Bedard: Patriots Practice Report 08.11.26 - Patriots offense looks sharp vs. Colts

FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 14 is in the books; let's run down all you need to know, including stats, 1-on-1 charts, lineup adjustments and observations:

FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Christian Gonzalez not on the field: We don't know the reason — it could be because of his contract, or due to the fact that he tweaked an ankle near the end of the last practice — but top corner Christian Gonzalez was not on the field for the joint practice with the Colts. Carlton Davis did not take part outside of individual drills as he comes back from a hamstring injury, so that left the cornerback position very thin. Karon Prunty and Kindle Vildor were the starting boundary corners next to Marcus Jones. The second group was Kobee Minor, Channing Canada and Marcellas Dial.

UPDATE: I was told Gonzalez's absence was due to the minor injury, not the contract.

The new turf is down at Gillette Stadium: By this point, you've probably heard that, after using FieldTurf for 20 years, the Patriots decided to switch to Hellas, a competitor, after the World Cup. The NFL deemed the surface non-compliant, and the Patriots hired FieldTurf to put in a field that would meet the NFL's standards. As of Tuesday afternoon, the new surface was down and being painted ahead of Thursday night's game with the Colts.

Drake Maye will not play on Thursday night: Mike Vrabel said before practice that Maye will not play in the game against the Colts, which likely means not many starters will as well, at least veterans. 

"I wouldn’t anticipate seeing Drake out there on Thursday, but that’s all subject to change," Vrabel said. "That’s where my mindset is right now, standing here today. It’s important that we get the work in and get things accomplished that we are looking to get accomplished. That can always change, but I wouldn’t anticipate that happening right now."

A.J. Brown cooks Sauce Gardner in 1-on-1s?: I was watching the big boys go at it, but I heard the cheer ... then I found out what it was about...

Sauce didn't like the Twitter discourse about it.

I'm not going to crap on this too much, because it was a really good route by Brown. But I will point out that players were slipping all over the field in team, including some of the Patriots.

But Brown had a strong day, not usually against Gardner. I thought the entire Patriots offense looked pretty good, including Drake Maye, who did throw a pick in the 2-minute situation.

TAKING ATTENDANCE

Physically unable to perform list: DE Harold Landry.
Non-football injury list: S Brendan Schooler
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs.
Returned to practice: None.
Full participants: None.
Out: CB Christian Gonzalez, S Mike Brown, LS Julian Ashby, WR Kyle Dixon.
Limited: CB Carlton Davis (hamstring), DT Christian Barmore, CB Charles Woods.
New injuries: LB Christian Ellis (right foot). It appeared that another had to be tended too as well, but I couldn't make out the number. 

DRESS CODE

Full pads (8th day).

LENGTH OF PRACTICE

2:08 under a lot of sun and humid conditions.

QB STATS

Drake Maye: Team - 14 of 22, 2 TDs, INT, sack, 2 scrambles (2 of 3; 2 of 5; 4 of 5; 1 of 2, scramble; 3 of 4, 2 TDs - Stevenson, Boutte; 2 of 3, INT, sack, scramble). 7-on-7 RZ: 4 of 6, 2 TDs (Stevenson, Brown). 
Tommy DeVito: Team - 11 of 15, 5 TDs, 3 sacks (2 of 2, sack; 2 of 3, sack; 1 of 2, sack; 2 of 4, TD Hollins; 2 of 2, 2 TDs - Raridon, Henry; 2 of 2, 2 TDs - Hollins, Raridon). 7-on-7 RZ: 
Behren Morton: None.

IMPACT PLAYS IN TEAM PERIODS

Fumbles: None.
Drops: None.
Pass breakups: 
Interceptions: John Saunders (Riley Leonard).
Run stuffs: None.
Pressures/sacks: Cory Durden (strip sack), Leonard Taylor 2

1-ON-1s FROM BEDARD

The offense and defense were going at the same time, so I tried to watch the offensive starters and then got what I could from the defenders (Colts projected starters in bold):

Will Campbell 2-0 over Arden Key
Alijah Vera-Tucker 2-0 over DeForest Buckner twice
Jared Wilson 1-1 split with Grover Stewart
Mike Onwenu 2-0 over Colby Wooden
Morgan Moses 1-1 split with Laiatu Latu
Caleb Lomu 1-1 split with Jaylahn Tuimoloau
Andrew Rupcich 1-0 over Jerry Tillery
Ben Brown 1-0 over Derrick Nnadi
James Hudson 0-1 decisive loss to Ade Adebawore
Marcus Bryant 0-1 Michael Clemons

Dre'Mont Jones draw Bernhard Raimann
Milton Williams 1-1 decisive loss to Quenton Nelson but he slipped
Cory Durden 0-1 to Tanor Bortolini, 1-0 Matt Goncalves, 1-0 Nelson
Jesse Luketa 1-0 Bayron Matos
Elijah Ponder 0-1 Nolan Rucci, 0-1 Jalen Travis
Leonard Taylor 0-1 Geno VanDeMark, 0-1 Goncalves
Casey Rogers 0-1 Jalen Farmer
Quintayvious Hutchins 0-1 Bayron Matos
Bradyn Swinson 1-0 Bernhard Raimann
Joshua Farmer 0-1 Bortolini
Gabe Jacas 0-1 Jalen Travis
Xavier Holmes 0-1 Raimann

PASSING 1 ON 1s, 7-on-7s FROM GIARDI

(Drake Maye)

• A.J. Brown with a hard comeback against Sauce Gardner, and Gardner falls down.
• Pop Douglas beats CB Justin Walley on an out cut.
• Hunter Henry with an inside release and easily skates by safety Cam Bynum.
• A dig route to Romeo Doubs is broken up by CB Mekhi Blackmon, who ran the route for Doubs.
• Kayshon Boutte catches a slant vs. Jonathan Edwards.
• Efton Chism with an in cut to beat Robert Carter.
• Eli Raridon struggles to get off a jam but then does create separation against Jonathan Owens. However, the timing was disrupted, and the pass is overthrown.
• Dig route by Mack Hollins, but the throw is low and clangs off Hollins’ hands.
• Douglas wins on a quick out.
• Haulcy with a PBU on a pass intended for Reggie Gilliam. Lot of holding and grabbing on that play. Ref doesn’t throw the flag.
• Hollins with a deep comeback, creating big separation against Blackmon.
• Williams victorious on a deep-in vs. Edwards.
• Boutte gets open on a go-route but Maye with a poorly thrown ball (once again, too far inside).

(Tommy DeVito)

• Kyle Williams gets inside of safety A.J. Haulcy (I still love him) for a short completion.
• Kobe Prentice catches a go route over CB Jai’Onte McMillan.
• Jack Westover is open on an out route vs. safety Trey Washington.
• Doubs wins on a comeback against CB Jaylon Jones.
• Cameron Dorner leaves Washington in his wake on an in-breaking route.
• Chism’s corner route loses CB Robert Carter.
• Haulcy is real physical with Hunter Henry and forces an incomplete.
• Tejhaun Palmer with a good release to beat Jones on a slant.
• Prentice with a sharp out cut to get open vs. a number I couldn’t identify.
• Raridon’s inside release gets himself open quickly vs. safety Juanyeh Thomas.
• Nick DeGennaro slips on his break, leading to an incomplete.
• Dorner with a nasty stutter-and-stop move that causes Edwards to look foolish in coverage.
• Douglas adjusts beautifully on a throw down the seam to make a twisting catch against Walley.

Red Zone 7-on-7

(Daniel Jones)

• Tyler Warren wins on an inside release to sneak behind the LBs.
• Downs open in the left flat, beating Craig Woodson to the end zone.
• Jones holds too long. Play is dead.
• Nick Westbrook-Ikhine beats Prunty on an out for a TD.
• Downs loses Vildor on a rollout. Debatable whether Jones would have had that much time.
• Westbrook-Ikhine shakes Woodson near the back endline.

(Anthony Richardson)

• RB Seth McGowan with a circle route to get inside LB Khalinl Jacobs.
• WR Liam Clifford with a fade over Prunty.

(Riley Leonard)

• Coleman Owen sits vs zone for an easy completion. CB Kenneth Harris is closest in coverage.
• Slant to number I couldn’t identify for a TD vs. Harris.
• Marcellas Dial with a PBU on a ball for Owen in the left flat.

DEFENSE 11-on-11

With no Christian Gonzalez or Carlton Davis, the Pats trot out Kindle Vildor and Kobee Minor to start at corner. Karon Prunty and Channing Canada would work in as well, Prunty more so. With Christian Barmore also sidelined, Joshua Farmer got first crack at those starter reps.

Pats' run defense was lacking. Jonathan Taylor hit ‘em with a couple of bigger runs. Rookie 7th-rounder Seth McGowan also gave the Pats’ defense fits as well. Tyler Warren proved to be a problem in the red area, shaking free for a touchdown against Robert Spillane and Kevin Byard.

Run Stuffs: Marcus Jones, Dre’Mont Jones, Gabe Jacas/John Saunders, Dell Pettus, Joshua Farmer (2x), Leonard Taylor

Pass Breakups: Marcus Jones, Elijah Ponder, Marcellas Dial, Bradyn Swinson

INT: Saunders

Pressure: Saunders, Jacas, Dre’Mont Jones, Kevin Byard, Farmer/Eric Gregory

Sacks: Jeremiah Pharms

TOP PLAYS

Ponder stayed at home on a boot action play, quickly closing the gap on Daniel Jones. Jones tried to throw it over Ponder, but the second-year edge got his arms up, forcing the Colts QB to recoil and throw the ball away.

Jones had a decisive win on the edge against the Colts left tackle, Bernhard Raimann, singlehandedly stuffing a Jonathan Taylor run that was supposed to come right at him.

Pettus, playing down in the box, circumnavigated the offensive line and stopped RB Ulysses Bentley in the backfield. Pettus has a nose for that.

Marcus Jones with a diving PBU on a crosser for WR Josh Downs. The nickel CB needed full extension to get it done.

LOWLIGHT(S)

The opening play of team saw Taylor crease the left side of the line, chewing up a healthy chunk of yards. From my vantage point, Farmer and Elliss were moved rather easily at the point of attack. There were a handful of plays like that where the front 7 wasn’t stout enough.

UDFA CB Canada and LB Chad Muma let Downs find a massive hole between the two (appeared to be zone) for a chunk play.

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYS

Plays that I starred:

Tommy DeVito's 60-yard bomb touchdown to Kyle Williams over corner Rob Carter.

Drake Maye's phenomenal touch pass to Romeo Doubs along the right sideline over Cam Taylor-Britt.

Maye's 7-on-7 touchdowns to Stevenson and Brown in the back left corner of the end zone. Stevenson and Maye did it again in team.

DeVito's touchdown pass to Hunter Henry high on the end zone. 

DeVito's 61-yard bomb touchdown to Mack Hollins on the first play of two-minute. Given another rep, DeVito hit Raridon on the end line for a touchdown.

UPs

There was a lot happening on two fields, so these are the players who stood out to me:

A.J. Brown: Wouldn't say he was dominant, but he was pretty damn good throughout.

Will Campbell: Went 2-0 in the reps I saw, and seems to be doing a good job in team periods. Maye's pretty well protected.

Jared Wilson: 2-0 and looked really good in team against Grover Stewart, who is a darn good nose tackle. This was very promising.

DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism: Both slots continue to do a good job, especially in 1-on-1 situations.

Drake Maye: It wasn't perfect from him — I still think he's holding the ball a little too long, and the two-minute interception was a downer — but overall he was pretty good and accurate. His sideline pass to Romeo Doubs was, chef's kiss.

Tommy DeVito: Tommy Two Chains continues to just sling it and produces big plays.

Mack Hollins: Some fans can't wait to replace Mr. Barefoot, or suddenly change his position to tight end, but all the guy does on the field is produce.

DOWNS

The run defense: Giardi was watching the defense in team, but every time I glanced over between plays, they were getting gashed by Jonathan Taylor and Seth McGowan.

Caleb Lomu: He is continuing to split his reps, but he was an RT in team for Morgan Moses at times. He split his reps, but Lomu got beaten badly on his first rep. I also had him for a sack and a hold in team periods. Still going through it.

Linebackers/safeties in coverage: They were shredded by TE Tyler Warren in team. Could not cover him.

Backup guard: Again, they need help ASAP. James Hudson got his butt whipped repeatedly. Either move Lomu there, or get help in here.

ODDS AND ENDS

• Andy Borregales, with Niko Lalos snapping for the injured Julian Ashby (and more than a few low ones), made his first five kicks from 34, 38, 40, 43 and 48 yards. He missed his final two attempts from 50 yards.

• Backup line was Caleb Lomu/Dametrious Crownover, Andrew Rupcich, Ben Brown, James Hudson, Marcus Bryant. Crownover has been looking pretty solid.

• The run game seems to get getting a little better, but Vera-Tucker keeps having a few bad plays/blown assignments. He allowed a sack to Michael Clemons in two-minute. 

• Henderson Stuff Watch: 1. Others: Stevenson 1, Larison 1, Jennings 2, Miller 2 (Rupcich on one). Larison had a hold on a would-be sack of DeVito. 

• Playaction game, especially with the fullback, is really effective. Hunter Henry, Mack Hollins, A.J. Brown and Eli Raridon were all wide open on playaction. 

• Maye had Kyle Williams on a deep ball, but he got tangled up with CB Justin Walley.

• Maye would have thrown another interception, to AJ Brown, but Walley slipped. 

• DeVito had a red zone rep with good protection, but he bailed on the pocket and had to scramble. 

• Raridon's TD from DeVito should have been picked off by Jonathan Owens but it went through his hands to Raridon.

• With Elliss out, the Patriots played a ton of big nickel with Marcellas Dial at linebacker. 

• Daniel Jones ended his two-minute with a TD to Josh Downs, who easily beat Marcus Jones. 

• The Colts' second offense with Riley Leonard at QB had to be embarrassing to HC Shane Steichen: batted pass, delay of game, two illegal procedure penalties, a would-be sack by Leonard Taylor, and, finally, an interception by John Saunders to end it.

• It appeared that the Patriots had much fewer penalties and were more buttoned up than the Colts.

SCHEDULE

Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: Colts at Patriots, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: OFF