FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 17 is in the books; let's run down all you need to know, including stats, 1-on-1s, lineup adjustments and observations:
FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Good day for Drake Maye and the offense: Maye and the first-team offense avoided their normal slow start and looked precise from the get-go in this practice, which featured sessions of first downs, second and third downs, and a two-minute drill. Maye was 9 for 9 with a 75-yard perfectly thrown post touchdown to AJ Brown against Charles Woods, on first downs. On 2nd and third downs, Maye was 6 of 8, and he was a perfect 5 for 5 on the 2-minute drill that resulted in a game-winning field goal. Romeo Doubs was the top target for Maye, going 4 for 4. Others: Rhamondre Stevenson 3 for 3, Brown, 2 of 3, TreVeyon Henderson 2 of 2, Mack Hollins 1 of 2.
The only downside was Maye and Jared Wilson both went down at some point, might have been tripped up by someone. Maye limped off a little, but returned for the 2-minute drill.
Christian Barmore returned to practice, Gonzalez does not: DT Christian Barmore was a full participant in practice. Christian Gonzalez continued to stay out of sight, lessening the chances he takes part in the Eagles' joint practices.
"Everything is pretty unique to itself, and whether that's negotiations, players or the play that we're running— certainly those are unique and individual situations, and I think we'll try to focus on Christian's, and I know he'll focus on his own situation," Mike Vrabel said when asked about Devon Witherspoon's contract extension. "So, we'll continue to work through that, and he'll continue to try to improve and try to get back out on the field.
"I would not anticipate (Gonzalez practicing Monday). I think he's just in the return-to-play (protocol)."
Despite guard deficiency, Caleb Lomu stays at tackle: Vrabel said a couple of weeks ago that first-round pick Caleb Lomu would see reps at guard. That has not happened — he was at second-team left tackle today while Marcus Bryant moved to the right side — but Vrabel said Lomu getting guard reps still could happen.
"Yeah, you certainly could," he said. "I think we just, what happens is, where do you feel like he can make the most strides, and you don't want to derail the improvement that he's making and some of those things. And so I'm probably much like you guys and say, “Hey, that it's not that big of a deal to go from tackle to guard.” I've got a lot of coaches that probably think differently than what you guys and maybe me think, and that it's a little bigger deal, but I think Caleb's been working hard. He's been trying to improve, but I think at some point we will need to do that as well, and that's just trying to be fair to the kid and the player as he's developing and learning this game and this league, and then at some point in time probably have to take a look in there."
Guard Andrew Rupcich, who was placed on injured reserve by the team, does not have a season-ending injury (MCL sprain). If/when he reaches an injury settlement with the team, he can re-sign with the Patriots three weeks after he's available to the other 31 teams (if it's a four-week settlement, he can sign with the Patriots after seven weeks). A similar situation happened with RB Terrell Jennings, who was placed on waivers Sunday.
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: DT Christian Barmore.
Full participants: None.
Out: CB Christian Gonzalez, C Ben Brown, WR Kobe Prentice, WR Kyle Dixon, DE Xavier Holmes, LB Chad Muma.
Limited: None.
New injuries: LB Christian Elliss, DE Jesse Luketa.
DRESS CODE
Full pads (10th day).
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
2 hours under cloudy skies and cool conditions.
QB STATS
Drake Maye: 15 of 17, TD
Tommy DeVito: 5 of 8, 3 sacks
Behren Morton: 1 of 4, 2 sacks
IMPACT PLAYS IN TEAM PERIODS
Fumbles: None.
Drops: None.
Pass breakups: Kindle Vildor (DeVito), Riley Wilson, Charles Woods, Karon Prunty, KJ Britt/Wilson
Interceptions: None.
Run stuffs: Khalil Jacobs, Elijah Ponder 2
Pressures/sacks: Leonard Taylor 2 sacks (Jacob Rizy, team), Jeremiah Pharms sack (JonDarius Morgan), team coverage sack, Gabe Jacas 2 (Tanner Arkin, Marcus Bryant)
PASS RUSH ONE-ON-ONES
Decisive bouts:
• Milton Williams quickly got inside on Alijah Vera-Tucker.
• Bradyn Swinson and Gabe Jacas both took advantage of LT Caleb Lomu's low hands (think Vederian Lowe), swiped them down, and easily sped around him.
• Mehki Butler was no match for Leonard Taylor.
7-ON-7s FROM GIARDI
(Maye)
- Checkdown to Hunter Henry.
- A.J. Brown on an in-cut against Carlton Davis.
- Tries to underthrow a fade to Romeo Doubs but it’s a poorly thrown ball and falls incomplete. Charles Woods in tight coverage.
- Checkdown to Doubs.
- Efton Chism catches a comeback on Woods.
(DeVito)
- Finds TreVeyon Henderson in the right flat.
- Kyle Williams on a curl against zone.
- Eli Raridon on a stop/curl on the hash. Kindle Vildor closed fast and perhaps could have dropped a shoulder.
- Checkdown to JaMychal Hasty.
(Morton)
- Clutches. No throw.Nick DeGennaro on a curl/stop with Channing Canada and Marcellas Dial close by.
- Checkdown to Lan Larison after Morton clutches and regathers. Linebackers K.J. Britt and Riley Wilson pounced on Larison.
- DeGennaro gets open down the seam but the throw is too high and too inaccurate. Kobee Minor also could have had a say had the ball been better thrown.
TOP PLAYS
• Maye's playaction bomb to Brown of some 75 yards was perfectly placed, hit him in stride over Charles Woods off playaction.
• On the first play of the 2-minute drill, Patriots ran a designed rollout right for Maye, who hit Brown in stride for a 27-yard gain.
• Another nifty designed play went to Rhamondre Stevenson for 23 yards.
FOUR UP
QB Drake Maye: It was all working for him today. He was confident and accurate.
WR Romeo Doubs: His ascension in this offense is happening day after day now. 4 for 4 in team action.
DE Gabe Jacas: Had two sacks in team and a decisive win against Lomu in 1-on-1s.
DT Leonard Taylor: 2 sacks in team, and a decisive win.
TWO DOWN
LT Caleb Lomu: While he looked OK in team at LT (did allow a stuffed run), he had decisive losses in 1-on-1s.
RT Marcus Bryant: Appeared to be a fish out of water after switching to the right side. Seemed to be very comfortable on the left side.
ODDS AND ENDS
• Patriots ran a cool drill to start practice that consisted of 1-on-1s at various positions (two of the three periods were for special teams) in front of the whole team, which got the blues and whites hooting and hollering for their guys. In the offense/defense portion:
Kyle Williams beat Karon Prunty for a reception
Tanner Arkin defeated Jesse Luketa on his pass block
Marcus Bryant drew with Bradyn Swinson on his pass block
Riley Wilson beat Lan Larison's pass block rather easily
Jared Wilson negated Josh Farmer's pass rush
Khalil Jacobs ripped RB Hassan Haskins' pass block easily
Caleb Lomu handled Gabe Jacas' pass rush
Eli Raridon beat Namdi Obiazor for a reception on a corner route
Efton Chism beat Channing Canada for a catch on an out route
KJ Britt defeated Gabe Jacas' punt block
• Hassan Haskins was decidedly RB3 today (Lan Larison was the pass back), while Jam Miller was with the third team. Haskins really impressed in his eight snaps against the Colts. He has a unique upright running style, kind of like later Adrian Peterson. Haskins popped a big run in team.
• With Chad Muma out and Christian Elliss departing practice, the linebacker spot was jumbled. KJ Britt, Khalil Jacobs and, surprisingly, Namdi Obiazor got first-team reps with Christian Spillane.
• In two-minute, Dell Pettus continued to be a sub linebacker.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday: 10:10 a.m. walkthrough (closed to public)
Wednesday: 10:15-12:15 - joint practice with Eagles
Thursday: 10:15-12:15 - joint practice with Eagles (last day of public training camp)
Friday: OFF
Saturday: 7 p.m., Eagles at Patriots
Sunday: OFF