FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 10 is in the books, let's run down all you need to know: stats, observations, one-on-ones, 3 up/down, etc:
FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Better defense, sloppy offense: The defense said they've been hearing it from their coaches (and the offense), so they took it up a notch today with a much better performance. Still, the offense is basically in shambles. David Andrews, the one legit starter currently on the offensive line (starters Trent Brown, Cole Strange, Mike Onwenu also still out) and a big help in pass protection, did not take part in practice and result was as expected. Pressure was a constant issue as Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe were sacked a combined eight times — about a quarter of the reps. Things just looked uncomfortable from the get-go for the offense in 11-on-11s and that never changed.
Patriots put out a starting line of Riley Reiff, Atonio Mafi, James Ferentz, Kody Russey and Conor McDermott ... it wasn't good. Ton of free rushers. Jones didn't have much of a chance. Zappe just holds the ball for a while.
Matthew Judon back to full-time: The Patriots' best player was back participating fully in practice in the first session after his reworked deal came to light. He celebrated by dominating Conor McDermott and Sidy Sow with four sacks. Funny how that all happens.
Tyquan Thornton back ... and with the backups: Pretty startling and about right to see the starting weapons (and rookie Demario Douglas) all on one side of the field working with Mac Jones, and Thornton on the other side with the guys much further down the depth chart. Thornton hauled in a nice deep pass from Zappe on a double move for his standout moment, and his speed running across the field was evident (and needed). But his working down the depth chart reinforces how much time he has missed due to injury. He can't afford many more setbacks.
Light session: Despite coming off a day off and Friday's walkthrough in the stadium, the team was not in pads today. Good situational work with two-minute and red zone, but not very physical or fast-paced.
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All the rest of the coverage from Bedard and Giardi - including reports from joint practices at Green Bay and Tennessee - will be for members only at midnight!
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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: DB Brad Hawkins (left knee), WR Tyquan Thornton.
Full participants: DE Matthew Judon, TE Scotty Washington.
Out: RB Ty Montgomery. LG Cole Strange (left knee), C David Andrews, CB Jon Jones, ST Matthew Slater.
Limited: OT Trent Brown.
New injuries: None.
DRESS CODE
Shells.
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
2 hours under clear skies.
QB STATS
Mac Jones: 12 of 17, TD, INT, 5 sacks
5 of 6, INT (7 on 7)
3 of 3, 2 sacks
1 of 3, 2 sacks
3 of 5, sack, TD
Bailey Zappe: 13 of 22, INT, 3 sacks
3 of 6 (7 on 7)
2 of 3, sack
3 of 4, 2 sacks
5 of 9, INT
STATS
Fumbles: None.
Drops: Kendrick Bourne.
Pass breakups: Joshuah Bledsoe, Myles Bryant, Marte Mapu, Jabrill Peppers.
Interception: Gonzalez (Jones), Mapu (McSorley off tip), Bledsoe (McSorley off tip), Shaun Wade (Zappe).
Sacks: Judon 4 (McDermott), Bentley (unblocked), Anfernee Jennings (Ferentz), Myles Bryant (unblocked), Lawrence Guy (McDermott)
SHANK IT OFF
Chad Ryland got all the kicks and appeared to hit all of them.
TOP PLAYS
- Mike Gesicki with a nifty 1-hand grab over a Jones pass over Jabrill Peppers.
- Zappe had a nice deep throw to Thornton after pump-faking for a double move.
- On what appeared to be a do-or-die situation on 3rd and 5 with about 13 seconds left, DeVante Parker hauled in a touchdown from Jones over Jack Jones, who wound up on the ground. Belichick dapped Parker up after that one.
THREE UP
Matthew Judon: Simply dominated.
Marte Mapu: Had a pick and a pass break up. No let up from him.
Ja'Whaun Bentley: He's had a really strong camp and was again active today.
FOUR DOWN
QB Mac Jones: His stats look better than Zappe's and Jones finished well but I didn't think he looked very good today - the ball did not come out well from his hands. And I don't even fully blame him for his interception. It was to Kayshon Boutte who didn't really make an effort to come back for the ball and let Christian Gonzalez pick it off. That being said, Jones has developed a bad habit of underthrowing crossers to the left sideline. He's got to put more power into those throws. Jones also severely underthrew an end-zone jumpball to Thornton against Bryant as well. Zappe wasn't any better and was pretty inaccurate.
RT Conor McDermott: Judon was parked over him all practice and shredded McDermott. Foot speed a big issue.
WRs Kendrick Bourne and Juju Smith-Schuster: Might be a by-product of the line woes, but neither did much in this practice and Bourne had a concentration drop.
After practice, Bourne hit back at some of the critics ... including one from around here.
"Stink, stunk, stank." Bourne said with a smile before running offf.
It was an obvious dig at Mike Giardi's comments the other night on TV.
"What have you seen at the receiver position?"
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) August 1, 2023
"Stink, stank, and stunk."@MikeGiardi not holding back breaking down what he's seen from the Patriots' wide receivers in camp so far 😬 pic.twitter.com/fV2fBEb4BW
Bedard here ... Hey, all in good fun, and Mike said what he said — all's fair in love and football. Just don't know, after that practice, I'd be crowing about much at receiver if my name wasn't DeVante Parker. I'd be ignoring the noise a bit more and trying to give people something to crow over.
The offensive line: If you had any illusion about the value that David Andrews provides in terms of communication and sorting out protections, you should just turn on this practice film. It was a brutal mess.
QUICK HITS
- Find it interesting that Keion White goes through positional drills with the interior linemen while Deatrich Wise (who White appears to be understudying for) is with the edge players. I'd guess it's to get White ready for sub rusher role, which Wise probably won't continue to do.
- Marte Mapu warmed up with the safeties but still got a lot of time at sub linebacker.
- Jack Jones alternated between second- and first-team corner. Myles Bryant still getting a lot of starter snaps at slot, especially with Jon Jones out today.
- Bentley blew up a couple of screens.
- Thornton was a big part of the quick-game package.
- Second line was Andrew Stueber, Chasen Hines, Jake Andrews, Bill Murray and Sidy Sow.
- CB Ameer Speed got a lot of second-team snaps.
- Despite a weekend practice (probably the last one) and nice weather, the place was only about two-thirds full of fans. This was a late change from a scheduled off day.
SCHEDULE
Monday: 1 p.m.
Tuesday: 1 p.m.
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: Texans at Patriots, 7 p.m.