Zolak: 4 thoughts from Day 1 of Patriots training camp

Day one at Patriots 2022 training camp is in the books. I thought there was great energy throughout the team, both offense and defense and a lot of special teams. They did a lot of red zone work, the offenses. One thing I did see that stood out for Bill Belichick moving around from group to group. He spent a lot of his time. I'd say 80 percent of his time with the offense, the offensive side of the football, overseeing Matt Patricia and Joe Judge meaning.

When they got the huddle with the first seven on seven group Mac Jones in the huddle. He was also in the huddle with the first ones with the team drills. It was Matt Patricia that had the walkie talkie. So when he has the walkie talkie, he's calling in the plays to Mac, then Mac calls the plays, and it's sort of all pre scripted.

I thought DeVante Parker, the new wide receiver that they got through free agency with the Miami Dolphins, I thought he popped a little bit today. Three really good catches in the end zone all of the times, point one contested catch kind of thing you wanted N'Keal Harry to become. And I think it can be a great layer for Mac Jones inside the red zone with the offense.

Another little new wrinkle, helmet pads on top of the helmet that will be worn throughout the National Football League with inside guys meaning interior linemen, defensive linemen, tight ends, running backs and linebackers throughout the first two and a half weeks of camp. Then they come off. So another nice job by the NFL protecting the head in the early days and next with the CTE and everything that they've been studying.

Coach Belichick is calling this sort of extensions of the OTAs, the minicamps that they've had. It'll be a slow build up until next week when the pads come on. And I think that's where you can really see the defense start to make the move, the thuds, the ability to fit, to grab a tackle with taking care of everybody.