FOXBORO — Wednesday’s joint follow with the Commanders served as a measuring stick for the Patriots’ new-look offense.
For 2 weeks, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and quarterback Drake Maye have confronted off towards their very own offense to blended outcomes. The Commanders introduced in new blood, and the Patriots’ offense — and particularly Maye — handed the litmus check.
And that’s vital.
As a result of the Patriots’ joint practices final season towards the Eagles have been an outright catastrophe for the offense. Maye was consistently underneath siege behind a leaky offensive line dealing with off towards the eventual Tremendous Bowl champion Eagles’ go rush.
Wednesday’s joint follow was additionally a constructive signal for the Patriots’ protection. That unit, led by new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, supplied a greater check for the Patriots’ offense by way of the primary two weeks of follow than the Commanders offered.
Total, it was an environment friendly day for Maye and the offense, although he did flip the ball over for the primary time in a non-scrimmage follow. Extensive receivers Mack Hollins and Efton Chism had productive days catching the ball, and Will Campbell was mostly stout whereas matching up with recent faces. A 3rd rookie offensive lineman noticed prolonged first-team reps, Mike Vrabel emerged out of a pile with a bloody face, and Kayshon Boutte made one other spectacular landing catch.
Listed here are the Herald’s full follow observations:
Attendance
Returned: OT Morgan Moses
Absent: WR Kendrick Bourne, OL Caedan Wallace
Non-participant: CB Christian Gonzalez, OLB Ok’Lavon Chaisson, LB Jahlani Tavai
Restricted: Moses, CB Carlton Davis, WR Stefon Diggs
Notes: Diggs wasn’t current for the start of follow throughout warmups and preliminary 11-on-11 drills however appeared earlier than 7-on-7s.
Moses solely participated in walk-through reps earlier than the Commanders climbed up from the decrease follow area to the higher follow area, the place the Patriots went by way of warmups. Moses lined up with the third-team offensive line throughout warmups, however that was doubtless solely as a result of he wasn’t going to take part throughout full-team drills. Vrabel didn’t rule out the likelihood that Moses might play Friday towards the Commanders.
Gonzalez, Chaisson and Tavai have been all current in road garments however didn’t take part in follow.
Davis particpated in warmups and walk-throughs however ran sprints whereas the remainder of the protection confronted off towards the Commanders in 11-on-11s.
Don’t count on to see Gonzalez, Chaisson, Tavai or Bourne in Friday’s preseason game.
Play of the Day
Boutte’s contested landing reception
Maye delivered an ideal go to Boutte for a back-shoulder catch whereas tightly lined by Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
Boutte confirmed the power to create separation on the high of his route with a slight pushoff (there was contact on either side) and fought by way of an armbar from Lattimore to haul within the catch earlier than stepping in for the rating.
Boutte doesn’t tally up as many quick receptions as among the different Patriots’ extensive receivers, however he’s had a knack for giant performs in current practices. He’s additionally gaining belief from his quarterbacks that he can struggle by way of contact to make contested catches.
Participant of the Day
WR Mack Hollins
Hollins was the Patriots’ most efficient extensive receiver, and he hauled in two touchdowns Wednesday morning — one from every of his quarterbacks.
It wasn’t an ideal efficiency from Hollins, who caught 5-of-6 targets in 11-on-11s, however he was a chain-mover with intermediate-to-deep receptions from each quarterbacks. Certainly one of his touchdowns got here on a deep cross from Maye. His second landing was hauled in with one arm on a fade from backup QB Joshua Dobbs.
Hollins did have an incompletion go off one in every of his arms throughout 7-on-7s from Maye. He additionally had a drop on an out route from Maye throughout 11-on-11s. He made up for it with each touchdowns approaching his subsequent two targets.
QB Nook
Observe: The passing stats under have been tallied throughout aggressive 11-on-11 durations solely. The stats in parentheses characterize Maye’s camp-long efficiency.
Drake Maye: 14-of-21, INT, sack (86-of-134, 3 INTs, 20 sacks)
Notes: It was a robust day for Maye as he confronted off towards a protection that made the postseason final yr.
Maye did have an interception, but it surely was batted on the line of scrimmage by linebacker Bobby Wagner and picked out of the air by cornerback Mike Sainristil, a neighborhood product out of Everett, Mass.
Maye stated after follow that he might have completed a greater job of trying off Wagner, however he made learn and was focusing on a large open DeMario Douglas. In most conditions, that batted go hits the turf for an incompletion. There was some unhealthy fortune concerned that it ended up as a turnover.
Of Maye’s seven incompletions, three have been dropped. He started 11-on-11 drills sizzling, going 9-of-12 with downfield completions to Hollins, extensive receiver DeMario Douglas and tight finish Hunter Henry up the seam on a play-action go. He completed 5-of-9, however two of his finest passes through the second interval have been dropped by Hollins and Henderson. He delivered an ideal go to his rookie operating again, however Henderson couldn’t haul within the over-the-shoulder goal. Maye doubtless would have linked with Diggs in the long run zone, however the veteran wideout was held by a Commanders defender. Maye additionally scrambled for a landing throughout a red-zone interval.
Backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs was unbelievable whereas dealing with Commanders backups. Dobbs was 18-of-22 in 11-on-11s and 4-of-6 in 7-on-7s.
Studs
QB Joshua Dobbs
Dobbs three three landing passes whereas finishing over 80% of his passes. He went 4-of-6 in 7-on-7s however one of many incompletions was dropped by Henderson. Dobbs was extraordinarily environment friendly and delivered an ideal go to Hollins to cap off the Patriots’ offensive durations with the one-arm landing reception.
WR Efton Chism
It was one of many undrafted rookie’s extra productive practices. He caught 5-of-5 targets and was a safety blanket for Dobbs early in 11-on-11s and 7-on-7s.
Duds
RB TreVeyon Henderson
Henderson has been a standout for a lot of camp and continues to obtain first-team reps, however he caught 3-of-6 passes with two drops throughout staff drills. He did decide up a giant achieve on an out of doors toss to the left.
RT Demontrey Jacobs
Jacobs, who’s been the first fill-in for Morgan Moses at proper sort out, was 1-3 throughout 1-on-1 drills. He additionally noticed a few of his first-team reps taken over by rookie seventh-round decide Marcus Bryant.
Offensive notes
High targets in staff drills: WR Mack Hollins 5/7, WR DeMario Douglas 4/6, RB TreVeyon Henderson 3/6, WR Efton Chism 5/5, WR Javon Baker 2/5, WR Stefon Diggs 2/5
Drops: RB TreVeyon Henderson: 2, WR DeMario Douglas, WR Mack Hollins
High offensive line: LT Will Campbell, LG Jared Wilson, C Garrett Bradbury, RG Mike Onwenu, RT Demontrey Jacobs
1-on-1 go rush winners: RG Mike Onwenu, LG Jared Wilson
1-on-1 go rush losers: C Garrett Bradbury, OT Marcus Bryant
Operating backs
- The Patriots’ first carry of the day noticed Rhamondre Stevenson stuffed operating to the left aspect of the road, eliciting a giant cheer from the Commanders’ sideline.
- Stevenson led Patriots operating backs with 4 carries.
- Antonio Gibson was a favourite goal of Dobbs, catching 4-of-4 passes.
- Henderson noticed only one carry. He threw a Commanders go rusher to the bottom in blitz pickup however doubtless would have been flagged on the play. The block led to a scrap, which Vrabel tried to interrupt up however discovered himself on the backside of a pile, rising with a lower on his face.
- Undrafted rookie Lan Larison caught passes in 11-on-11s and 7-on-7s.
Extensive receivers
- Douglas had one other stable efficiency however did drop a go throughout 11-on-11 drills. He was a well-liked targets early in follow and picked up massive good points on shallow crossing routes from Maye.
- It was a step again for Baker, who caught simply 2-of-5 targets and had a go damaged up towards him the again of the top zone. Baker did catch a landing on a slant and threw the ball up within the air in celebration. He buried his face in his arms after he threw the ball within the air since he doubtless would have drawn a flag in sport.
- Ja’Lynn Polk was quiet with only one catch on one goal.
- Kyle Williams was additionally quiet with one catch on two targets.
- The battle for a roster spot behind Diggs, Douglas, Hollins, Boutte and Williams stays open. Chism did probably the most to assist himself on Wednesday after a quiet begin to camp. Polk and Baker will help themselves in Friday’s preseason sport. Bourne received’t make up any floor till he returns from damage.
Tight ends
- Henry and fellow veteran Austin Hooper have been regular on Wednesday. Maye’s throw to Henry down the seam off play-action was an general spotlight for the offense and McDaniels’ playcalling.
- Jack Westover, Jaheim Bell, CJ Dippre and Cole Fotheringham weren’t focused. Undrafted rookie Gee Scott Jr. caught one go on one goal.
- Scott has proven probably the most potential out of the tight finish candidates for a 3rd spot on the roster.
Offensive line
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- It was a reasonably typical day for rookie left sort out Will Campbell. He was 1-1-1 in 1-on-1 drills and allowed what doubtless would have been a sack throughout 11-on-11 drills. However general, there was extra good than unhealthy for the fourth general decide.
- With Moses out, Bryant cut up reps with Jacobs at proper sort out. Contemplate {that a} small promotion for the seventh-round select of Missouri. Bryant strugged a bit throughout 1-on-1s, going 1-2 towards Commanders go rushers.
- Rookie Jared Wilson held his personal in 1-on-1s, going 2-0-1. Proper guard Mike Onwenu had three wins and one loss in 1-on-1s.
- Ben Brown noticed extra alternatives with the first-team offense. Bradbury was the highest middle, however Brown additionally acquired reps with Maye at quarterback.
- The highest backup offensive line featured Jacobs at left sort out, Cole Unusual at left guard, Brown at middle, Tyrese Robinson at proper guard and Jack Conley at proper sort out.
Further factors
- Ex-Patriots extensive receiver Danny Amendola and security Patrick Chung have been in attendance as visitors at follow. Rock star Jon Bon Jovi joined proprietor Robert Kraft on the sphere. Celtics star Jayson Tatum was additionally a visitor at follow. He was with out his strolling boot.
- The Patriots will maintain a walk-through on Thursday. There’s no media availability. They play their first preseason sport of the summer season Friday at 7:30 p.m. towards the Commanders.
- Tom Brady’s statue will probably be unveiled with the GOAT in attendance at 6 p.m. on Friday.
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