FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 9 is in the books; let's run down all you need to know, including stats, lineup adjustments and observations:
FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Maye, first-team offense rebounds after another slow start: Most of the practice was team situational periods (no 1-on-1s). When the first team sputtered out of the gate without gaining a first down in two chances as Drake Maye started 1 of 4 with an unblocked sack, it felt like a continuation of Monday's struggles, and I was preparing to write an unflattering report. I mean, it was not good: checkdown to Rhamondre Stevenson, turfed pass to Hunter Henry under pressure from Dre'Mont Jones, Maye nearly intercepted by Elijah Ponder going to Henry, incomplete to Eli Raridon with Kevin Byard blanketing him, TreVeyon Henderson decent run, and then a sack by Jones. Ugly.
You'll be happy to know that things got a lot better after that. Maye went 10 of 11 the rest of the way, with four going to A.J. Brown, as they found much more success, including executing the final game situation: 1:05 left, ball on the opposing 20, need an FG.
Now, I'm not going to sit here and tell you it was the Greatest Show on Turf — don't think I "starred" any Maye play while Tommy DeVito keeps accumulating them, and might as well call Brown Mr. 7-yard Slant — but at least they were metriculating the ball down the field and executing better. That's something.
Something, maybe nothing, is going on at linebacker: After Christian Elliss left practice with a minor injury on Monday (he was back today), Chad Muma took the rest of his reps. That was pretty much as expected, as Muma had solidified himself as the No. 3 linebacker, while UDFA Khalil Jacobs and veteran KJ Britt seemed to be battling for the fourth spot, with a slight edge to Jacobs. But it was interesting to see Elliss with Jacobs on the second-team defense in the final situational period. Did the coaches like what they saw from Muma on film? Something to monitor. I'd say the LB ranking right now are Robert Spillane, Elliss, Muma, Jacobs, Britt and then Namdi Obiazor.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Physically unable to perform list: DE Harold Landry, TE CJ Dippre
Non-football injury list: S Brendan Schooler
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs.
Returned to practice:
Full participants: None.
Out: CB Carlton Davis (hamstring), OL Caeden Wallace (unknown), FB Reggie Gilliam, FB Jack Westover, WR Cameron Dorner.
Limited: DT Christian Barmore
New injuries: None
DRESS CODE
Full pads (5th day).
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
1:45 under full sun and blue skies
QB STATS
Drake Maye: 11 of 15, 2 sacks (1 of 4, sack; 2 of 2, sack; 4 of 4; 4 of 5)
Tommy DeVito: 13 of 15, 2 sacks (3 of 3; 4 of 4, sack; 2 of 3; 4 of 5, sack)
Behren Morton: 2 of 4, 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 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.
IMPACT PLAYS IN TEAM PERIODS
Fumbles: None.
Drops: Kayshon Boutte
Pass breakups: Elijah Ponder, Kobee Minor
Interceptions: None.
Run stuffs (8): Christian Gonzalez (Stevenson), Spillane (Stevenson), Elliss (Henderson), Karon Prunty (Lan Larison), Isiah Iton (Jam Miller), Khalil Jacobs (Myles Montgomery), Jesse Luketa (Miller), Leonard Taylor (Larison), KJ Britt (Miller)
Pressures/sacks (5 - 4 sacks): Dre'Mont Jones (pressure, sack, sack vs. Alijah Vera-Tucker), Amari Gainer (sack), Riley Jacobs (sack vs. Miller blitz pickup).
PASS RUSH ONE-ON-ONES
None today.
1-ON-1s, 7-ON-7S FROM GIARDI
None today.
TOP PLAYS
Behren Morton uncorking a deep ball to Nick DeGennaro against Kobee Minor.
Also, DeVito went up top deep to Boutte against Prunty.
FOUR UP
DE Dre'Mont Jones: He was very impactful on the edge with two sacks and another pressure.
WR Mack Hollins: Consistent target for the top two QBs, including on the final drives to get them into field goal position.
QB Tommy DeVito: After a slow start to camp, he's been really good the past two practices as the second-team offense is entertaining to watch.
WR Kayshon Boutte: Had a tough drop, but he was back to being a valuable outlet for the QBs.
THREE DOWN
WR Romeo Doubs: Only had one target from Maye. It came in the FG drive, and it wasn't close, hitting the turf in front of him. Was Doubs where he was supposed to be?
Backup guard: This is starting to become a disaster area. It started with Caeden Wallace and Ben Brown/Andrew Rupcich. Wallace struggled then got hurt. Brown hasn't shown well at guard, but is a solid center. Rupcich is OK, but has been a practice squadder for Titans and Pats since 2022. James Hudson didn't look great at OT, so he's been moved inside to replace Wallace. Hasn't shown well, but maybe he's still finding his footing. Vrabel mentioned Caleb Lomu will take reps there. Considering Lomu's OT struggles and the promise shown from Marcus Bryant and Dametrious Crownover, maybe moving Lomu to guard needs to happen sooner rather than later. The Patriots may have to make a minor deal here before the season.
Run blocking: I don't know what the issue is — wish I had film of practice to go over things, but... — but the run blocking, especially on the first team, seems pretty suspect. Vera-Tucker is still pretty rusty after not playing last season. He and Wilson are figuring things out. Most of the issues seem to be on the second level and free guys on the edge. Maybe Maye needs to get them into better plays. All I know is it hasn't looked good to this point. Example: Stevenson was stuffed on back-to-back plays to start the second drive (Gonzalez on blitz, Spillane a free runner).
ODDS AND ENDS
• Andy Borregales was 7 of 7 on field goals today.
• Charles Woods was the RCB again for Carlton Davis.
• It still seems like Terrell Jennings and Lan Larison are imitating Stevenson and Henderson on the second team. Jennings is the lead back, and Larison the pass back/relief back. Jennings made a one-handed catch of a DeVito check-down pass.
• DeVito threw the best pass of the day, to the right sideline and Mack Hollins, over Channing Canada and under Dell Pettus.
• Gainer's sack came on a 3rd-and-5 all-out blitz unblocked on DeVito.
• Really nice tunnel screen from DeVito to Boutte.
• It appears Henderson's blitz pickup has improved, but I need to see it in a game.
• Gabe Jacas got more run today but didn't stand out. He got sucked up the field badly on an end around.
• Maye's FG drive: Incomplete to Doubs, complete to Henry out of bounds, complete 25 yards to DeMario Douglas, complete 20 yards to Hollins, complete slant to Brown, clock, 53-yard field goal.
SCHEDULE
Wednesday: Closed to public
Thursday: Closed to public
Friday: 10:15-12:15
Saturday: OFF
Sunday: OFF