The Patriots and Texans are off on a good ole times camping trip in West Virginia, in what should be a competitive set of training camp joint practices.
After slicing up the Jags last week, the Texans should provide a more formidable practice partner. Houston is a young team and should be looking to set the tone for their season with this week’s work against the team that sent them packing twice last year, including in the AFCDG.
Houston has to go New England again in Week 3 so these teams know each other pretty well, both on the field and off it. A few practices together… another preseason game… This is blossoming into a strange frenemy rivalry and you wonder if BO’B can ever figure out how to crack BB.
There’s also something fascinating about Mike Vrabel now being the defensive coordinator charged with stopping Tom Brady…. but there will be plenty of time for that once the bullets are real.
Here’s the tweets that stood out from practice #1 vs. Houston.
.@ChrisHogan_15 🙌 🙌 🙌
More from today’s practice on our Instagram story: @patriots. pic.twitter.com/hwWjE3DJY3
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 15, 2017
The threat of Hogan, Cooks deep and Gronk up the seam is going to open up a lot of underneath stuff, and hopefully a fair number of bomb TDs. Maybe, just maybe the “Brady can’t throw deep-ers” are going to take one last haymaker to the chin this season?
Rowe returns. Slater, Gillislee, Brandon King, Davis, Hightower, McClellin, Garcia, Jelks, Solder, Lengel, Wise absent.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) August 15, 2017
Would love to see Garcia get out there sometime soon. We know the concerns with the rest. Priority: Solder/Hightower, McClellin, Slater, Wise (should be okay), Gillislee (hamstring should be okay), King, Lengel.
#Patriots OLB/DE Derek Rivers with a sweet up & under move on LT for a sack in team period. Set ’em up with stab, ripped to inside
— Matt Chatham (@chatham58) August 15, 2017
Gonna need lots of disruption from Rivers this year.
Meant he should be mad. Patriots don’t look good today https://t.co/i05OprKVVv
— Greg A. Bedard (@GregABedard) August 15, 2017
Honestly best thing that could happen this week and in the game is for Houston to shoot their wad trying to make up for their loss in the playoffs. The Patriots take the L, use it to build off of and then smoke the Texans once again when it matters, in Week 3.
Does sound like the Pats offense picked it up toward the end of practice. So there’s that. #BradyGonnaBrady
Stephon Gilmore did not participate today. Was here. Just didn’t do anything in team drills. Eric Rowe saw reps opposite Malcolm Butler.
— Kevin Duffy (@KevinRDuffy) August 15, 2017
Hmmmm. Logan Ryan wasn’t a shutdown corner but he never got hurt or missed a tackle. Those are the two hardest things for Gilmore to replace. Not sure if this is planned protection maintenance or he’s dealing with something. We’ll see. Makes you realize how quickly an injury to a CB might thrust Cyrus Jones into meaningful action…
Overall, Texans D-Line gave Patriots problems today. Mercilus and Watt would have had several sacks. Most impressive position group of day.
— Kevin Duffy (@KevinRDuffy) August 15, 2017
Nate Solder is so vital. I can see why they’re handling him with kid gloves now.
UDFA CBs Kenny Moore and DJ Killings continue to flash potential. Both had PBUs today.
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) August 15, 2017
We’re at the stage now where I’m hoping UDFAs aren’t TOO good so we can sneak them onto the practice squad.