FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 11 is in the books. We have everything you need to know, including 3 up/3 down from today's session:
FOUR THINGS THING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Offense goes back to basics, executes better: The Patriots were in full pads today but there were no all-out competitive periods. Most of practice was run at a 75 percent pace and there was a lot of work against cards, where the opponent is the scout team running what the Giants will run. The pass rush, especially, felt significantly dialed back. As a result, the offense was markedly better today. They actually looked competent, but there was a slow start.
To start practice, the first team offense went against the third-team defense. Of the eight plays, only three were successful (38 percent success rate) and Mac Jones threw an interception off a pass tipped at the line.
In the second period in the red zone, the success rate was 50 percent. The third period, it was also 50 percent. In the final period, it was 83 percent.
There's one big caveat, however. There is zero downfield passing game. Almost every pass is in the flat, a checkdown or a quick two-step slant. I've almost forgotten what DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor look like catching an NFL pass down the field.
It felt like the team very much went back to basics, especially on the line. There was an extended period where the offensive line went against the defensive line where the emphasis appeared to be the line just sorting out pass protection.
"I think we’re close on a lot of things," said Jones after the session. "It’s just that two percent that we need to fix.
"I think we’re going to figure it out, and that takes time and patience. And I think we’re making a lot of progress, so, it’s good."
Wynn out again, Cajuste gets his shot: RT Isaiah Wynn was out for the second straight day. On Monday, Justin Herron started in his place and played poorly from start to finish in every drill. He went to the bench today and was replaced by Yodny Cajuste, the 2019 third-round pick who has had a rough go with injuries. Cajuste earned that look with his camp to date. He started 1-2 in 1-on-1s but has been 10-1 since then. He seemed to play well today at a slower pace. Expect him to get an extended look going forward.
Jonathan Jones at outside corner for second straight day: Jones, who has been exclusively a slot corner in his Patriots career, was moved outside on Monday and stayed there today with Myles Bryant taking over the top slot role with rookie Marcus Jones getting reps as well. Interesting development. Jalen Mills is still firmly CB1.
David Andrews, Christian Barmore fight and get booted from practice: Decent post play tussle between the two standouts that actually went to the ground. Both were sent off the field in different directions.
"I tried to get in there a little bit. I just try to break it up," Jones said. "It’s two guys I have a lot of respect for, and at this point in camp, that’s going to happen. I just want to make sure that I can talk to both those guys and try and stop it. But, at the end of the day, we’re teammates and we all know that. We’re just competing and it’s just tough love."
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Out: OT Isaiah Wynn (unknown), TE Dalton Keene (unknown), TE Devin Asiasi (unknown).
Limited: DE Deatrich Wise (unknown), S Jabrill Peppers, OL Chasen Hines.
New injury: None.
Returned to practice: None.
Physically unable to perform list: RB James White
Non-football injury list: OL Andrew Stueber.
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs.
DRESS CODE
Full pads (Day 5).
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
2 hours in very hot and humid conditions.
QB STATS
Mac Jones: 14 of 22, INT
Brian Hoyer: 3 of 11
Bailey Zappe: 8 of 11
HANDS TEAM
Fumbles: None.
Drops: Jakobi Meyers, Kevin Harris, Josh Hammond, Jonnu Smith, Tre Nixon, JJ Taylor.
Pass breakups: Devin McCourty, Jack Jones 2.
Interception: Harvey Langhi (Jones)
Sacks/pressures: Judon, LaBryan Ray.
TOP PLAYS
- DeVante Parker seems to have one play a day where he high points a ball between two defenders.
THREE UP
CB Jack Jones: Been a while since we've heard his name with Marcus Jones making most of the rookie noise, but he had a couple pass breakups today.
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey: Seemed to be very busy today with multiple targets and catches.
RT Yodny Cajuste: Earned a chance at an elevated role and it appeared he delivered with another good day at practice. It will be interesting to see if he can push Isaiah Wynn right off the roster if the Patriots can find a taker for his $10.4 million salary. Jets just lost Mekhi Becton for the season. They only have $8,926,771 in cap space. Call me.
THREE DOWN
TEs Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene: They're joining Chris Sale in the perpetually on the sidelines group.
Ronnie Perkins, Cam McGrone: Hard not to notice that the 2021 drafts are languishing on the third team. Perkins was a third-round pick; McGrone was taken in the fifth round. Both basically redshirted last season.
RB Kevin Harris: Neither of the rookie running backs have stood out, but Harris has had a case of the drops.
QUICK HITS
- Patriots changed the practice time from 4 p.m. to Noon with anticipated thunderstorms rolling into the area.
- Second team offensive line: LT Herron, LG Arlington Hambright, C James Ferentz, RG Bill Murray, RT Yasir Durant. Drew Desjarlais also got time at RG.
- The offensive line is still working on the diagonal blocking boards, which are used for the zone blocking scheme.
- I may be reading too much into this, but it sure seemed like TEs coach Nick Caley was more involved with Matt Patricia and the offense playcalling today.
- Looked like Cole Strange got into a scuffle with a DL at one point.
- Former Packers GM Ron Wolf was at practice and visited with Belichick, along with son, Eliot.
- Belichick on the lack of offensive execution: "There's good things and bad things on every play. So some of the good plays that we had on defense were really not good plays if something else would have happened on the play. Some of the bad plays we have on defense, a lot of times, everything is right but one thing and same thing on offense. Everything is good but one thing is wrong. So go back and fix that."
- Belichick on Jones' play: "There's some plays that the quarterback could play better. There's some plays that quarterback's right and there's a breakdown in protection. There's some plays where the quarterback's right and there's a breakdown in the route. I mean there's a variety of things. The same thing for coaching or playing any other position on the field. There's good things and there's things we have to work on, and that's what we go back in and talk about. So when they all hit on one play sometimes that's good and sometimes that's a mistake on the other side that causes it to look good but really isn't good. So that's what training camp and coaching and watching practice is for."
- Belichick on Marcus Jones: "Yeah no one has really earned anything. Marcus missed some time in the spring and has worked his way back in. We've moved some people around like we usually do, receivers, DBs, where we have depth, where we have multiple players that have versatile skill sets and work different combinations, or people in different spots. So nobody's earned anything. It's five practices in pads. "
SCHEDULE
Wednesday: OFF - Bedard on Felger & Mazz, 2-4 p.m.
Thursday: vs. Giants, 7 p.m. at Gillette
Friday: OFF
Saturday: TBA
Sunday: TBA
Monday: TBA
Tuesday, Aug. 16: Joint practice with Panthers, 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 17: Joint practice with Panthers, 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 18: OFF
Friday, Aug. 19: vs. Panthers, 7 p.m. at Gillette