FOXBORO — Less than an hour earlier than the Patriots opened their necessary minicamp Monday, Bill Belichick described the upcoming three-day stretch as an extension of OTAs.
Meaning the Organized Team Activities the Pats performed over the earlier month-plus that includes non-padded practices, workforce drills normally run at lower than full pace and gamers largely in attendance, however not all the time.
Turns out, Belichick was proper in each sense — for higher and worse.
Offensive deal with Trent Brown missed Monday’s observe after lacking a flight, based on MassLive, whereas star free-agent addition JuJu Smith-Schuster remained sidelined as an harm precaution. Brown’s absence throughout the common season would depart the Pats paper-thin at his place. But in a non-padded OTA — er, minicamp — observe, that doesn’t matter.
Yet.
What did matter was the timing and group of the beginning offense, which once more leaned closely on tight ends Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki. Both veterans caught six passes throughout workforce drills performed at varied speeds. Mac Jones went 16-of-18 in the one aggressive workforce durations, two 7-on-7 drills and one 11-on-11 interval.
After observe, Jones declared the Patriots offense had made progress regardless of a tough end. His confidence, he stated, derived largely from Bill O’Brien’s system; how the items all match and the way solutions to all of Bill Belichick’s defensive issues have been at his disposal. It confirmed.
Here are the remainder of the Herald’s observations from observe:
Attendance
Absent: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, OT Trent Brown, OL Mike Onwenu, DL Lawrence Guy, WR Tyquan Thornton, DB Quandre Mosely, WR Kayshon Boutte
Limited: S Cody Davis
Non-contact jersey: LB Marte Mapu, OL Atonio Mafi
Dress code: Helmets and shorts
Play of the Day
Scotty Washington goes skyward
You are forgiven if you don’t acknowledge he title of the Patriots’ third-string tight finish, a former huge receiver who appeared in a single sport final season: the unhappy Christmas Eve dwelling loss to Cincinnati.
But there was nothing unhappy about Washington’s look Monday, particularly his first catch. Washington flew upfield on a go route throughout the opening rep of a 7-on-7 drill led by third-string quarterback Trace McSorley. Spotting reserve security Joshuah Bledsoe in Washington’s again pocket, McSorley lofted an extended ball a contact outdoors the left seam.
It landed greater than 30 yards downfield, the place Washington had slowed barely, leapt and high-pointed the ball off Bledsoe’s head. Securing his catch with two palms, he turned and spun again towards the top zone together with his prize.
Player of the Day
CB Jack Jones
Jones’ two cross breakups led all defenders, and he was within the space of a number of different incompletions. Between him, Jonathan Jones and Christian Gonzalez, the Patriots could effectively have a superb drawback on their palms selecting two beginning outdoors cornerbacks from that group.
QB Corner
Note: The passing stats beneath have been tallied throughout aggressive 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 durations solely.
Mac Jones: 16/18
Notes: A strong, however unspectacular day from Jones. He accomplished near 10 checkdowns throughout workforce drills, whereas backups Bailey Zappe and Trace McSorley each attacked deep extra regularly. Jones did ship the very best passes of the day, and performed with superior command and effectivity, however there’s extra meat on the bones of this new offense below his path.
Let’s see what the subsequent two days have in retailer.
Studs
TE Mike Gesicki
Most of Gesicki’s catches got here on the finish of brief, protected routes (curls, drags, stick routes, and so forth.), however the timing and chemistry between him and Jones is simple. It’s hanging how rapidly they’ve developed a rapport coming off two years of the failed and expensive Jonnu Smith experiment.
WR Tre Nixon
Call him minicamp Randy Moss.
A yr after wanting like was on the precipice of a breakout (spoiler alert: he wasn’t), the 2021 seventh-round choose sizzled once more at minicamp. Nixon caught his final 5 targets in workforce drills, together with an ideal publish route throw from McSorley in opposition to cornerback Shaun Wade. If the season was ever moved as much as July, Nixon may make the workforce.
Duds
DT Carl Davis
The 320-pound nostril deal with changed Lawrence Guy within the beginning lineup throughout workforce durations. His most memorable play was leaping offsides.
WR DeVante Parker
Parker and undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham tied for being the meant goal on a team-worst two cross breakups. But as a university quarterback studying a brand new place, Cunningham will get a cross right here. The nine-year veteran doesn’t.
Offensive notes
- Top targets in workforce drills: Ty Montgomery 7, Mike Gesicki 6, Hunter Henry 6, Tre Nixon 6, J.J. Taylor 5
- Penalties: Kendrick Bourne (unlawful formation)
- Forget any speak of a quarterback competitors. Jones took all the beginning reps in workforce drills. He was extra correct and decisive.
- He additionally dumped a number of checkdowns, which have been a operate of excellent protection and generally disguise. Backup operating backs J.J. Taylor and newly minted slot receiver Ty Montgomery benefited most.
- Montgomery’s function bears watching in gentle of James Robinson’s launch. He was the Pats’ prime third-down again in final yr’s season opener earlier than struggling a season-ending shoulder surgical procedure.
- The Patriots’ prime personnel grouping in workforce drills was a two-tight bundle that includes Rhamondre Stevenson, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki.
- Their beginning offensive line from left to proper: Calvin Anderson, Cole Strange, David Andrews, Bill Murray/Jake Andrews and Conor McDermott.
- Right guard Mike Onwenu ought to return to his beginning spot as soon as he returns to well being. He shouldn’t be anticipated to take part in minicamp after present process ankle surgical procedure.
- Jake Andrews additionally took reps at backup middle, a job that ought to be his to lose. Fellow fourth-round rookie Sidy Sow took reps at offensive deal with.
- Bill O’Brien unleashed a number of inventive screens in two workforce durations that seemed purposed to work on that chapter of his playbook. Bourne, Montgomery and the operating backs have been the commonest targets.
- Later, Bourne burst via the secondary for a landing scored in opposition to the blitz, a rating he celebrated with Parker. On a decrease notice, Montgomery changed him after Bourne dedicated the beginning offense’s solely pre-snap penalty of the day.
- Jones’ first incompletion throughout aggressive durations was a hospital ball that led Gesicki proper into Josh Uche’s zone. Uche registered the cross breakup merely by standing there as Gesicki carried his left-to-right crossing route straight into him.
- Later, Jones seemed a bit careless in a closing 2-minute drill the place the protection was alleged to yield completions. He joked about his two picks within the drill after observe.
Defensive notes
- Starting personnel used throughout 11-on-11 durations: defensive linemen Davon Godchaux, Deatrich Wise, Christian Barmore, Carl Davis and Daniel Ekuale; linebackers Matt Judon, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Josh Uche and Jahlani Tavai and defensive backs Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips, Jonathan Jones, Christian Gonzalez, Jack Jones, Jalen Mills, Marcus Jones and Jabrill Peppers.
- Interceptions: Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips
- Pass breakups: Jack Jones 2, Christian Gonzalez, Josh Uche, Deatrich Wise, Mack Wilson, Marte Mapu, Isaiah Bolden
- Would-be sacks: Matt Judon, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Christian Barmore
- Penalties: Carl Davis (offsides)
- The interceptions for Dugger and Phillips have been each dangerous flips Mac Jones made throughout a closing 2-minute drill that was alleged to be defended at a slower tempo, as Jones loudly reminded the protection after Dugger’s choose.
- That stated, it was a robust total day for the secondary. Gonzalez seemed like a pure operating with the beginning unit, Jack Jones draped himself over most of his assigned receivers. Both of them rotated with Jonathan Jones at outdoors nook, the place Marcus Jones took just a few snaps whereas the elder Jones bumped inside.
- Gonzalez earned his cross breakup knocking a sideline cross away from DeVante Parker throughout the 2-minute drill. Moments earlier, Jack Jones batted away one other cross to Parker on an in-breaking route. Jones’ first cross deflection got here on the expense of undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham.
- Matt Judon and Christian Barmore’s sacks have been each of the protection selection, whereas Ja’Whaun Bentley would have instantly dropped Jones on a well-timed blitz up the center.
- Bentley was a mainstay in the course of the protection throughout 11-on-11s and 7-on-7s. Like a number of veterans, he seems to be getting into a well-timed contract yr that coincides with the center of his prime.
- Excluding the messy 2-minute drill, the protection’s greatest stretch got here within the previous 11-on-11 interval. Bentley opened with a sack, then Barmore earned his sack after a brief completion. Next, Deatrich Wise batted down a cross on the line earlier than Mac Jones hit Parker on a curl route and Kendrick Bourne on a slant.
- The protection “spun the dial” in opposition to Jones, exhibiting him quite a lot of seems in workforce drills and reminding everybody that whereas Bill O’Brien’s new playbook will get all the eye, defensive gamers are putting in an expansive, advanced system, too.
- Jalen Mills took the vast majority of his reps and security, the place third-round rookie Marte Mapu continues to impress. In workforce drills, Mapu noticed most of his snaps with the second-team protection.
- Quiet days for second-round rookie Keion White and pass-rushing fiend Josh Uche.
- Fourth-year linebacker Anfernee Jennings noticed some run in 7-on-7s, however didn’t begin a single 11-on-11 drill.
Special groups
- Punt returners: Marcus Jones, Jabrill Peppers, Myles Bryant, Demario Douglas, Ed Lee
- Kick returners: Isaiah Bolden, Ed Lee
- Starting punt workforce: Corliss Waitman, Joe Cardona, Matthew Slater, Chris Board, Brenden Schooler, DaMarcus Mitchell, Jonathan Jones, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Mack Wilson, Jahlani Tavai, Ameer Speed
- Starting kickoff workforce: Nick Folk, Matthew Slater, Chris Board, Brenden Schooler, DaMarcus Mitchell, Kyle Dugger, Jonathan Jones, Jalen Mills, Jabrill Peppers, Mack Wilson, Ameer Speed
- Incumbent veteran kicker Nick Folk led off discipline aim tries, whereas journeyman punter Corliss Waitman took the primary reps throughout punting durations. Light day for rookie kicker Chad Ryland and rookie punter Bryce Baringer.
- As anticipated, the Patriots’ new core particular workforce group seems to be Slater, Board, Schooler and Mitchell. Though Speed, a sixth-round rookie, will certainly make a push. Seventh-round rookie nook/returner Isaiah Bolden is one other title to recollect come coaching camp, pending his affect as a return man.
- Christian Gonzalez repped with the second-team kickoff unit. He additionally noticed motion as a gunner on punt protection.
Extra factors
- Former Patriots Devin McCourty and James White visited observe. They joined ex-teammates Aaron Dobson and LeGarrette Blount, who attended OTAs as a part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program.
- Penn State head coach James Franklin, defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and analyst Frank Leonard attended observe and spent a number of minutes talking with Belichick. Leonard is an ex-Patriots scout and longtime school coach who beforehand labored at Boston College. Diaz visited minicamp final yr.
- Director of participant personnel Matt Groh was considered one of a number of staffers watching observe from the sideline.
Source: www.bostonherald.com