FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 4 of 2024 is in the books, let's run down all you need to know: all the stats, 3 up/down, and odds and ends:
FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Receivers, cornerbacks get a chance to go 1-on-1: These practices have mostly been a bore so far, but things livened up on Sunday when the receivers and cornerbacks got a chance to go 1-on-1, which is always exciting and extremely tough on the cornerbacks (receivers know where they are going, largely, and there's no help).
Among the reps that stood out positively:
Jalen Reagor over Azizi Ahearn
KJ Osborn over Shaun Wade
Christian Gonzalez threw a blanket over Juju Smith-Schuster
Javon Baker got good separation from Christian Gonzalez for a catch
David Wallis beating Marcus Jones
JaQuae Jackson shaking Isaiah Bolden
Osborn over Marcellas Dial
Kayshon Boutte over Jonathan Jones
Baker made a sensational over the shoulder catch of a deep ball from Jacoby Brissett over Mikey Victor
Kawaan Baker over Alex Austin
Who impressed the most? Baker. The guy certainly has the moves and a flair for the dramatic. But Boutte, Polk, Osborn and Reagor also did well.
Who didn't do well? Smith-Schuster. Couldn't get any separation and dropped two passes.
Wallace and Okorafor stay at LT and RT, respectively: For the second straight day, rookie Caeden Wallace was at left tackle, and Chuks Okorafor was on the right side. So they split the first two non-padded practices. That could continue when the pads come on tomorrow, or they could go back after getting a look at both.
Team offense was horried to start, finished better: The Patriots' first of two periods was horrible for the offense, and it seemed like blocking was optional. Of the 17 plays run (or attempted), you had:
4 running plays
2 completions
That was the good. The rest:
5 sacks
3 incompletions
1 drop by Smith-Schuster
1 rehuddle (Drake Maye)
1 false start (Layden Robinson)
Negative play rate: 11 of 17 (64.7 percent)
It got better in the second session, but it still wasn't the greatest show on turf or anything:
4 runs
8 completions
2 incompletions
1 drop by Jackson
Negative play rate: 3 of 15 (20 percent)
Total negative play rate: 14 of 32 (43.8 percent)
Daily total negative play rates:
Sunday: 43.8 percent
Friday: 44 percent
Thursday: 60 percent
Patriots get a little healthier in the backfield: New England had a representative backfield today for the first time in forever as Antonio Gibson came off NFI, and rookies Deshaun Fenwick and Terrell Jennings practiced fully.
Pop Douglas continued to be limited to individual and catching punt returns. He's dealing with a hand injury and he told reporters they're just taking it slow, he's fine.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Physically unable to perform list: C Jake Andrews, WR Kendrick Bourne, LG Cole Strange, LB Sione Takitaki
Non-football injury list: None.
Red non-contact jerseys: CB Shaun Wade.
Returned to practice: RB Antonio Gibson, RB Deshaun Fenwick, RB Terrell Jennings.
Full participants: None.
Out: DT Christian Barmore,
Limited: WR Demario Douglas, S Marte Mapu.
New injuries: WR JaQuae Jackson (left hand).
DRESS CODE
Shells.
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
2 hours under mostly sunny skies.
QB STATS
Team periods
Jacoby Brissett: TOTAL - 3 of 5, 2 sacks, drop (0 for 2, 2 sacks, drop; 3 of 3, one was debatable Keion White sack)
Drake Maye: TOTAL 4 of 7, 2 sacks (1 for 2, 2 sacks; 3 of 5)
Joe Milton: 1 of 3, sack
Bailey Zappe: 1 of 3, drop
7 on 7
Jacoby Brissett: TOTAL 5 OF 7 (2 of 4, 3 of 3 - Raekwon McMillian hold vs. TE Mitchell Wilcox)
Drake Maye: 4 of 8, drop, two held forever (2 of 4, one throwaway after holding forever; 2 of 4, drop, one held forever)
Bailey Zappe: 3 of 4
Joe Milton: 3 of 4, interception to LB Joe Giles Harris late and lazy.
Note: I do not have the number of reps that some other writers have because I do not count when the offense is "working off cards." Those are plays when an assistant coach literally brings out a play on a card and shows it to one side of the ball. They are not running their own plays so since there are so many x-factors — including the receiver running the right route, and blockers executing correctly — so I do not count those reps.
MAYE REPORT
Dialing down on the top draft pick in team periods.
This was Maye's series in the first team session:
Run
Short out to Polk
Rehuddle
False start Robinson
Sack by Josh Uche
Incomplete to Osborn
Sack on a just a cluster with the protection
Second series:
Complete to Reagor sidearm
Turfed TE screen to Wilcox fairly quickly but it had no chance
Incomplete to Wilcox, wide due to poor footwork
Complete to Reagor behind him, but I think it was intentional away from safety
Complete to Kevin Harris short out
HANDS TEAM
Fumbles: None
Drops: Smith-Schuster 3, Jackson.
Pass breakups: Bolden, Austin, Wise
Interception: Gilles-Harris (Milton)
Sacks: Deatrich Wise, Sam Roberts, Uche, White (iffy), Team 2.
TOP PLAYS
Baker's 1 on 1 catch over the shoulder.
THREE UP
WR Javon Baker: Showed off his ability in 1-on-1s.
WR Jalen Reagor: Was probably the second most impressive WR in 1-on-1s.
LB Joe Giles-Harris: He has consistently shown up back to the offseason and seems to be pushing up the depth chart. Interception and near sack today.
THREE DOWN
WR Juju Smith-Schuster: Dropped three passes and looked old in 1-on-1s.
QB Drake Maye: Twice had to rehuddle his offense, and twice he held the ball forever in 7 on 7. That's not supposed to happen. Should be an outlet somewhere.
C Atonio Mafi: He may be a neophyte at the position, but his shotgun snaps are consistently horrible. OL coach Scott Peters was in his ear at some point.
QUICK HITS
- Patriots continued at corner with Christian Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones, and then Marcus Jones as the nickel.
- Both kickers missed their initial boots today, from a whole 33 yards.
33 yards, left hash: Joey Slye no good, clanged off left upright. Chad Ryland no good wide right.
39 yards, right hash: Both good.
40 yards, left hash: Both good.
42 yards, left hash: Both good.
- Line depth chart today (players said they are given it before each practice):
LT: Wallace/Anderson/Wheatley
LG: Sow/Jordan/Fornadel
C: Andrews/Leverett/Mafi
RG: Onwenu/Robinson/Turner
RT: Okorafor/Lowe/Henry
- Punt returners: Marcus Jones, Reagor, Polk, Osborn.
SCHEDULE
Monday: 11 a.m. (pads)
Tuesday: 11 a.m.
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: 11 a.m.
Friday: 11 a.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m.
Sunday: OFF