FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 18 is in the books for the Patriots, let's run down all you need to know: all the stats, key drives, 1-on-1 battles, 3 up/down and odds and ends:
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Patriots dominated the Giants: Not sure what this says about the state of the NFC East but one week after getting it handed to them by the Eagles for the better part of two days, New England had an easy time against the Giants, especially offensively. Mac Jones and Company tore through the Giants via the pass, but the Patriots' best work might have come on the ground where the offensive line opened huge holes for Damien Harris in particular. It was the best the run game had look to this point in camp. Defensively, the Patriots generated a good rush, shut down the run and didn't give Daniel Jones many clean looks in 11-on-11s. Jones was mostly just checking things down, or throwing hurriedly off target down the field. It looks like a varsity vs. JV game.
"I think our defense is definitely growing in confidence and growing in chemistry," said Deatrich Wise. "One of the things that has been very impressive is how we've been able to grow together. Week in and week out we're improving. Coverage, pass rush, it's all coming together."
Injuries crop up again: The Patriots appeared to be getting good news on the injury front as Hunter Henry took another step by participating in some competitive drills, but then got some bad news during the practice as Isaiah Wynn and Nelson Agholor left the field and did not return. Both are a worry for different reasons. Wynn has constantly battled injuries during his two-plus years — he has yet to play a complete season — and that seems to be the only thing in his way from being a very good left tackle. For Agholor, it seems like every practice he's dealing with something. The Patriots need him on the field to build a rapport with his offensive teammates.
Patriots say goodbye to Sony Michel: Several Patriots teammates talked about their former teammate, who was traded to the Rams on Wednesday. "I was fortunate enough to be a teammate of him in college," said David Andrews. "I knew what kind of person he was, obviously, you know, was super-excited when we drafted him, got to be his teammate another three years, or three and a half, or four, whatever. So, Sony’s a great player, man. I’m super happy for him. It’s just part of this business.”
"Definitely tough. That’s my guy," James White said. "Being with him since his rookie year, kind of helping him become the player he is today and he’s gotten better and better each year. It’s tough to see him go, for sure. He’s a hard worker, tough guy. Definitely puts the team first. Definitely going to miss him, but best of luck to him.”
TAKING ATTENDANCE
New injuries: WR Nelson Agholor (unknown), OT Isaiah Wynn (unknown) left practice and did not return.
Returned to practice: TE Hunter Henry, RB Brandon Bolden.
Physically unable to perform list: CB Stephon Gilmore (quad), QB Jarrett Stidham, LB Terez Hall, DT Byron Cowart.
Non-football injury list: LB Cameron McGrone (knee), S Joshuah Bledsoe (wrist).
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs, Henry, Bolden, DB Myles Bryant.
Full participants: None.
Out: QB Cam Newton (COVID), LB Anfernee Jennings, WR Tre Nixon, WR N'Keal Harry (shoulder), TE Matt LaCosse, DT Nick Thurman.
Limited: Henry.
DRESS CODE
Pads.
Count: Helmets (3), Shells (7), Pads (8).
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
2:30 in oppressive humidity and heat.
QB STATS
Mac Jones: 18 of 22 in 11-on-11s with 2 TDs and at least two sacks.
Daily Winner: Jones, TKO.
Scoreboard: Jones 9, Newton 3, Draw 2 (Jones 4 TKOs, Newton 1).
Mac Jones two-minute drill play by play:
- Complete to Wilkerson, 2.52 seconds
- Complete to Meyers, 3.27
- Complete to Wilkerson but offensive hold
- 1st and 20: Complete to Asiasi, 2.25 seconds. Really nice anticipation throw that was so quick the TE almost wasn't ready for it.
- 2nd and 10: Incomplete to Meyers but defensive hold, 2.70 seconds
- 1st and 10: Spectacular backshoudler throw to White off a wheel route. Placed perfectly in 2.58 seconds
- 1st and 10: Clock.
- Field goal.
Jones 11 on 11 (not a great drive)
- Playaction complete to Bourne
- Harris big run over LT.
- 3rd and 6: Low completed pass over middle to Meyers, 3.46 seconds. Could have been a sack.
- 1st and 10: Delay of game.
- 1-15: Complete to Jonnu Smith, 2.57
- 2-4: Stevenson run RG where he hesitated in hold.
- 3-4: Meyers makes a sliding catch.
- 1-10: Taylor draw.
- 2-6: Tipped pass, probably a sack, 3.53 seconds
- 3-6: Others will say complete, I say sack in 4.09 seconds.
Jones red zone
- Complete to White, out pattern
- Harris nice cutback run
- Complete White
- Stevenson run, TD, trucks defender in end zone
- Run
- Jones complete to Olszewski, TD.
- Harris touchdown but offsides on Patriots.
Jones final drive
- False start
- 1-15: Incomplete to Bourne on a low pass that should have been caught, but not a drop going to ground.
- 2-10: Complete to Bourne on contested ball with old friend Logan Ryan.
- 1-10: Complete to Smith.
- 2-5: Throwaway, defensive holding
- 1-10: Nice quick, completion to Isaiah Zuber when Jones saw the free blitzer and just got rid of it. Vet play.
- 1-10: Complete to Olszewski, defensive holding again.
- 1-10: Bomb to Meyers, out of bounds at the 5-yard line.
- 1-G: Sack/throwaway.
- 2-G: Touchdown to a wide-open White.
HANDS TEAM
Fumbles: None.
Drops: None.
Pass breakups: JC Jackson, Adrian Phillips.
Interception: Kyle Dugger.
TOP PLAYS
- Jones' post-corner pass and catch of some 40 yards to Jakobi Meyers for a touchdown.
- Jones throwing a perfect back-shoulder pass to James White down the sideline for about 15 yards that White didn't know was coming until the last second.
ONE ON ONE REPORT
(Didn't get all the reps, and just a handful of the offensive line because they ran longer).
THREE UP
QB Mac Jones: I still don't know how many wow moments he had against that defense, but he definitely had a handful of plays where you say, "That's an NFL quarterback."
OT Yodny Cajuste: The former third-round pick continues to have a quietly excellent comeback camp. When Wynn went down, Cajuste got the call and you didn't even notice.
WR Jakobi Myers: Continues to be the best and most consistent passing weapon.
ONE DOWN
OG Will Sherman: Only saw one pass rush rep for the sixth-round pick, and it was another really bad one where he jumped outside at the snap and was beaten soundly.
QUICK HITS
- Jones should have had a bad interception in 7 on 7 when he threw late and lazy to Nelson Agholor but Julian Love dropped it. That play can be seen here.
- Tedy Bruschi, Rob Ninkovich and Jon Bon Jovi were visitors.
- Rhamondre Stevenson definitely got a promotion in reps with Sony Michel gone.
- New TE Kahale Warring, claimed from the Texans where he lost out to Ryan Izzo, is wearing 88.
SCHEDULE
Thursday: Joint practice with Giants, 10 a.m. (open to public)
Friday: Practice, TBD (closed to public).
Saturday: OFF.
Sunday: at Giants, 6 p.m.