FOXBOROUGH — Practice No.1 is in the books; let's run down all you need to know, including stats, lineup adjustments and observations:
(Paul Johnson for BSJ)
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Christian Gonzalez was a full participant: A big topic of conversation this offseason has been about whether or not there'd be drama between the team and their top cornerback as he seeks a lucrative contract extension. There was no such drama on the first day of camp as Gonzalez was a full participant, even in team drills, as he was back in his usual right cornerback position.
That's a sign that things are in a good place for the team, and Robert Kraft said as much to reporters, as he said the team has made Gonzalez a substantial contract offer.
"We love Christian Gonzalez," said Kraft, who appeared with his wife, Dana, as part of the Paw-triots program. "We love him as a player, as a person. That's why we've made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL, and coincidentally, it's the highest contract in the Patriots franchise history. So we're glad we drafted them, and we developed him here, and we hope he will be with us for a long time."
Of course, with all contracts, the devil is in the details. The Patriots could have offered Gonzalez an extension that makes him the highest-paid cornerback in new money — after his rookie contract concludes. And it's possible Gonzalez could be eyeing top APY prior to that, starting this season.
Gabe Jacas reportedly signs his contract: Jordan Schultz reported that Jacas, the final positional draft pick unsigned, has agreed to his contract with the team. Mike Vrabel told reporters earlier that he didn't believe Jacas was local, so it could be a couple of days before he is on the field. He'll need to pass his physical exam and the conditioning test.
(Paul Johnson for BSJ)
Typical slow start to camp: The first few days of camp are spent just getting the players reacclimated to playing football, getting a feel for each other body-on-body. Vrabel said today would be a lot of runs and outside zone because there's little point in doing gap and power without pads. And that held true. The only passes were the occasional boot off playaction.
"There’ll be a few more runs," Vrabel said. "We have to practice without pads on. There’ll be more zone runs to take away some of the double teams and gap‑scheme runs—we’ll save pads for that. It doesn’t do us any good to install those runs and work on them without pads. We'll work on first and second down. Tempo will be alive. We talk to the players about practicing the same way we want to play. If we hit a play, I reserve the right to go on the ball as long as we’re not subbing. We want to practice right now the same way we’re going to play. We'll continue to add third down, red zone, two‑minute, short yardage. At some point there’ll be a “call it” period once the first week is installed and we will go out, not have a script and just say whatever situation we have."
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Physically unable to perform list: DE Harold Landry, TE CJ Dippre.
Non-football injury list: RB Terrell Jennings.
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs.
Returned to practice: None.
Full participants: None.
Out: None.
Limited: None.
New injuries: None.
DRESS CODE
Helmets.
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
1:22.
QB STATS
Drake Maye: 6 of 9, sack. Started 1 of 4.
Tommy DeVito: 5 of 8.
Behren Morton: 3 of 4.
"It's great to be back out here, that's the first thing," Maye said. "Shout out to the fans. Thought the guys had some energy. We can clean some things up. I think that's what camp is - the first couple of days, you kind of get in the swing of going full speed again. I think you got some run plays now, kind of different than OTAs. But we got some stuff to clean up offensively, I think for sure, but I think we made some plays and we just got to be consistent and more efficient."
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 — I do not count those reps.
HANDS TEAM
Fumbles: Maye and Jared Wilson (snap).
Drops: None
Pass breakups: Dre'Mont Jones, Bradyn Swinson
Interceptions: None
TOP PLAY
Kayshon Boutte made a leaping/diving catch of a deep ball from Maye, and held onto it despite losing his helmet in the process.
"Yeah, I mean, it's nothing new," Maye said. "I mean, you guys see it. I mean, all year last year and the year before, and he just keeps doing things right. And I'm proud of him for getting in there, jumping in there. And he understands if he's got something down the sideline and a ball down the field, he's got a chance it's coming his way. So, great catch, and I think that was the better start off camp with a little bit of a deep one. So, we were one-for-one to start."
THREE UP
Not fair to do this yet.
THREE DOWN
Not fair to do this yet.
(Paul Johnson for BSJ)
QUICK HITS
• Impact plays on defense: Christian Elliss run stuff, Joshua Farmer run stuff, Milton Williams run stuff, Dre'Mont Jones sack of Maye against Lomu
• Caleb Lomu was mostly the second-team right tackle next to LT Marcus Bryant, LG Andrew Rupcich, C Ben Brown and RG Caeden Wallace. Lomu did get a few reps as the jumbo TE. James Hudson was the starting RT when Morgan Moses was spelled, not Lomu.
• In an early one-on-one blocking session working on zone technique, Dre'Mont Jones tossed Wallace, Leonard Taylor dominated Lomu, and Will Campbell ended up on the ground against Joshua Farmer.
• Kevin Byard probably would have been flagged for DPI impeding Henry on a crossing route. Mike Brown spelled Byard when he got a session off.
• Maye's best pass was a perfectly placed seam pass to Hunter Henry over Elliss. There was not much room.
• RG JonDarius Morgan had a false start. He was part of the third OL: LT Lorenz Metz, LG Mekhi Butler, C Jacob Rizy, RG Morgan, RT Dametrious Crownover (he looks like he dropped a few pounds).
• The Patriots went on the ball with tempo a few times, which Vrabel said he reserves the right to call.
• Mike Onwenu allowed a pressure, but Maye found DeMario Douglas, who saw a lot of slot action. Romeo Doubs lost his footing a few times.
• Maye tried to go to AJ Brown on his first pass, and the receiver nearly made a great one-handed catch, but it fell incomplete against Gonzalez.
"I think I had to. One-on-one over there with Gonzo [Christian Gonzalez]. I was going to try to start off the camp with a little bang, but I got to make a better throw for him."
• Veteran WR DeAndre Hopkins was on the field in coaching garb with a run sheet, mostly standing with Ryan Cowden.
• Former RB James White was a visitor.
SCHEDULE
Sunday: 10:15-12:00 (helmets)
Monday: 10:00-11:30 (walkthrough, shells).
Tuesday: 10:15-12:15 (shells).
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: 10:15-12:00 (pads)
Friday: 10:15-12:15
Saturday: 10:15-12:15
Sunday, Aug. 2: OFF