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Day 10 Blogservations: PUPs start barking
--- The kickoff team featured a first line of (l-r) Devin McCourty, Cordarrelle Patterson, Marquis Flowers, Eddie Pleasant, and Brandon Bolden to the left of kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Nicholas Grigsby, Patrick Chung, Geneo Grissom, Brandon King, and Jordan Richards lined up to the kicker’s right. Several other players rotated in for the next few reps, including Stephon Gilmore, Jason McCourty, rookies Duke Dawson and Ja’Whuan Bentley, Jacob Hollister, Mike Gillislee, Jeremy Hill, and others. With the new NFL kickoff rules taking effect this season, five players must line up on either side of the kicker on every kickoff, including onside kicks.
--- McCarron and rookie Braxton Berrios took turns fielding the kickoffs on the scout return team, and continued in that capacity when the kickoff return team became the focus of the next special teams period. From a coverage perspective, the new kickoff rules dictate that at least eight players on the receiving team must be within a 15-yard “setup zone” near and around midfield. That leaves just three other players to line up deep to receive the kickoff. Rex Burkhead, Jordan Richards, Jeremy Hill, and Dwayne Allen rotated as the up men for McCarron and Berrios in this particular period.
--- From the back of the end zone, Cyrus Jones took mental reps during the kickoff period as he watched McCarron and Berrios handle the actual chores on the field.
--- Richards served as the primary personal protector for punter Ryan Allen during the punt coverage period. In previous camp practices this summer, Demarius Travis has come in to replace Richards. Today, when rookie punter Corey Bojorquez subbed in for Allen, Chris Hogan stepped in to spell Richards as personal protector. It was noteworthy not only because this was the first time we’ve spotted Hogan in such a role, it’s also unusual to see such a high-profile player taking snaps in that spot. Travis eventually took a few reps at personal protector during the drill.
--- McCarron, Berrios, Burkhead, and Edelman fielded the punts on the scout punt return team.
--- Allen held placekicks for Gostkowski during all the field goal work Tuesday. Bojorquez has had his chances on previous days, but this time it was Allen’s turn in the rotation. As the incumbent in the punting job battle, Allen seems to have a lead over his rookie rival through 10 days of practice. Gostkowski, by the way, nailed all of his field goal attempts from various distances and positions on and between the hash marks.