FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 7 is in the books, let's run down all you need to know: stats, observations, one-on-ones, 3 up/down, etc:
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Mac Jones, offense flexes on defense - and it gets testy: Jones and the passing offense basically owned the secondary from start to finish in this practice. Jones only had four incompletions in the 1-on-1s, and DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne were letting the defense know, which caught the ire of cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino, who started jawing back and a few coaches got involved.
In his first red zone period, Jones threw an opening touchdown to Parker — over Christian Gonzalez thanks to physical pushoff — and then finished by hitting Juju Smith-Schuster for another score in the back of the end zone with a nice toe tap. Jones danced off the field.
More absences: The team was in full pads for the second time and again Trent Brown, Matthew Judon and Rhamondre Stevenson did not participate. Stevenson said after practice it wasn't his choice. Tyquan Thornton was in the rehab group as well. Patriots also continued to miss Cole Strange and Ty Montgomery.
Zappe, Boutte get opening first-team snaps: It should be noted that Bailey Zappe got his first snap with the first-team offensive line at one point. It was just one snap, but the kind of thing Bill Belichick throws in there to let Jones know there's competition out there.
Boutte appeared at one point with the starters but that seemed more of a reps thing with Thornton again out.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Physically unable to perform list: OG Mike Onwenu, ST Cody Davis
Non-football injury list: OT Calvin Anderson.
Red non-contact jerseys: S Marte Mapu.
Returned to practice: OG Bill Murray (left leg).
Full participants: None.
Out: RB Ty Montgomery. LG Cole Strange (left knee), DB Brad Hawkins (left knee), OG Chasen Hines.
Limited: LB Terez Hall, OT Trent Brown, TE Scotty Washington, DE Matthew Judon, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, WR Tyquan Thornton.
New injuries: TE Johnny Lumpkin (shoulder).
DRESS CODE
Full pads.
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
1:30 under clear skies and a tough sun.
QB STATS
Mac Jones: 13 of 14, 2 TDs, sack — only incompletion in 11s was a throwaway under pressure.
Bailey Zappe: 9 of 11, 4 sacks
STATS
Fumbles: None.
Drops: None.
Pass breakups: Marte Mapu
Interception: None.
Sacks: Jabrill Peppers (Pierre Strong), Mack Wilson (blitz), Anfernee Jennings 2.5 (Sidy Sow), Christian Barmore (half sack)
ONE-ON-ONES
Linemen
- Steuber was pretty much manhandled by Ronnie Perkins on his only rep.
- Keion White showed well with a decisive win against McDermott where White showed his strength.
- Barmore absolutely dusted Bill Murray with a quick inside move. Murray really struggled.
- Sidy Sow did a nice job stuffing Perkins.
Receivers via Mike Giardi
Counted 14 reps of 1-on-1 with Mac Jones and the wide receivers, while Bailey Zappe had the same number with the tight ends and backs. That was occurring simultaneously, so my eyes were fixated on Jones and that group. I can tell you that there was a lot of clutching and grabbing from the linebackers and safeties as they tried to corral Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki, Anthony Firkser and Pierre Strong. Flags would have been flying.
As for Mac, I counted just 3 incompletions on those 14 throws: Jon Jones outfighting DeVante Parker for the ball on a go route (incomplete), Rodney Randle tightly covering Tre Nixon on a comeback (WRs felt Nixon was held) and Myles Bryant undercutting Juju Smith-Schuster on a comeback although it was a poorly thrown ball.
As for the completions…
- Kendrick Bourne elevated over Jack Jones on a comeback
- Demario “Pop” Douglas essentially pulled a bad throw off the head of Marcus Jones.
- A nice over-the-shoulder throw to Smith-Schuster (Randle),
- Delayed in-breaking route to Kayshon Boutte (Gonzalez)
- A beautiful double move, pump-and-go to Raleigh Webb versus Isaiah Bolden. The throw was primo.
- Douglas shaking Shaun Wade out of his shoes over the middle of the field, albeit on a longer developing route.
- Parker on a deep-in (didn’t catch the defender’s number)
- Bourne leaving Jack Jones in the dust on a corner route
- Back shoulder to Boutte vs Jon Jones
- Quick out to Smith-Schuster
- A return route by Parker on Gonzalez.
TOP PLAY
- Zappe with a beauty deep seam pass to Tre Nixon over Jack Jones.
- Jones' touchdowns to Parker and Smith-Schuster.
FIVE UP
QB Mac Jones: Was in complete command and nearly perfect in this practice. He was feeling it, and the good times were back.
DE Anfernee Jennings: Posted 2.5 sacks in team drills.
LB Ja'Whaun Bentley: Was a force on any short-yardage play.
DE Keion White: Showed well in one-on-ones and his strength was obvious putting Sidy Sow on the ground in the edge-setting drill.
WR Kayshon Boutte: Caught both his one-on-one reps and got a first-team look and reception from Jones.
THREE DOWN
OG Bill Murray: The DT-turned-RG had been one of the surprises of camp ... until the pads went on. He was 0 for 2 with a decisive loss in one-on-ones, was handled badly by Carl Davis in the edge-setting drill, and appeared to get demoted from the first team during practice for Atonio Mafi.
DL Justus Tavai: Won his one-on-one rep against James Ferentz but The Other Tavai was bad in the edge-setting drill.
CB Jack Jones: Had a rough day in coverage from 11-on-11s to one-on-ones.
QUICK HITS
- Patriots defense is still having a ton of problems covering any passes in the flat. It's been a big issue. Another bust today.
- At one point, the Patriots put Russey at LG, and moved Mafi to RG in place of Murray.
- Mapu continues to get reps at all three levels.
- In the lone goal-line session, the defense won. Jones had to throw one away as Kevin Harris got blown up in pass pro; Dugger streaked through the line on second down, and Harris got stuffed over left guard on the final down.
SCHEDULE
Thursday: 9:30 a.m.
Friday: In-stadium practice, 6 p.m.
Saturday: OFF
Sunday: OFF
Monday: 1 p.m.
Tuesday: 1 p.m.
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: Texans at Patriots, 7 p.m.