After having the day off on Saturday, the New England Patriots returned to the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium for their fourth practice of the summer on Sunday. It was their final practice before the pads come on on Monday, meaning it was the final chance for the team to tie up any loose ends in the ‘teaching’ portion of camp with the ‘evaluation’ period knocking on the door.
Given that, the Patriots spent the early portion of practice in low-tempo, walkthrough periods. Those mainly focused on the run, getting players on the same page for Monday’s practice which should be run-heavy with the addition of pads.
The second half of Sunday’s session was the opposite, with some of the highest-intensity reps we’ve seen all summer. There were multiple 11-on-11 periods that featured projected starters against projected starters, with music playing to simulate crowd noise. Those periods included more red zone work, as well as the first two-minute drill session of camp – and the first time the offense was given expanded room to work.
That increased intensity brought the best day of practice from the offense so far this camp. Let’s start there as we break down Sunday’s practice…
Breakthrough day for two pass catchers
Tyquan Thornton at New England Patriots training camp. (Alex Barth/98.5 The Sports Hub)
Through the first three training camp practices, it became a headline that wide receiver Tyquan Thornton and tight end Mike Gesicki weren’t as involved in the offense as expected. Neither registered a catch in competitive team drills during that time. That changed on Sunday.
Thornton was one of the most-involved pass-catchers on the field on Sunday. Working with the ones and twos he caught a pair of touchdowns, including one where he was running along the end line with Marcus Jones in coverage, and was able to use his long arms to give the quarterback a window to put the ball that Jones couldn’t reach.
Gesicki had multiple grabs as well, including a touchdown late in practice. He showed impressive athleticism on that play, climbing the ladder to grab a high pass over Kyle Dugger.
Keep in mind this is a breakthrough and not a breakout. Both players still have plenty of work to do in camp, but after a slow start they’re on the board.
Rookie receiver’s rise continues
New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas runs a drill during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Meanwhile, one of the Patriots’ receivers who had plenty of success early continued his strong summer on Sunday. Rookie sixthr-round pick Demario Douglas added a few more touchdowns to his camp resume, and is starting to get more work further up the depth chart.
Douglas’ best play came after the catch on Sunday. While there’s no live tackling in these practices, players regularly do some sort of ‘two hand touch’ where they’ll approach the ball-carrier as if they’re about to make a tackle only to stop at the last minute. On one of Douglas’ catches, he caught the ball in stride. As soon as he caught it though he stopped and ducked. That left rookie cornerback Isaiah Bolden, who was in pursuit, flying over Douglas’ back. He did make another nice play when running a quick slant, reaching back to snag a ball thrown behind him from Bailey Zappe for a touchdown.
While it’s been a strong start to camp for Douglas, the real test begins on Monday. Smaller, shiftier players with his skillset generally shine when the contact is minimal. As the physicality ramps up, will he still be able to win with strength as much as speed? That will be an important thing to watch once the pads come on.
Quarterbacks, too
Jul 26, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) throws a pass during training camp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Of course, if the wide receivers are performing well it means the guys getting them the football are doing a good job. That was the case on Sunday. Mac Jones was 10-for-14, and Zappe was 12-for-16 with an interception (Jalen Mills jumped an under route intended for Scotty Washington).
For Zappe in particular, it was clearly his best day of the summer and one of his best days of camp in Foxborough going back to last year. Early on in camp he was a bit loose with the football and his decision making, and his confidence didn’t seem to be where it needed to be. On Sunday he played within himself and the results followed.
Having said that, it still doesn’t feel like anything close to a quarterback competition is brewing in Foxborough. Zappe would need to repeatedly have days like he did on Sunday, keep having them against the first-team defense (he faced the second-team exclusively on Sunday), and for Jones to seriously start to struggle for things to change.
Big picture offensive takeaway
Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien at Patriots training camp. (Alex Barth/98.5 The Sports Hub)
While it was clearly the best day of the summer for the offense on Sunday, it wasn’t all perfect. Most of the unit’s success came in the two-minute period, and outside of the red zone when they had more room to work. The red zone periods were better at times, but still very inconsistent. In particular, both quarterbacks were forced to take multiple sacks each when down near the goal line.
Ideally, the Patriots’ running game will be able to carry them offensively inside the five-yard line. We’ll get a better look at that tomorrow when the full pads come on. Their passing game still needs work in that area of the field. But, for all the talk about how the condensed space was limiting the passing game as a whole – based off of Sunday’s performance that assessment appears to have been correct.
Mapu’s role increasing
Jun 12, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Marte Mapu (52) pulls a sled at the Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Onto another player who will be in the spotlight when the pads come on starting Monday – rookie linebacker Marte Mapu. The third-round pick had a great spring, but had seen more work on the second and even third units early in camp.
As the team ramped up for padded practices though, Mapu was back in the spotlight on Sunday. Ahead of what will be a telling few days for the athletic yet traditionally undersized linebacker, the Patriots had Mapu handling a range of responsibilities with the projected starting defense.
Of the many wrinkles they tried, one that stood out was having him play as the primary MIKE linebacker, with Ja’Whaun Bentley moving to the edge. Bentley played a bit of edge when he and Dont’a Hightower overlapped a few years ago and played the spot well, but had moved back to the middle the last two years, playing his natural role and where the Patriots needed him more. Mapu’s presence may allow Bentley to expand his role as well, especially on passing downs.
Seventh-round pick steps up
Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden during a conditioning drill at training camp. (Katie Bennert, 98.5 The Sports Hub)
Mapu wasn’t the only rookie to get additional playing time on Sunday. Cornerback Isaiah Bolden saw some elevated reps.
The seventh-round pick seems to be squarely in the conversation for the team’s fourth boundary cornerback spot behind Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, and Jack Jones. While that may seem like a minor battle right now, if Jack Jones isn’t able to start the season due to his legal issues it would become a rotational role.
Active hands
Jun 12, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai (48) works against a resistance rope at the Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
As mentioned above, the quarterbacks were good on Sunday but not perfect. The defense made their share of plays, including pass deflections from linebackers Jahlani Tavai and Mack Wilson during those high-impact reps.
Tavai, in particular, has quietly put together a very strong start to camp. Primarily an edge-setting run defender last year, he’s made notable plays in coverage three of the four days the team has been on the field – mostly covering running backs. That was the case again on Sunday, two PBUs including a relatively big hit (as big as it gets in non-padded practices) on Kevin Harris to break up a pass in the flat. While Tavai probably isn’t in line for any shadow coverage assignments any time soon, it does seem like he put in work on this area of his game in the offseason.
Hang times
Punters Corliss Waitman and Bryce Baringer wait on a snap from long snapper Tucker Addington at Patriots training camp. (Alex Barth/98.5 The Sports Hub)
It took four days, but we finally saw the first team punting periods of training camp (the Patriots ran two separate such periods on Sunday). With that, punter hang times are back. Here’s how long Corliss Waitman and Bryce Baringer had the ball in the air on Sunday…
Waitman:
4.87 seconds
5.17
3.99
4.75
—
4.48
4.50
4.37
4.53
5.22Baringer:
4.44
5.18
4.81
4.67
—
4.79
4.32
4.77
5.33Both players hit the ball well, but Baringer did look like he had the edge on Sunday. It’s also notable that the sixth-round pick saw the majority of snaps as the holder in live field goal reps. The same goes for rookie kicker Chad Ryland.
Elsewhere on special teams…
Jun 12, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Jourdan Heilig (66) works out at the Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
When it comes to special teams coverage players, it’s stood out that UDFA Jourdan Heilig has spent a lot of time working with Matthew Slater and special teams coordinator Cam Achord during positional drills. In the past, spending time one-on-two with Slater and Achord has been a sign a player is at least in serious consideration for a roster spot. Both Brenden Schooler and DaMarcus Mitchell spent extended time with that duo last year.
First laps of camp
Bill Murray on the first day of 2023 New England Patriots training camp in Foxboro, Mass. (Jim Louth/98.5 The Sports Hub)
Through three training camp practices, the Patriots hadn’t had a single player have to run a lap for a penalty or other miscue. They almost made it through a fourth, until late in Sunday’s practice when interior Bill Murray and Kody Russey had to run for a false start. After Bill Belichick had said earlier in the day that “nobody works harder than Bill Murray,” Murray sprinted his lap and only missed a play.
Given that last year offensive miscues happened early and often in camp, it taking until Day 4 for a player to run a lap is yet another example of the kind of structural progress that has been made under new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.
That change was also highlighted by Mike Gesicki earlier this week. Asked what has stood out to him about O’Brien’s offense, Gesicki – who is in his first year in New England – noted that the unit has “definitely been disciplined. Hasn’t been a lot of guys jumping offsides, hasn’t been a lot of guys lining up the wrong spots or making mental errors.”
Taking attendance
Jul 27, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Ty Montgomery II (14) takes a hand-off from quarterback Mac Jones (10) during training camp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Running back/wide receiver Ty Montgomery wasn’t on the field for Sunday’s practice. He’s now missed two days in a row after leaving Thursday’s session early with a knee injury. Terez Hall, who was the one who collided with Montgomery, was limited on Sunday.
In addition to Montgomery, rookie wide receiver Kayson Boutte and guard Jake Andrews weren’t on the field – they were both first-time absences. Christian Barmore returned to practice after missing Friday for the birth of his child.
What’s next?
Jul 27, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick heads to the podium for a morning press conference before training camp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
“Real football,” as Bill Belichick would call it, returns on Monday. The Patriots will hold their first padded practice of the summer to kick off the second week of training camp. Practice is scheduled to begin at 9:45 a.m., with gates opening for fans at 8:30. Belichick is scheduled to speak to reporters prior to practice at 9:15.
