FOXBOROUGH - Practice No. 10 of 2024 is in the books; let's run down all you need to know: all the stats, 3 up/down, 1-on-1 pass rushes, and odds and ends:
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Defense dominates physical practice: This was a tough practice. It was brutally hot and the team was in pads for the third straight practice (in four days). It was an "eat your vegetables" kind of practice that focused mostly on the run game. The defense definitely owned the day with a lot of run stuffs and short gains. The offense probably had 3-4 really good runs.
Patriots tackled to the ground in multiple team periods: In most padded training camp practices, teams usually just "thud" - which is good initial contact, but they don't wrap. Patriots have been doing that for years, at least far as I can remember. What we saw on Monday - the Patriots tackling to the ground over multiple team periods - was something we haven't seen in many years. Obviously Jerod Mayo, a former linebacker, thinks it's important for the players to get used to tackling, especially to acclimate their bodies, before Thursday's preseason opener.
Keion White and Jeremiah Pharms debut as goal line fullbacks: The Patriots don't have a fullback on the roster, so we were wondering what they might do in short-yardage situations. Today we got an answer. White sent Jahlani Tavai flying on the first rep, and then dropped a touchdown into the hands of Ja'Whaun Bentley for an interception. Tavai was ready for Pharms, who whiffed on his block. Maye to throw the second play away.
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: WR Demario Douglas.
Returned to practice: WR Tyquan Thornton, OT Calvin Anderson,
Out: DT Christian Barmore, S Marte Mapu, TE Jaheim Bell, CB Marcus Jones, S Joshuah Bledsoe, OT Chuks Okorafor.
Limited: S Jabrill Peppers, C David Andrews, WR Tyquan Thornton, DE Josh Uche.
New injuries: DT Trysten Hill, WR JaQuae Jackson
DRESS CODE
Full pads (5th day, third in a row).
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
2 hours in heat, humidity and all sun. It was brutally hot.
QB STATS
Team periods
Jacoby Brissett: 5 for 8, TD, drop/INT — (2 for 2, TD; 0 for 1, drop/INT; 2 of 3; 1 of 2)
Drake Maye: 1 for 5, sack, scramble TD — (1 for 1, scramble TD; 0 for 1; 0 of 3, sack
Bailey Zappe: 1 for 2, TD
Joe Milton: 2 for 4, sack — (0 for 2; 2 of 2, sack in opportunity period)
Patriots had a 12-minute period where the line only rushed one side at a time, and the pace was slower. I didn't count it. Brissett was 4 for 4, Maye was 2 of 3 with INT and sack, Milton was 3 of 4.
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 (red zone):
Harris run middle for 5 yards
Harris stuffed over left tackle
Complete to Hasty for 3 yards
Rollout right, scramble for TD
Second team period (goal line)
Gibson run middle
Throwaway after pressure
Gibson rushing TD over LT
Third team period
Incomplete
Harris stuffed over LT
Incomplete deep to KJ Osborn but Jonathan Jones was in perfect coverage. Good throw.
Sack by Ximines
HANDS TEAM
Drops: Terrell Jennings
Pass breakups: Mikey Victor, Bentley, Wade
Interception: Bentley off a White drop (Brissett); AJ Thomas (Maye)
Sacks: Godchaux, Ximines, Team.
1-ON-1 REPORT
Again they did split squad, and Caeden Wallace and Layden Robinson were in the backup group. They mixed in the TEs, and they were not good.
RECEIVER/CORNERBACKS IN RED ZONE FROM GIARDI
(Brissett)
Marcellas Dial with a PBU of a back shoulder throw to Jalen Reagor
JuJu Smith-Schuster drops an outcut with Christian Gonzalez in coverage.
K.J. Osborn loses Alex Austin in the back of the end zone..
David Wallis wins on a speed out versus Shaun Wade. TD
Ja'Lynn Polk beats Azizi Hearn on an out. Got his feet in. Nice catch.
(Zappe)
Pretty back shoulder throw to Kayshon Boutte (Isaiah Bolden).
Well-placed back pylon fade to Javon Baker (Marco Wilson).
Slot out to Kawaan Baker (missed defender).
Too high and far for JaQuae Jackson (Mikey Victor). INC
(Maye)
Smith-Schuster nifty move to shed Dial for a TD.
Hearn beats Javon Baker inside on a slant. INC.
(Brissett)
Reagor in the back right corner over Wade.
Misfire to Polk. Too high. Jon Jones in coverage.
Slot fade to Boutte is incomplete (Gonzalez).
Osborn with an inside release, losing Hearn and then making a nice catch.
Javon Baker shimmies past Bolden toward the goal post and makes grab.
(Maye)
Hits Polk on an out (Dial).
Austin gloves up Smith-Schuster on a slot fade. INC.
Wallis beats Victor but Maye is too high on the throw.
PBU by Hearn. Return route run by Kawaan Baker but Maye late with the throw.
Gonzalez shuts down a return route by Jackson. PBU.
Boutte escapes Wade and reels in a throw in the back corner. Defense does pushups.
TOP PLAYS
Thornton's red zone slant TD from Brissett.
White blowing up Tavai as the fullback.
THREE UP
Defensive line: Owned the offensive line on running plays.
CB Christian Gonzalez: Seemed to answer Jerod Mayo's callout the other day with one of his better days. Was in great position all practice.
RG Mike Onwenu: Dominating in 1-on-1s again with a 3-0 record. He's been, without question, the best player in camp.
THREE DOWN
LT Vederian Lowe: Seemed like the team had a lot of running and protection issues from that side.
Tight ends pass blocking: Didn't see Hunter Henry but the other tight ends were in the pass rush drills, and they stunk up the joint with an 0-5-1 record.
The weather: Too many brutally hot days.
QUICK HITS
- The Patriots announced they signed LS Tucker Addington and placed OL Jake Andrews on injured reserve. That means Andrews' season is over. All on Nick Leverett to be the backup center. He's done well.
- Vederian Lowe got his fourth straight starting day at left tackle. That's the most of any candidate. Starting line: Lowe, Sow, Andrews, Onwenu, Anderson.
- Second string: Wallace, Robinson, Leverett, Michael Jordan, Zuri Henry.
- Third string: Diesch, Fornadel, Charles Turner, Mafi, Henry.
- Jon Bon Jovi walked out with Robert Kraft and the Patriots immediately played two of his songs.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday: 11 a.m.
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: 7 p.m. vs. Panthers
Friday: OFF