Patriots training camp notebook: Into the red zone on Day 7
New England Patriots training camp resumed on Thursday, as the team started working more in the red zone.
After a day off on Wednesday, New England Patriots training camp returned on Thursday for the seventh practice of the summer. This practice had a ‘dog days of camp’ feel on one of the hottest days of the summer.
For this practice the Patriots got out of full pads after having two fully-padded practices before the off day. Instead, they were in helmets and shells.
Without full contact the team focused more on situational work. In particular, this practice featured the first full-team red zone work of the summer with multiple 11-on-11 periods working near the goal line. It felt like the coaches used this day to get players reps in red zone looks, to ramp up with more intense work when pads come back on.
Who shined in the red zone? Let’s get to that and more in today’s Patriots training camp notebook…
A step forward for Drake Maye
Drake Maye didn’t have a full ‘bounce-back’ after two rough days, but he certainly made progress on Thursday. Red zone work is typically tougher for younger quarterbacks with less room to work and things happening quicker, but Maye handled himself well.
His first red zone period was the most impressive. He had multiple plus throws – starting with a tight-window throw to tight end La’Michael Pettway, when Maye put the ball right on his hands with Dell Pettus not leaving him much of a window in the back corner of the end zone. That was followed by a another dot on a highpoint throw to JuJu Smith-Schuster along the endline. Maye put the ball in the perfect spot, but Smith-Schuster had the ball ripped out of his hands by Marcus Jones. Maye closed the period with an off-platform, sidearm throw to K.J. Osborn, splitting two defenders in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
Looking ahead, Maye will need to build on this day – especially when pads come back on after he struggled in the first two padded practices. But, Thursday was a positive day.
As for the other quarterbacks, Jacoby Brissett had another solid, steady day. Bailey Zappe and Joe Milton split reps again, with each having one highlight throw in the red zone.
Red zone one-on-ones
Thursday’s practice featured another period of one-on-ones, but this time in the red zone instead of on the full field. It was wide receivers against cornerbacks and linebackers and safeties against running backs and tight ends. Here are some of the more notable and/or convincing wins from that period…
Rhamondre Stevenson over Raekwon McMillan
Deshaun Fenwick over Steele Chambers
Jalen Reagor over Azizi Hearn
Tyquan Thornton over Christian Gonzalez
Alex Austin over Kayshon Boutte
Jaylinn Hawkins over Hunter Henry
Christian Elliss over Kevin Harris
JaMycal Hasty over Jahlani Tavai
Isaiah Bolden over Ja’Lynn Polk
Red zone threat?
It hasn’t really been a bad camp for K.J. Osborn, but he’s certainly been quiet. That changed on Thursday. He emerged in red zone work, with multiple catches including a sliding grab on one of Drake Maye’s better throws.
Along with Osborn, it was the same receivers standing out as it’s been for most of camp. Rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker continue to get open regularly. Tyquan Thornton made a few more grabs as well, as he continues to stack days. Pop Douglas is starting to get more involved in team drills after being limited at the start of camp, and made a good adjustment for a catch over the middle during full-field team drills.
On the other side of things, JuJu Smith-Schuster continues to struggle. He hasn’t been getting much separation, and couldn’t hold on in a contested catch situation today against a smaller corner in Marcus Jones.
WATCH: Zolak & Barth react to Day 7 of Patriots training camp
Change at tackle
After a few days of keeping the same top offensive line together, the Patriots went back to changing things up on Thursday. Vederian Lowe replaced Caedan Wallace at left tackle, with everything else staying the same.
It being a non-padded practice, the offensive line wasn’t as much of a focus. But, it will be worth watching if that change sticks when the pads come back on.
New looks at cornerback
Is the Patriots’ backup boundary cornerback battle opening back up? Alex Austin came into camp as the favorite for that spot after a strong spring, but his performance hasn’t fully carried over this summer.
Over the past two practices, the team has worked more players into the rotation in that spot. Tuesday saw Isaiah Bolden get more reps, and on Thursday rookie Marcellas Dial seemed to be more in the spotlight. Dial was competitive in coverage in the red zone, so we’ll see if he gets a longer look moving forwards.
Defense runs a lap
Through the first week of training camp, it was the offense running the laps after having issues getting lined up. Thursday it was the defense that had a miscue. It’s impossible to know exactly what happened without the play call, but before one snap in red zone Brenden Schooler and Jaylinn Hawkins were frantically signaling to each other and didn’t seem to be on the same page. Jonathan Jones ran on the field late, but it wasn’t clear if that was as a substitution thing or if he was just trying to see what was going on. Whatever the reason, the whole defense had to run a lap before the practice resumed.
Kicker battle
Each kicker got four more live attempts on Thursday. There were attempts from 32, 35, 39, and 49 yards. Chad Ryland hit all four, while Joey Slye missed his 39-yarder just left.
For the summer, Chad Ryland is now 12-of-13 in live field goal reps. Slye is 11-of-13.
Attendance
The Patriots got a few players back at practice on Thursday. Matthew Judon returned to the field for the first time since he walked out on Monday. He was a full participant. Matt Dolloff has a breakdown of his day here.
David Andrews and Jabrill Peppers were also both back at practice, but were only observing and didn’t participate. Andrews missed the previous two days with his infant son being the hospital, while Peppers suffered an injury on Monday and hasn’t participated since. Marte Mapu was also an observer as he’s been for most of camp.
Christian Barmore, Tyrone Wheatley, and Jaheim Bell, were the only players on the active roster not spotted at practice.
What’s next?
The Patriots will be back on the practice fields Friday at 11:00 a.m. ET. It will be their second practice of this three-day block.
