Patriots training camp notebook: Focus on the passing game on Day 4
Patriots training camp resumed on Sunday, with a focus on the passing game before the line of scrimmage gets its day with the pads coming on Monday.
After a day off on Saturday, New England Patriots training camp resumed on Sunday. It was another two-hour session on a very humid day in Foxborough.
This was the final practice before the team starts working in pads on Monday. When that happens there will be more focus on the line of scrimmage and running game, so it was fitting on Sunday the plan seemed to be letting both sides work in an opened up passing game.
For the first time this summer, the schedule included 1-on-1s in addition to 7-on-7s and 11-on-11s. There was also more 7-on-7 work than there had been through the first three days.
Which players in the passing game made the most of their chances on Sunday? Let’s get into that and more in today’s Patriots training camp notebook…
One-on-ones
The Patriots worked in the split field for one-on-ones. On one side, the wide receivers faced the cornerbacks with Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye throwing. The other side had tight ends and running backs against safeties and linebackers, with Joe Milton and Bailey Zappe throwing.
Keeping in mind one-on-one drills typically give the advantage to the offensive players, here are some of the more definitive wins from that period on Sunday…
Jonathan Jones over K.J. Osborn
Rhamondre Stevenson over Ja’Whaun Bentley (x2)
Jaheim Bell over Joshuah Bledsoe
Ja’Lynn Polk over Jonathan Jones
Osborn over Shaun Wade
Christian Gonzalez over JuJu Smith-Schuster
Tyquan Thornton over Alex Austin
Javon Baker over Gonzalez
Austin over Smith-Schuster
Osborn over Marcellas Dial
Baker over Mikey Victor (highlight catch of the day)
Joe Giles-Harris over Kevin Harris
Rookie receivers keeping busy
Rookie wide receiver Javon Baker made the highlight play of Friday’s practice. His role then increased on Sunday, as he worked more with the top offense. On top of a dominant performance in one-on-ones, he had a few catches in team drills as well. That’s a sign of early progress, after he was limited for most of the spring with a thumb injury.
Meanwhile, fellow rookie Ja’Lynn Polk remains a constant presence with the projected top offense. His three catches in team drills on Sunday were the second-most of any player.
Still no impact from Smith-Schuster
Back in the spring, JuJu Smith-Schuster told reporters he was finally 100 percent healthy after dealing with a nagging knee injury for most of last year. However, he’s struggled to make an impact early on in camp. That included two drops on Sunday (one in one-on-ones and one in team) with no catches in team drills.
Whether or not Smith-Schuster makes the roster will be a more complex conversation given his $9.6 million dead cap number. So far though, he’s yet to make a strong push.
WATCH: Barth & Dolloff react to Sunday’s Patriots training camp practice
Building connection
Sunday was the first big day for tight end Austin Hooper, who was signed as a free agent to be a complimentary player to Hunter Henry. Hooper led all players with four catches in team drills.
Most of Hooper’s targets came from Jacoby Brissett. The two alumni of the Alex Van Pelt offense in Cleveland (although they never played together with the Browns) have shown good chemistry early in camp.
Brissett up, Maye down
Sunday was the most consistent day so far from Jacoby Brissett. He finished 19-of-29 passing without any glaring misses. He also delivered the throw of the day. During the first period of 7-on-7s, he was forced to roll to his right under pressure. Closing in on the sideline he lofted a ball on the run, dropping it in to Austin Hooper who made a good adjustment for the grab.
Meanwhile, Drake Maye had his most erratic day of camp so far. He had a few overthrows in one-on-ones, then missed a few more throws outside of his receivers’ catch radius in team to finish 15-of-28 on the day. There were some high points – like a no-look pass to Jalen Reagor – and if this ends up being his worst day of camp he’ll have had a very good summer. Still, tomorrow is a potential ‘bounce-back’ day for him as pads come on.
Joe Milton, Bailey Zappe continue to rotate
Further down the QB depth chart, the distribution of reps between Joe Milton and Bailey Zappe has been an early storyline in camp. After Zappe got most of the work on Day 1, Milton out-repped him in team drills the following two days.
On Sunday, they split the reps evenly (although alternated periods). Each quarterback got four snaps in 7-on-7s, and four more in 11-on-11s. Neither stood out during the practice, with Milton getting intercepted at one point by Joe Giles-Harris while trying to fit a ball into a tight window short over the middle.
Continuity at tackle?
After shuffling their tackles around for the first three days of camp, the Patriots used a repeat group for the first time on Sunday. For the second practice in a row, they had rookie Caedan Wallace at left tackle with Chuks Okorafor at right tackle.
As the team gets ready to put on the pads, this is a potentially key development. Ideally, the same group of five players will get to work together up front on a regular basis in order to build chemistry. Have the Patriots found the tackle combo they want to start off with?
First lap of camp
It took four practices, but Sunday say the first lap run of 2024 Patriots training camp. It was rookie guard Layden Robinson doing the honors, after he false started in an 11-on-11 period.
Kicker battle continues
For the second practice in a row, the Patriots wrapped up the day with a live field goal period. The two kickers alternated kicks, with Joey Slye and Chad Ryland each getting four attempts.
Both kickers missed their first kick from 32 yards. Slye doinked his attempt off the left upright, then Ryland missed by a foot or two wide to the right. Both kickers then settled in, hitting from 37, 40, and 42 yards. For the summer, Ryland is now 7-of-8 while Slye is 6-of-8.
Hang times
Sunday also features the first team punt period of this year’s Patriots training camp. Here are Bryce Baringer’s hang times…
4.62 seconds
4.81
4.71
5.08
4.81
3.56
4.85
3.56
Of note – on that 4.85-second punt, Baringer put a pretty wild rotation on the ball. The punt was a handful for rookie Ja’Lynn Polk, who ended up having to try to field it over his shoulder and dropped it.
Attendance
Running backs Antonio Gibson and Terrell Jennings returned to action on Sunday, after being limited to start camp. Their return leaves Kendrick Bourne, Cole Strange, Jake Andrews and Sione Takitaki as the players remaining on PUP. Bourne was on the field for part of practice on Sunday as an observer.
For the second day in a row, Marte Mapu took the field about half an hour into practice and didn’t participate. Christian Barmore missed the session after being limited the past few days.
What’s next?
The Patriots return to the practice fields on Monday, for the always-anticipated first padded practice of camp. Head coach Jerod Mayo is scheduled to speak to the media before practice.
