FOXBOROUGH - Training camp isn’t what it used to be. Never mind the old two-a-days and the incredible physicality that we used to observe for weeks at a time back in the Patriots’ Bryant College days, but even from a handful of years ago. Live tackling drills are few and far between, and so too are some of the more competitive periods that used to give us some large-sample-sized data points.
Now? After 13 days of camp, we only had four one-on-one periods between offensive and defensive lines. Ditto for the receivers and defensive backs. The most recent CBA protects the players through a number of items, which is great for them, but has definitely led to sharpness issues when September rolls around and the games actually count.
Anyway, boss man sent me a text asking for me to do a “Three Up, Three Down” through the first two weeks of camp. Let’s do a slow reveal…
THREE UP
Honorable Mention (see? I told you slow reveal): Jon Jones, Christian Gonzalez, Christian Barmore and David Andrews.
- Jones would have made my list had he stayed healthy and continued on his play-making track. But he’s been out since Thursday. I’ve received no indication that it’s anything major, but he’s still their best corner so you can’t help but miss him.
- JJones may be that guy, but it might not be long before Gonzalez wrestles that title from. Dude is super smooth and there have been a few times in one-on-ones where his speed and arm length have erased open windows, and quickly. Had a couple rough patches over the last four days but nothing that overly concerns me.
- A healthy Barmore is a beast. He did something ungodly to Cody Russey in one-on-one pass-rushing drills, lifting a 300-plus pound man off the ground, but he’s also shown up in all the team periods as well. Pro Bowl season loading?
- Andrews. He’s a rock. Smart, agile, quick in short spaces. Has been good in one-on-ones because, well, he’s good. There’s been no drop-off in his level of play.
Now to the actual top 3. Drumroll please.
3. Demario “Pop” Douglas: The rookie wide receiver has been a fun player to watch in camp. Day after day, he is making plays and has, at the very least, injected himself into the conversation as someone who might have at least some kind of role beginning in week one. I reserve the right to change my mind because we’re only two weeks in, but I can’t think of a young pass catcher having this kind of start in the Pats’ system. If you think about the collection of veteran receivers on the team, none of them have that short-area quickness that Douglas possesses, and I think it was noteworthy that the defensive backs have recognized him on a number of levels, from physicality to the way he runs his routes, to his uncanny ability to maintain a high level of speed coming in and out of his breaks. Good stuff.
2. Ja’Whaun Bentley: To start this story, I lamented the lack of physicality in camp, but when that’s been allowed, guess who’s been in the middle of it? Yep, it’s Bentley. He looks quicker than he did last year but just as strong. The offense has had a hard time running the ball, and the linebacker has been a big reason why. When Jerod Mayo called Bentley one of the more underrated LBs in football, it caught my attention. Is he overstating that, I thought to myself? Then I started texting some of my contacts in the league - coaches, scouts, front office types - and there is universal love for the player. Snippets of the conversations were “you can tell he’s super smart,” “love his power” and “give me a handful of guys like him on defense and I’d be happy.” So it turns out that maybe that two-year extension was a bargain? Time will tell, but Bentley is now firmly entrenched as a leader and someone that smart football people will tell you is just a “good football player.” To me, you can’t get a much better compliment than that.
1. Josh Uche: Full disclosure, I was one of the guys who wasn’t in a rush to pay Uche based on one year of production, even though I’ve always been high on his skillset and thought he would break out two seasons ago (man, he was awesome during those joint practices against the Giants). But upon hearing what I heard about Uche all offseason and then seeing what I have through this stage of camp, I’d bet on his future ceiling. Yes, he has taken advantage of the Pats' makeshift offensive line, but New England isn’t the only place where the tackles are a question mark. Try the Jets, for instance, or the Dolphins with their injury history, or even the middling guys the Bills possess. That’s six games against players Uche can beat, and I believe he will, assuming health. He is the team’s most explosive pass rusher, with an ability to bend that no one else on the Pats can match. The arrow is pointing up. Way up.
THREE DOWN
3. Tyquan Thornton: It hasn’t been all bad. He had a couple of really nice catches Tuesday, reminding me of how much I liked what the 2nd year pro did a year ago, in his first camp, before the clavicle injury. But there’s a lack of consistency, a failure to string together days, be it through performance or just being a participant in practice. He needs more reps, he needs to play more confidently and, truth be told, this team needs him. That speed is real and spectacular, but Nelson Agholor had it too (and how did that work?). Eventually, there needs to be real production catching the ball for the defense to consistently account for Thornton. I wouldn’t write him off yet, but he needs to get off the roller coaster and find even ground. BIll O’Brien will not tolerate the same level of mistakes that Matt Patricia did last season. Don’t forget, even with the injury, Thornton had more snaps than Kendrick Bourne but was way less productive. That can’t play that way for him again this season or he risks becoming the next in line of highly drafted young wideouts that just didn’t make the same level of impact as their draft spot says they should.
2. Bailey Zappe: For anyone who thought there was or could be a quarterback controversy, Zappe hasn’t done his part to force that into existence. He’s been erratic, he’s been conservative to a fault at times, and his lack of height has shown up in the pocket more than I remember a year ago, be it in camp or games. The 2nd year QB is at his best when he either is forced to get out of the pocket or the play is designed that way. There, he’s delivered some of the best throws in camp for any of the signal callers. But those are few and far between. Again, it’s not all bad, and I like his moxie and think he’s in the big-brain club with Mac. But I haven’t caught the “Fever” this summer, just some stupid cold.
1. Riley Reiff/Conor McDermott/Sidy Sow: I was worried about tackle to start the offseason and nothing has happened to change my mind. Reiff was the right tackle to start camp, seemingly was replaced by McDermott and then shifted over to the left side. It hasn’t been good. Ditto for McDermott, who is a decent option if he’s your 4th guy but when you’re talking about being the starter week in and week out? That just doesn’t feel like it’s a path to a successful season (and there are people inside that building who would tell you that too). I feel bad including Sow in this because he hasn’t played tackle since his freshman year in college, but we’re seeing him more and it’s gone about as you would expect: not well. He needs time, and because of the injury issues with Trent Brown and Calvin Anderson, he’s not being afforded that. O’Brien can scheme around one tackle spot being an issue, but two? That would seemingly take a lot off the table for an offense that will depend on variety to be productive.