[ad_1]
The New England Patriots returned to the training grounds behind Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, holding their second straight session of the week. There was one major difference between Monday and Tuesday, however: the Patriots put full pads in between, giving Session 6 a distinct “real football” flair that the previous five missed.
Needless to say, there are plenty of players that deserve a closer look, as always carefully categorized into winners and losers.
Winner: QB Cam Newton
On Saturday, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick reaffirmed Cam Newton’s status as the team’s starting quarterback. Tuesday, Newton seemed to be part of the game.
The former league MVP, entering his second season in New England, went 11 for 18 in competitive team drills and is apparently starting to retire in the race for the starting quarterback he also held in 2020. Sure, Belichick himself said a single workout doesn’t make a starter, but Newton looked impressive in Tuesday’s session.
He rose to the occasion by putting on protections and delivered probably his best practice of the summer. Plus, he saw more quality reps with the starting unit than rookie Mac Jones. Much can still change over the next few weeks, but Newton is well on his way to retaining QB1’s spot for now.
Loser: QB Mac Jones
Growing pains in rookies were always to be expected with Mac Jones, and Tuesday was exactly that. After impressive back-to-back outings, the first-round pick appeared to struggle to adjust to the speed of the NFL game during his first fully padded practice at the pro level.
Jones went just 1-for-6 in the 11-on-11 drills and also shot his first interception in a competitive team setting. He appears to have lost Ja’Whaun Bentley on the return to cover and shot the pass straight to him instead of the intended target Kendrick Bourne. Jones was then fortunate enough to have another interception abandoned by second-year linebacker Anfernee Jennings.
Overall, the youngster can learn a lot from Tuesday’s training. How he reacts to adversity could very well be a determining factor in the Patriots’ starting quarterback position this season.
Winner: LB Matthew Judon & LB Ja’Whaun Bentley
The Patriots linebacker had a good day, with two of its members in particular: Matthew Judon and Ja’Whaun Bentley.
Judon came as advertised with his abilities to establish a solid advantage and contribute as a passer. The freshman Patriot, who signed a four-year free agency contract, recorded three points in team drills and also scored an impressive victory in a rush / block exercise over starting tackle Trent Brown .
Ja’Whaun Bentley, meanwhile, can now claim back-to-back interceptions from both Cam Newton and Mac Jones. On Tuesday, he tricked Jones into faking a blitz to get back into a passing lane and land a pitch intended for Kendrick Bourne. Bentley also had a jam-packed run during team drills.
Winner: DT Christian Barmore
He then had to leave practice with an apparent foot injury, but Christian Barmore was unblockable in the 1v1. Showing the quickness that made him the first defensive tackle off the board in this year’s draft – the Patriots traded in the second round to grab him – the Alabama product made life difficult for anyone lining up on the other side of him.
In total, Barmore had five 1-on-1s. He won them all, beating starting center David Andrews as well as bubble players RJ Price, Alex Redmond and William Sherman (twice).
Loser: offensive backup tackles
Isaiah Wynn and Trent Brown have a firm grip on the starting offensive tackle points, but the swing / backup roles behind them are up for grabs. On Tuesday, no favorites emerged. Yodny Cajuste and Korey Cunningham didn’t stand a chance against Josh Uche in the 1v1, while Justin Herron was decisively beaten by rookie Ronnie Perkins.
Winners: WR N’Keal Harry and WR Nelson Agholor
The New England wide receivers were challenged on the line of scrimmage for the first time in the entire offseason, and N’Keal Harry and Nelson Agholor adapted well to the challenge.
Harry was able to take advantage of his size and physique in 1 on 1 exercises, achieving a pair of rear shoulder holds despite being closely watched by Jonathan Jones and Joejuan Williams; he also caught a fade against Michael Jackson. While he didn’t have a grip in an 11-11 frame from either quarterback, he looked good on Tuesday.
As for Nelson Agholor, the high-priced free agency addition continues to stand out. On Tuesday, he caught a 50-yard touchdown from Cam Newton on a corner road against Kyle Dugger. While the snag was Agholor’s only reception during 11v11, his great playing ability was once again fully on display.
Loser: CB Joejuan Williams
Joejuan Williams had a pass break on a Mac Jones throw to Kristian Wilkerson during team drills, but he also struggled in his 1v1. Williams lost all four reps: he was beaten by N’Keal Harry on a back turn, by Nelson Agholor on a setback, by Jakobi Meyers on a steep slope and by Isaiah Zuber on a dig.
While the 1-on-1s alone don’t tell the whole story of a player’s success and favor wide receivers over defenders, they are symptomatic of his failure to live up to his draft status of. second turn.
[ad_2]
Source link