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PATRIOTS NEWS Patriots Training Camp 8-6-2023

Breaking New England Patriots Team News
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I think the talent is there for us to have a decent OL first 7, but it will be a work in progress early in the season unless we start to see at least SOME continuity on the OL over the next two weeks.
Great points. And you could have mentioned the absence of Anderson. That is turning serious. WTF is going on with his non football illness?

And I think you’re correct to realize that Trent Brown is working on his conditioning. He did not report ready to go.
 
Great points. And you could have mentioned the absence of Anderson. That is turning serious. WTF is going on with his non football illness?

And I think you’re correct to realize that Trent Brown is working on his conditioning. He did not report ready to go.
I think the moment it’s reported Trent Brown gets a Judon like extension, he’ll instantly be healthy enough to practice.

Calvin Anderson’s absence is frustrating since it’s not football related. It would be nice to know what’s wrong with him, but I won’t hold my breath. My fear is he’ll become one of those talented “what if” players like Dan Vitale, Beau Allen or Dalton Keene… who we rarely if ever got to see play.
 
Mike Reiss will always be my gold standard for where the team stands. If he says it, you can take it to the bank.
Agree. I wish he would go into more depth on these overviews but it's all good....he does it with the reports the day after. About 15-20 years ago I used to email him about questions I had about the Patriots and he ALWAYS responded. Good guy.
 
Sure how about the loser has to change their screen name picked by the other party til the end of Week 1?
We can change screen names? I login with “Dragda” so I just thought it was permanent. It’s what my granddaughter said when she couldn’t say “grandpa.” She’s 18 years old now.
 
Agree. I wish he would go into more depth on these overviews but it's all good....he does it with the reports the day after. About 15-20 years ago I used to email him about questions I had about the Patriots and he ALWAYS responded. Good guy.
I remember his Reiss’s pieces from the Providence Journal. He really went above and beyond to give you news about the team that wasn’t the normal nonsense. I’m so glad he’s seen as the elder statesman of Patriots beat reporters.
 
I need more insight into the OL, which could still end up being strong.

Or a complete s—t show. What’s going on with the missing starters? When’s Onwenu scheduled to return? What’s going on with TB? Cole Strange? How my man Chasen Hines doing?

And, no, no one is worried that David Andrews, that Rock of Gibraltar, got today off.
 
We can change screen names? I login with “Dragda” so I just thought it was permanent. It’s what my granddaughter said when she couldn’t say “grandpa.” She’s 18 years old now.
Absolutely sir, just reach out to @Ian
 

Offensive notes

  • The state of the offensive line will be made public Thursday during the Patriots' preseason opener. In private, it's already cause for concern.

  • Without David Andrews at center, Riley Reiff, fifth-round rookie Atonio Mafi, James Ferentz, Kody Russey and Conor McDermott comprised the top line. Russey is a second-year player who was a college center, Ferentz is expected to be cut in a few weeks, and McDermott remains best suited as a No. 3 or No. 4 tackle.

  • Unable to dam up pressure, Mac Jones would have taken five sacks during 11-on-11 periods compared to at least three for Zappe and another for McSorley.

  • The backup offensive line featured, from left to right: 2022 seventh-rounder Andrew Stueber, 2022 sixth-rounder Chasen Hines, fourth-round rookie Jake Andrews, converted defensive lineman Bill Murray and converted rookie tackle Sidy Sow, a college guard.

  • Neither line could clear space for even a 5-yard run in team drills, despite Rhamondre Stevenson fully participating for a third straight practice. Not great.

  • At quarterback, Jones started 5-of-5 before throwing an interception at Christian Gonzalez to close 7-on-7s. Rookie receiver Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte were both in the area. indicating one made a poor coverage read or failed to run his route correctly.

  • If he was at fault, Douglas hardly made a mistake after that, catching three of four passes. He's drilled with the starting offense throughout training camp, but leapt Tyquan Thornton in the pecking order. Thornton repped mostly with the second-team unit.

  • After an early 7-on-7 period, Jones went 3-of-3 with two sacks in full-team drills. He hit Douglas, DeVante Parker and Pierre Strong. That led into a stagnant red-zone period, where he finished 1-of-4 thanks to Hunter Henry losing a touchdown to Jabrill Peppers' punch-out and a busted screen play. Jones' only completion found Henry underneath.

  • In his practice-ending two-minute drill, Jones overcame some surrounding mistakes (two allowed sacks and drops by Stevenson and Kendrick Bourne) to finish on a high note. He launched a 40-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline to Parker, who beat Jack Jones on the catch.

  • Parker caught all three targets during team drills, including another one versus Gonzalez. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Bourne dropped the only pass he saw, another with Gonzalez in tight coverage.

  • Zappe opened with a few bad misses, going 6-of-11 between a 7-on-7 period and full-team drill. He followed with a conservative showing in the red zone, where he didn't take a sack but three of his four completions were far from the goal line.

  • His other red-zone completion was a nifty back-line connection with Boutte that beat rookie corner Isaiah Bolden. Jack Jones broke up Zappe's final attempt intended for Tre Nixon in traffic on an in-breaking route.

  • Zappe's two-minute drill was largely uninspiring: three checkdowns, completions to Gesicki and Boutte, a Gesicki drop, two incompletions to Thornton and Shaun Wade's interception. Backup receiver/special teamer Raleigh Webb was the intended target on Zappe's pick.

  • Tough day to be Trace McSorley, who had two tip-drill interceptions, scored on one of seven red-zone snaps and didn't get to attempt a two-minute drill.

  • No change to the running back rotation: Kevin Harris appears to hold an edge over Strong, who may be tracking for a backup role on passing downs. Harris is much better suited for early-down work and hand-offs close to the goal line.

  • Aside from his one-handed catch, Gesicki beat Bledsoe on an out route and dropped a pass with rookie linebacker Marte Mapu close by.

  • Top targets in team drills: Demario Douglas 4/5, Tyquan Thornton 2/5, Hunter Henry 3/4, Kevin Harris 3/4, Raleigh Webb 3/4, Rhamondre Stevenson 2/4
  • Drops: Stevenson, Bourne
 
Couple of thoughts:

1. The injuries to the OL have been brutal. I’m worried about a repeat of performance to last year. Instead of feeling bad for Mac, the one person I feel worse for is Klemm. They’re gonna have to really scheme these guys up if this continues.

2. I’m very disappointed that TT has become the talk of camp and for all of the wrong reasons. If Boutte continues to develop over preseason and everyone remains healthy, what do you do?
I'm disappointed that there are OL concerns this early, IMO that's on BB. Anderson, Reiff and mid round rookies aren't enough to fix the OL problems from last year.
 
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