT; 3.11 seconds from snap to throw.
Mac Jones: 9 of 11, drop, 3.14 seconds.
Daily Winner: Jones.
Scoreboard: Jones 6, Newton 3, Draw 1 (Jones 3 TKOs, Newton 1).
HANDS TEAM
Fumbles: None.
Drops: Wilkerson 2, Olszewski, Asiasi, Hall.
Pass breakups: Phllips, Van Noy.
Interception: Phillips (Newton).
TOP PLAYS
- Michel's catch over his shoulder literally caused me to say out loud, "Holy schnitzle, that was Michel ... what a catch!"
- White over his shoulder.
- Hall's backshoulder touchdown.
ONE-ON-ONE REPORT
(DW: Decisive Win. DL: Decisive loss)
Offense
Defense
All the reps
THREE UP
S Adrian Phllips: With a PBU and INT, continues to wear the belt of best defensive player in camp.
DE Josh Uche: Another contender for the crown had at least a couple of sacks, but he did lose both in one-on-one reps to a couple of good players, Trent Brown and Mike Onwenu.
DT Christian Barmore: His propensity to get nicked up in practice might start becoming a concern — he left but then returned — but man can he rush the passer. He beat an actual starter (Onwenu) for the first time today in one-on-ones, and then easily displaced journeyman Marcus Martin. And — Barmore got reps in base with the first team today. Just stay on the field, kid.
TWO DOWN
WR Kristian Wilkerson: After starting to climb the ranks, fell back to Earth with two drops.
WR N'Keal Harry: Showing out in the one-on-ones is great (he split his two reps today), but he needs to start showing up in the competitive periods or he's just playing flag football.
QUICK HITS
- Bill Belichick spent most of the cards periods in discussion with personnel consultant Eliot Wolf.
- Byron Cowart keeps spending more and more time watching practice. Seems like he's getting close.
- Chase Winovich is nowhere to be seen.
- Jarrett Stidham watched practice in sweats and a Covid mask for second straight day. He's walking gingerly but seems to be in good spirits.
- Matthew Judon did 2-on-2 pass rushes, but not 1-on-1s. Strange.
- WR vs. DB one on ones: Olszewski over Mike Jackson; Joejuan Williams over Hall; Wilkerson over Bethel; Harry over Mills; Zuber over Virgin; Mike Jackson over Nixon; Olszewski over JC Jackson; Wilkerson vs. Williams DPI; Mills over Harry; Virgin over Hall.
- Looked like the Patriots were working on cards for Washington ... a lot of zone in the secondary.
- Anfernee Jennings showed up in pass rush drills and beat Korey Cunningham.
- Devin Asiasi, on if he's behind from dealing with Covid positive test: "No. I think in the spring, the coaches did a real good job of keeping us up to speed with what we're going to do when we return to camp. So obviously getting on the field and getting between those lines and putting the pads on is a little different, but you've got to get used to that again after being away for half a year. So it's just getting back into the groove of that, getting back on the field and getting back together."
- JC Jackson had an interesting exchange with the media:
Impressions of going up against Mac
“Mac is improving every day. He’s showing the team that he can be accountable every day. He’s gotta keep stringing the days together like [Bill?] would say.”
How about going up against Cam?
“I mean, I don’t got no answer for that.”
Do you see a difference in Cam?
“I don’t really study Cam, but I see he’s improving every day. He’s showing that he’s ready to go this year.”
SCHEDULE
Tuesday: Practice, 2:45 p.m.
Wednesday: OFF.
Thursday: vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: OFF.