Patriots Camp Report 08.03.24: Defense making plays but offense making progress

FOXBOROUGH - Practice No. 9 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:

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Matthew Judon appeared to be in a really good mood: On one play, Judon chased Antonio Gibson some 40 yards down the field for no reason and dove to prevent the touchdown in a joking fashion. He later made fun of the offense crying about a sack wiping out a big Hunter Henry catch. Judon looked liked his old self, which makes you wonder if a new deal is coming very soon.

Injuries starting to hit harder: After starting camp very strong, Tyquan Thornton was right back where he doesn't need to be - on the sideline watching with a minor injury, joining other oft-injured youngsters in Marcus Jones and Marte Mapu. The line was without tackles Chucks Okorafor and Calvin Anderson, and David Andrews didn't finish practice (no apparent injury). Let's just say the off day will be welcome.

Defense wins the day, but offense had its moments: The defense came up with a lot of big plays, including an interception (another should have been wiped out on a blatant hold by Alex Austin), multiple sacks and stuffed runs.

But the offense had its moments as well. Both Brissett and Maye produced touchdowns in 7 on 9 in the red zone, and Brissett led a scoring drive with no time left on the clock thanks to great catches from Osborn and Henry, who laid out and make a spectacular diving catch for the score.

Maye looked sharp on that 7 on 9 but struggled in team behind a brutal offensive line. Would be nice to see him get some reps with the starters on Sunday or Monday, but it's clear that if this isn't Brisett's team yet, it's pretty close. Maye's doing fine. He and the offense are making progress even if the "stats" don't show it. They look more comfortable by the day, just need some more continuity.

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, WR Demario Douglas.
Returned to practice: None.
Out: DT Christian Barmore, S Marte Mapu, TE Jaheim Bell, CB Marcus Jones, WR Tyquan Thornton, S Joshuah Bledsoe, OT Calvin Anderson, OT Chuks Okorafor.
Limited: S Jabrill Peppers, C David Andrews.
New injuries: OT Kellen Diesch. The newcomer to the line got dinged up but seemed to stay in.

DRESS CODE

Full pads.

LENGTH OF PRACTICE

2 hours in heat, humidity and mostly sun, but at least there was finally a breeze.

QB STATS

Team periods

Jacoby Brissett: 9 for 13, INT, sack, drop, throwaway — (1 for 1; 1 for 2, drop; 2 for 3, sack, INT; 1 of 3, throwaway; 4 for 4, TD)
Drake Maye: 3 for 9, 3 sacks, throwaway — (0 for 0, sack; 0 for 2; 2 for 3, sack; 1 for 1, sack; 0 for 3, throwaway)
Bailey Zappe: 5 for 7 — (2 for 2; 2 for 2; 1 for 3)
Joe Milton: 2 for 5, sack, scramble — (1 for 2, sack; Opportunity period: 1 for 3, scramble, DPI on Azizi Hearn).

7 on 9 in the red zone

Brissett: 3 of 4, TD (Alex Austin's blatant hold of Austin Hooper erased his INT)
Maye: 3 of 5, 2 TDs, drop
Milton: 1 of 4, TD, sack

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 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

First team session:

Harris run
Maye sacked by Jeremiah Pharms ... he did get off a throw late and Pop Douglas made a great snag on a ball behind him, but it was a sack
JaMychal Hasty left end run
Armon Watts stuffed Hasty as Patriots pulled two linemen

Second team period (Brissett/Maye on one field; Zappe/Milton on the other with McAdoo)

Harris stretch run left
Incomplete to Javon Baker on a hospital ball over the middle but safety pulled up
Incompleted out of bounds to KJ Osborn

Third team period (1:32 on the clock, appeared to need a field goal)

Incomplete to Harris on a swing pass left a little behind him. Drop.
Harris left end sweep
Complete to Mitchell Wilcox down middle for about 14 yards.
Complete to Polk on a bullet out pass.
Clocked
Sack/throwaway

Fourth team period (red zone)

Gibson stuffed by Trysten Hill
Complete to Osborn
Sack Wise/White
Hasty right end run to the 1-yard line

Fifth team period (56 seconds remaining, think they needed a TD)

Throwaway
Incomplete to Baker thrown out of bounds, great coverage by Dial
Incomplete to Juju Smith-Schuster, who slipped again ... when he's not dropping it.
Incomplete, pass batted down at the line.

HANDS TEAM

Drops: Kevin Harris 2, Jalen Reagor, Mitchell Wilcox
Pass breakups: Dell Pettus, Jaylinn Hawkins, Marcellas Dial
Interception: Jaylinn Hawkins tip off great coverage by Azizi Hearn (Brissett).
Sacks: Jeremiah Pharms, Armon Watts, Team, Wise/White

TOP PLAYS

Hunter Henry's two catches: a twisting backshoulder grab from Brissett, and his fourth-down, gottta-have it diving catch for a TD from Brissett with time expiring.

Joey Slye making what appeared to be a 55-yard field goal into a crosswind.

Brissett deep right pass to Osborn, who made a better leaping catch.

Hearn's pass coverage to set up Hawkins' INT.

THREE UP

TE Hunter Henry: Two phenomenal grabs from the vet, who has come to life this week.

K Joey Slye: Was 4 for 4 in the kicking competition and hit a FG in team that appeared to be 58 yards - let's just say it was well over 50 - and he made it easily.

QB Drake Maye (red zone 7 on 7 version): Striped TDs to Polk and Baker, and should have had another but Wilcox dropped another one. Maye was slinging and looked confident.

THREE DOWN

WR Juju Smith-Schuster: When he's not failing to get open or dropping a pass, he's slipping for no reason like he did today. 

QB Drake Maye (team): 3 for 9 with 3 sacks is 3 for 9 with 3 sacks. He looked a bit timid, but it's not his fault.

WR Tyquan Thornton: Missed practice with what is being deemed a minor injury. He was off to a very strong start. He can't be back in the tub again. Gotta make the club. 

QUICK HITS

• Kickoff returns were Jalen Reagor, Ja'Lynn Polk and Jaylinn Hawkins. 
• The Patriots used way more power runs today than they have previously. A lot of pulling, but normal amount of zone runs as well.
• Vederian Lowe had his third straight days of starting reps at LT but this time both Chuks Okorafor and Calvin Anderson were out of practice. Caeden Wallace was again the starting RT.
• David Andrews sat out the last couple of team periods, boosting Nick Leverett to starting center.
• Jason McCourty and James White were on hand. 

SCHEDULE

Sunday: OFF
Monday: 11 a.m.
Tuesday: 11 a.m.
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: 7 p.m. vs. Panthers
Friday: OFF