FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 8 is in the books, let's run down all you need to know: stats, observations, one-on-ones, 3 up/down, etc:
TWO THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Mac Jones, offense continue to make gains: The Patriots were in pads for the second consecutive day ahead of the light in-stadium practice on Friday and an off day Saturday (the team added a 1 p.m. Sunday session) and practice consisted of a good group of situational work, including red zone and two-minute. And even though pass protection continues to be a consistent problem (seven sacks combined for Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe), the offense is getting more efficient. Both QBs combined to 18 of 23 passes for two touchdowns. Both were intercepted — Jones' pick seemed to come after a sack and was the result of Tre Nixon stopping his route — but the offense overall is doing a good job of moving the sticks and settling for the open receiver. Not a whole lot of plays down the field yet, but you can see they are building up the offense slowly but surely.
It's starting to get interesting in the way the coaches are handling the QBs. The past two days, Zappe has been with Jones and the starters during jog-throughs. Previously he had been with Trace McSorley and the other reserves. Zappe got one snap with the starting line on Wednesday. Today, for about half of practice Zappe worked with the starting receivers — Parker, Smith-Schuster, Bourne — but the backup line. Jones had the starting line but reserve receivers. The second half of practice Jones worked with all the starters. Zappe didn't get a snap with the starting line.
Jack Jones appears to be kicked out of practice: The second-year cornerback, who finished his rookie season suspended by the team and was arrested at Logan Airport on gun charges two months ago, left the practice field early in the practice. About 25 minutes later, Jones was on the sideline but did not participate in the rest of the session. What happened? Tough to say exactly but what I observed was Kendrick Bourne catching a pass on Jones, who instantly acted out by jawing and throwing off the hand pads all the DBs were wearing. That's when he was told to leave the field as Adrian Phillips and Shaun Wade both tried to calm Jones down. Jabrill Peppers walked with his arm around Jones as he left the field. When Jones returned, Jalen Mills gave him a passionate talking to. Jones had a tough couple of practices when he's given up a lot of catches, and this probably isn't going to help his standing with the coaching staff.
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, TE Johnny Lumpkin.
Returned to practice: None.
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: None.
DRESS CODE
Full pads.
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
2:15 under clear skies.
QB STATS
Mac Jones: 12 of 15, TD, 2 sacks (did throw an interception to Kyle Dugger when Tre Nixon stopped, but we ruled a sack before the pass)
Bailey Zappe: 6 of 8, TD, INT, 5 sacks
STATS
Fumbles: Matt Sokol (Bentley).
Drops: None.
Pass breakups: Marcus Jones, Jon Jones vs. Parker, Shaun Wade vs. Demario Douglas
Interception: Kyle Dugger (Jones/sack), Phillips (Zappe to Douglas).
Sacks: Keion White/Carl Davis, Anfernee Jennings, Deatrich Wise, Jahlani Tavai, Ronnie Perkins (Sidy Sow), Keion White (Sow)
SHANK IT OFF
The punters worked on pinning the opponent deep and, I've go to say, I thought Corliss Waitman was markedly better than Bryce Baringer.
ONE-ON-ONES
Linemen
- Good bounceback day for the o-line, which won the first four reps.
- No dominating wins or losses, but Daniel Ekuale tossing Bill Murray and Keion White putting Andrew Steuber on the ground were the most impressive reps.
- Ferentz still hanging around, doing well.
Receivers via Mike Giardi
Once again, a fast and furious day of one-on-ones, with 2 groups going at once. Today, I chose to watch Bailey Zappe throw to the wideouts, while Mac Jones dealt with the tights ends and back (reversal of roles from yesterday).
I had Zappe 7-for-9 in this period, with Trace McSorley also getting reps with the outside guys.
A breakdown of Zappe:
- Easy pitch and catch with DeVante Parker
- Hard comeback by Kendrick Bourne, beating Myles Bryant back to the football
- Demario Douglas turning poor Marcus Jones inside out on an inside route
- Another comeback, this one low and away to a diving Malik Cunningham. Bryant in coverage.
- JuJu Smith-Schuster with a return route against Rodney Randle
- Raleigh Webb on an out cut, spinning Isaiah Bolden in the process.
- Bryant with a PBU on a corner route to Tre Nixon
- Nice catch by Cunningham on a stop route and high throw
- Christian Gonzalez with a PBU on a seam shot to Smith-Schuster
As for McSorley, it looked like this:
- overthrow of Kayshon Boutte after an inside release
- Douglas abuses Marcus Jones on a corner route
- A bad throw that had me muttering to myself
- A go route caught by Bourne but one the DBs believed was out of bounds (Quandre Mosely in coverage)
- Douglas beating Marcus Jones on an in-breaking route.
TOP PLAYS
- Ja'Whaun Bentley punching the ball out from Matt Sokol just after he caught the ball for a fumble (in a game with replay review, likely would have been incomplete).
- Great third-down throw from Mac Jones to Kendrick Bourne in the red zone to the 2-yard line against Christian Gonzalez. Bourne got two toes down and fell out of bounds.
- Nifty little quick game out of the old-school Patriots helped Juju Smith-Schuster score a TD with Parker's help.
- Adrian Phillips' end zone interception of Bailey Zappe was a total old pro move. He totally baited Zappe into thinking Douglas would be open, but Phillips easily stepped in front. Tremendous defensive play and one Zappe will be made about watching on film.
FIVE UP
DE Josh Uche: Constantly shows up in team drills with pressure. Had a stuffed run getting through Anthony Firkser to get to Rhamondre Stevenson
WR Raleigh Webb: The reserve WR and mostly special teamer continues to turn heads with his constant production as a receiver.
K Chad Ryland: Was the only placekicker to boot in this session and seemed to convert all his opportunities with a big leg.
WR Kayshon Boutte: The rookie receiver is starting to stack success a little bit the past two days with touchdown catches from both QBs.
TE Matt Sokol: He has clearly been the second-best all-around TE of camp to Hunter Henry. Sokol has blocked well and Mike Gesicki has yet to get going.
THREE DOWN
CB Christian Gonzalez: He hasn't been bad or anything, but he clearly hasn't been as successful with the pads on and all the veteran wide receivers are beating him with physical play.
RT Sidy Sow: The rookie right tackle continues to have a tough time in team drills as he gives up a lot of pressure/sacks.
OG Bill Murray: After getting demoted during the middle of Wednesday's practice, he was very much with the backups today and again struggled.
QUICK HITS
- Kody Russey got the start at LG today with Atonio Mafi at RG. James Ferentz, Jake Andrews and Bill Murray were the second-team interior. I thought Andrews had a strong day and anchors real well at center.
- Josh Uche and Conor McDermott had to be separated at one point.
- Marte Mapu continues to get snaps at sub linebacker, star and free safety.
- Zappe's lone touchdown to Kayshon Boutte could have easily been ruled a sack. It took Zappe forever to deliver it, and that has been an issue at times as he tried to find an opening to throw through.
Notable edge-setting reps:
- Wise tossed McDermott
- Uche had a tough time vs. Reiff
- Barmore dominated Atonio Mafi
- Stueber handing Keion White
- Sokol beat Jahlani Tavai
- Carl Davis tossing James Ferentz
- Sow over Ronnie Perkins
- Roberts over McDermott
SCHEDULE
Friday: In-stadium practice, 6 p.m.
Saturday: OFF
Sunday: 1 p.m.
Monday: 1 p.m.
Tuesday: 1 p.m.
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: Texans at Patriots, 7 p.m.