Patriots training camp notebook: Full pads on Day 6

Tuesday was the Patriots’ first fully-padded practice of 2021, meaning it was the best chance so far to evaluate the team in the trenches. With a number of new additions up front both from free agency and the draft, there was a lot to watch on Day 6.

Perhaps the two biggest stars of the day were two new additions, free agent signing Matt Judon and second-round draft pick Christian Barmore. Both dominated during one-on-one’s, and showed up in team drills as well.

Judon particularly was strong in the individual drills. On one particular rep, he sent 6-foot-6, 311 pound tackle Korey Cunningham backpedaling off balance. Judon displayed a deep toolbox, and after watching him in his element it’s easy to see why the Patriots paid the money they did to land him this spring.

Barmore showed up more in team drills. While working on the running game in 11-on-11’s, he was constantly clogging rushing lanes, and forcing backs to change direction. There were a few plays where he even managed to push the offensive lineman back into the runner, disrupting the play. Given the fact that Barmore projects primarily as a pass rusher, this is a development worth keeping an eye on.

On the offensive side of the ball, guard Shaq Mason was the team’s top performer. The 27-year-old was rarely moved off his spot, and seemed to have a counter for both power and finesse moves being thrown his way.

Here’s more news and notes from Day 6 of Patriots training camp…

• Mac takes a step back

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  Following what was arguably his best day of camp so far on Monday, Mac Jones took a step back on Tuesday. The rookie was just 1-of-6 throwing the ball during the most competitive periods, with one pass being picked off and another the probably should have been.
  
  That being said, he did end the say on a relative high note. Jones hit Jakobi Meyers in the back corner of the end zone with what felt like a perfectly-placed pass, but Meyers was ruled out of bounds by the referees in attendance.
  
  As for Cam Newton, he put together another strong day. He was 5-of-7 in competitive periods, highlighted by a rainbow dropped over the shoulder of Hunter Henry in the back of the end zone, with Kyle Dugger right on him in tight coverage. There's still a ways to go, but a few more days like today and it may be safe to say Newton is 'running away' with the starting QB job.

• Running backs keeping things close

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  Tuesday was the first real chance to evaluate the running game, and the Patriots are going to have some tough decisions to make at running back. At the top of the depth chart, James White, Sony Michel, and Damien Harris all looked good, but it's the depth spots that get interesting.
  
  Running with contact for the first time, Brandon Bolden continued to look like a guy who deserves a role on the offense. Rhamondre Stevenson had his major moment as well, running right through Myles Bryant in the open field in an 11-on-11 drill.
  
  Those two, along with J.J. Taylor, are competing for the 26.6 percent usage rate vacated by the departure of Rex Burkhead. Early on, Bolden and Stevenson are both pushing each other, with neither player showing a clear advantage.

• N’Keal Harry puts on a show

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  After a great first day of practice this summer, N'Keal Harry failed to stand out for the rest of the week. That's not to say he performed poorly, but he didn't have the same eye-catching moments he produced on Day 1.
  
  A a bigger, more physical receiver, Harry may not have had his full toolbox as his disposal during non-contact practices. With pads coming on, Harry was able to take advantage of his physicality and jumped back into the spotlight on Tuesday. He shined during one-on-one's, including a twisting back-shoulder grab over Jonathan Jones.
  
  Harry's future with the team is still cloudy after his trade request last month. Both Harry and Bill Belichick have downplayed that statement in recent days, but with competition for depth wide receiver spots tight, a trade could end up making sense either way. If that is the case, Harry certainly upped his trade value on Tuesday.
• Linebackers in coverage…again

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  For the second straight day, the Patriots linebackers regularly showed up in coverage. Ja'Whaun Bentley grabbed his second interception in as many days, lurking over the middle to snag a pass from Mac Jones. Anfernee Jennings probably should have added another pick against Jones, but had the ball bounce off his hands. After that play, he promptly dropped to the ground and started doing pushups.
  
  It's not uncommon - and almost expected - for linebackers to steal the headlines on the first day of padded practices. But to do so in coverage - something that's now becoming a habit - should be an exciting development for the entire Patriots' defense.

• Flags and laps

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  Full pads weren't the only addition at Patriots practice on Tuesday. The team also had a full staff of referees present. They weren't shy to throw the flags either, and a number of players ended up taking laps during the session, especially linemen.
  
  Akeem Spence, Davon Godchaux, Ronnie Perkins, Carl Davis, Isaiah Wynn, Michael Onwenu, and William Sherman all ended up running during practice. The defense also took a lap as a unit at the end of practice, coaches included.

• Plays of the day

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  There were a number of candidates for play of the day, mostly from wide receivers. There's the N'Keal Harry catch mentioned above, as well as another over the shoulder grab on his next rep in that drill.
  
  Jakobi Meyers had a great catch early in practice. Working against Jalen Mills, he broke a route back towards the quarterback and angling to the sideline. Jake Dolegala threw the ball high, but Meyers managed to jump and grab it, while still getting his feet inbounds.
  
  The throw mentioned above by Cam Newton also belongs on this list. Newton has shown much better touch this summer, and seems to be dropping in at least one or two of those well-placed bread basket throws each day.
• Injury tracker

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  The Patriots suffered a pair of injuries on Tuesday. Linebacker Raekwon McMillan, who has gotten off to a fantastic start to camp, was rolled up on during a special teams drill. He walked slowly to the back of the practice fields with the training staff, before leaving for the locker room midway through practice.
  
  Christian Barmore got banged up as well. Late in the practice, he went to the sideline where the training staff was focused on his foot/ankle. He remained on the field, but did not return to action.
  
  Injuries are now starting to pile up for the Patriots in the trenches. Henry Anderson didn't finish practice on Monday, and was not spotted on the field on Tuesday. On the offensive side of the ball, Ted Karras remains out after leaving a practice early late last week.

• Notable quotables

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  Devin McCourty on the first day of pads: "It’s always exciting the first day you get out there in pads. But I will say training camp’s a lot different. Like, my rookie year coming in, the board just said every day: ‘Practice’ and then ‘Practice.’ You didn’t know if it was gonna be a walkthrough, if you had a single session. If it was gonna be a double session. And I’m sure you saw Tedy (Bruschi) out here. If you ask Tedy, he’s like 'Well, let me tell you about training camp when I-' So, it’s different, I think, throughout the years. And very fortunate to be able to play in a season my rookie year where training camp was one way. And to be able to stick throughout the league where it’s totally different now. But it’s still exciting. You still wanna have fun."
  
  Deatrich Wise on his approach to one-on-one's: "I have some things I've got to work on. It wasn't all good, it wasn't all bad. Little bit of timing things, like I said being in real pads is different than working on a sled or dummy. So I've got some things to work on, but I'm looking to improve tomorrow or the next day."
  
  Ja'Whaun Bentley on getting Dont'a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy back: "You definitely get their talent but you get leadership as well. That's a big piece of the puzzle. Like you said, we're excited to get both of those guys back and see what they can do. We've got a lot of pieces back. Just adding plenty new pieces to the puzzle and seeing what we can put together and we'll see what we do."
  
  Michael Onwenu on how he'd grade his rookie year: "I probably had a ‘C.’ I mean, it was a lot I messed up on. I'm trying to take in everything and trying to learn everything...A lot of the time, I was nervous being in high stakes moment or just playing for the first time. So I mean, not necessarily not believing in myself, but just being sure of myself and knowing I know the answer is just about doing it."
  
  Jonathan Jones on the trash talk between offense and defense: "Yeah, I definitely think [the offense] came to compete and so did we. So, we’ll see how training camp goes on, guys come out here being physical and making each other better. Offense vs. defense, they’re our opponent until we get to someone in a different jersey."
  
  Kristian Wilkerson on getting to work with Matthew Slater: "Just trying to soak it all up because he’s done it so well for a long time. He’s a good guy to look up to. I look up to him in every aspect – on the field and off the field. So just learning everything."

For more on the first padded practice of 2021, check out today’s training camp recap podcast featuring CLNS Media’s Evan Lazar.

MORE: Day 5 training camp notebook