HENDERSON, Nev. — Practice No. 16 is in the books. Here's a look at what you need to know, including stats, one-on-one charts and 3 up/3 down.
THREE THINGS THING YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Patriots shred Raiders in final two-minute drill of practice: Let's be honest, it was largely a thing of beauty. After the defense finally halted Derek Carr and Devante Adams in their tracks during their final two-minute possession on a Matthew Judon sack, the Patriots' offense took over. To say expectations were low, would be an understatement.
1st and 10: Nice little completion to Hunter Henry for about 8 yards.
2nd and 2: Uh oh, some pressure and Mac Jones is nearly picked off by old friend Duron Harmon.
3rd and 2: Little 5-yard out to Jakobi Meyers to move the sticks.
1st and 10: Sack by Chandler Jones. Here we go again.
2nd and 10: Completion to Parker at the sideline for about 12 yards.
1st and 10: Completion to Jonnu Smith down to the 2-yard line,
Clock
2nd and goal: Jones hits Kendrick Bourne on a crossing route for a touchdown. He celebrates with a big leap and spike.
If you only want to think good thoughts about the Patriots' offense, then stop here and let this sit in your brain for 24 hours. Patriots finally put it together with Jones in the shotgun, and using all his various weapons. Good stuff.
Seems like David Andrews, who a few weeks ago looked miserable talking to the media, is taking that approach because he was more upbeat and thought a good final drive can bring some momentum.
"I think so," he said. "We've all been in those games where maybe a couple things don't go right but you end with a big two-minute drive or you get the lead and four-minute drill type thing, run the clock out. Maybe it was an ugly day.
"But there was a lot to build on. You're not game-planning. It's a good football team. We'll go in today, correct some things, tweak some things. We're really out here working on fundamentals and trying to be the best we can be at the play-call and maybe there's some things we can adjust scheme-wise. But, like I said, it's not really a game-plan type of thing."
Everything up to that point was horrible, worst of camp: The Patriots' offense, off their big third drive against the Panthers, had so much momentum that their first four plays of team period were:
Stuff
Stuff
Sack
7-yard run Stevenson
Stuff
Even 7 on 7, normally not an issue for Jones and the passing game, was a slog as Jones was just 5 of 9 with one downfield throw.
Red zone team was not good either:
Stuff
Shotgun TD to Parker
Incomplete - terrible screen to Harris
Incomplete to Agholor
Stevenson short gain
Incomplete to Bourne, which was dropped
Following that period, the offense huddled and was addressed Matt Patricia and then Jones.
Next team period:
Harris stuffed by Chandler Jones
Short completion to Agholor on crosser
Incomplete to Agholor
Stevenson stuffed
Incomplete to Meyers, not even close
Interception, tipped going to Smith
At this point, Jones was 8 of 18 and the team had run three successful plays out of 17 in team periods. After the interception, a peeved Jones went straight to the sidelines and took a knee, where Joe Judge joined him. Then Jones got up and paced quickly up and down the sideline, mostly muttering to himself.
"I think we have really good players, really good skill players I can spread the ball around to. But every system’s different, right?” Jones told WEEI. “So it’s kind of getting a feel for what you want to do, what your m.o. is as an offense. The big thing right now is figuring that out.
"Failure is putting a label on something that’s a process. We’re just trying to focus on the process, and not the result. Failure would be considered a result. We’re just trying to work through it all. … We don’t need to overcomplicate it. It’s a simple game if you make it a simple game. We’re all trying to get there, which doesn’t happen overnight.
“It always goes back to the players and listening to the coaches, and doing the scheme correctly. We have to do better at that,” Jones said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s one person in your helmet, or you’re listening to different people. I enjoy getting coached in general. Sometimes on the practice field, I get really competitive. And I want it to go better. But it’s more about the process, just watching the film, and getting better with still a young offense. Sometimes you have to realize, that’s what we are right now.”
Defense struggles, rises up: The Raiders didn't have TE Darren Waller, who has a contract issue, but the Patriots had all sorts of issues getting Carr off the field as he carved up the Patriots with WRs Devante Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Mack Hollins. There were times where it was hard to remember the last time Carr had an incompletion, even if he can be Captain Checkdown often. Adams was open all day and he was lined up at just about every position. He had a ridiculous one-handed TD catch that he made look just effortless. Renfrow found soft spots over the middle.
I will say that I thought that Patriots' run defense was largely pretty good, even if Josh Jacobs got them a few times. And the pass rush was good at times, especially with Matthew Judon. Final two-minute drill:
Bentley sack on blitz
Complete to TE Foster Moreau 15 yards
Incomplete, Adrian Phillips near interception
Incomplete in end zone to Brandon Bolden, who was wide open but Carr missed him
Moreau hold on Judon rush (Bentley sack)
Judon sack
"Dropped the INT," Phillips said. "I've got to kind of finish those. Ended up getting a good read and just gotta go finish to play. Those are moneyballs and you can't leave those out there because you don't know how many opportunities you're going to get.
"We always talk about we're gonna start fast and finish strong. It was good to see our defense go out there the strongest, the last period of practice, fourth quarter, you're hot, you've been out there for two and a half hours. It's winning time. When you get to the end of the game, it's winning time. So for our defense to go out there and stand up against a potent offense like that is great to see."
Trent Brown, Isaiah Wynn and Kendrick Bourne back in the mix: Three players who had some curious absences — Brown and Bourne were benched for the Panthers preseason game, while Wynn has been injured — were back in their normal spots against the Raiders. Bourne was still a depth receiver but his touchdown to finish practice had to be a big boost.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Out: WR Kristian Wilkerson (head), WR Tyquan Thornton (clavicle), LB Ronnie Perkins.
Limited: OG Bill Murray, CB Shaun Wade.
New injury: S Jabrill Peppers got stretched out at one point and tried to jog off something..
Returned to practice: OT Isaiah Wynn (unknown), OT Justin Herron (unknown), TE Hunter Henry (unknown).
Physically unable to perform list: None.
Non-football injury list: OL Andrew Stueber (placed on reserve list).
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs, specialists
DRESS CODE
Full pads (Day 8)
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
Over 2:30 hours in hot, sunny conditions.
QB STATS
Mac Jones: 13 of 25, INT, 2 sacks
ONE-ON-ONE REPORT
Only was only able to see the defense today. Will try to see the offense but our field angle is awful.
Judon lost to Alex Leatherwood and Kolten Miller. Mild surprise there.
Barmore embarrassed somebody by the name of Jordan Meredith.
Not sure why Sam Roberts didn't get any reps.
Uche looked pretty good.
THREE UP
DE Matthew Judon: Had a rough go in 1-on-1s, but thought he was dominating in team periods.
LB Ja'Whaun Bentley: Has played really well for the last couple of weeks.
S Adrian Phillips: Seemed to have an elevated role and had INT in 1-on-1s and a dropped INT in team.
TWO DOWN
Blocking: Most of the issues with this offense start with that group. Can't block a lick in the run game, and if the opponent sends an extra rusher in the pass game, they have issues. Patriots have to get this unit to play better.
Mac Jones: Yeah, he's getting sped up by his own line but he needs to be better, especially against a Raiders defense that doesn't have much except two edge rushers.
QUICK HITS
- With Brown and Wynn back at their spots, Onwenu went back to RG, Herron was back up RT and Cajuste was back up LT.
- Jahlani Tavai is still getting a lot of run, sometimes at the expense of Mack Wilson. Puzzling.
- It was nice to see Bentley and Wilson spend some time together.
- Jabrill Peppers got a lot of playing time next to Devin McCourty early in practice but then appeared to be dealing with a hamstring issue. Something to monitor. Joshuah Bledsoe replaced him.
- Former Patriots personnel executive Mike Lombardi was at practice and chatted for a long time with Belichick. At least it didn't go on the whole practice like in Philly last year. Mike's son Mick is the Raiders' offensive coordinator.
- Julian Edelman was at practice.
- Jonathan Jones did get one pass breakup against Adams.
- Media requested Trent Brown, Kendrick Bourne and Isaiah Wynn to speak after practice and that request was not granted.
SCHEDULE
Wednesday: 11:45 a.m. ET, Practice with Raiders
Thursday: OFF
Friday: 8:15 p.m., Patriots at Raiders