Training Camp

Video: Patriots Training Camp Report 8/1

August 1, 2018 by Mike Dussault

It was a cool, overcast morning with a reduced crowd and I was able to get a seat in the sideline stands to get a closer look than I’ve had in any of my previous three practices. It was another pads session with a variety of special situations getting worked on, including bad field goal snaps and running back route running at the goal line.

In my latest video I have my five big takeaways, but perhaps the biggest dropped while I was editing — that Jordan Matthews was released after sustaining a serious hamstring issue. I spent most of the summer getting excited about Matthews, but just like that, not only a week into practice, he’s off the team. Riley McCarron was the beneficiary of extra snaps with the top team, but I’d bet there’s another receiver signing soon. Eric Decker, a big slot receiver like Matthews, makes a lot of sense.

Other nuggets that I forgot to mention in the video:

— Tom Brady and Bill Belichick spent a good minute talking at midfield before practice. Belichick was animated, appearing to explain something football-y? All the “are they having fun, is Brady-Belichick still mad” takes are pretty silly but maybe them talking pre-practice helps?

I think Belichick and Brady just hashed it all out guys. pic.twitter.com/DPruXIsyha

— Mike Dussault (@PatsPropaganda) August 1, 2018

— Rookie JC Jackson and second-year corner Ryan Lewis continue to get second-team reps as well as significant looks on special teams.

–Bojorquez continues to outkick Ryan Allen, at least consistently in distance. He didn’t get any reps holding the numerous field goal tries with the top team today though.

— Burkhead is taking punt returns but muffed one. McCarron was consistent, Berrios was as well.

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Tweets of Note: 2018 Patriots Training Camp Practice #3

July 28, 2018 by Mike Dussault

The pads came on at Patriots training camp on Saturday, and despite the potential for some physicality, it sounds like the energy was muted in the third practice of the season. Hopefully, when I’m there tomorrow the energy is up again, though this is where camp starts to turn into a grind.

Here are the tweets that stood out:

Thirty seconds into the first full-contact portion of camp, Deatrich Wise knocked Jeremy Hill flat on his back. Hell of a start.

— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) July 28, 2018

By all accounts, Wise had an excellent practice and was dominant. This kind of tone-setting is just what you want to see out of the second-year player. He had a reduced role in the Super Bowl and I think he might’ve been able to help. The top three ends are pretty set with Flowers, Clayborn and Wise. Whether Derek Rivers can carve a pass-rushing role remains to be seen, but he is way down the depth chart on the regular personnel packages.

One morning highlight for defense: Safety Duron Harmon intercepts QB Brian Hoyer’s pass intended for WR Phillip Dorsett along the back line under the goal posts, and runs it back 108 yards for “TD” as defenders celebrate conclusion of red-zone drill.

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 28, 2018

Reminder the Pats haven’t scored a defensive touchdown since 2015. Another thing — Mike Lombardi writes in Gridiron Genius that you can judge how fast a defense is by how many fumbles they force. Well in 2017 the Pats ranked 30th with nine forced fumbles. 2016 – 19 t-3rd, 2015 – 24 3rd. Defense needs more plays like the one Harmon made today in practice, so it’s nice to see.

Trey Flowers left practice following a goal line rep. Held a towel to his head as he walked off.

— Kevin Duffy (@KevinRDuffy) July 28, 2018

Sounds like the towel was bloody too? Hopefully just stitches and not an eye injury. Eek.

Trent Brown was the most impressive player of the Patriots’ first fully padded practice. As powerful as you’d expect, and quicker in space than you’d think. Wynn looks good too, but I get why Brown has been the starter for the first three days.

— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) July 28, 2018

Matt Chatham had some good tweets about loving Wynn too. Brown will be the guy at least to start, but if somebody gets hurt we could see Wynn in there and it could be fun to watch.

Sony Michel had to run a lap after fumbling in 11v11s. Damarius Travis forced the fumble

— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) July 28, 2018

Second time in three days Michel has lost a ball, not good for the guy who had the highest fumble rate in this year’s draft class. Nothing will delay his development quicker than losing the ball. Just ask Stevan Ridley.

Tom Brady getting some extra work in with Jordan Matthews after practice. The pair had a couple of nice connections today. The out-route diving completion felt like progress as they missed on a similar play yesterday.

— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) July 28, 2018

Another good day for Brady and Matthews, an excellent sign.

Video: Patriots Training Camp Practice #2 Report

July 27, 2018 by Mike Dussault

Great to finally see some football today at a muggy second practice! As we try to get Patshow Season #2 going I’m going to try and use my video producer skills to bring some more video content. Let me know what you guys think!

A few other things I forgot to mention in the video:

— Marcus Cannon did leave practice early, walking off under his own power. LaAdrian Waddle slipped into his reps. Hopefully Cannon is back sooner than later, though his injury history is starting to add up.

— Stephon Gilmore had an AFC Championship-sealer-esque diving pass break up over Julian Edelman. Gilmore is on the left side this year and is the a clear-cut number one cornerback.

— As much as I wanted to notice him nothing about Sony Michel really stood out to me. Again, IT’S NO PADS, DAY TWO. All the backs had their share of work, including Burkhead, Gillislee and Hill, and I can’t say any of them really stood out, though Burkhead always looks shot out of a rocket.

— As I mention, Edelman looks like Edelman, and it’s such great news.

— On and by the way, Brady is still Brady. Yikes.

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Locks, Bubbles and Long Shots: A Post-Draft Pats 53-Man Roster Look

May 10, 2018 by Mike Dussault

While roster building is a year-round activity, we can now take a general look at the roster and identify where the most uncertainty and competition will be this summer. You can also see where it might make sense to make an acquisition or two over final cutdown during Labor Day Weekend.

As of right now, I have the locks at 45 before any injuries turn all of this on its head.

Here’s what I got:

August 2, 2013 by Mike Dussault

fyeah-tombrady:

“With the 2013 Hall of Fame Game is this weekend, our ‪#‎FlashbackFriday‬ is from the 2000 Hall of Fame game – Tom Brady’s first ever game in a Patriots uniform.“

https://www.patspropaganda.com/fyeah-tombrady-with-the-2013-hall-of-fame-game/

August 15, 2011 by Mike Dussault