Drake Maye shows command and 20 more takeaways – Boston Herald

For a second straight week, one workforce sat just about all of its starters in a Patriots preseason sport, and that workforce was not the Patriots.

Mike Vrabel trotted out his prime offense and protection for just a few sequence every Saturday in Minnesota, then despatched in all accessible backups to wrap up an in depth win.

As soon as once more, they did the job.

Listed here are the Herald’s movie observations from the Pats’ 20-12 triumph within the Twin Cities:

Studs

WR Efton Chism III

The undrafted rookie can cease renting, and begin in search of homes round Foxboro. His efficiency — six catches, 71 yards and a landing — ought to have locked up a roster spot.

OLB Anfernee Jennings

Three sacks and two hurries. Jennings may pressure the Patriots to rethink whether or not he matches in Vrabel’s scheme. He dominated.

Duds

WR Javon Baker

Baker handled some dangerous luck — Joshua Dobbs threw him a number of errant passes — however he did himself no favors with a drop and a few iffy route-running.

OT Demontrey Jacobs

Jacobs allowed two QB hits and a run-stuff, persevering with a downward spiral for himself this summer season.

Offensive notes

• Drake Maye missed excessive on just a few throws, one in every of which practically led to an interception, took an pointless hit on a scramble and a delay of sport penalty. Chalk it as much as preseason rust or jitters, however Maye left Minnesota with particulars to wash up.
• The nice from Maye: displaying command of the offense when he checked to a run on third-and-10 contained in the crimson zone, the place TreVeyon Henderson picked up a primary down. He additionally discovered Mack Hollins deep on a scramble drill, although he missed a large open receiver deep and to his left on the identical play.
• Maye may stand to be extra aggressive than he has been, however the directive from Josh McDaniels is to guard the ball above all else. He’s finished that.
• Hollins has a pure really feel for zone protection. He twice sat down in mushy spots to make catches, as soon as on the aforementioned scramble drill and over the center on a spot route.
• Third-round rookie Kyle Williams bought frolicked to dry on a excessive throw that led to successful to the pinnacle. Williams once more performed properly with out a lot to point out for it within the field rating.
• And Williams wasn’t the one rookie to play properly. Second-round operating again TreVeyon Henderson sat after two sequence, displaying endurance and imaginative and prescient. His burst and lengthy velocity are particular.
• McDaniels by no means put Antonio Gibson and Henderson on the sector collectively, however deployed loads of two-back personnel with tight finish Jack Westover serving as a fullback.
• Westover threw a few key blocks however, from this view, is just not robust sufficient on the level of assault as a fullback or tight finish. The Pats misplaced the sting a number of instances when operating strongside in his route as an in-line tight finish.

Callahan: After 2 preseason games, the Patriots have 1 big question left

• Up entrance, the Patriots allowed 5 run-stuffs, and some might be traced to late defensive position motion by the Vikings. If the Pats intend to main in zone-blocking (20 zone runs to seven man-blocked), this ought to be a neater repair, however Garrett Bradbury and Vederian Lowe cannot miss assignments like they did Saturday.
• Rookie guard/heart Jared Wilson run-blocked much better than he pass-protected. He allowed one fast strain within the second quarter, and regarded extra pure enjoying heart.
• New beginning left guard Ben Brown additionally provided a blended bag, however reached second degree properly with rookie left sort out Will Campbell to erase linebackers on the Pats’ greatest runs.
• Campbell and beginning proper guard Mike Onwenu posted clear sheets in go safety. Good sport for Campbell.
• Seventh-round rookie Marcus Bryant seems to be the Pats’ new swing sort out, with Lowe and Demontrey Jacobs struggling.
• McDaniels’ favourite go was a max-protect play-action throw with solely two receivers downfield. Anticipate extra of these early within the season, because the Patriots kind out their go safety.

Participant stats

Damaged tackles: WR Efton Chism III 4, RB JaMycal Hasty 2, RB Shane Watts 2, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR John Jiles

Drops: WR Javon Baker, Jiles

Sacks allowed: None

QB hits allowed: OT Demontrey Jacobs 2, Workforce

Hurries allowed: OT Marcus Bryant, OG Cole Unusual, Workforce 2

Run-stuffs allowed: C Garrett Bradbury, OT Vederian Lowe, OG Mekhi Butler, Jacobs, Workforce

Defensive notes

• Veteran security Kyle Dugger completed the sport with an interception, however the reality he was on the sector for the ultimate play speaks the loudest.
• The issues with Dugger are he appears not less than a half-step sluggish than the final time we noticed him absolutely wholesome, and not has a calling card. He is a hard-hitter and an excellent blitzer, however in Vrabel’s new scheme there are fewer possibilities for him to roam on the second degree like a linebacker. The Pats want extra from their safeties.
• Dugger is a legal responsibility in man-to-man, and his instincts aren’t presently serving to him maintain tempo in zone. He additionally appeared to overlook an project in man-to-man, falling for a play-action pretend within the second quarter that led to a 13-yard achieve.
• One of the best of Saturday: Anfernee Jennings’ emergence, improved tackling (4 whiffs in comparison with 11 final week), a extra balanced go rush and Carlton Davis breaking apart a third-down slant. Davis simply completed his first full week of follow all summer season.
• Behind Davis, Alex Austin continues to supply near starting-caliber play at nook, whereas backups Kobee Minor and Miles Battle each allowed three catches.
• Rookie security Craig Woodson did nothing to lose his beginning job. Woodson is keen to stay his nostril in as a field security and is able to enjoying single-high as a free security.
• In Vrabel’s new scheme, the Patriots get extra inventive with their four-man rushes than most groups, sending a security, nickelback or linebacker to hurry instead of a dropping edge defender. This, to this point, has suited gamers at these positions.
• The Patriots have some work to do towards screens. They allowed 55 passing yards towards 4 display screen passes, after they bought gouged in joint practices on these similar designs. Outdoors linebacker Truman Jones, a bubble candidate, was fooled on one.

Participant stats