PATRIOTS NEWS Patriots / Vikings Joint Practice - Aug. 14, Day 2

[Clonamery]

In this clip (which doesn't seem like the one you described) Jacobs is the culprit here and it IS bad since he got a good chip by the TE and allowed the Edge to just blow by him untouched.

Campbell is too high and off balance and slow off the mark and yet when the play ends he IS between the QB and the defender. Not good or pretty but he DID do his job here. Actually it showed me a plus. That even when his technique is off he can still manage to recover and get in the way,

The LG in this play (?) was to high and back on his heals and driven back. Poor.

The C did a great job. Again I don't know who it was, but he sealed his guy on the LOS.

It wasn't a great rep for the Pats and Jacobs surely doesn't want it on his resume. It looked like what the OL ISN'T supposed to look like. 5 individual guys playing one on one instead of as a unit. Let's see what it looks like on Saturday.

LT gets a quick chip from Henderson. The C (Bradbury) was double teaming with the RG because Bradbury needs help in Pass Pro. Great is relative. LG was Ben Brown who is barely a C and was always going to get beat by his man (Allen?). The RG (Onwenu) starts out on the DT with Bradbury and slides over to the DE when....the TE (Hooper) chips the LB and Jacobs who was engaging the DE was too slow to get there to even lay a hand on Dallas Turner.

The QB was lucky not to get decapitated.

 

[KCSVEN]

Lost in all the Line talk is the fact Drake Maye is playing like a top 5-10 NFL QB.

Also lost is the line is better than last year. Let's not forget Jacobs was the worst rated LINEMAN in the NFL last year, by quite a bit. Lowe was a bottom 4 Tackle and they were the 2 worst run blockers in the NFL at Tackle. Layden Robinson was a bottom 4 guard.
We're not looking for a 1 year turnaround to a good line, we just need an adequate line.
41 sacks was KC as the 16th most allowed sack which is 2.41 sacks per game so if we can have 2-3 sacks against per game we are doing well enough.

Diggs was the 23rd rated WR last year, Boutte and Bourne were 91 and 92.

Drake Maye, with Josh, will put up some points this year.

 

[Triumph]

Lost in all the Line talk is the fact Drake Maye is playing like a top 5-10 NFL QB.

Also lost is the line is better than last year. Let's not forget Jacobs was the worst rated LINEMAN in the NFL last year, by quite a bit. Lowe was a bottom 4 Tackle and they were the 2 worst run blockers in the NFL at Tackle. Layden Robinson was a bottom 4 guard.
We're not looking for a 1 year turnaround to a good line, we just need an adequate line.
41 sacks was KC as the 16th most allowed sack which is 2.41 sacks per game so if we can have 2-3 sacks against per game we are doing well enough.

Diggs was the 23rd rated WR last year, Boutte and Bourne were 91 and 92.

Drake Maye, with Josh, will put up some points this year.

Top 10 QB?

Reports from camp have been shaky. These scrimmages are not like real games. Mcarthy threw 4 TDs yesterday and Maye threw 3.

 

[Ross12]

Top 10 QB?

Reports from camp have been shaky. These scrimmages are not like real games. Mcarthy threw 4 TDs yesterday and Maye threw 3.

My takeaway has been that Drake is seeing the field and making his reads exceptionally well, but has not always hit the target. Could be accuracy issues, but may also be that he is still learning the route concepts and timing. He’s also had a lot of guys drop the pass, and has had a fair few misses “high”, which could be him playing it safe to avoid an INT. He’s had very few INTs in camp, which is a big improvement for him. He’s also been stepping up in the pocket well. I think it’s very encouraging, but not a top 10 QB yet. If he can fix some of these issues, which may not be major at all, he can get there.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Top 10 QB?

Reports from camp have been shaky. These scrimmages are not like real games. Mcarthy threw 4 TDs yesterday and Maye threw 3.

If you read into what he is saying, Maye is playing very composed for a QB with undue pressure. So yes, maybe a top 10 QB, but ultimately the Oline as of today will hold him back this year. And if you want to compare the 2 QBs, Maye outplayed JJ Wed, and JJ had the better day and much better line play of the two on Thursday.

 

[Triumph]

My takeaway has been that Drake is seeing the field and making his reads exceptionally well, but has not always hit the target. Could be accuracy issues, but may also be that he is still learning the route concepts and timing. He’s also had a lot of guys drop the pass, and has had a fair few misses “high”, which could be him playing it safe to avoid an INT. He’s had very few INTs in camp, which is a big improvement for him. He’s also been stepping up in the pocket well. I think it’s very encouraging, but not a top 10 QB yet. If he can fix some of these issues, which may not be major at all, he can get there.

I believe that the Pats and Vikings have an agreement to not go hog wild on each other on defense. These coaching staffs know each other and McCarthy is basically a rookie. So yes you want him to have reps at a more intense level, but not at the expense of injury. Same goes for Maye. I just watched a TD completion to Chism , but with zero pass rush.

Some of the other posters have commented on the scrimmages moving at half speed.

I believe when the games matter, that we will see an up and down Maye because of pressure.

 

[Triumph]

If you read into what he is saying, Maye is playing very composed for a QB with undue pressure. So yes, maybe a top 10 QB, but ultimately the Oline as of today will hold him back this year. And if you want to compare the 2 QBs, Maye outplayed JJ Wed, and JJ had the better day and much better line play of the two on Thursday.

Do honestly believe that Maye would throw 3 TDs vs the Vikings defense after September 1st?

If you do then the Pats are definitely going to the playoffs. Conversely for McCarthy throwing 4 TDs vs the NE defense when it counts.

 

[KCSVEN]

Top 10 QB?

Reports from camp have been shaky. These scrimmages are not like real games. Mcarthy threw 4 TDs yesterday and Maye threw 3.

You are not reading the details apparently. Maye was really good vs the Commanders and Vikings. He has 2 picks all training camp.
The Viking reporters after day 1 said Maye was at another level from McCarthy, but yeah, 4 TD's vs 3?

He's had a few shaky throws. He's had a great camp.

His decision making has been extremely high/elite according to all reports. There is no better judge of QB play than decision making.

All this with his 4th offense and 4th OC in 4 years.

He's on his way to top 5 QB.

 

[Triumph]

You are not reading the details apparently. Maye was really good vs the Commanders and Vikings. He has 2 picks all training camp.
The Viking reporters after day 1 said Maye was at another level from McCarthy, but yeah, 4 TD's vs 3?

He's had a few shaky throws. He's had a great camp.

His decision making has been extremely high/elite according to all reports. There is no better judge of QB play than decision making.

All this with his 4th offense and 4th OC in 4 years.

He's on his way to top 5 QB.

I read on a Vikings board that all starters are to be held out of preseason games.

If that is true and Maye goes out Saturday and lights the Vikings up, does that mean anything?

 

[Real fan 02]

You might be right. Run blocking is not a LT trait to admire. The LT is supposed to be an elite pass blocker, being an elite run blocker goes without saying for the LT. If the Pats get a left tackle in the 2026 draft, and Campbell goes to LG, and Wilson goes to Center that would be awesome.

We will see what happens. Greenard saying Campbell will be a great tackle is not comforting. What else is Greenard going to say?

I think we have to be mindful that current all pro level OTs Dawkins, slater, Stanley.. for example all struggled as rookies.. when we played Buffalo we feasted on Dawkins side.. back then.. the fact Vrabel and Marrone have had him plactated as the starter basically since he got here is confirmation that they feel confident in his abilities. At LG Strange was the starting LG but he play slipped and Wilson's game got better. Is the OL perfect? No, But it's far better than last season. Training camp is over. It's all about the 53 and the lead up to week 1 and beyond from here.. we want to see the team improve as the season goes along not the opposite like that last few seasons.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

This is kinda funny. Bedard is normally “Mr Negative” but today he’s one of the few saying the Patriots did well. He says today was “a draw” but I’ve seen multiple other outlets with headlines like “Patriots LOSE BADLY”…

I caught the same thing…and it’s actually maddening because almost every practice has had literally conflicting reports on what actually happened.

Kind of looking forward to the game so at least I can watch it for myself.

I really want to watch Campbell, LG (guessing they hold Wilson out), and Bradbury.

That said, Raiders game will be more telling because they will scheme it up to help the line.

 

[Real fan 02]

This is like "Christian Elliss was in coverage" It should never happen.

My only concern on D is the ability to cover TEs.. we'll see how that goes with Bowers week 1. I'd say put gonzo on him?

 

[UGAPatsfan]

I think we have to be mindful that current all pro level OTs Dawkins, slater, Stanley.. for example all struggled as rookies.. when we played Buffalo we feasted on Dawkins side.. back then.. the fact Vrabel and Marrone have had him plactated as the starter basically since he got here is confirmation that they feel confident in his abilities. At LG Strange was the starting LG but he play slipped and Wilson's game got better. Is the OL perfect? No, But it's far better than last season. Training camp is over. It's all about the 53 and the lead up to week 1 and beyond from here.. we want to see the team improve as the season goes along not the opposite like that last few seasons.

Def different philosophies going on where some staffs are not playing starters at all.

Vrabes seems more old school.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Do honestly believe that Maye would throw 3 TDs vs the Vikings defense after September 1st?

If you do then the Pats are definitely going to the playoffs. Conversely for McCarthy throwing 4 TDs vs the NE defense when it counts.

I'm not really sure what you are saying here. The point was he is having a good camp, and looks on his way to a top 10 or better QB. Most mistakes have been pressure related, so the original poster is saying that Maye's good camp is kind of being lost in the shuffle. Not really sure what the 3 tds vs 4 tds in the regular season has to do with anything.

 

[Real fan 02]

Def different philosophies going on where some staffs are not playing starters at all.

Vrabes seems more old school.

Your right. This is all part of the team building process and the mindset Vrabel has as a coach. And I'm fine with it.. we are coming off consecutive 4 win seasons..

 

[mike_usagisan]

I caught the same thing…and it’s actually maddening because almost every practice has had literally conflicting reports on what actually happened.

Kind of looking forward to the game so at least I can watch it for myself.

I really want to watch Campbell, LG (guessing they hold Wilson out), and Bradbury.

That said, Raiders game will be more telling because they will scheme it up to help the line.

Until the games are real, I take most of these press reports--positive and negative--with a big grain of salt. Too often we hear glowing reports from training camp and then our guys suck in the real games.

 

[KCSVEN]

I read on a Vikings board that all starters are to be held out of preseason games.

If that is true and Maye goes out Saturday and lights the Vikings up, does that mean anything?

That's kind of irrelevant.
Maye advanced analytics were great last year, he was already 10-12 QB in many advanced analytics. With the worst receivers and line in NFL. Add in his analytics in rushing, #1 or #2 rusher he's right near the top 10 in 2024.

He's come out and had a really good camp in 2025 considering the all new offense, new line, new receivers. .

Maye was throwing accurate passes and completing them at a relatively high rate. He was also avoiding sacks at a solid rate, especially so for a rookie. Maye was an elite prospect coming out as the 3rd overall pick in the 2024 draft, and he did nothing to disprove that in his rookie campaign. In fact, I’d say he made strides to prove he was a legitimately good NFL QB, even though the raw passing production numbers weren’t off the charts.

Does Drake Maye Have Elite Upside?

Discussing Maye's 2024 environment, 2025 situation and how much fantasy upside he has.

ffdataroma.substack.com

 

[Real fan 02]

Until the games are real, I take most of these press reports--positive and negative--with a big grain of salt. Too often we hear glowing reports from training camp and then our guys suck in the real games.

Exactly right Mike. Camp is over. We are coming off consecutive 4 win seasons, so far what we can see is the team is well coached and they play hard. That formula usually helps to translate to winning.

 

[Real fan 02]

That's kind of irrelevant.
Maye advanced analytics were great last year, he was already 10-12 QB in many advanced analytics. With the worst receivers and line in NFL. Add in his analytics in rushing, #1 or #2 rusher he's right near the top 10 in 2024.

He's come out and had a really good camp in 2025 considering the all new offense, new line, new receivers. .

Maye was throwing accurate passes and completing them at a relatively high rate. He was also avoiding sacks at a solid rate, especially so for a rookie. Maye was an elite prospect coming out as the 3rd overall pick in the 2024 draft, and he did nothing to disprove that in his rookie campaign. In fact, I’d say he made strides to prove he was a legitimately good NFL QB, even though the raw passing production numbers weren’t off the charts.

Does Drake Maye Have Elite Upside?

Discussing Maye's 2024 environment, 2025 situation and how much fantasy upside he has.

ffdataroma.substack.com

Drake showed elite abilities last season in a totally dysfunctional operation. The tight window, the side arm- while getting outside the pocket throws, the abilities to hit guys accurately down field.. those are traits you see in elite QBs.

 

[sb1]

At this time of year the past few seasons we'd always hear the defense is ahead of the offense. This season so far I'd say it's the other way around. As well as Maye is doing (as long as he doesn't fumble) - McCarthy also lit up our defense yesterday. Lots of work to do.