The New England Patriots broke up the monotony of training camp with a fun Friday night in Foxboro.
Head coach Mike Vrabel’s team held an intra-squad scrimmage in front of season ticket holders under the lights at Gillette Stadium. And while several key players didn’t participate — including starting cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis — there was still plenty to glean from the first opportunity for the Patriots to play in a simulated game setting.
Here’s everything you need to know about Friday’s scrimmage, with insights from our Patriots Insiders Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry:
Attendance
The following players didn’t participate in Friday’s scrimmage:
WR Mack Hollins, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Carlton Davis, DE Keion White, OT Vederian Lowe, C Garrett Bradbury, OL Sidy Sow, RB Antonio Gibson, LB Jahlani Tavai and DT Joshua Farmer.
“Blue Team” coaching staff and captains
- Head coach/defensive coordinator: Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr
- Offensive coordinator: Josh McDaniels
- Captains: QB Drake Maye, LB Christian Elliss and S Jaylinn Hawkins
“White Team” coaching staff and captains
- Head coach/offensive coordinator: Wide receivers coach Todd Downing
- Defensive coordinator: Terrell Williams
- Captains: TE Hunter Henry, S Jabrill Peppers and S Brenden Schooler
The two head coaches, Kuhr and Downing, held a draft to determine the rosters.
Game result
White Team 47, Blue Team 38
Play of the night
Early in the scrimmage, Drake Maye and the Blue Team executed a double pass for a 32-yard touchdown.
Maye threw a lateral pass to running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who threw it back to Maye, who found rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams for the score.
Vrabel told reporters before the scrimmage he gave each offense two trick plays, and McDaniels made the most of his.
Scrimmage standouts
QB Joshua Dobbs: Dobbs had the “throw of the night,” per Perry, when he hit Kayshon Boutte deep down the left sideline with Marcellas Dial in coverage for a touchdown.
S Jaylinn Hawkins: Hawkins had two interceptions in the scrimmage: one off an “ill-advised” DeMario Douglas pass attempt to Javon Baker on a trick play, and another off third-string QB Ben Wooldridge when Lan Larison deflected a pass into the air.
Takeaway No. 1: Turnovers prove costly for Maye
After not throwing a single interception through the first six competitive camp practices, Maye was picked off twice Friday night. Perry described both turnovers in a post-scrimmage recap with Curran, noting that the night was “a really rocky day for some of (the Patriots’) more important players” from a ball security perspective.
“You mentioned Drake Maye’s two picks — the first maybe deflected a couple of times,” Perry said. “(Linebacker) Robert Spillane ended up with the interception. Kobee Minor, Mr. Irrelevant … deflected it initially, then maybe it bounced off Stefon Diggs’ shoulder pads and into the hands of Robert Spillane.
“The second pick, though — it was the last play of the game in a two-minute drill. Dobbs and their side had just finished their two-minute drill, and it was third and long. It looked like Drake Maye had just decided he was going to throw a hitch to Kyle Williams, and Alex Austin seemed to know it was coming, jumped the route, could have taken it back for a pick-6 and actually made the smart play, taking the knee right before the goal line.
“Drake Maye had been so crisp. Tom Curran was on television every single night talking about how Drake Maye still hadn’t thrown a pick yet. First two picks of camp for him tonight. Tough day for him.”
Takeaway No. 2: Stevenson’s fumbling woes continue
Stevenson put the ball on the ground when he was stripped by cornerback Brandon Crossley in the middle of the field.
“This has been a problem for him,” Perry added. “Seven fumbles last year. Because of the fumbles, he really hasn’t been the best back on the team over the last two years. Antonio Gibson didn’t play tonight. … They just drafted a back in the second round (TreVeyon Henderson).
“If Stevenson continues to have these fumbling issues, why wouldn’t they give the rookie more work and take some away from the guy who’s one of the highest-paid backs in football?”
The Patriots don’t have practices Saturday and Sunday before returning to action Monday.
Read the full article here
