Patriots
The Patriots’ protection nonetheless held the sting over the new-look offense Friday.
FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots rounded out their first week of coaching camp on Friday morning on the follow fields behind Gillette Stadium.
Listed below are some fast takeaways from Friday’s follow in Foxborough:
Defensive backs shine throughout 7v7 and 11v11 drills
The Patriots did open up the offensive playbook a bit extra on Friday morning, with Mac Jones going 3-for-5 throughout 7v7 drills and 5-for-10 on 11v11s.
Nevertheless, it’s clear that the protection continues to be far forward of the offense at this stage of camp, particularly with regards to the secondary.
In whole, the Patriots recorded eight go breakups, with Jonathan Jones in notably dominating with two break-ups in opposition to DeVante Parker throughout Mac Jones’s 11v11 drills. The Patriots’ different projected outdoors nook in Christian Gonzalez additionally impressed.
It was at all times anticipated that the Patriots offense was going to wish a while to mesh, however New England’s receivers have labored with regards to gaining separation in opposition to defenders. A few of that is likely to be a testomony to the protection, however it’s value monitoring because the preseason continues.
Bailey Zappe went 2-for-6 throughout 7v7s and 4-for-11 throughout 11v11s.
Ramp-up begins
The Patriots will nonetheless not participate in reside contact till subsequent week, however Friday did see Invoice Belichick’s group begin to ramp issues up. Throughout drills, gamers wore shells (tender shoulder pads) and began to implement extra run-game performs beneath some sweltering situations at Gillette Stadium.
Matthew Judon extra concerned with predominant group
After being restricted over the primary two practices of coaching camp, Matthew Judon was much more concerned throughout Friday’s session. The veteran go rusher was primarily placing in reps within the decrease fields with different restricted individuals on Days 1 and a pair of, however Judon took half in quite a lot of drills whereas donning shells with the remainder of the primary group on Friday. He later participated in 11v11 drills.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson additionally took half in drills on Friday after being restricted on Thursday. LBs DaMarcus Mitchell (NFI) and Terez Corridor left for the decrease conditioning area early into follow.
It stays to be seen what prompted Judon’s restricted availability on Wednesday and Thursday. Invoice Belichick wouldn’t acknowledge if Judon is coping with an damage.
“We now have totally different gamers which might be at totally different phases of participation,” Belichick famous.
Montgomery “everyday,” Barmore misses follow
One of many Patriots’ extra intriguing weapons on offense didn’t take part in follow on Friday, with Belichick acknowledging that Ty Montgomery is “everyday” with an ailment. Montgomery, who might function a reliable pass-catching possibility out of the backfield this season, appeared to get banged up throughout Thursday’s session.
Montgomery didn’t end yesterday’s follow after colliding with linebacker Terez Corridor whereas making an attempt to reel in a Hint McSorley go ultimately zone.
Protection lineman Christian Barmore additionally didn’t follow on Friday, though he had a legitimate cause — as seen on his Instagram account.
As soon as once more, Mike Onewnu, Calvin Anderson, and Cody Davis didn’t follow on Friday. Rookie Marte Mapu practiced in a purple jersey as he recovers from offseason surgical procedure for a torn pectoral muscle.
Play of the day
Mac Jones received off to a formidable begin throughout 7v7 drills, dropping an ideal feed to Hunter Henry on a fade route. The 20-yard TD landed proper into the tight finish’s arms, who tumbled into the tip zone with Adrian Phillips tight in protection.
Odds and ends
Belichick had excessive reward for second-year guard Cole Unusual, who has tacked lots extra muscle onto his body this offseason. Belichick famous that Unusual is “gentle years” forward of the place he was final season. New England’s head coach additionally stated that fellow second-year gamers in Kevin Harris and Pierre Robust have additionally made main strides.
Rookie Christian Gonzalez continues to spectacular in a featured function in New England’s prime defensive group. After spending most of Day 2 masking JuJu Smith-Schuster, Gonzalez had a pleasant go breakup in opposition to Tyquan Thornton throughout 7v7 drills. His tight protection in opposition to Bourne additionally led to an incompletion throughout 7v7s.
Some shuffling on the offensive line, as Conor McDermott appeared to leapfrog Riley Reiff at proper sort out. Reiff was knocked for a “sack” in opposition to rookie Keion White throughout 11v11 drills.
Rookie Demario Douglas continues to see loads of reps with New England’s main group of offense weapons, which incorporates gamers like Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki, JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Tyquan Thornton.
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