FOXBOROUGH — Observations from open OTA practice No. 2, held today on the upper grass fields behind Gillette:
• Not present or injured: Matthew Judon, Cole Strange (present, injured), Joe Milton, Jon Jones, Josh Uche, Kendrick Bourne, Christian Barmore, Davon Godchaux, Sione Takitaki, Zuri Henry, Jahlani Tavai (present, injured), Jake Andrews, and Sam Roberts.
Sidy Sow was dressed but he took no reps.
• With absences, there were a lot of changes on the line:
1st group: LT Chuk Okorafor, LG Atonio Mafi, C David Andrews, RG Michael Jordan, RT Mike Onwenu
2nd group: Caeden Wallace, Andrew Stueber, Nick Leverett/Mafi, Layden Robinson, Calvin Anderson
At one point late in Drake Maye's last team reps, the line was: LT Vederian Lowe, LG Stueber, C Charles Turner, RG Ryan Johnson, RT Tyrone Wheatley.
Needless to say, some of the pass protection, especially in the last team period, was a mess. There was a bust throwaway, a sack, a scramble, stuffed run ... it was not good. At one point, Mafi and Robinson ran into each other. Looked like Matt Patricia's offense.
• As far as the QBs go, Drake Maye was decidedly No. 3 behind Brissett and Zappe. Joe Milton was not there.
In an early team period when the Patriots were going split squads on two fields, Maye backed up Brissett. Zappe was solo on the other field.
In the next session, Zappe and Maye switched field.
In the final team period, Brissett got the first reps, then Zappe, then Brissett was back and Maye got the final set of plays.
To me, that looks like they are trying to get the starter ready, but it's not like final-final or anything. Things can still change a lot.
• Maye had some very impressive throws. He threw a perfect deep pass with touch down the right sideline and hit Tyquan Thornton in stride. Maye had a great out to Juju Smith-Schuster after Maye pumped the flat throw (he pumped a few times in this practice for much success). Another pump led to a completion in a tight window to WR TJ Luther, who looked really quick today.
Maye also had a few puzzling passes. One he threw deep right to WR Kawaan Baker, who was going to the sideline. Maye threw it to the inside shoulder instead of the outside. It wasn't overly difficult. Just missed it. Overthrew Smith-Schuster on an open seam pass.
• Zappe threw an interception to Javon Baker, who tipped it/dropped to the DB. But overall I though Baker had a strong practice with a couple of strong contested catches.
• Brissett had a nice deep completion to Pop Douglas, who made a nice adjustment in the air against CB Azizi Hearn. Missed a deep out to Smith-Schuster high.
• In combined team/7 on 7 reps, I had Brissett 14 of 18, Maye 15 of 19, Zappe 4 of 6, INT (I did not watch his reps by himself on the other field)
• Nothing overly impressive or negative overall with the offense. However, I did think that their playaction/boot game looked really good.
• Marcellas Dial had really sticky coverage on Smith-Schuster and a pass breakup.
• Didn't notice any big positional shifts on defense. With Christian Gonzalez not taking part and Jonathan Jones not here, it's tough to tell. Marte Mapu still working with safeties but also playing sub linebacker.
• Steve Belichick attended practice and gave out a lot hugs, including one for Robert Kraft, who made an appearance. Patrick Chung was also there.
Additional note from Giardi
During individual periods, the quarterbacks are trained to keep their eyes up. Zappe revealed that Ben McAdoo or Alex Van Pelt will flash numbers with their fingers that the players have to call out as they go through the drills. The two coaches will also do the same for a net drill that features red, white, and blue blocks over an opening. The quarterbacks will do their dropbacks, be told which direction to move in, and then be told the color that they must throw to.
"So the main part about it all is keeping your eyes up, not looking at your feet, not stumbling over your own feet," said Zappe. "Because when you're in the pocket, you're not looking down. You're not - there's guys running around - there's legs flying everywhere, people falling. And you can't look down because once you look down, you lose sight of everything going on."
