FOXBOROUGH — Some thoughts and observations from practice as the Patriots concluded their offseason work until training camp starts ...
• With rain in the area, practice was moved indoors, which made for some tight quarters — the Patriots still don't have a full-field indoor field?! — and tough viewing for the media.
• The defense stepped up their game today with different pressure looks and pass rushes — along to a lot of loud music — and that led to more sloppiness from both sides of ball up front. The offense definitely had more false starts, but the defense jumped as well.
• Still though the offense looked solid overall and they continued to impress with the little things, like getting to the line quickly out of the huddle, lining up in the right spots. It was particularly impressive in an early team portion when the offense was backed up, the music was blaring, and they were running no-huddle. For the most part, they knew what they were doing and Drake Maye was in command.
• As for the stats I took:
Drake Maye overall: 9 of 14, TD, INT, 4 sacks
Maye silent count: 4 of 4, sack (coverage); 2 of 4, INT, sack (Landry unblocked)
Maye red zone: 2 of 4, TD, sack (coverage), drop (Stevenson); 1 of 2, sack (ish ... Keion White was offsides)
Josh Dobbs overall: 9 of 14
Dobbs silent count: 3 of 5; 2 of 3
Dobbs red zone: 3 of 4, 1 of 2
• The Maye interception wasn't a bad ball or read, it was simply a sensational play/catch by Christian Gonzalez. Gonzalez was over the top of Kyle Williams, Maye gave him a chance of a 50/50 ball, Williams couldn't leap and Gonzalez flashed late hands.
• Maye did have a couple of throws where you noticed the hitch because he wasn't decisive/waiting on someone to break open. That's basically what it is now. When he's cooking, you don't notice it. When he's processing a bit more — and that happened today because the defense really stepped up their rush and coverage looks — he slows down.
• Some defensive drills:
• The offensive line rotation was the same as yesterday, as numbers are a big issue at guard and center with several people out.
• Out: WR Mack Hollins, CB Miles Battle, OG Tyrese Robinson, OG Wes Schweitzer, LB Jahlani Tavai.
Limited: WR Stefon Diggs, WR Ja'Lynn Polk, DT Wilfried Pene, S Kyle Dugger, C Jared Wilson, OG Mike Onwenu, LB Marte Mapu.
• Marcus Epps was more in the mix today at safety.
• Demario Douglas had a really good day, sometimes at the expense of Carlton Davis. The CB became frustrated at one point that Douglas beat him across the field — despite Davis holding his jersey — and caught the ball from Maye on a big play. Davis tackled Douglas to the ground after the catch, which got him some words from Mike Vrabel.
• Some observations on some plays:
TreVeyeon Henderson is not headed for a redshirt year like James White and Shane Vereen. He is very heavily in the mix and continues to look good. He had a great blitz pickup today when he came from the other side of the field and picked up Marcus Jones blitzing from the slot.
Kyle Williams, nice job working back on a comeback from Dobbs.
Nice subtle spin by Antonio Gibson to catch a pass behind him with ease from Dobbs.
On a 3rd and 6 play, Patriots tried a little playaction boot into the flat to Henderson but Robert Spillane read it and made the tackle almost immediately. Great play.
False starts: Morgan Moses, Demontrey Jacobs, Jack Conley, Keion White, Will Campbell.
Good coverage: Craig Woodson vs. Jaheim Bell, Jack Gibbens on Javon Baker (on same play Christian Elliss struggled with vs. Williams yesterday, MLB Monty Rice, Jabrill Peppers vs. Hunter Henry, Marcus Jones had a great breakup of a TD pass to Williams from Dobbs - Jones ripped it away as the two were going out of bounds; Alex Austin vs. Williams, LB Cam Riley vs. RB Trayveon Williams.
LB Monty Rice has flown under the radar but he's a good player. Impressed that he's the Mike can calling plays in the huddle.
Sacks/pressure: Keion White vs. Moses, Dell Pettus unblocked, Harold Landry unblocked.
• What a difference a few years make: I find it interesting and telling that both sides of the ball hustle a lot. The defense, before a series, huddle between the sideline and the ball. When they break, everyone sprints to their position and is ready to go.
When the offense beaks the huddle, the linemen and tight ends haul ass to the line and get into their stances. The receiver line up exactly where they are supposed to be, and are ready to go.
I miss teams that were good at the little things. As I'm fond of saying in my coaching, "You can't do big things without mastering the little things." Seems like Vrabel is of like mind.
• Demontrey Jacobs struggled today with false starts and blowing blocking assignments.
• TE Gee Scott seemed to have a good day. Efton Chism had a quiet day.
• Steph Diggs and Ja'Lynn Polk worked hard on the side. Both looked good.
• Good touchdown pass from Ben Woolridge to the very lanky Jon Jiles to end practice. Vrabel sprinted down to celebrate, but never did.
• The players, in groups, had to push sleds with 90 pounds on them the length of the facility.