New England Patriots Friday Pool Report
By Lindsay Jones
Professional Soccer Writers of America
PALO ALTO, Calif. – The New England Patriots completed their on-field preparations for Tremendous Bowl LX with a virtually 90-minute observe at Stanford Stadium. Head coach Mike Vrabel tried to maintain most of the group’s typical Friday observe traditions in place whereas additionally getting his group prepared for the distinctive conditions his group will encounter on Sunday.
To maintain issues regular, the Patriots completed the stretching interval simply earlier than 1 p.m. to the sound of the tune “Friday” by Sir Charles Jones, simply as they’ve all through the season throughout their Friday practices in Foxborough. At 1:30 p.m., gamers gathered ultimately zone to look at eight of the group’s assistant coaches face off in 4 rounds of one-on-one drills. Offensive assistants Riley Larkin, who performed QB at John Carroll, and Chuckie Keeton, a former faculty quarterback at Utah State, every caught touchdowns that led to loud cheers from the group’s offensive gamers. Vrabel celebrated Keeton’s catch in opposition to particular groups coordinator Jeremy Springer with a demonstrative fist pump and a brief dance. These coach-vs.-coach battles have develop into a enjoyable staple of Vrabel’s last observe session every week.
“It’s Friday, we’re 48 hours earlier than the sport, and that’s simply how we usually function,” Vrabel stated.
However Vrabel doesn’t usually ship his group off the sector and into the locker room an hour into observe like he did Friday. After a particular groups session, Vrabel blew his whistle at 1:52 p.m. and motioned gamers to go away the sector. Gamers spent 14 minutes inside whereas Dangerous Bunny songs (amongst others) performed over the stadium audio system.
Follow concluded with a last set of group drills for the beginning offense and protection in opposition to the scout group. Vrabel gathered his group for an extended last huddle, after which smaller teams of gamers break up off for their very own huddles or last particular person work. Quarterback Drake Maye, tight finish Hunter Henry and receiver Efton Chism III have been the ultimate gamers to go away the sector.
“We nonetheless have time to organize. There’s numerous time to advantageous tune issues and to get themselves bodily and mentally able to play, however I additionally need them to have the ability to get pleasure from their time with their households and folks they care about,” Vrabel stated.
Linebackers Robert Spillane and Harold Landry III have been each restricted in Friday’s observe and are formally listed as questionable for the Tremendous Bowl. Spillane, who’s coping with an ankle harm, didn’t observe on Wednesday, and Landry, who’s recovering from a knee harm, missed Thursday’s observe.
“They’re doing the whole lot they’ll to be prepared for the soccer recreation and we’ll see how they reply from observe at present,” Vrabel stated.
Defensive deal with Joshua Farmer, who’s on the injured reserve record with a hamstring harm however designed to return to observe, can also be listed as questionable. No different gamers, together with Maye, have an harm designation for the sport vs. Seattle.
The Patriots will return to Stanford Stadium for a group image on Saturday afternoon.
