Patriots
Drake Maye and New England’s offense had a powerful displaying towards the Commanders.
FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots nonetheless have simply over a month to go earlier than the beginning of the common season.
However, Wednesday marked an essential stepping stone for Mike Vrabel’s crew because the crew seems to start out constructing towards a bounce-back marketing campaign.
After 11 days of practices towards each other, the Patriots welcomed within the Washington Commanders for a joint observe on Wednesday, two days earlier than the groups meet of their preseason opener.
“The aim is simply to have the ability to put the id out on the sphere towards one other crew, to place the basics that we put on the market, the set up, to have the ability to do it towards one other protection, to have the ability to regulate to completely different play types of gamers, gamers that perhaps are longer or faster or stronger, simply completely different play types of every participant all through this league,” Mike Vrabel mentioned forward of observe.
As anticipated, Wednesday’s two-hour observe featured plenty of competitive reps (and scraps) between two training-camp rosters.
In our newest inventory watch, right here’s a take a look at which Patriots gamers struggled and succeeded throughout their matchups towards Washington.
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QB Drake Maye
New England’s revamped protection has been a standout grouping all through coaching camp this summer time.
Drake Maye and New England’s offense has been a bit extra inconsistent. Whereas Maye has largely restricted his turnovers this camp, the Patriots’ offense has been liable to some tough stretches, particularly throughout red-zone drills towards New England’s first-team protection.
However, on Wednesday, Maye and the Patriots capitalized time after time towards Washington’s starters, with the Patriots’ second-year QB using the center of the sphere with a number of crossing routes whereas additionally limiting turnovers.
Throughout crew drills, Maye was 15-of-21 with three passing touchdowns, one dashing rating, and one interception. His completion proportion additionally might have been larger, because it took a success because of a number of drops — together with one other potential landing snag from rookie TreVeyon Henderson on a wheel route.
Maye was red-hot in the beginning of 11-on-11 drills, solely getting knocked for one incompletion via his first 12 passing makes an attempt. He was additionally much better throughout red-zone conditions, hitting each Hunter Henry and Mack Hollins for scores with restricted room to function.
The one knock towards Maye got here within the closing stretch of observe, as one in all his ultimate makes an attempt of the afternoon was batted down by Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner and picked off by security (and Everett native) Mike Sainristil.
Even with that miscue, it was an encouraging displaying from each Maye and New England’s offense towards different competitors. Backup QB Joshua Dobbs additionally had a powerful displaying towards Washington’s second crew grouping, going 17-of-20 with a pair of touchdowns to Javon Baker and Hollins.
“I believed we did some good issues offensively, want we might’ve ended it higher. A tipped ball down there, however hey, that occurs, that’s soccer,” Maye mentioned. “That’s why you observe these. However general, happy with the blokes up entrance battled laborious. I’m wanting ahead to getting issues going as we get into Minnesota and Friday evening.”
WR Kayshon Boutte
Boutte continues to stack good days.
After reeling in a pair of highlight-reel touchdowns on both Friday and Monday, Boutte once more drew loads of cheers from a packed Gillette Stadium crowd Wednesday after recording a back-shoulder catch ultimately zone from Maye with Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore in tight protection.
Even when Boutte isn’t racking up as many brief yardage catches as different Patriots wideouts like DeMario Douglas, he’s developed a knack for producing large performs off deep throws from Maye. He’s wanting like New England’s beginning “X” receiver in Week 1.
DT Christian Barmore
There’s solely a lot that may be gleaned from joint practices, particularly with reside tackling nonetheless not permitted.
However, New England’s front-seven routinely made life depressing for Washington on Wednesday, giving even a cell QB like Jayden Daniels restricted time and area. Early camp standout Khyiris Tonga continues to appear to be the true deal within the trenches and through 1-on-1 reps, whereas Milton Williams has persistently received his matchups.
However, Barmore’s well being and his skill to regain his kind because the pass-rushing power he was in 2023 is likely to be the largest determinant over whether or not or not this protection establishes itself as an elite unit this fall.
Barmore seemed the half Wednesday, forcing a number of throw-aways from Daniels throughout 11-on-11s by producing stress up the intestine towards Washington heart Tyler Biadasz. It didn’t take a lot to note Barmore throughout 1-on-1 reps, as he ragdolled guard Nick Allegretti throughout their matchup.
“All people makes a play,” Barmore mentioned of New England’s protection. “If any individual makes a play, I really feel like everyone makes a play. It’s not about one individual; it’s in regards to the crew. All of us give power to everyone … I really feel like we’re going to maintain getting higher.”
CB Alex Austin
With each Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis nonetheless working their means again from damage, all eyes have been on New England’s subsequent group of corners in camp and whether or not or not they’ll step up transferring ahead.
DJ James has been a pleasing shock up to now throughout camp, however Alex Austin continues to appear to be a participant who might battle for extra reps transferring ahead. Throughout a essential fourth-down play throughout 11-on-11 drills, Austin batted down a cross from Daniels that was supposed for Ja’Corey Brooks ultimately zone.
New England wants each Gonzalez and Davis again, however Austin is wanting like a more-than-capable backup.
WR DeMario Douglas
Douglas has continued to say himself as one in all Maye’s safety blankets, particularly in short-yardage conditions.
Douglas impressed early throughout 11-on-11 drills Wednesday, utilizing his stop-and-start acceleration to realize separation from Washington defensive backs. Maye hit Douglas for first downs on a number of crossers, though he additionally obtained knocked for a drop later in observe.
“Pop, I feel he’s robust to protect,” Maye mentioned. “You see it within the little crossing routes and little fast strikes when he’s assembly a defender nose to nose. I feel all yr, it’s our job to get him open in area and let him run with the soccer.”
Okay Andy Borregales
The kicker competitors has been one of many high storylines to comply with up to now throughout coaching camp, with rookie Andy Borregales persevering with to scrap with veteran John Parker Romo for the lone spot on the roster.
Wednesday marked a step ahead for the rookie, as Borregales went an ideal 4-for-4 on the afternoon, whereas Romo went 3-of-4 on his makes an attempt. After a tough begin to camp the place Borregales went 2-for-4 throughout Day 4, the 2025 sixth-round decide has made 22 straight kicks.
Even along with his miss on Wednesday, Romo had made 25 straight kicks to open camp, so this competitors is way from over.
WR Mack Hollins
With Stefon Diggs not taking part in the beginning of observe, Hollins earned loads of reps with New England’s first-team unit on Wednesday.
After a quiet beginning of camp due to his status on the PUP list, Hollins impressed towards the Commanders, with the veteran main all Patriots wideouts with 5 catches and a pair of touchdowns from each Maye and Dobbs.
His second rating was spectacular, as he reeled in a throw from Dobbs with only one arm whereas combating off Commanders nook Bobby Value in protection.
Hollins was knocked for a pair of drops, however Wednesday showcased how the Patriots would possibly make the most of the 6-foot-4 wideout as a red-zone goal for the strong-armed Maye.
Inventory regular
WR Javon Baker
The Patriots’ 2024 fourth-round choice is observing an uphill climb in the case of making the roster on an already crowded wideout corps. Tuesday was a step in the suitable course for the second-year professional after getting some run with the first-team receivers, and he caught a slant over the center for a landing on Wednesday, courtesy of Dobbs.
Nonetheless, Baker continued to make just a few head-scratching selections, together with hurling the ball up within the air after the landing — a transfer that may have nearly definitely drawn a flag in an precise sport.
LT Will Campbell
As has been the case for many camp, there was each some good and unhealthy from Campbell on Wednesday because the crew’s beginning left sort out. The fourth general decide within the 2025 NFL Draft as soon as once more had some struggles throughout 1-on-1 reps towards Washington edge rushers, particularly former Patriots defensive finish Deatrich Smart.
However to Campbell’s credit score, the rookie has proven on a number of events {that a} unhealthy rep or two has not snowballed right into a catastrophic displaying all through observe. Throughout his matchups towards Smart, Campbell at one level put the veteran on the turf after he tried to chop inside.
Campbell was stronger throughout 11-on-11s, at one level springing TreVeyon Henderson for an enormous achieve after negating Smart on the sting. Throughout these crew reps, Campbell was not knocked for an apparent “sack” throughout periods with out reside tackling.
All issues thought-about, it was extra good than unhealthy from Campbell, who appears to be working his means again from his struggles final week. Now it’s all about stacking Wednesday’s displaying with a powerful efficiency on Friday.
Inventory down
C Garrett Bradbury
New England’s de facto beginning heart had a tough happening Wednesday, as he was beat fairly decisively on a pair of 1-on-1 drills earlier than later permitting loads of stress up the center throughout crew drills. Bradbury was later relegated to second-team reps as observe went on, with Ben Brown getting loads of run with the primary unit.
WR Ja’Lynn Polk
Whereas Baker no less than appears to be stringing collectively some constructive performs over the previous couple of days, Polk can’t appear to generate any type of momentum this week as he tries to make a case for a roster spot. The 2024 second-round decide had only one catch on Wednesday and didn’t make a lot noise additional down on the depth chart.
Backup tackles
One of many extra evident holes on New England’s roster is the crew’s depth at offensive sort out, which might show pricey given each Campbell’s inexperience and the age and well being of beginning proper sort out Morgan Moses.
With Moses restricted on Wednesday, Demontrey Jacobs and rookie seventh-round Marcus Bryant each rotated in because the crew’s beginning proper sort out towards the Commanders.
It wasn’t the smoothest displaying from Jacobs, who misplaced a number of 1-on-1 reps towards Washington — whereas Bryant gave up some stress on the suitable facet throughout crew drills.
Jacobs has admittedly exceeded expectations as a serviceable depth possibility as a seventh-round decide, however New England may very well be in bother this season if Campbell struggles and Moses is injured.
RB TreVeyon Henderson
After placing collectively his strongest displaying of camp on Monday, the rookie second-round decide went via some ups and downs. Regardless of gaining some chunk yardage whereas showcasing his velocity, Henderson dropped a landing cross off a implausible throw from Maye throughout crew drills.
Henderson sparked the most important scrap of Wednesday’s observe after blowing up a blitzer, resulting in a bloodied Mike Vrabel rising from the pile. Nonetheless, New England’s head coach was probably happy along with his rookie persevering with to land welts as a stingy blocker up to now throughout camp.
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