Joint Practice #2 with Vikings
Thursday had a heavy emphasis on Red Zone work. Last week the Patriots were 0-5 in Red Zone defense in the Commanders Pre-season game. They followed that up with a very poor performance during the second joint session against the Vikings.
This from Andrew Guindon “The Vikings are a Super Bowl contender, if all goes right with McCarthy. Not going to over exaggerate the Patriots issues in practice today unless this kind of play continues, but I think this was a good reminder that this team is still trying to build a foundation.”
DNP : Christian Gonzalez, Rhamondre Stevenson, Marte Mapu, Ja’Lynn Polk, Kendrick Bourne, Jahlani Tavai, Terrell Jennings
Limited: Jabril Peppers and DJ James
Returned: Hunter Henry and Elijah Ponder
The day didn’t start off good as Jared Wilson came up limping after a one-on-one rep and walked off the field and was replaced by Ben Brown at LG (not Cole Strange). I believe he went right to the locker room. No update on the reason why. I saw a pic of Wilson walking off the field so perhaps it’s not a serious injury. Let’s hope so.
No Jabrill Peppers on day two, Dell Pettus has been the 3rd Safety with Dugger still running with the second team Defense. Head Coach Vrabel didn’t rule out a move for Kyle Dugger to Linebacker.
This from Doug Kyed from the Boston Herald – “Here’s how Patriots WRs fared in 1-on-1 and 2-on-2 drills: Stefon Diggs: 4-0, DeMario Douglas: 2-3, Kayshon Boutte: 2-2, Kyle Williams: 2-1 drop, Efton Chism: 2-1, Mack Hollins: 4-1, Javon Baker: 4-0, John Jiles: 2-0, Jeremiah Webb: 2-0.”
Andrew Callahan had this to say about Thursday’s practice: “Minnesota won the practice, especially up front. Pats starting D got diced. McCarthy 16/19, several TDs in 11 on 11. He also scored in a 1-minute drill with a prayer TD. Christian Barmore (who didn’t practice yesterday) had two sacks. Pass Breakups by Kyle Dugger and Jack Gibbens. J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings top offense carved up the Patriots defense late in a red zone period. Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones and Craig Woodson (2) allowed TDs. Davis seemed to get flagged for a hold on his TD. The last TD led to a scuffle between Pats DL and Vikings OL”. Vrabel was in the middle of that scrum too.
Mark Daniels of Mass Live had this to say about practice: “Vikings won the day. Patriots WRs weren’t separating during 11v11s. They finished strong though with the Boutte TD”.
Phil Perry – “For Maye, it was the second straight day he avoided turning the ball over. Seemed to make good decisions consistently. Offensive issues on Thursday did not appear due to the soon-to-be 23-year-old’s play. Final tally for Drake Maye and the top Patriots offense on a pressure-filled day that featured plenty of red-zone work… 7-for-12, 7 sacks, 4 scrambles, and 1 false start.”
Two consecutive sacks and a false start on Campbell set up Maye in the 1 minute drill, with a desperation heave to Boutte for TD. Maye threw it into double coverage, but Boutte shielded off the defenders and went up and took it away. The whole offensive team came off the field to greet Boutte. On the play, Vikings safety Josh Mettellus left the field holding his chest. It’s believed to be a pectoral injury.
Minnesota Head Coach Kevin O’Connell said that JJ McCarthy will not play in Saturday’s Pre-Season game.
Greg Bedard from Boston Sports Journal had these observations:
My stats for team periods: Drake Maye 9 of 13, 3 TD, 5 sacks, 4 scrambles
JJ McCarthy 15 of 19, 4 TD, 2 sacks, 2 scrambles
There was a sideline pass to Mack Hollins I thought was in, but officials ruled him out
Pop Douglas had multiple drops today. His worst practice of Training Camp.
Ben Brown lost both of his one-on-one reps versus Javon Hargrave. Total mismatch.
Josh Dobbs had a good finish to the day by hitting Jack Westover with a touchdown up the seam. Nice series for Josh Dobbs – Evan Lazar.
Efton Chism (2), Kyle Williams and Javon Baker had TDs from Josh Dobbs.
Tre’Veyon Henderson had 2 TD runs, one to the outside and one up the middle. Both were in Red Zone work.
Campbell gave up 3 sacks on 11 plays as he was owned by Jonathan Greenard. Morgan Moses also gave up 2 sacks to Jonathan Allen and Dallas Turner. There was also a free rusher up the middle. Overall, it was a bad day for the line.
Lets put this in perspective, Greenard is one of the best pass rushers in the league. He and Myles Garrett are the only pass rushers to post 50+ pressures, 10+ sacks (he had 12), 25+ run stops (18 TFLs), Top 5 in the league and perhaps the best pass rusher he will face all season.
Maye showed a lot of poise under this pressure and didn’t have any turnovers.
Joshua Dobbs bounced back after throwing 2 pick six INTs yesterday. He had good practice with 4 TDs (Chism, Westover, Williams and Baker).
Truman Jones had a sack against backup QB Sam Howell.
Vederian Lowe and Marcus Bryant were switching off at LT with the second unit.
Curiously, John Parker-Romo didn’t get any kick attempts today. There were no kicking attempts today after Andy Borregales got 5 yesterday.
I will have a preview of the Pre-Season game later today and a wrap up of the two Joint practice. After the game I will do a game re-cap. Those will end my Training Camp reviews.
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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.
