FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 4 is in the books. The team is still in acclimation so it's not really camp yet, that starts Monday, but here are some quickie observations.
TWO THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Offense stunk up the joint: Usually the first Saturday practice of camp is a boisterous affair on the part of the fans. Place is packed. Optimism reigns. They cheer like crazy for any type of offensive play. Not so much today. Pretty quiet. Would have thought it was a Week 2 Wednesday ... why? Because the offense hardly did anything. Sure, there were a few plays here and there, but largely the defense dominated. Including both 7 on 7s and 11 on 11s, QBs Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe combined to complete 19 of 42 passes with a second Jones INT in as many days. The offense lost both final goal line reps and had to do pushups. Of the incompletions, there were seven pass breakups, six sacks and drops by Hunter Henry, Pierre Strong and Devin Asiasi. Stinky....
However, before you jump off the Zakim ...
This was the fourth day of all red zone work. There's no running game to work off of. There's only so much space and routes you can run, and by this point the defense has seen them all. It's definitely to their advantage, even when they have to wear mittens.
Disappointing day for sure, but don't get too worked up. Real camp and competition starts on Monday when the pads go on.
Dugger redeems himself, Jennings pops: We were about two plays away from writing a column about how Kyle Dugger is off to a terrible start to camp as he was repeatedly picked on again in the end zone, but then on third and goal, Jones rolled right, kept the play alive, tried to find DeVante Parker but Dugger read it perfectly, stepped in front and was off to the races for a pick-six. Maybe that will get him going. Yes, coverage is not the strongest part of the game, but he still needs to develop there to become an impact player.
And a day after registering a sack, Anfernee Jennings — getting more run as a sub rusher with Deatrich Wise out of action — disrupted three plays in a row with at least one sack. Still looks like a tweener type and not sure where he fits outside of just a pass rushing role player, but he's finding a place.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Out: DE Deatrich Wise (unknown), QB Brian Hoyer (unknown).
Limited: C David Andrews.
New injury: None.
Returned to practice: None.
Physically unable to perform list: RB James White, DB Jonathan Jones, S Jabrill Peppers.
Non-football injury list: DB Myles Bryant, OL Chasen Hines, OL Andrew Stueber.
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs.
DRESS CODE
Shells.
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
90 minutes under mostly sunny skies.
QB STATS
Mac Jones: 4 of 12, 2 sacks, INT in 11 on 11.
Bailey Zappe: 2 of 8, sack in 11 on 11.
HANDS TEAM
Fumbles: None.
Drops: Strong, Henry, Asiasi
Pass breakups: Marcus Jones, Mills, Butler, Mitchell, Bethel, Williams, Jack Jones, Mack Wilson.
Interception: Dugger (Jones).
Sacks: Jennings, Davis, LaBryan Ray, Team 2.
TOP PLAYS
- Jones threaded the needle to Jakobi Meyers between Jalen Mills and Dugger for a TD.
- Zappe threw a dime timing pass in the back corner to Wilkerson over Jack Jones for a TD.
- Meyers outmuscled Mitchell for a TD.
- Two plays later, Mitchell had a great pass breakup on a Jones pass to Jonnu Smith.
TWO UP
Jakobi Meyers: Continues to be old reliable for Mac Jones, especially in tight quarters on quick hitters. Meyers using his body well too.
Anfernee Jennings: No pads yet, but appears to be making an impact as an edge rusher. What does that mean for Josh Uche if it continues?
TWO DOWN
Tight ends: They were all invisible today other than when Dugger was in coverage. Asiasi hasn't done much, and Dalton Keene has done even less.
Bailey Zappe: Outside of the one great throw to Wilkerson, he was all over the map with his accuracy.
QUICK HITS
- Bill Belichick called plays in the final 11 on 11 sessions again. The man is heavily involved with the offense. Barely looks at the defense.
- At one point, Uche and Cam McGrone were scout team linebackers.
- Bentley and McMillan are entrenched as LB starters.
- UDFA S Brenden Schooler, who looks like he moonlights at your local record store, got core special team reps. Of course he did. Would be a total Belichick move to keep a guy who doesn't look like he can play on defense at all. Need a new Nate Ebner, I guess.
- Malcolm Butler got a few more starter reps today. He's competed well, but the real judgement on him comes in full-field drills, not red zone.
- Bledsoe continued to get good reps.
- At one point the corners were Butler, Mills and Mitchell.
- Wade was with Jones Boys for a stretch.
- Mac Jones appeared pretty ticked off leaving the field after that final rough period.
- Trent Brown had to "run" another penalty lap. His effort has been iffy at times.
- DT Bill Murray has switched to offensive line at Belichick's request.
SCHEDULE
Sunday: OFF
Monday: 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday: 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m.
Aug. 5th, 7 p.m.: In-stadium practice for season ticket holders and Foxborough residents.
Aug. 6th: OFF