Patriots training camp notebook: Airing it out on Day 3

For the first two days of camp, the Patriots teams drills focused almost exclusively on the red zone. On Friday, they transitioned to more full-field work, which seemed to ignite the offense.

After not having the chance to throw the ball more than 20 yards down the field the last few days, Cam Newton and Mac Jones seemed to jump at the chance to unleash the deep ball. The results were mixed, but they provided a better look to what the Patriots’ offense will look like in 2021.

Perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the full field work was Nelson Agholor. Despite an early drop, he was the best receiver on the field on Friday, totaling five catches on eight targets in 11-on-11 drills.

It was also the best day so far for the Patriots’ tight end duo. Hunter Henry picked up where he left off after a strong performance on Thursday, and Jonnu Smith saw the most action he’s gotten this far in camp. Newton particularly seemed to look Smith’s way quite a bit.

Here’s more news and notes from Day 3 of Patriots training camp…

• Tracking the quarterbacks

  Share

  Both quarterbacks responded well after an early period featured overthrows from each. Newton finished the day 14-of-20 in team drills, according to Matt Dolloff. Overall, it was another strong day for him throwing the ball, especially near the goal line.
  
  Mirroring one of his best throws from Thursday, Newton lofted a perfectly-placed ball over the defender to hit Gunner Olszewski in the back corner of the end zone. In that same period, he showed off with yet another touch pass, this time finding Agholor on the end line.
  
  Jones finished 8-for-18 with two passes dropped, including one on a deep ball to Nelson Agholor. After struggling in the red zone towards the end of practice on Thursday, he was better along the goal line on Friday, including a beautiful rainbow toss to Kendrick Bourne in the back corner.
  
  Brian Hoyer was 12-of-17. For the second day in a row, Jake Dolegala didn't take any team reps.

• Strong start for Brandon Bolden

  Share

  It's hard to truly evaluate running backs before pads come on, but Brandon Bolden has gotten off to a great start in camp. After opting out last season, the 31-year-old doesn't appear to have missed a beat physically or mentally.
  
  Bolden is putting himself in position to compete for at least a share of the role opened up when Rex Burkhead signed with the Houston Texans this spring. Given the way Bolden has looked in passing drills, and his history as a pass blocker, he should have a strong case.

• Getting after the QB

  Share

  After two standout days by the Patriots' secondary, it was the pass rush that made the biggest impact on that side of the ball on Friday. Josh Uche, Rashod Berry, and Montravius Adams each recorded a 'sack' during team drills.
  
  It's hard to have expectations for the front seven without pads on - after all so much of what they do involves contact. But a day like today certainly stands out - especially for Uche, who was arguably the most dominant defensive player on the field during spring practices.
  
  That trio wasn't alone in getting pressure. Tashawn Bower didn't record a sack, but he did manage to get into the backfield and break up a Newton screen pass early in practice.
• Jake Bailey hang times

  Share

  The Patriots worked on full-team punt drills for the first time this summer. That means for the first time, we have Jake Bailey hang times.

  
  
  
  • 3.45 seconds
  • 4.59
  • 3.92
  • 4.51
  • 4.59
  • 3.75
  • 4.67
  • 4.23
  • 5.02

  
  The 4.67 second punt was muffed by J.J. Taylor, which led to Taylor taking a lap.

• Plays of the day

  Share

  Agholor recovered from an early drop to deliver two of the more spectacular catches of the day. The first came almost immediately after that drop, on a deep ball over the middle from Newton. Agholor made a late adjustment and ripped the ball out of the defensive backs hands at the highpoint. He then balanced himself on the landing, and finished running towards the end zone.
  
  The second play came towards the end of practice in the red zone. Running a cross along the end line, Agholor launched himself forwards to reach a ball thrown out ahead of him. After securing the catch, he tapped both feet in bounds for the score.
  
  In all, the day felt like a good window into what the Nelson Agholor experience will be like in New England. There will be drops, but he'll make up for it with upper-tier field stretching ability.

• Ted Karras leaves early

  Share

  Friday saw the first injury of Patriots training camp. Late in practice, offensive lineman Ted Karras got rolled up on during team drills, and saw slow to get up. He walked gingerly under his own power with trainers to the back of the field, and then to the locker room.
  
  After practice, Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal reported the "early indication" is that Karras' injury is "not serious."
• Rhamondre Stevenson returns

  Share

  In a positive health-related development for the Patriots, rookie running back Rhamondre Stevenson made his training camp debut on Friday. The fourth-round pick had missed the two days after an undisclosed injury landed him on the NFI list. With Stevenson back, just two players remain on NFI - linebacker Cameron McGrone, who tore his ACL in November, and safety Joshuah Bledsoe, who broke his wrist at the Senior Bowl. The Patriots also have seven players on PUP, and Devin Asiasi remains out after testing positive for COVID-19.

• Notable quotables

  Share

  Cam Newton the quarterback competition: "Ever since I’ve been here, there’s been a quarterback competition. I think in essence, that’s the underlying Patriot Way. Every position has a competition there, and the quarterback position is no different. Brian Hoyer is supposed to make me better. I’m supposed to make Mac Jones better. Mac Jones is supposed to make Brian Hoyer better. And you can’t forget about (Jake) Dolegala and even Stiddy, that’s in the balance. Shout out to him, hopefully everything went good for him. But for us, it’s just the mentality to have that championship mental toughness each and every day, and the desire to get better."
  
  Mac Jones on his 'two bucket' mentality: "It’s been working. I remember what I did bad today. I’m going to go back and have my correction bucket or whatever you want to call it. I think there’s more things in the good bucket, but, as days go on, it just stacks up, so I just got to keep that process and stick to it because there’s things now I’m like, ‘OK, I remember that from the spring,’ or whatever, and I’ve watched the other guys do it, and I understand how this play works now. So yeah, I just doing that and keeping it up because one day you can’t do it, and the other day not."
  
  Jakobi Meyers on working with Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne: "It's honestly a weird room. We are competitive all in our own way, but we work together very well I feel like. We push each other to be better. If they see me mess up, they tell me what they see. If I see them mess up, if they need help with a play, I'll help them. If I need help with a play, they'll help me. As far as just, who wants to be the best? We all want to be the best. We all know they came to this room for a reason. They're great guys and going to make great plays for us. As far as the competition, it's more working together and making sure the room is great."
  
  Trent Brown on the Patriots' defense: "We've just got a lot of gifted athletes. Like you said, we went out and got a lot of guys in free agency, we got a lot of young rushers, and they're all coming along nicely. We're all just pushing each other every day."
  
  N'Keal Harry on his trade request: "Right now I'm really not worried about anything trade-wise. I'm focused on how to be the best version of myself, working hard and improving every day...I'm a Patriot right now. I'm very okay with being a Patriot."
  
  Brian Hoyer on if he'd consider coaching: "Not at this point. I think my wife may leave me if I do that. ‘Honey, I am going to work longer hours and get paid less.’ I haven’t had your typical career, I’ve gone from place to place, so to be here and call this home has meant so much to me. I wouldn’t rule it out, it’s something I don’t think about right now."

For more on Day 3 of Patriots training camp, check out today’s recap podcast featuring Andrew Callahan of The Boston Herald.

MORE: Day 2 Patriots training camp notebook

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.