Practice Day 6
Absent
Jahlani Tavai, Joshua Farmer and Christian Gonzalez
PUP
Veferian Lowe and Mack Hollins
Welcome Back, Austin Hooper! Carlton Davis was on the field but did not participate.
Gonzalez Injury Update
According to Jordan Schultz, “All-Pro CB Christian Gonzalez suffered a hamstring injury during Monday’s practice that will sideline him for a bit, but I’m told it will not impact his Week 1 availability”. The degree of severity was not released by the Patriots, but it is assumed that it is not a bad tear. All hamstring injuries are tears. If Schultz is saying that Gonzalez will be ready for the Opening game, then the injury is not severe. I do not expect to see Gonzalez on the field through the remainder of Training Camp. He will likely begin practicing the week before the 1st game. The Patriots should hold him out of practice purely as a precaution.
Maye’s Throwing
Inconsistent day for Maye: Drake Maye missed on his five passes of team periods, and he was all over the place – he turfed his first throw to Hunter Henry, over threw an open Kyle Williams as Maye held his helmet in digust. Maye was easily broken up by Christian Ellis on a pass to Henry and fumbled a snap with Bradbury to get the first unit kicked off the field by Mike Vrabel. Maye later overthrew Henry.
But Maye also had moments of brilliance. He threw a perfect back shoulder to Williams that was dropped. Maye had back-to-back touchdowns to Williams and Diggs that were beauties, especially the toss to Diggs. Maye manipulated the pocket (not sure he had to, as he nearly ran into the blocker) but threw a great touch pass to Diggs that required good anticipation. Maye ended his practice with a nice touch pass touchdown to Kayshon Boutte. He also had a TD to Kyle Williams but Williams also dropped another would be TD.
Maye finished 5 of 7 after the slow start.
Maye’s improved touch and anticipation have been on full display in this camp. He’s been getting the ball on time and his ball placement has been really good. Particularly in the red zone. Lots of Red Zone work today.
It was a rough start for the Offense BUT they finished strong. Defensive line continues to be a problem. I’m not sure Bradbury will be the starter at Center. Jared Wilson had an impressive day. I think he makes his money at Center. Drake Maye had some very nice throws. Diggs looks GOOD. Javon Baker had another TD today over Marcellus Dial.
Garrett Bradbury left the field limping late in practice after a run play that was stuffed at the line. Jared Wilson, who had a standout day in 1-on-1s, has been the top backup at center. Phil Perry stated that Jared Wilson just put on a clinic on 1-on-1s. Stoned Christian Barmore twice and Milton Williams once. Wilson has been very good, especially in the run game since Camp started. He is pushing Bradbury for the starting job at Center. Bradbury and Maye had a fumbled exchange. This is the 3rd for Maye, who is the common denominator. Maye had 9 fumbles last year. One of his deficiencies is that he has small hands for a QB (9 1/8”). His hand size was 27th % amongst all QBs in the draft. Only one successful QB (Joe Burrow) has similar hand size. Remember that Maye had never taken a snap under center until he reached the NFL.
OT Yasir Durant appeared to injure his leg and left practice.
OT Morgan Moses left practice early. It did not appear to be an injury, but probably just the team limiting his reps in Training Camp. Moses play so far in camp has been less than impressive.
Per Mike Reiss – “While CB Christian Gonzalez did not practice today, he showed up near the end of practice in shorts, t-shirt, hat and a sleeve on his left leg. He watched the final periods of practice with his defensive teammates and seemed to be in good spirits”.
Gonzalez also hung around after practice and signed autographs for the fans. He played catch in the video I saw, and he didn’t have any noticeable limp. I think they dodged a bullet.
Takeaways from Day 6 at Patriots camp: — Up and down again for top offense. Accuracy just OK from Maye but highlights were TDs to Kyle Williams and Stefon Diggs. — K’Lavon Chaisson impresses again. — Jared Wilson continues to work in with top O-line. — Fumbled snaps still an issue.
From Greg Bedard – Drake Maye: 5 for 12, 3 TDs, 2 sacks, fumble, drop (0 for 2; 0 for 2, drop; 2 of 3, 2 TDs, fumble; 0 for 1, sack; 1 for 2, sack; 2 for 2, TD)
Josh Dobbs: 4 for 7, 3 TDs, 2 sacks (0 for 2; 1 for 2, sack; 3 for 3, 3 TDs, sack)
Ben Wooldrige: 2 for 4, drop (1 for 2, drop; 1 for 1; 0 for 1)
On the Lineman one-on-ones the Offensive Line got the best of The Defensive line 16-9. Campbell and Wilson were 4 for 4. The O-line was beat on only 25% of the one on ones.
Is anyone concerned that we haven’t heard any reports on Milton Williams?
Another 5 sack Day by the defense. K’lavon Chaisson had two more sacks today but one against Campbell was disputed as an offsides by Chaisson jumping the snap count. If our defense is jumping the count, Maye needs to alternate his cadence because other teams will surely pick up on to this. If I am Vrabel, I am telling the Defense in team meetings that if you are caught jumping the count the entire defense is running a lap.
The weather has been sunny, very hot and humid, just the way Head Coach Vrabel likes it. The team is running everywhere in practice, getting the most of their limited 1hour 1 hour and 45 minutes of practice time. It should be noted that the team has not been running the hill at the back of the practice field. Vrabel is taking into consideration the hot weather and the hustle the team has shown during practice.
In the kicking competition, today was Andy Borregales day. He went 6 for 6 matching Parker Romo yesterday. All of the kicks were between 32 and 50 yards out. This is a very good competition
Brock Lampe hits the IR and is Out for the Season
I posted yesterday the team had signed LB RJ Moten. The corresponding move was to place Lampe on the IR. This is very unfortunate for Lampe, who is the only FB in camp and the most likely UDFA to make the team. I had him making the team as he was taking reps with the 1st team offense. As noted, Lampe had a very good wham block in practice on Monday. I wonder if that is when he got hurt? I believe that Lampe has to clear waivers before he could be placed on IR. The Patriots may have put him on waivers with an injury designation yesterday after practice so that he may have already cleared waivers. Does this open an opportunity for Jaheim Bell to fill this roll? If not, look for the team to sign another Fullback because that is a key component in Josh McDaniels offense.
Robert Spillane’s Unorthodox Training Methods
This from the article by Chad Graff of the Athletic. “Back in March, when Robert Spillane was one of four players introduced as part of the New England Patriots’ free-agent spending spree, the linebacker mentioned that he does a lot of eyes-closed training.” Graff didn’t think much about that throw away line. He planned to add a brief paragraph about Spillane to conclude the Training Camp article.
Anyone observing a young, late 20’s, hiker going up a mountain wouldn’t think much of him. However, Spillane is not your typical NFL player. He observes every rock formation, branch and the way the path flows. Graff goes on to say “The next day, Spillane returned — this time, to do it with his eyes shut. After that, another trip — this time, backward and blindfolded”. Spillane and Mack Hollins should get along great!
Former Patriots Fan of the Year Featured on NH Chronicle
I should introduce Spillane to my friend Randy Pierce, a former Patriots Fan of the Year. If you don’t know who Randy is, he is blind and has not let his handicap define who he is. Randy has climbed the 48 highest peaks in NH, all above 4,000 feet. This feat was accomplished all in one winter. He did this with his guide dog Quinn and a human guide. The human guide has a pole which each grab and is led along.
Randy also helped train his friend Teddy Bruschi to climb before Teddy’s attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with the Wounded Warrior Project. Teddy’s adventure is documented in the following link Tedy Bruschi tells of completing climb of Kilimanjaro – ESPN .
Randy is now the President and CEO of Future In Sight of New Hampshire (formerly New Hampshire Association for the Blind). A few weeks ago, Randy was featured on New Hampshire Chronicle NH Chronicle: Blind runner Randy Pierce charts new course teaching Chronicle Host Sean McDonald to be his Human Guide for a Road Race.
Support Mark and buy him a coffee.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
Jared Wilson looks thick. Stout. Big legs/butt. He’s built well for a center. Conversely Bradberry I thought looks small in there. Based on reports, looks like more of a battle for the starter spot than people thought. Lampe – Looked like he hurt his hand. He was shaking it on the sidelines after some big collision at the line of scrimmage. Monday, the o-line did well vs the Pats D front on the run gme. They got some push. It was noticeable. But they were not really tackling to the ground, so not sure how much that is a factor.… Read more »