Friday Patriots Notebook 8/1: Maye’s Growth Stands Out, Boutte Could Force Tough Decision at WR
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A little behind today, but here’s a quick rundown of today’s Patriots news:
1) Tonight kicks off the club’s private in-stadium practice for season ticket holders, which will be prefaced with a press conference from head coach Mike Vrabel. The team is coming off a walkthrough practice on Thursday, which allowed the players a break after a physical week, which did see a few guys get nicked up.
Defensive back Christian Gonzalez was missing from Thursday’s session, as were running back Antonio Gibson, center Garrett Bradbury, linebacker Jahlani Tavai, and offensive lineman Sidy Sow.
One would have to believe that Gonzalez will be a spectator tonight, while the current status of the other players is unknown.
Meanwhile, wide receiver Mack Hollins passed his physical and came off of PUP yesterday, and he spent time with the top offense during the walkthroughs after being a full participant with the team for the first time.
Following Hollins’ return, it’s now just Vederian Lowe remaining on PUP, with each of the other guys who started camp there having slowly made their way back. Hollins also reportedly spent some additional time working with Drake Maye after practice on Thursday.
2) Speaking of Maye, he spoke to reporters yesterday and was asked about the fact he’s opened the preseason without an interception so far to this point in training camp.
Maye said that he’s simply been focused on being careful with the football, but if anyone thinks he might be gun shy when it comes to taking some shots, that isn’t the case.
“You know, I think it’s one of those things where I’m trying to take care of the football, and maybe they could have had a few here and there,” said Maye on Thursday. “I think Pep [Jabrill Peppers] should have had one on the first, you know, practice. I joked with him about it, but yeah, I think that’s a goal of ours to take care of the football. And I think, you know, not trying to, like I said, yeah, throw off the perfect game or no-hitter, but I think that’s part of it. Not scared to throw it. I’m still not gun-shy.”
Maye explained that a lot of the mistakes he made earlier in the spring came while he was trying various new things in the offense under new coordinator Josh McDaniels. He explained that the process is just part of understanding his limitations, which he said allows him to be able to pick his shots a little better by the time the season gets here.
“I think it’s, you know, it’s easy to throw the check down or, you know, it’s not realistic – moving the football and getting big kind of chunk plays, which are the plays you want in games when you’re not throwing the ball down the field and throwing in tight windows,” said Maye. “And I think I did a little bit of that in the spring, trying to throw in some tighter windows, and I think just threw a little more interceptions.”
“But that’s what you’re out here for. You know, you try to kind of feel, ‘Hey, can this work?’ or ‘Can this work against these guys at this level?’ So I try to use it as that, and as we’re closer to football time, start playing some real, ‘Hey, take care of the football’ mindset.'”
3) So far, there’s been a structure and a plan by Vrabel and the coaching staff as they’ve continued installing things. When the pads came on earlier this week, the amount of hitting was measured, and there seemed to be a focus by Vrabel, a former player himself, to try and keep guys healthy.
That’s been something players have already spoken about, expressing that they appreciate that. It’s built up a level of respect, and the group this year as a whole seems to be behind everything Vrabel has done to this point.
Former quarterback Scott Zolak sat down with 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Alex Barth, and he said on Thursday that the overall feel in camp is significantly different from a year ago.
“I’m not saying they’re a playoff or a Super Bowl team,” said Zolak. “It just feels better. I can’t say why. It’s the vibe. It’s … you feel like there’s adults in the room that are teaching. They’re on the move, you can tell it’s instructional, it’s an instructional camp and the quarterback, I think, has gotten better, and that’s a big one.”
“That’s the other big story,” said Barth. “He looks better, no interceptions through the first two weeks, looks in command, looks in control of the offense, and part of that take too yesterday (on the air with Felger and Mazz) was just some of it’s just about how far away they were last year. It was not a good team last year.”
Maye told reporters yesterday that his confidence continues to get better, but what happens next week when the joint practices begin and whatever game action he might ultimately see is what he feels will be a good test to see where they’re at offensively.
“I think, you know, I’m trying to get comfortable in this offense, kind of take the next steps as we go,” said Maye. “And I think the real test will be when the games come and when we get in these joint practices. So I’m looking forward. You know, I’m proud of, you know, the work we’ve done, and I feel good. I feel in a good spot, but I think it’s still a lot of work left.”
4) One interesting development so far this preseason has been with Kayshon Boutte, who seems poised to be in the mix for a roster spot heading into the season.
As it’s been so far, he’s seen a fair amount of time among the top wideous this preseason, which signals that the third-year wideout has continued doing the right things here early on.
NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry joined Zolak and Bertrand on 98.5 The Sports Hub and he believes that he could be among the final guys standing if he continues what he’s been doing. After Zolak said his top wideouts would be Stefon Diggs, Pop Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Boutte at four, followed by Kendrick Bourne and Hollins, with everyone else battling it out for a spot.
Perry feels that top four is reasonable, but he has Boutte as their third-best wideout given how things have gone.
“That’s a totally reasonable list on your part,” Perry told Zolak. “I would have Boutte, just based on how he’s been used, ahead of Williams. So, to me, the top three guys that they’ve been using out here at camp have been Diggs, Douglas, and Boutte, very consistently.”
“It feels like they want him to succeed. I mean, he’s consistently done a good job. He’s not making wow-you kinds of plays on a regular basis out here, but I think he’s doing everything right, the little things. I think he’s matured as a player, and my understanding is, he’s matured as a person. It’s hard to believe that, guys, he’s actually a little bit younger than both Javon Baker and Ja’Lynn Polk even though he’s got a full extra year in the league than those guys. I think they think there’s more upside there with him than there is with somebody like Kendrick Bourne who, to me, if you didn’t know his name was Kendrick Bourne, based on what he’s done out here at camp, Zo, I don’t think anybody would have him on a 53-man roster projection right now.”
Zolak asked Perry if he felt like Bourne had nothing left and Perry didn’t see it that way. It’s just based on how much time he’s seen out there to this point.
“I don’t know if it’s that. He’s not being used,” said Perry. “When’s the last time we saw Drake Maye throw Kendrick Bourne a pass? He’s not out there.”
He was then asked about whether or not the relationship with McDaniels would help him and Perry doesn’t think that will be enough, especially given their needs depth-wise at other positions.
“You would think that that relationship earns a spot and earns him a gig. I just don’t know if it will,” said Perry. “To me, he feels like their sixth-best receiver right now or their sixth receiver on their depth chart if I were ordering them, and I don’t know how many sixth receivers in the NFL do nothing on special teams, which is Kendrick Bourne. And so to me, I don’t know if he’s a lock to make this roster by any stretch of the imagination.”
Maye was asked on Thursday about the fact that McDaniels has been encouraging the quarterbacks to use their athleticism, but to be smart about doing it. Vrabel echoed those same sentiments, with Maye acknowledging that’s something he’s focused on being better at this season. “I think I faced that in college,” said Maye. “My first year, I was really kind of running around and, you know, doing some stuff I probably shouldn’t have out there with pads on. So I think just taking care of my body and being smart, but also, you know, knowing when it’s third down, when it’s, you know, near the end zone, like I’m 6’5” and 230 pounds. Go, go get something.” … Maye also talked about the confidence someone like Diggs brings in the locker room, which he said has everyone wanting to be aggressive when it comes to the ball being thrown their way. “I think it’s just his mindset, just attacking the football,” said Maye. “You know, a guy like that, with his stature, who’s caught a lot of touchdowns in this league and made a lot of big plays, he wants to go get the football. He tells me all the time, just ‘If the ball’s in the air, it’s going to be mine.’ So I think it’s comforting hearing that from those guys, and I think that’s kind of starting to become something in the receiver room that’s the mindset. You know, when the ball’s in the air, go get it. So I think it’s comfortable hearing that, and it’s comfortable a guy who’s also gone out there and proved it.” … One day after being waived, Yasir Durant did clear waivers and was placed on injured reserve by the club yesterday. … Mike Vrabel is currently set to speak to the media around 5pm today ahead of tonight’s in-stadium practice. The club is then set to have tomorrow and Sunday off ahead of next week’s joint sessions.
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