As reported by Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer pregame, Jacoby Brissett kicked things off before making way for the 3rd overall pick after two drives. Joe Milton and Bailey Zappe didn’t see action until the 4th quarter,

Live broadcasts and box score can be deceitful metrics for NFL success, and this game was a shining example. Brissett’s sporadic performance had more layers than expected, and drops hindered both rookies’ production.

Maybe the most important and significant stat of the night was one penalty for New England’s offense. This was a massive turnaround from last week, when the group had six accepted penalties against the Panthers. Flags were also flying during joint practice earlier this week.

Another telling stat was the starting offensive line allowing a total of two pressures. When healthy, the group has been solid in protection and given quarterbacks ample time and space to work. Mike Onwenu, David Andrews, and Sidy Sow could grow into one of the league’s better interiors. Chukwuma Okorafor may not see the Pro Bowl anytime soon, but he brings a mean-streak to the line and has rarely lost. Even Vederian Lowe has been better than most would expect (more on that later).

Now, let’s dive into the Eagles matchup, how each quarterback performed, and how certain players’ stocks are looking as we enter preseason week three.

All stats courtesy of PFF.

QUARTERBACK ROOM

Jacoby Brissett

The numbers were not kind to Jacoby Brissett, who went 3-7 for 17 yards and a Red Zone interception against the Eagles.

During his Monday morning press conference, head coach Jerod Mayo didn’t hold back when addressing the veteran’s turnover.

“Yeah, it was just forcing the play,” Mayo said. “We had other guys open on that play. It was just a poor play. It was a terrible play, and we can’t have those, especially when you have guaranteed points on the board. It turns from an ‘Alright, we got a field goal, and we’re pretty much secure,’ to now it being a 7-point play by turning the ball over. So, just a poor play overall. I think if you asked Jacoby, he would say the same thing.”

Brissett chalked it up to a learning moment between teammates when asked about the play last night.

“It’s just ironing those kinks out…because, yeah, the other side was bracketed and I’m coming back to Hoop and– we just weren’t on the same page at the same time. … I mean, even when Hoop came back to the sideline, and me him were talking…we just haven’t been in that situation before, so it’s gonna be good to learn from a lot of this stuff.”

Mayo is right to condemn unnecessary risks, especially in the Red Zone. Tyquan Thornton and DeMario Douglas were also open for scores at different stages of the play. However, after watching the quarterback in several training camp practices, I can also see his thought process.

Jacoby Brissett Interception Targeting Austin Hooper

Brissett’s scoring territory staple has been backshoulder throws to tight ends. It resulted in a touchdown and an odd interception in joint practice with the Eagles.

Thornton deserves credit for beating his defender, but Philly ends up bracketing both backside receivers, which Brissett admitted played a factor. With Antonio Gibson smothered and Hooper’s stick-nod dead late in the progression, Brissett goes to old-somewhat-reliable and tries throwing the tight end open against slot corner Avonte Maddox. But Hooper enters scramble mode and breaks away from the defender, allowing Maddox to undercut the route. As ugly as the result was, this will be a valuable learning moment for the reunited teammates.

The pair missed another big play opportunity on the game’s first 3rd down.

Jacoby Brissett 3rd Down Shot to Austin Hooper

James Bradberry mixes up his assignments and is late covering Hooper’s corner route. Brissett either pumps towards or keeps himself from throwing to K.J. Osborn, then delivers a low but catchable ball off-platform. Hooper dives to make the catch but fails to survive the ground.

Brissett’s most inexplicable miss of the night was an overthrow to Ja’Lynn Polk, who beat his defender late on a go route. The pair don’t have much chemistry in that part of the field yet, but it continued a trend of spotty deep accuracy.

Jacoby Brissett Deep Miss to Ja’Lynn Polk

Brissett’s best throw came on a laser to Jalen Reagor, who had a defender draped on his back. The quarterback did have DeMario Douglas open to the strong side, but the pre-snap look may have influenced his decision.

Jacoby Brissett Tight-Window Completion to Jalen Reagor

Brissett did make an objectively questionable decision after slipping on a 3rd & 7 dropback, throwing to Douglas while being dragged down by a pass rusher. Douglas was wide open and began to ad-lib as Brissett threw, but you don’t want to see that in a real game.

Jacoby Brissett Near-Sack

Aggressiveness is an ideal trait in a quarterback, but it can blow up in your face if chemistry and precision are lacking. This is especially true when operating from as many clean pockets as the top line provided. The preseason is made for making mistakes and working out kinks, but we’ll have to see that growth down the line.

Drake Maye

Maye’s 15 dropbacks being the most for any Patriots quarterback. He only completed six of 11 passes for 47 yards, and half which came on a well-timed screen. He was far from perfect, but the stats don’t do his performance justice.

Despite going 1-3 for 12 yards on throws of 10+ air yards, the rookie looked great going downfield. Since telling reporters he’s trying to air it out two weeks ago, Maye has found a favorite target in Javon Baker. The 4th-rounder was targeted on each of Maye’s downfield attempts last night, all of which came on 3rd down. The first was a completion to a backside dig that showed Maye’s growth since his first encounter with the Eagles on Tuesday.

“They rolled down the safety and took away the options. And I feel like coming back to backside, I had an in-cut that I think I missed in practice this week that I probably could’ve thrown. So, like I said, just learn from practice and try to translate it to the game.”

Drake Mate Dig Completion to Javon Baker

Maye’s deep shots to Baker wouldn’t be as productive.

Baker was bullied out of bounds on a go-ball to end the group’s first drive. The read may have been pre-determined, as Mitchell Wilcox was wide open over the middle, but it was a well-placed throw.

Drake Mate Shot to Javon Baker

Maye’s best throw of the night, a superb display of pocket presence, eye discipline, and arm talent, also fell incomplete.

Drake Mate Shot to Javon Baker Dropped

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio runs a match zone coverage with Cover 2 trap strong side, and the weak safety cutting Mitchell Wilcox’s route in a quarters technique. This leaves Javon Baker isolated on a corner-post, a matchup Maye loved to exploit at UNC. The quarterback identifies the post-snap look while navigating interior push, then seamlessly throws a strike to Baker. The receiver gets off the line clean and stacks his defender but can’t complete the catch on a diving attempt.

Baker drew defensive pass interference after getting pushed out of bounds, but it also may have come on Maye’s one deep miss.

While reviewing what he’d like to improve on, Maye alluded to being more patient in the pocket, telling reporters postgame, “I feel like I’m scrambling when I can probably sit in there and hang on and try to make a throw.”

Maye’s scrambles came on HOSS concepts (hitches outside, slot seams). He made a wise decision on the first carry with no one open, but he should’ve gone to his hitches quicker against soft coverage on the second.

Drake Maye Scrambles

Maye also had two misses on quick throws from empty, one of which may have been a miscommunication with Baker. These may seem insignificant given his overall performance, but these are the layups he needs to make consistently when defenses take away his downfield options.

Between his trio of misses and some pre-determined throws, there’s plenty left for Maye to work on. Still, his early growth drew praise from Mayo.

“Some of the things that happened during the last couple weeks was just stepping up into pressure,” Mayo explained. “I thought he did a better job overall with using his legs and really extending plays. He made some good throws; we didn’t come down with the catch, but he definitely took a step forward. … I would say as a whole, I thought he moved around a lot better.”

The head coach added the quarterback competition isn’t over, and that staff meetings will determine if Maye finally gets practice reps with the top offense this week. He also said New England’s much-maligned offensive line, which allowed just two pressures with the top quarterbacks under center, would not affect the decision to start Maye.

For all of the rookie’s flaws last night, he showed more than enough to be considered more seriously in the race. If he gets those opportunities and outplays Brisett, we’ll see whether the team wants to protect the rookie or trusts him to learn on the fly.

Joe Milton

Joe Milton entered the game late in the 3rd quarter, and much like Maye, his stat line wasn’t reflective of his performance.

Milton went 2-7 for 20 yards, but JaQuae Jackson suffered an injury while breaking on one incompletion, and David Wallis seemed to run the wrong route on another. Milton did throw outside of La’Michael Pettway and Terrell Jennings’ frames on his final attempts, but both should’ve been caught.

Joe Milton Dropped Passes

Milton had one deep attempt on the night, but it came after his only egregious error in three drives.

Joe Milton Miscommunication, Ad Lib

The Patriots are faking outside zone left to run a bootleg right, but Milton goes the wrong direction while executing his play-fake. He quickly recognizes the error and reverses field, sees Wallis turning upfield, and delivers a backshoulder dart while on the run.

Milton took responsibility for the miscue, calling it a miscommunication on his end, and the throw may have been on the risky side. But for a third-string quarterback trying to win his own position battle, it was an impressive display of improvisational ability.

Milton tried making another play with his legs on 3rd & 10 during his second series, but wound up dropping his shoulder into contact well short of the marker.

Joe Milton Scramble

“You don’t want to see them take big hits. I talked to Joe when he came off the field when he tried to run over a guy,” Mayo said when asked about his quarterbacks using their legs. “These are grown men on the other side as well. What I will say, if you look at the best quarterbacks in the league, they have to be able to make those off-schedule plays. And I would say all three of them have the ability to do that. It’s more about the hits. It’s okay getting out of the pocket.”

That would be the last time Milton left the pocket, however, as two instant sacks on three plays thwarted a comeback attempt on his final drive.

While Milton won’t make highlight reels like he did in against the Panthers, it was another solid performance from the talented rookie.

Bailey Zappe

After starring in the preseason opener, Zappe only saw the field for the final drive against the Eagles.

Down one point with 2:25 remaining, he quickly got the offense near midfield with three straight completions. The final connection was unironically one of his best career throws; an anticipation throw to a deep out route from the opposite hash.

Bailey Zappe Hot Start to Two-Minute Drive 

This promising drive ended when a low snap from Liam Fornadell was recovered by Philly to ice the game.

Say what you want about Zappe, but he’s having the best summer of his career and deserves to be a backup somewhere. But given what Maye and Milton have shown this summer, it’s doubtful that place is New England.

STOCK UP

Vederian Lowe

This one will come as a shock to many, but Lowe was better in pass protection than he seemed live. In fact, the offense’s snap count leader (38) earned the third-highest offensive grade (74.6).

It wasn’t a perfect performance. Lowe allowed the only sack on Maye after oversetting despite having chip help, which may have done more harm than good. He also contributed to Brissett’s near-sack by opened his hips too quickly and was also flagged for a false start, the only time New England was penalized in the game.

Outside of those three infractions, two of which are correctable, Lowe was excellent in protection. His independent hand use and strike accuracy have improved under offensive line coach Scott Peters, allowing Lowe to dominate 2023 1st-rounder Nolan Smith Jr. He also looked good when reach blocking on the back of outside zone.

I still don’t view Lowe as a long-term starting option this season, and I’d like to see Caedan Wallace mix in at left tackle with the starters this week. That said, the lightning rod for criticism has proven to be a quality backup and solid spot starter this summer.

Rhamondre Stevenson

Stevenson averaged just 3.0 yards on six carries, but 77.8% of his yards came after contact. The offensive line didn’t get great push on most of his carries, but the back created his own yards by churning through or spinning away from tacklers. Stevenson is also looking as spry as ever, and he could be primed for a career year if he gets sufficient blocking.

Kayshon Boutte

Boutte led the Patriots’ receiving corps with three catches for 23 yards on four targets. He showed strong hands, reeling in a high throw in the flat and a contested curl, and did a better job working back to the ball. He may have even caused his defender to slip on a deep out (though field conditions may have played a factor). Boutte also had a hard-nosed blocking rep where he took on an edge defender, but the run was aborted due to a fumbled snap.

Boutte’s one lowlight was his final target during a two-minute situation where he was smothered on another curl. Bailey Zappe’s throw was also late and ill-advised.

Joey Slye

The kicker competition has been leaning in Slye’s favor recently, and that continued against the Panthers. He made field goals of 51 and 45 yards, while Chad Ryland only attempted an extra point.

STOCK DOWN

Quarterback-Center Exchanges

The Patriots had three quarterback-center exchanges lead to fumbles Thursday night. The first was a botched exchange between Maye and Nick Leverett. Liam Fornadel was at center for the other two, but with two different quarterbacks in Milton and Zappe.

Mayo called there errors one of the more disappointing things about Thursday’s game, and for good reason considering one ended the game. Fornadel took over for Atonio Mafi after his snapping struggles this offseason, but natural Charles Turner has barely played. However the issue gets resolved, New England can’t afford to have one reliable snapper on its roster, and quarterbacks must do a better job getting on the same page with their centers.

“You can sit there and say whose fault it is, but it’s both,” Mayo explained, “It’s a problem between the quarterback and the center, and we definitely have to get better at that. That’s part of the preseason, to make sure that we’re good on the quarterback-center exchange. You have to get used to taking snaps from other people outside of David Andrews, and we just have to do a better job and rep that more.”

Nick Leverett

In addition to his botched snap, Leverett allowed quick penetration or was easily handled on multiple runs. He was also pushed into the pocket on a couple of dropbacks.

The former Buccaneer brings much-needed versatility and an edge to New England’s interior. But outside of two Red Zone snaps last week, he’s failed to impress in the ground game, which is especially worrisome in an outside zone scheme.

Atonio Mafi

Atonio Mafi played just 11 offensive snaps, all late in the 4th quarter, but he contributed to two quick sacks in a three-play stretch. He also appears to have lost his spot at 3rd-string center. There’s one more game for Mafi to make an impression, but the 2023 draft pick feels like a longshot to make the roster.

Austin Hooper

Hooper has been one of Jacoby Brissett’s favorite targets this summer, but their success rate has been streaky. Unlike the ever-reliable Hunter Henry, the former teammates haven’t consistently been in sync.

The tight end is a massive target who attacks the ball, as we saw when he extended for a flat target on his only catch of the day. Unfortunately, finishing has been an issue on higher-difficulty plays, like when he dove for a deep pass that hit him in the hands. The veteran was also targeted on New England’s only interception when he began to ad-lib as Brissett tried hitting him on a backshoulder throw.

Hooper also got tossed by an Eagles defender while blocking on a 3rd & 1, but he deserves credit for pushing the pile to help move the chains.

The post Patriots Film Room: Drake Maye Shows Flashes of Brilliance, but Poor Snaps Cost Offense appeared first on CLNS Media.

The Patriots’ new regime started on a positive, if odd, note in their preseason opener. New England beat the Panthers, a fellow 2023 basement dweller, 17-3 in front of a sparse Gillette crowd. 

The defense led the way with a near-shutout performance, never letting Carolina reach scoring territory. According to PFF, 10 of the offense’s 16 runs were stopped. The Patriots pass rush won 44.4% of reps, pressured quarterbacks on 36.1% of dropbacks, and generated four sacks.

On the back end, defenders forced four incompletions and allowed just one explosive catch on a busted coverage. No one picked off a pass, but Shaun Wade, Mikey Victory, and even Joe Giles-Harris came close. Tackling consistency was also impressive, given the wet and slippery field conditions.

Offensively, the plan to feature Bailey Zappe and Joe Milton went about as expected. Both quarterbacks have been solid this summer, but Milton’s tools and upside give him a clear edge. He scored on each of his possessions that didn’t feature a kneel-down, which Zappe could only do once while at the helm.

New England’s much-maligned offensive line didn’t allow a sack or hit, according to PFF, with Michael Jordan (86.1), Sidy Sow (81.3), Mike Onwenu (81.3), and Liam Fornadel (80.6) earning exceptional grades. Outside zone (8) was predictably the featured run concept, but downhill concepts like duo (6), inside zone (4), power (3), and counter (2) also made appearances.

Inclement weather affected all phases of the game, but shallow rapport made it even more glaring in the pass game. Kayshon Boutte (58) was the only receiver with over 40 yards in an up-and-down performance. Most of New England’s receivers showed flashes but were inconsistent. The only exception was, of course, Ja’Lynn Polk, whose stock is on the rise following the release of JuJu Smith-Schuster.

This game left us with far more questions than answers, but there were plenty to take away from the first real football in months.

Here’s my film review of the Patriots’ top storylines and players on the rise and decline.

STORIES OF THE GAME

Joe Milton Sparks Passing Game After Bailey Zappe Dominates Reps

Going into Thursday’s matchup, most expected Drake Maye to get at least a quarter of action following a drive or two from Jacoby Brissett. Instead, Brissett and Maye each played one series and dropped back three times.

Jerod Mayo told reporters that was the team’s plan entering the game.

“We wanted to see Jacoby go out there and operate as well as Drake, mixing them in there with the ones,” the head coach explained. “The rest of those guys, like  Zappe and Joe, they went out there and finished up the game. Thought they did a good job. But that was kind of the thinking. Next week, we have the Eagles. So we’ll practice against them, and, who knows, the reps will probably change a little bit, and we’ll see what happens in the game.”

Brissett added more clarity, explaining that Alex Van Pelt prioritized process over production against Carolina.

“As far as the offense on the limited amount of plays, it was mainly about communication, getting plays from AVP, getting into the huddle, getting into the line of scrimmage, snap, and then get the ball. So I thought that went well.”

The rainy conditions affected Brissett’s accuracy, leading to a 0-3 stat line. His opening pass was high but just slipped through Mitchell Wilcox’s hands. He then underthrew Tyquan Thornton, who had a step on his defender deep down the right sideline.

Jacoby Brissett Pass Attempts

While on-field results weren’t ideal, the veteran’s processing was on point.

Wilcox had lots of grass to work with, while Thornton was Brissett’s third read and could’ve scored had he been hit in stride.

Brissett’s final attempt was a throw-away, but he showed good pocket presence and made a smart call on 3rd & 10 with no one open.

Jacoby Brissett Throwaway

That type of heady play will likely earn him a passing grade from the coaching staff.

Maye’s attempts, which took place with the starting line and receiving corps, went: screen on 3rd & 12, play-action shot on 1st down, checkdown on 3rd & 11.

Former quarterback and NFL Live analyst Dan Orlovsky was complimentary of the debut, saying on Twitter, “For a kid who did not do [go under center] in college…very good mechanics [and] operation there for Drake Maye.”

I really liked a lot of the LITTLE things I saw out of Drake Maye for @patriots@MikeReiss pic.twitter.com/ymWEUjU3C2

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) August 9, 2024

I highly recommend watching his full breakdown, but here’s the Sparknotes version:

• Took snaps in a timely fashion while under center
• Protected the ball on handoffs by keeping it in his belly
• Stared at the ball and kept his off-hand tight while handing off, setting up bootlegs
• Replicated handoff mechanics on play action
• Hitch was a tick slow on his throw to Jalen Reagor, but he threw a catchable ball
• Base is still a bit narrow, but it has improved
• Good eye discipline on throw to Reagor
• Made the correct decision on 3rd down checkdown despite thinking he maybe should’ve thrown downfield

Mayo deferred to his offensive coordinator when asked about Maye repping more with the top line in future practices.

“I mean, look, the reps, that’s something to talk to AVP about,” Mayo said. “At the same time, I would say this is a huge week for us against Philly. We’ll see what happens in practice and then also in the game. But he’s ready to go. When he’s ready to go, we’ll put him there.”

These comments lead me to believe Brissett and Maye will see significant action against a superior opponent in the Eagles. They could dominate reps in next week’s joint practice before getting multiple series in the game. This wouldn’t be new for the Patriots, who gave Mac Jones three drives against the Packers last season after two heated joint practices.

In this scenario, opportunities for depth quarterbacks Zappe and/or Milton would be very limited. So when Maye’s drive ended, the Zappe era began.

For the most part, Zappe was on time and accurate to curls and underneath routes, and he improvised well when necessary. He also had a well-thrown go ball that Kayshon Boutte couldn’t haul in.

Bailey Zappe Highlights

Zappe produced just one touchdown on seven drives, but most of that had to do with his supporting cast.

Reagor slipped as Zappe’s second read on a throwaway, which a late pressure turned into intentional grounding.

Bailey Zappe Throwaway

The quarterback also had miscues with Javon Baker. He was nearly intercepted on a play where Baker may have gotten choppy at the top of his route, but Zappe also may have taken one too many hitches. Later, the receiver ran a go route on a backshoulder throw.

Bailey Zappe Miscues to Javon Baker

Zappe did have two ugly misses in the flat, and he led Wilcox into a nasty collision on a shallow crosser. But besides those three reps, he didn’t make any glaring mistakes. Still, the offense needed a spark entering the 4th quarter, which came in the form of “Bazooka” Joe Milton.

The rookie showed poise and accuracy, moved nimbly in the pocket, and threw underneath with better touch than he’s shown in practice.

Joe Milton Pass Attempts

Milton could’ve put air on his 35-yard touchdown strike to JaQuae Jackson, but credit to the rocket-armed quarterback for finding the open man and capitalizing on a blown coverage. He broke down the play postgame.

“I had two out-and-ups on the outside with two stick routes by my inside guys. Just seeing the [safety] rotation, because they were trying to hold their shell the whole time. So just keeping my eyes down the middle…and then once I looked at my stick, I saw through the stick route towards the out-and-up. Just making sure that receiver got it and could run with it.”

Milton also became an athlete when plays broke down, scrambling twice against quick pressure.

The first was a mad dash where he eluded several defenders for 12 yards.

Joe Milton Scrambles

The second was an impressive show of pocket movement and hand strength. Milton stepped up to avoid edge pressure, stopped himself from throwing into a bad window, and tucked it for a chunk on 1st & 15.

Milton was nearly intercepted after throwing behind Boutte on an out, but otherwise, it was a strong debut. While Zappe had a solid outing in his own right, the offense’s performance with each at the helm reinforced why the veteran’s days could be numbered.

Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and Oshane Ximines Dominate Panthers Front

Jeremiah Pharms quietly came on late last season with his blend of quickness, sound technique, and relentless effort. He didn’t play much, but he managed to stack positive plays while making minimal glaring mistakes.

That carried over into the preseason opener, where Pharms was New England’s best player on either side of the ball.

Jeremiah Pharms drawing holds on back-to-back plays

First was an outside zone run where he immediately got into his blocker’s chest to seize control

The second was another show of quick hands, with Pharms hitting a swipe-rip before the center knew what happened pic.twitter.com/vAeW6h9wqI

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) August 9, 2024

He led the Patriots’ defense with five pressures, including one of their five sacks.

On his sack, Pharms read play action, drifted outside, forklifting the tackle’s elbow to win inside, then corralled and nearly stripped the quarterback.

Jeremiah Pharms Sack

He attempted a similar move while looping on a twist, feigning inside before showing some mobility to bend around the edge.

Jeremiah Pharms on Twist

Pharms also collapsed the pocket with good inside hand placement on two other pressures.

Jeremiah Pharms Power Rushes

Pharms had two stops against the run. He held firm against double teams, winning late to make tackles, and he was also textbook when stacking and shedding one-on-one.

Jeremiah Pharms Run Defense

Pharms seemed a tick late off the ball at times, but that feels like a nitpick in a dominant performance.

“Any time he steps foot on the field, he takes advantage of that opportunity,” Mayo said of the defensive tackle, who played for the Champions Indoor Football League’s Wichita Force in 2022 and the USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers before arriving in Foxboro. Pharms even spent time on the offensive side early in his Patriots career.

“I feel I belonged in the NFL when I was playing Arena [Football],” he told reporters after the game. “I feel like I belonged in the NFL when I was 7, it’s my dream.”

If Pharms continues to be impactful up front, the late bloomer could earn a more consistent role and help replace Christian Barmore’s production.

Oshane Ximines was another terror along New England’s front. The linebacker has had a strong summer, and his versatility earned him a spot on my roster projection entering training camp.

As a pass rusher, he finished the day with a strip sack, a near-sack, a big quarterback hit, and an instant win on a quick throw. Half of Ximines’ wins came on his signature double-swipe move, where he waits for tackles to shoot their hands before discarding them to win the edge.

Oshane Ximines Pass Rush Wins

On his sack, Ximines threatened outside before redirecting into a double, kept his balance through the guard’s chip, ran through the right tackle, and showed great awareness to attack the ball.

Oshane Ximines Strip Sack

Ximines also had a strong performance against the run, setting hard edges and chasing down carries going away from him.

Oshane Ximines Run Defense

The former Giant even made a play on special teams, burying a Panthers returner on a punt.

Oshane Ximines Tackle on Punt

With Matthew Judon’s status uncertain and Keion White playing multiple roles, Ximines could add quality edge depth while also being a core member of the kicking teams.

STOCK UP

Joe Giles-Harris

Sione Takitaki has yet to practice this summer, which could mean an opening behind Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, and Raekwon McMillan. Most of those opportunities have gone to Joe Giles-Harris this summer, and that contained on Thursday.

Giles-Harris made the most of his opportunities, showing quick recognition to break up a pair of passes, including one that could’ve been a pick. The 2023 practice squadder also made valiant efforts on open-field tackles against athletes.

Christian Elliss

Another candidate for the fourth linebacker spot, Christian Elliss, is proving to be more than just a special teamer recently. After repping with the top defense this week in practice, he flashed against Carolina with a quick win and sack on a blitz and a physical run fit against a climbing guard.

Dell Pettus

Dell Pettus’ physicality has made him hard in recent practices. He’s capitalized on Marte Mapu and Joshuah Bledsoe’s absences by repping with every defense and flying around the field.

Pettus’ hot streak continued with three tackles against the Panthers. These included a sound wrap-up tackle in space, a no-nonsense run-fit, and an assist as the punt team’s personal protector.

He gave up the defense’s only explosive catch after running into two teammates while chasing a crosser, but Alex Austin had similar struggles when he first got to New England. I’ll let is slide for now.

David Wallis

David Wallis has struggled catching and fielding balls this summer, but you couldn’t tell from his punt returns.

He showed some bravery fielding a 2nd quarter punt while a defender had him dead to rights, resulting in a 23-yard gain and, five plays later, the game’s first score. Wallis also made multiple players miss on a 13-yard return in the 3rd quarter.

I thought he missed an opportunity early in the 4th quarter, but I’m unsure what went into the decision.

Bryce Baringer

Bryce Baringer is one of the Patriots’ most unheralded bright spots, and he showed why last night. Four of his eight boots were fait-caught, and three dropped inside the opponent’s 20. No return went for 10 yards.

Baringer’s holding helped Chad Ryland go 2-2 on extra points, and Joey Slye converted his one field goal attempt.

STOCK DOWN

Mitchell Wilcox

Give Mitchell Wilcox credit for making a tackle on kickoff and holding onto the ball while getting hit low over the middle. But as we’ve seen in camp, the bad outweighed the good in his performance. He struggled to engage or sustain blocks, and he had an ugly drop in the flat. Wilcox had some difficult targets, but his inability to finish continued a theme we’ve seen all summer.

Offensive Discipline

The Patriots’s offense was penalized seven times last night, including:

The post Patriots Film Room: Joe Milton Brings Spark and Depth Defenders Dominate vs Panthers appeared first on CLNS Media.

Quick Takeaways from @mikekadlick and @tkyles39 from Day 2 of Patriots Training Camp!
–
“I’m not quite buying Tyquan Thornton Stock yet… but he was consistent, caught a lot of passes” – Taylor Kyles
–#patriots #nfl #pats pic.twitter.com/wK5mnS5yrj

— Patriots on CLNS Media (@PatriotsCLNS) July 25, 2024

DeMario Douglas was active early but didn’t participate in team drills for the second consecutive day. According to NBC Sports Boston‘s Phil Perry, Douglas is dealing with a hand injury. Marte Mapu and Christian Barmore, who MassLive‘s Mark Daniels reported is under the weather, were similarly limited.

Davon Godchaux, a full participant yesterday, wasn’t present at the beginning of practice. He arrived in uniform later but didn’t practice. Godchaux and New England have yet to agree on a new deal, which could be a factor in the nose tackle’s absence, but he was present for all of practice while holding in this spring. Late appearances are more on par for injured players like Cole Strange and Kendrick Bourne, who watched from the sideline in street clothes. That said, Joey Slye was also nowhere to be found early but returned to the field late to work on field goals. Regardless, Godchaux’s situation continues to be one to monitor.

Antonio Gibson appeared in uniform at the beginning of camp, but he wasn’t holding his helmet. He left the field shortly after, indicating he hadn’t yet been activated from NFI.

Former Patriots receiver Danny Amendola was the special guest at today’s practice and spent time beside Troy Brown during punt return drills. Owner Robert Kraft was chatting with Matt Judon and Eliot Wolf on the sidelines.

Here are my top takeaways from today’s practice.

Physically Unable to Perform

• LG Cole Strange
• WR Kendrick Bourne
• LB Sione Takitaki
• IOL Jake Andrews
• RB Terrell Jennings

Non-Football Injury

• RB Antonio Gibson

Did Not Participate

• WR DeMario Douglas
• IDL Christian Barmore
• IDL Davon Godchaux
• SAF Marte Mapu

Top Quarterbacks Stay Steady While Joe Milton Climbs the Depth Chart

Despite a quarterback room full of big arms, deep passes have been limited through two training camp sessions. Alex Van Pelt’s offense features a heavy dose of quick throws and screens, but even true dropbacks typically went to outlet receivers.

Jacoby Brissett avoided bad plays after a rough decision on Wednesday led to a pick, with his only lowlight being a high incompletion on a screen. The veteran’s few downfield attempts were rarely rewarded, with Marcus Jones and Jabrill Peppers each recording breakups on smothering reps against Ja’Lynn Polk and Hunter Henry, respectively. Brissett’s best connections went to K.J. Osborn, who caught an out route before snagging a comeback. The latter was an impressive scramble throw, but it would’ve been a sack live. Brissett had multiple other dropbacks where he would’ve been brought down or scrambled.

Drake Maye remained the clear backup behind Brissett in team drills, though he continued repping behind Bailey Zappe in warm-ups. Outside of two throws where he was behind or slightly wide of his target, Maye looked good throwing underneath. Like yesterday, he quickly got through his reads and took what the defense gave him, throwing just two incompletions. Maye’s best throw of the day was an RPO glance route to Polk into a decently crowded area. He also had a scramble up the middle. The rookie’s accuracy was still inconsistent, throwing deep against air, but he didn’t attempt any such throws during team drills.

Outside of Brissett and Maye, the quarterback situation hasn’t been very eventful this offseason, but it took an interesting turn on Thursday. Rookie Joe Milton repped behind Maye and ahead of Zappe throughout team drills. Milton struggled with unnecessary fastballs and inconsistent accuracy, and Zappe failed to stand out in his limited opportunities. It will be worth monitoring whether the coaching staff simply wanted to shake things up or if Zappe’s time in Foxboro is nearing its end.

No End in Sight for Offensive Line Shuffle

The Patriots’ right tackle spot featured a new player today after Calvin Anderson’s debut on Wednesday. Vederian Lowe, who was much better on the left side than the right last season, repped next to Mike Onwenu for most of practice.

Left tackle Chukwuma Okorafor told reporters this carousel is all part of the plan.

“Our coaches have said every day will be a different line,” Okorafor said. “We don’t really know who is going to be the guy yet. Obviously, with Dave [Andrews] and Mike [Onwenu], we know about them, but I think apart from that, everything is open.”

Okorafor mentioning Onwenu was interesting. Okorafor and guard Sidy Sow have held down the left side all offseason. Onwenu switched from tackle back to right guard in minicamp, though he’s been a mainstay since.

Caedan Wallace got a few reps beside Onwenu but was primarily next to Layden Robinson with the second unit. By tomorrow’s practice, the rookie could be the newest starting right tackle or potentially slide in for Okorafor at left. Tyrone Wheatley Jr. or Zuri Henry could make surprise appearances on the edge.

Ideally, Wallace will separate himself once the pads come on and solidify a spot. Until then, appears the trenches will vary from practice to practice.

Versatility Brings Intrigue to Cornerback Battle

Christian Gonzalez is locked in as the Patriots’ boundary corner, but we still don’t know how the rest of the secondary will be deployed. Jonathan Jones’ versatility, which was on full display today as the corner shuffle continued, is a big reason for this.

Jones spent time outside with Marcus Jones in the slot, but he also bumped inside with Alex Austin on the perimeter. Marco Wilson was also in the mix for the second outside spot, and even the younger Jones took reps out wide for the first time this summer. Isaiah Bolden has had fewer opportunities with the Jones’ back, but he showed he has slot versatility this spring.

At least one of New England’s young corners will need to step up as a consistent playmaker, but the group’s talent and flexibility should make for fun matchups once the pads come on.

Leftovers

• Ja’Lynn Polk remained the top slot receiver with Douglas limited and didn’t look out of place.
• Tyquan Thornton was a favorite target of Jacoby Brissett’s today and had a solid performance, catching five passes. His only lapse was a miscommunication with Maye.
• With Marte Mapu limited, special teamer Brenden Schooler saw significant reps at safety alongside projected starters this season. It’s too early to tell how seriously he’s being considered for the role, but this stood out as one of the more interesting wrinkles in today’s session.
• Robert Kraft was seen chatting on the sidelines with Matt Judon and Eliot Wolf late in today’s practice.
• Drake Maye and Javon Baker were the last players on the field.

The post Observations From Day 2 of Patriots Training Camp appeared first on CLNS Media.

The Patriots unofficially wrapped up their 2024 offseason program last Wednesday with their final minicamp practice of the spring. Although the rookies are sticking around for some classroom work, the veterans have officially departed Foxborough and won’t return until Tuesday, July 23 — the start of training camp.

From the glimpse of the new, Jerod Mayo-led era in New England, here are three winners and three losers from the Pats’ offseason program:

Winners:

QB Drake Maye

The Patriots’ rookie signal caller had an excellent spring for himself. After coming in as the de facto third quarterback behind veterans Jacoby Brissett and Bailey Zappe, Maye quickly moved to the No. 2 spot towards the end of the offseason program and will likely begin training camp there come late July.

Not only did Maye show off his unique arm talent in droves, but he also displayed an improved set of footwork and an ability to get the offense out of trouble. A continued upward trajectory may warrant handing him the keys sooner rather than later.

WR Ja’Lynn Polk

One of the main contributors to Maye’s success as an NFL quarterback will be a solid wide receiver group surrounding him.

Rookie Ja’Lynn Polk is quickly showing that he can be a part of that.

The second-round pick out of Washington has been incredibly consistent throughout the spring with steady hands, a knack to get open, and a “go-up-and-get-it” mentality — which he displayed during New England’s final red zone period of minicamp.

Play of the week here at #Patriots minicamp:

Drake Maye hits Ja’Lynn Polk in the back corner of the end zone for a TD. Diving catch.

The entire offensive deservedly went nuts. Brissett was jumped for Maye — slapping him in the back of the helmet.

— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) June 12, 2024

In a crowded receiver room, Polk has been able to stand out — specifically at the Z-position alongside the likes of veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and K.J. Osborn.

CB Alex Austin

While Christian Gonzalez has quickly established himself as the Patriots’ CB1, they’re in a bit of a search for a CB to play on the opposite boundary.

Alex Austin is doing his best to wrap up said search.

The second-year corner out of Oregon State signed with New England last November after stints with the Bills and Texans, and started one game in New England while tallying nine tackles, two pass deflections, and an impressive interception off of Josh Allen.

So far in his second NFL camp, he looks even more comfortable and has been a consistent presence on the outside. He currently sits in the catbird seat for the role.

The fact that the Patriots haven’t scrambled for veteran help, à la Stephon Gilmore, at the position is a major win in itself for Austin.

Losers:

G Cole Strange

Cole Strange didn’t touch the field during New England’s offseason program, and because of it — came out of it well behind schedule.

The 2022 first-round pick suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee towards the end of last year, and according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is “expected to miss the start of the 2024 season.”

Patriots Guard Cole Strange Expected to Miss Start of 2024 Season

With Strange off the field, the Patriots have used Sidy Sow at his traditional left guard spot, and rotated a mix of Nick Leverett, Layden Robinson, and even Mike Onwenu, among others, on the right side.

When Onwenu bumps inside, rookie Caedan Wallace has taken the lion’s share of the reps at right tackle — the position he played last season at Penn State.

Long story short, if New England is comfortable with an offensive line of Chuks Okorafor/Sidy Sow/David Andrews/Mike Onwenu/Caedan Wallace, then it’ll be tough for Strange to crack the lineup when he’s ultimately healthy.

K Chad Ryland

The Patriots have a kicker problem.

Chad Ryland, who they drafted in the fourth round of last year’s draft, had a brutal rookie year. He made just 16 of his 24 attempts (64%) and was just 50% (7/14) from 40+ yards.

His second season? He hasn’t been much better. With Joey Slye on the roster to seemingly light a fire under his you-know-what, Ryland still can’t consistently make kicks. In every kicking session we watched during the offseason program, he missed at least one. Slye, meanwhile, was 100%.

Frankly, he’ll need a strong training camp to make the roster.

QB Bailey Zappe

As Drake Maye’s stock rises, Bailey Zappe’s falls.

The third-year QB was quickly passed by the rookie Maye on the depth chart, and is now in a de facto battle with Joe Milton III for the third spot in the room.

Zappe’s one realistic shot to make the roster is if Maye fails to show that he can’t be a viable backup yet and still needs time to develop. That ship has now sailed, and Milton’s upside as a developmental player with a one-of-one skillset essentially is seemingly the writing on the wall for the former WKU Hilltopper.

Follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!

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Maye, the third overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft out of The University of North Carolina has been playing behind veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett and backup Bailey Zappe for the majority of OTAs. The rookie struggled early on with footwork and red-zone work, but his progress has not gone unntoiced.

On Tuesday, the quarterback was rewarded by moving up in the QB lineup behind Jacoby Brissett but in front of Bailey Zappe in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11, according to Pat’s Pulpit’s Brian Hines. 

“Once they start giving Drake Maye things as the third overall pick, it’s hard to take them back. I don’t wanna say it’s not significant, but I don’t wanna say it’s overly significant,” said Greg Bedard on the latest episode of the Greg Bedard Patriots Podcast with Nick Cattles. 

Maye has also seen increased reps and has the right tools to make him much more successful than former sixth-round draft pick Mac Jones.

Maye’s arm strength is his number one attribute and he used it in a sloppy, yet telling Patriots OTA practice on Tuesday where it was the second time he moved above Bailey Zappe in the QB depth chart.

Greg Bedard and Nick Cattles break it all down and assess the Patriots evaluation of Maye’s progress.

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