FOXBOROUGH — Some thoughts and observations after the Patriots practiced for about 90 minutes on the upper grass fields:
• Not everyone was present for the voluntary sessions.
"The spring, you guys know, is voluntary," Mike Vrabel said. "We would love to have everybody here, but that's not the reality. That's not the reality in the NFL. There won't be 100% participation or attendance at practice. And let me just say this, the guys that aren't here or guys that aren't at practice, everybody's got a different practice plan. We've talked about that. But the communication has been great for whatever reason that guys aren't at practice. Carlton [Davis III], [Kayshon] Boutte, [Mack] Hollins, Gonzo [Christian Gonzalez], Gabe [Jacas], and then I would say you may not – [Harold] Landry [III] won't be at practice, Kyle Dixon. That's pretty much the guys that won't be at practice."
Obviously, Gonzalez's absence will generate a bunch of discussion. It could be a big deal, or it could not be a big deal. Gonzalez has been around for most of the voluntary workouts to this point. No, he doesn't need to be out there, especially as a boundary corner. We'll have to see how this progresses.
"I would say that I value the communication that I've had personally. I know that our defensive coaches have had conversations with Christian," Vrabel said. "Again, I wish that they were all here so that we can coach them. But the ones that are here, that's where our focus will be, and we'll pour everything that we have into those players. I know that his professionalism and being ready to go, or whatever personal choice some guys have during the spring, I'm confident that they'll all be ready."
• First-round pick Caleb Lomu, who played only left tackle during rookie camp, was only at right tackle behind Morgan Moses today. At one point during team sessions, Moses was pumped for a block Lomu made. Moses dapped him up strongly, and then two spent about five minutes discussing the finer points of line play, with Vrabel not far away.
In fact, sixth-round pick Dametrius Crownover took more snaps at left tackle than Lomu did.
Lomu and Moses split first-round reps.
• Alijah Vera-Tucker was the left guard with the starters, but once team drills started, he worked off to the side. He was replaced by unheralded Andrew Rupcich.
Players working at LT: Campbell, James Hudson, Marcus Bryant, Crownover and Lorenz Metz.
LG: Vera-Tucker, Rupcich, Sebastian Gutierrez.
C: Jared Wilson, Ben Brown, Jacob Rizy.
RG: Mike Onwenu, Caeden Wallace, Mekhi Butler.
RT: Moses, Lomu, Crownover, Bryant.
Campbell and Vrabel got into a playful wrestling match early in practice.
Looks like this will be another season that Mike Onwenu works/plays himself into shape, because he looks even bigger than the end of last season. His practice jersey was working overtime in the midsection.
• With Jacas and Landry out, Elijah Ponder and Dre'Mont Jones were the primary edge starters. Kobee Minor, Charles Woods and Kindle Vidor were at boundary cornerback.
• A pretty choppy offensive practice with the defense bringing a lot of pressure. I had Drake Maye as 12 of 23 with an interception and a scramble. Tommy DeVito was 6 of 10 with a drop (Lan Larison) and a scramble. Behren Morton was 1 of 2.
Maye looks a little thicker, and appears to have tightened his motion a bit for the time being.
• Maye had what looked to be a touchdown to Demario Douglas, who had a productive day, on an in-cut that barely beat Karon Prunty. The fifth-round pick got his revenge later when he picked off a Maye pass to Kyle Williams. Williams seemed to have a tough day.
On the interception, there was serious pressure from the left side allowed by the Campbell/Rupcich tandem.
"Just left an out route inside," Maye said. "You can't do that in this league."
• Maye and Romeo Doubs got off to a slow start with a couple of deeper overthrows. Doubs does not get off the ground great.
• Pass breakups: LB KJ Britt, CB Woods, CB Vildor.
• TE Julian Hill had a nice snag of a Maye pass behind him.
• Edge Bradyn Swinson limped off at one point and then walked off the field with a trainer.
• The team worked on some offensive tempo and screen passes.
• We got our first view of third-round pick TE Eli Raridon, but he didn't stand out in any way.
• Will Campbell looked healthy and in condition.
• Vrabel was loud and his normal self at practice, involved in everything, wearing a pinny in team drills, getting physical with some players to emphasize teaching points.
"Same guy, talking shit, getting guys ready to roll," Milton Williams said.
• DT Leonard Williams seemed to impact more than a few plays.
• It seemed like the Patriots weren't really operating with an X receiver, with Boutte and Hollins out. Almost like they're keeping it open for someone.