Day Two of Mini-Camp
Intensity Dialed Down
Wednesday was a glorified walkthrough practice with no competitive periods. “It will look a little different today, just by design, as far as the pace that you will see,” Vrabel said prior to practice. “But we will come back and get that same speed that we had yesterday further down in the red zone tomorrow.”
On Day 1, Maye had an 18-second clock in which to get the play off. Maye used varying timing to get the play off, some well before the play clock expired, and others late in the play count.
Ponder Makes an Impression
One of the stars of the 1st two days has been EDGE Elijah Ponder. He had a sack and a pass breakup in Day 1. With Harold Landry sitting out, Ponder is getting 1st team reps.
Position coach Mike Smith had some good things to say about Ponder. “I’ve got very high expectations for him. Very,” Smith said. “All these guys have done great all spring, but he really, really looks comfortable out there. It has really slowed down for him. And again, we’re June 9th or 10th, but I got high expectations for him. He’s always gonna fight. He’s not gonna say much. He’s very intelligent. When you’re very intelligent like that, he’s big. He’s as athletic. He’s done some kind of freaky stuff the spring around the edge, the top of his rush that you’re like, ‘Oh, wow, that’s pretty nice to see.”
Team Building
On the blocking sleds, Vrabel has posted these slogans:
“Belief and identity.”
“Push the pile.”
“Finish longer than the guy with the ball.”
According to Brian Hines of Pats Pulpit, the largest competitive period of the day came during the final session of practice, when players (from various position groups) split into their “family groups” of roughly six and raced to push wooden sleds 40 yards.” One group from the family would push for 20 yards, and then the second group would jump in and finish the last 20 yards.
From Mark Daniels of Mass Live, “Maye said the exercise was part of a larger team-bonding exercise that Vrabel came up with this offseason. The Patriots coach split the team into several groups called families. Players from different position groups are put together to learn more about their teammates and compete in challenges.”
Absent from Practice – Harold Landry (coming back from Knee surgery), Morgan Moses (vet maintenance and he was hurt in the last OTA), and Gabe Jacas (Off-Season Surgery).
Jacas is the lone remaining 2nd round selection in the league that hasn’t signed his contract.
Brown Miscue Leads to Team Unity
A.J. Brown had the entire Patriots roster doing pushups last week, according to wide receivers coach Todd Downing.
Chris Brown of Mass Live wrote, “In Brown’s second practice, the Pro Bowl wideout dropped a go ball. Following the session, he wanted to atone for the mistake. (Brown) wanted to do pushups for the drop in front of the group and everybody chose to do it together, Downing said. So, creating and augmenting that culture of mutual accountability, I think, has been awesome.”
Lomu’s Versatility
“He is getting a lot of reps. I love the versatility,” Vrabel said. “His flexibility and versatility has been something that I think has stood out. He learns quickly, usually doesn’t make the same mistake twice. And it is different, so the guys that you are trying to put in different places and say, ‘You have got to get as much reps on the left as you do on the right,’ that’s important. So, he has done a nice job of that.” Lomu is getting 1st team reps at Right Tackle in Moses absence. He also switched to Left Tackle with the second unit. Then he played some Guard again today.
Bale Back at Practice on Day 2
It was interesting that the team brought back Punter David Bale for a second day. That’s unusual for a two-day UDFA tryout. So far, they have not added him to the roster yet! Alex Barth claimed that Bale had two booming punts (5.25 and 5.05 second hang time).
Vrabel Throws Shade on Bringing Back Stefon Diggs
He wouldn’t rule out the possibility of bringing him back, but said they are happy with the WR room as it is constituted. That may be in case they have a catastrophic injury to one of the top WRs. Diggs would have to lower his contract requirements and accept a smaller role in the offense. As he is older, another factor might be that he wants to play for a team that has a chance to play in the playoffs. He would be no better than the #3 receiver on this team, and he would probably get only 45% of the snaps at best.
Media at the Patriots Mini-Camp
The Patriots issued 70 media credentials for the Mini-Camp. Security was tight due to the upcoming FIFA World Cup soccer tournament.
Douglas Has Been the Top WR This Spring
Patriots WR coach Todd Downing on DeMario Douglas in Year 2 of this offense: “I would say he’s really doing a good job with decision-making routes. So, if there’s a decision to be made, whether it’s a choice route or a post or a cross… he’s making decisions quickly and correctly. And that’s a really valuable piece of this offense.”
Drake Maye had this to say about Douglas. “Since I got here as a rookie, he always just does the right thing. He does the right thing, makes the right plays, makes catches. He’s hard to cover… You can’t guard him in a phone booth… He’s so good at breaking off of man coverage. He’s a mismatch. He’s so hard to stay in front of. Looking forward to kinda seeing his role grow bigger.”
Douglas on AJ Brown
Pop Douglas said it feels like A.J. Brown has been with the Patriots “since the start (of the offseason).” Brown has been here exactly two weeks. He has absorbed the playbook so quickly. I am sure that they are dumbing down the routes he is running and that he doesn’t have the complete playbook down, but what he has done is truly amazing.
Drake Maye Has Same Offensive Coordinator Two Years in a Row
This should not be downplayed. His Senior Year of High School was wiped out by COVID. At North Carolina, he redshirted his 1st year and then had two different Offensive Coordinators. When drafted by the Patriots, he started with Alex Van Pelt. When Mike Vrabel came on board, he was lucky enough to have Josh McDaniels as his Offensive Coordinator. This is the 1st time he has had two years in a row under the same Offensive Coordinator. By his own admission, he is so much more prepared than he was at this time last year.
He is working on his flaws, especially pre-snap reads. The work they did on Tuesday, varying the snap time versus the play clock, is a good example of working on those flaws.
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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.
Pop Douglas. He shines when there’s no pads or contact. OTA’s. Summer camp. But he’s not gotten a lot of snaps Sept-Jan. I understand he can’t block, and WR blocking is more important than fans/media realize. Blocking is one key reason Mack Hollins is getting snaps. And can Pop D get off press-coverage when play gets physical in September? Seems not consistently. I may be off base, but thats what it seems to me. This year is a key one for him. Possibly McDaniels can help find a role for him? I don’t see Pop D making the team. Just… Read more »