FOXBORO — More melees. More stoppages. More ejections.
The Patriots’ second and closing joint apply with the Panthers was essentially the most contentious in current staff historical past, as two fights and a number of other scrums broke out within the first hour. Practice-squad broad receiver Kristian Wilkerson was carted off, and defensive lineman Deatrich Wise received ejected with two Panthers. After that, play settled down and evened out.
The Pats offense, scorching off its finest apply off the summer time, was thrust into impartial versus an energized Carolina protection. The Patriots protection did not tally one sack of Panthers quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold and wrestled to a attract staff intervals. But there have been a number of constants throughout Days 1 and a pair of of apply.
Namely, Jalen Mills shutting down Carolina receivers, Nelson Agholor making spotlight catches and Bill Belichick staying closely concerned with the offense.
Here are the Herald’s full apply observations:
Attendance
Returned: None
Absent: TE Hunter Henry, OL Isaiah Wynn, OL Justin Herron, OL Yasir Durant, OL Bill Murray
Limited: None
Non-contact jersey: None
NFI: OL Andrew Stueber
Notes: Henry and Durant missed their first coaching camp practices after leaving early on Tuesday. Henry was noticed Tuesday night time sporting a compression sleeve on his left leg. Wynn and Murray have been lacking all week.
What occurred within the Patriots’ newest apply brawls with the Panthers
Play of the Day
Marcus Jones’ 1-man tip drill
What’s higher than an interception? A go deflection and an interception on the identical play.
Barreling towards the appropriate sideline in an early 11-on-11 interval, Jones jumped a brief Sam Darnold throw supposed for backup tight finish Stephen Sullivan. First, he batted the go up as Sullivan stepped out, then snatched the ball and toe-tapped inbounds for a choose. His No. 1 spotlight of coaching camp.
Player of the Day
WR Nelson Agholor
From splitting a downfield double staff to posting a team-high 4 catches in staff intervals, Agholor did every little thing Tuesday. His finest catch, in opposition to the aforementioned double staff, got here behind Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn and security Myles Hartsfield behind the top zone. Agholor had run a slot fade from 15 yards away and tumbled backwards with possession to finish an ideal passing connection.
QB Corner
Note: The passing stats under have been tallied throughout aggressive, full-speed intervals of 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 solely. The stats in parentheses characterize every quarterback’s passing totals for coaching camp.
Mac Jones: 16/23 (182/247, 8 INTs, 5 drops)
Brian Hoyer: N/A (41/69, 2 INTs)
Bailey Zappe: 12/25 INT (89/132, 3 INTs, 2 drops)
Studs
CB Jalen Mills
Mills completed joint practices with extra go breakups (5) than catches allowed throughout staff intervals. He blanketed Panthers wideout D.J. Moore, a perennial 1,000-yard receiver, in 1-on-1s, then in a while back-to-back downfield throws in 11-on-11s. He picked the primary one, a on-target go from Sam Darnold, then punted it in celebration.
Mills has regarded like a official shutdown nook in camp.
CB Myles Bryant
No one began apply sooner and higher than Bryant, who earned a choose in 2-on-2s and later punched the ball out to cease a completion. Later, Bryant ran with the beginning protection in opposition to Carolina’s first-team offense throughout a 2-minute drill.
Duds
QB Bailey Zappe
Rough, tough apply for Zappe. He threw a foul interception over the quick center throughout his 2-minute drill and had one other dropped in the long run zone.
WR Josh Hammond
The solely receiver who hasn’t flashed in apply or the preseason opener, Hammond dropped a go late in apply and caught simply half his targets.
Offensive notes
- In his first staff interval snaps after the melees, Mac Jones threw touchdowns to Jonnu Smith and Nelson Agholor in 11-on-11s, the latter a back-corner dime. Overall, Jones went 11-of-17 in these intervals and 5-of-7 in 7-on-7s.
- His finest throw discovered Agholor, who made a superb late adjustment in tight house on the finish of his slot fade in the long run one versus Jaycee Horn and Myles Hartfield.
- Agholor additionally successfully Kendrick Bourne because the staff’s No. 3 receiver. Bourne did not catch a go from Mac Jones throughout staff intervals.
- Jones’ 2-minute drill broke down as follows: Agholor shallow cross completion, Agholor comeback completion, Jakobi Meyers crosser completion, throwaway, DeVante Parker out-route completion, incomplete rollout go to Parker, sack, DeVante Parker landing, incomplete rollout go to Ty Montgomery.
- Jones additionally had 5 no-chance performs throughout staff drills that completed with out a throw. Overall, a good apply that represented a slight step again from Tuesday.
- Now, the dangerous: run-blocking. The Patriots’ allowed a number of run stuffs, and their backup offensive line could not transfer Carolina an inch. Of course, they have been down 4 linemen, together with beginning proper sort out Isaiah Wynn.
- Rhamondre Stevenson continues to see the lion’s share of pass-catching again snaps in mid-practice staff intervals and cede 2-minute reps to Ty Montgomery. Interesting divide.
- As for the tight ends, Jonnu Smith received most of his 1-on-1 reps and had two catches on three targets in staff drills. Devin Asiasi dropped considered one of his two passes. Asiasi confirmed a lot better in 1-on-1s.
- The spotlight of 1-on-1s belonged to Montgomery, who secured a 1-handed catch on a go from Mac Jones as he closed on the again proper nook of the top zone.
- Top targets in staff drills: Nelson Agholor 4/5, Lil’Jordan Humphrey 2/5, Kendrick Bourne 3/4, DeVante Parker 2/4, Josh Hammond 2/4, Jakobi Meyers 3/3, Rhamondre Stevenson
- 1-on-1 broad receiver winners: Jakobi Meyers, Jonnu Smith
- 1-on-1 broad receiver losers: Matt Sokol, Lil’Jordan Humphrey
- Drops: Devin Asiasi, Josh Hammond
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Defensive notes
- Starting and second-string personnel throughout staff intervals: defensive linemen Davon Godchaux, Christian Barmore, Lawrence Guy, Henry Anderson, Carl Davis and Daniel Ekuale; linebackers Matt Judon, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Raekwon McMillan, Mack Wilson, Jahlani Tavai, Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings and defensive backs Devin McCourty, Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips, Joshuah Bledsoe, Jalen Mills, Jonathan Jones, Terrance Mitchell, Marcus Jones, Jack Jones, Shaun Wade and Myles Bryant.
- Interceptions: Jalen Mills
- Pass breakups: Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Brenden Schooler, Devin Hafford
- Would-be sacks: LaBryan Ray
- Run stuffs: Team 2, Matt Judon
- 1-on-1 protection winners: Jalen Mills, Myles Bryant
- 1-on-1 protection losers: Jonathan Jones
- 1-on-1 go rush winners: Deatrich Wise
- 1-on-1 go rush losers: Christian Barmore, Josh Uche
- The Patriots’ go rush was toothless in comparison with Tuesday’s relentless stress show, registering zero sacks registered till undrafted rookie LaBryan Ray nabbed one throughout a 2-minute drill in opposition to Carolina’s third-string offense.
- That stated, the Pats’ beginning protection held its personal throughout an 11-on-11 purple zone interval, the place it allowed fewer than half of the Panthers’ dozen snaps to lead to good positive aspects or touchdowns.
- Later, Mills picked off Sam Darnold to start out their first 2-minute drill and compelled an incompletion on the following snap. But Darnold accomplished 5 straight passes to shut it out, together with a 15-yard laser on the transfer that beat Shaun Wade’s hermetic protection within the again nook of the top zone, the place he had pinned backup receiver Derek Wright.
- Baker Mayfield had points connecting deep downfield, particularly when he focused fourth-round rookie Jack Jones, but in addition exploited a number of openings in zone protection over the center.
- Shaun Wade and Terrance Mitchell rotated with the highest cornerbacks, who’re nonetheless Jalen Mills and Jonathan Jones exterior with Marcus Jones and Myles Bryant within the slot.
- Bryant took over slot duties throughout 2-minute drills for the second straight apply after Jones had assumed slot duties in prior 11-on-11 practices.
- During 7-on-7s, Jonathan Jones surrendered a high-pointed landing to D.J. Moore, a case of excellent offense being nice protection. Though Jones’ points on the perimeter as a 5-foot-9 nook persist.
- In those self same 7-on-7s, Mack Wilson flew round like no different inside linebacker on the roster and would have lit up a number of Panthers had tackling been allowed.
- Panthers offensive tackles snuffed out Josh Uche’s pace and spin strikes in 1-on-1 go rush. Christian Barmore additionally tried to tear round a number of Carolina O-linemen to no avail.
- Even as a run-first participant, defensive sort out Lawrence Guy continued what has been a disappointing pass-rushing camp for him.
- Second-round linebackers Cameron McGrone and Ronnie Perkins repped nearly completely with the third-string protection.
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Special groups
- Kick returners: Kyle Dugger, Tre Nixon, Ty Montgomery, Pierre Strong
- Punt returners: Myles Bryant, Marcus Jones, Jabrill Peppers
- Starting kickoff staff: Jake Bailey, Matthew Slater, Cody Davis, Justin Bethel, Jonathan Jones, Brenden Schooler, Jahlani Tavai, Mack Wilson, Adrian Phillips, Raekwon McMillan, Ty Montgomery.
- Starting kick return unit: Matthew Slater, Cody Davis, Kristian Wilkerson, Harvey Langi, Jonnu Smith, Josh Uche, Ronnie Perkins, Cameron McGrone, Joshuah Bledsoe and Kevin Harris.
Odds and ends
- Former Raiders common supervisor Mike Mayock and FOX Sports analyst Daryl “Moose” Johnston attended for the second straight day.
- Practice ran longer than two and a half hours, making it the longest of coaching camp.
- Wednesday marked the final coaching camp apply in Foxboro, with the staff headed out to Las Vegas for extra joint periods subsequent week earlier than their regular-season finale.
Source: www.bostonherald.com