Joint Practice #1 with the Minnesota Vikings was a good test of the progress of the Patriots Offense and Defense. Washington was not a great test for the Pats, and in fact, I think they are in for a huge letdown. The Patriots dominated that Joint practice, and the Commanders made a mockery of the Preseason game, sitting out 30 players. The Patriots were able to hang 48 points on them.
The Patriots have increased their Analytics department, and one of the key metrics is “DVOA” or “Defense-adjusted Value Over Average.” DVOA breaks down the entire season play-by-play, comparing success on each play to the league average based on a number of variables, including down, distance, location on the field, current score gap, quarter, and opponent quality.
Last season, Brian Flores improved the DVOA of the Vikings’ Defense to the #2 team in the league. The Vikes are legitimate. Harrison Smith and Andrew Van Ginkel did not participate. Van Ginkel received a one-year, $20M contract extension after being selected as 2nd Team All-Pro last year.
Drake Maye had a good practice against a difficult Vikings Defense. He fought back after a tough start.
This is from a Minnesota perspective by Sean Borman – Drake Maye is making it look easy. He throws the ball smoothly and with the intended touch. Haven’t noticed much pass rush from the Vikings. It’s led to a number of downfield completions. J.J. McCarthy has taken a couple of sacks and hasn’t had the easiest go of it. Some crisp completions of the short-to-mid range variety. Pats pass rush has been more noticeable.
Maye was 16/25 with 6 sacks and 2 TDs – Long completions to Douglas (25 yards), Boutte (30 yards), Hollins (50 yards TD), and Henderson (70 yards TD).
To put the practice in perspective, the Vikings, at the request of Head Coach Kevin O’Connell, wanted to set up 2nd and long situations, putting the Patriots’ Offensive Line at a big disadvantage by eliminating the running game. Minnesota’s pass rush could pin their ears back and rush the passer. Brian Flores didn’t hold back and employed a series of exotic blitzes.
In this situation, Brian Flores had three consecutive all-out blitzes that resulted in 3 would-be sacks out of the 6 the OL would give up on the day.
With 1:15 put on the clock in a two-minute drill, Maye and TreVeyon Henderson ended it quickly. Henderson ran a wheel route out of the backfield, and there was blown coverage, leaving him wide open, and he outran the Vikings’ secondary to the house. Another excellent video on X. On this play, Campbell and Wilson picked up the twist stunt they got beat on last week, allowing Maye to complete the pass for a long TD.
Henderson also received praise from Evan Lazar of Patriots.com for an excellent blitz pickup.
Josh Dobbs was 7/13 with 2 INTs.
Pop Douglas had a fumble.
Andy Borregales was 5 of 6 and the miss came from 54-yards out. He did make a 51-yarder. I would expect that Parker-Romo will get all the kicks tomorrow. Head Coach Vrabel has stated that the status of being a draft pick will not give Borregales an edge in the competition. Right now, I have Parker-Romo with the advantage because of his kickoffs.
This from Greg Bedard, “When he wasn’t being sacked, Maye seemed to handle all the blitzes and coverages well. Never really putting the ball in danger (outside of one play to Murphy that looked like a communication issue). And he completed a lot of his “sacked” plays, including a nifty one-footed pass to Boutte”.
“Garrett Bradbury literally can’t pass block” – Sean Borman. It was a missed block by Bradbury that led to the “sack” where Maye threw off one foot to Boutte that Greg Bedard mentioned. I saw the video on that play, and it was beautiful.
Chad Graf of the Athletic has this to say “Both Efton Chism and Javon Baker have played well today. Might come down to whether they want a slot guy (Chism) or deep threat (Baker)”. I have them keeping 7 WRs and keeping both.
According to Coach Vrabel, Carlton Davis is dealing with something. He expected Davis to practice today, but pulled himself out. He rode the stationary bike on the sideline. After practice, Davis was interviewed, where he stated, “Hell yeah, I’m ready to play”.
On Defense, they held J.J. McCarthy in check, with the exception of Jordan Addison. Justin Jefferson did not practice and will not practice tomorrow nor in the game on Saturday. McCarthy was sacked 7 times (Klavon Chaisson, Harold Landry, Isaiah Iton, Milt Williams, Keion White, Jeremiah Pharms and Anfernee Jennings).
Run Stuffs (Jennings, Khyiris Tonga, Christian Elliss, and Landry).
The Vikings have an improved O-line with rookie LG Donovan Jackson and C Ryan Kelly who replaced the leaky pass protector Garrett Bradbury. They have LT Christian Darrisaw back after losing him to injury halfway through the season last year. Pro Football Network has the Vikings ranked as the #9 Offensive Line in the NFL. I think the Patriots have a drastically improved pass rush based on the quality opponent they went up against today.
INT Marcus Jones and a PBU by Kobee Minor
Mack Hollins punted the ball in the air after scoring his TD because he didn’t like the energy the team was showing! That would have been a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty if it was a game. The stunt worked because the Pats played better and with more fire after that.
According to Evan Lazar, “newcomer RB Shane Watts broke off a few nice runs. Watts has a similar skillset to undrafted rookie RB Lan Larison, who was placed on injured reserve earlier this week, with noticeable quickness and some burst.”
Another point about RB Shane Watts. To switch positions, which Watts volunteered to do without being asked by the coaches, he would lose his scholarship as a safety. He bet on himself and took that chance. He did so well in his junior year (2023), that he got the full scholarship back and then some (NIL money).
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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.
If Bradbury is so bad (he played well against Wash), why aren’t we looking at Wilson at center and Robinson at LG?