2022 Rookie Camp, OTAs, Mini Camp, Mandatory Mini Camp And Training Camp

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What stood out to me from yesterday's coverage of OTAs was how skinny T. Thornton is- WOW. 89 lb Ballerinas look chubby standing next to him.
 
theathletic.com

Patriots OTAs begin offense-heavy, but play-calling still up in the air

New England's second-year QB looked sharp on Day 1 but who will call his plays remains to be seen.
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FOXBORO — The Patriots conducted their first practice of organized team activities Monday. Here’s a rundown of observations.

Attendance​

Did not participate: WR N’Keal Harry, K Nick Folk, LB Matt Judon, K Quinn Nordin, S Adrian Phillips, LB Ronnie Perkins, LB Anfernee Jennings, OL Chasen Hines, OL Andrew Stueber, T Isaiah Wynn, DL Lawrence Guy, DL Byron Cowart

Limited: S Jabrill Peppers, RB James White, TE Dalton Keene, WR Tyquan Thornton, RB Pierre Strong, DL Sam Roberts, C David Andrews, DB Brendan Schooler, TE Hunter Henry

Gear: In accordance with league rules during OTAs, the Patriots were in helmets but no pads.

QB focus​

Mac Jones completed 17 of 21 passes (one drop) in competitive team drills (seven-on-sevens and 11-on-11s). The offense has the advantage in this setting without pads or contact, but a quarterback typically has a good day with a completion rate of about 70-75 percent.

Jones’ targets: Jakobi Meyers (3 of 4), Jonnu Smith (1 of 1), Kendrick Bourne (3 of 3), Nelson Agholor (2 of 2), DeVante Parker (1 of 2), Ty Montgomery (3 of 3), Kevin Harris (1 of 1), J.J. Taylor (1 of 1), Malcolm Perry (0 of 1), Rhamondre Stevenson (1 of 1), Tre Nixon (1 of 1), Kristian Wilkerson (0 of 1, drop).

Jones got into a rhythm midway through the workout with eight consecutive completions.

Jones opened the first 11-on-11 period with a check-down completion to Meyers before hitting Smith on a crosser. He then threw too far for a double-covered Meyers down the left sideline before closing the opening period with a completion to Bourne on a hitch.

In the next 11-on-11 period, Jones found Agholor on a comeback route against Malcolm Butler, hit Parker and Montgomery on back-to-back left outs and finished with a completion to Harris on a drag route. Then in an 11-on-11 run-focused period, Jones hit Taylor on a check down and Montgomery on a play-action swing pass.

In seven-on-sevens, Jones hit Agholor on a left hitch before overshooting Parker on a deep ball up the left side. He followed with a completion to Meyers on a drag route and then couldn’t connect on a deep right wheel route to Perry. That pass appeared to get broken up by Myles Bryant.

The Patriots closed with two 11-on-11 periods, and Jones found Bourne on a deep over route near the left sideline, hit Bourne on a crosser and Montgomery on another play-action swing pass. Shifting to the final period, Jones hit Meyers on a hitch, Stevenson on a check down, Nixon on an over route and should’ve connected with Wilkerson on a left hitch route that was dropped. Otherwise, Jones was on the money with his final seven passes in the most competitive period of the day.

All three of Jones’ misses were on tightly contested vertical throws.

Brian Hoyer was the second quarterback in each rotation. Bailey Zappe went third.

Jones was the last player off the field. He stayed for at least an extra 20 minutes to work on downfield throws.

Bourne also noted after practice that he was impressed by Jones’ offseason dedication to his conditioning. He laughed as he pointed out Jones shed his gut and then praised the quarterback for dominating the late-practice conditioning runs. Jones said it was important for him to shed body fat early this offseason, and he wants to add more mass in time for training camp to be able to absorb the hits that he’ll take during the season.

​

 
theathletic.com

Patriots OTAs begin offense-heavy, but play-calling still up in the air

New England's second-year QB looked sharp on Day 1 but who will call his plays remains to be seen.
theathletic.com theathletic.com

Offensive play-calling​

The Patriots weren’t being facetious when they claimed several coaches would have a hand in the offensive coordinator responsibilities. They’ll name a play-caller at some point, but that hasn’t been the case yet.

Joe Judge is very clearly the quarterbacks coach. Ditto for Matt Patricia with the offensive line. Bill Belichick spent more time with the offense during an offseason practice than he has in years. In recent seasons, the offense was almost entirely up to Josh McDaniels while Belichick remained heavily involved with the defense.

In an early positional period, Judge took charge of a red-zone portion with the quarterbacks and skill position players. Tight ends coach Nick Caley, wide receivers coach Troy Brown and running backs coach Vinnie Sunseri were also present but remained with their positions.

It appeared the Patriots then ran off a script for their first 11-on-11 period. Judge remained behind the huddle with his call sheet — as McDaniels used to do — but didn’t appear to be vocalizing the play calls to Jones. After each rep, the three quarterbacks looked at the cards on their wrists as Judge looked at his sheet, then Jones walked into the huddle to call the play. The coaches weren’t wearing headsets, so unless Ernie Adams was calling in plays from the lighthouse, no one was communicating through Jones’ helmet headset.

Patricia took charge when the Patriots switched to a run-focused period. Jones would run a play, walk over to the side to Patricia to get the next call and then repeat it in the huddle.

This process repeated itself later in the practice when it again appeared the quarterbacks were calling plays off a scripted sequence from their wristbands. If any of the quarterbacks, particularly Zappe, had questions before entering the huddle, they spoke with Judge. And in another run-focused period, Patricia took charge.

In the second-to-last 11-on-11 period, Jones got the play call from Patricia before one rep and Belichick before the next. Belichick then called the final sequence of plays in the last period of the afternoon.

It’s easy to overreact to just about anything after the first OTA because it’s the first time seeing the team in four months, and trends don’t develop in a day. Anything that happened on the first day could be rendered obsolete a week later. But with that in mind, it’s worth wondering if Judge — as the QB coach — has a heavier hand in the installation of passing plays, while Patricia has been drawing up the running plays. It’s conceivable, at least at this very point, Judge is the pass-game coordinator while Patricia is the run-game coordinator. Those responsibilities will morph along the way, eventually to a point where one voice will take control on game days.

Remaining observations​

• As injuries are concerned, a reminder that the Patriots are always overly conservative during OTAs. The number of limited participants shouldn’t be alarming right now.

• Harry isn’t helping himself by staying away. The numbers aren’t in his favor to make the 53-man roster, barring injury, and he has no apparent trade value. Any team interested in acquiring Harry has two options: Trade something and take on Harry’s $1.87 million contract, including $673,937 guaranteed, or see if the Patriots cut him and then try to sign him to the active roster for $965,000. And then for Harry, if he participated in these voluntary workouts, created some momentum for training camp and the preseason to make himself a tradeable commodity, he’d have a better chance to earn the remaining balance of his rookie contract. But if he gets released and signs elsewhere for the minimum (or even another practice squad for an 18-week minimum salary of $277,200) with no guaranteed money, he runs the risk of getting involved in that constant churn of roster spots that teams deem to be disposable throughout the regular season. That would continue to hinder his chances of creating momentum in another location. This is a decision that could have six- or seven-figure consequences.

• With Wynn not participating for unknown reasons, the Patriots used Trent Brown at left tackle. It’d make sense for the Patriots to get Brown as many reps there as possible with Wynn’s injury history.

• Left guard Cole Strange worked with the starters, as did center James Ferentz, right guard Mike Onwenu and right tackle Justin Herron. Andrews observed for much of the day.

• Expect plenty of movement in the cornerback competition. Malcolm Butler, Jon Jones, Terrance Mitchell and Jalen Mills have the early edge. Jack Jones also got some quality reps with Shaun Wade and Myles Bryant mixing into the rotation. Joejuan Williams did, too, but he seems to have a bigger hill to climb.

• The offense had to run a lap after a two-play sequence with a botched snap and false start. All of the offensive assistants joined them with the exception of Patricia.

• Mac Jones was glued to Judge between reps.

• Josh Uche would have registered a sack due to a blown blocking assignment. Otherwise, there wasn’t an abundance of defensive notes with the practice so heavily geared to the offense.
 
theathletic.com

Patriots schedule: Tough opening and closing stretches, including Josh McDaniels reunion

The Patriots' schedule is out, and Mac Jones and company are set for nine road games. We break down all of the key details here.
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Week 1 keys to victory​


A season-opening road game against the Dolphins isn’t an ideal draw for the Patriots. They struggle historically in South Florida (2-7 in their last nine). If they’re going to reverse that trend, they need to avoid the self-inflicted errors that plagued them in their two losses to the Dolphins last season. A Damien Harris fumble cost them in the Week 1 matchup, and a Mac Jones pick six got the season finale off to a sour start.


They’ll also need to have an answer for Tyreek Hill, who will be making his Dolphins debut after Miami swung a blockbuster offseason trade with the Chiefs. New England loaded up on defensive backs this offseason, so Bill Belichick should be able to handle Hill.


Must-watch game: at Raiders (Week 15)​


Aside from the division matchups with the Bills, the Patriots’ road trip to Vegas is the most intriguing. Bill Belichick will face off against his old understudy, Josh McDaniels.


How McDaniels fares in Vegas will be of interest to Patriots fans, but this game also could be critical in the AFC playoff race and serve as a barometer for where New England stands in the AFC. The Raiders snuck into the playoffs last season and should improve with the addition of Davante Adams. The Patriots passed a similar road test last season by beating the Chargers in Los Angeles.


Toughest stretch: Weeks 13-18​


From Week 13 on, the Patriots play the Bills twice, travel to play the Raiders and Cardinals and host the Bengals and Dolphins. The first three of those games will cap a stretch of four straight in prime time. That’s not an easy to way to finish the season. Luckily, the Patriots will have a late bye in Week 10 before that brutal stretch. But it’s clear the Patriots will have to fight through a gauntlet to make the postseason. That makes taking care of business in those early season games even more important.


Games that have gotten tougher: at and vs. Dolphins (Weeks 1 and 17)​


The Dolphins adding Hill could be a game changer in the AFC East. Miami swept New England last season and has won seven of the last nine meetings at home, so this was already a tricky matchup. But with Hill in the mix, the Dolphins’ offense could take a big step forward.


The Patriots held Hill to one catch for 42 yards when they played in the 2019 postseason, but Hill has had at least 60 receiving yards in all four of the other meetings. In four total regular-season games against the Patriots, Hill has 24 catches for 401 yards and five touchdowns. Now the Patriots will see him twice a year.


The Browns matchup could be tougher, too, but that depends largely on whether the league suspends Deshaun Watson and how he plays after a year away from the field.


One game the Patriots can’t afford to lose: vs. Bears (Week 7)​


New England has one of the toughest schedules in the NFL. There are multiple stretches that could cause problems. That makes a home game against the Bears one the Patriots can’t afford to lose. The matchup will be on prime time, which would make a loss somewhat embarrassing. Given the nature of their schedule, the Patriots can’t be dropping games like this one.


Best offense the Patriots will face: Bills (Weeks 13 and 18)​


The Patriots didn’t force a punt in their final two meetings against the Bills last season. In those two games, Josh Allen had a combined 622 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns, zero interceptions and 130 rushing yards. The Bills scored 80 points in those two games. The Patriots will need to be dramatically better at defending Allen if they’re going to have a chance to win the AFC East.


Best defense the Patriots will face: Colts (Week 9)​


You could argue the Bills have the toughest defense the Patriots will face as well. They finished the 2021 season ranked No. 1 in Football Outsiders’ defensive DVOA. They also added Von Miller and drafted cornerback Kaiir Elam in the first round. They won’t be easy to move the ball against. The Patriots have, however, been able to run against them. Mac Jones and company will also have to deal with some sturdy defenses in the AFC North.


We went with the Colts, though, because of how tough a matchup they proved to be for the Patriots last season. They now have Yannick Ngakoue rushing off the edge and Stephon Gilmore in the secondary. That has the potential to be a gnarly defense.


Predicted record: 10-7​


On paper, the Patriots have a tough schedule. The AFC North looks like one of the tougher divisions in football, so those games won’t come easy. The rest of the AFC East has gotten better, too. Road trips to Green Bay, Vegas and Arizona will be a challenge. But the Patriots should still be able to repeat their record from a year ago.


They got off to a slow start last season with a close loss to the Dolphins and an ugly loss to the Saints. Assuming another .500 record in the division, the Patriots need to find seven wins out of the AFC North, the NFC North, the Raiders, the Cardinals and the Colts. If Mac Jones continues to improve and the offense takes another step, that shouldn’t be an issue.


The question is whether the Patriots will look more like the team that finished the 2021 season 1-4 or the one that ripped off a six-game winning streak in the middle of the season. We’ll get more clues when this group takes the field.


Predicted AFC East finish: Second​


Every spring, the Dolphins and Jets seem to be brimming with hope because of offseason additions. It’s been a while since that offseason hope resulted in on-field results for either team, though. Right now, it’s tough to envision Belichick losing ground to Robert Saleh and Mike McDaniel. The Bills are still the class of the division until further notice, but the Patriots falling lower than second place would be a sign that this rebuild is in trouble.
 
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www.espn.com

New England Patriots players see 'same intensity' from 70-year-old Bill Belichick

As New England's coach enters his 48th season in the NFL, his passion for the fundamentals, details and every facet of football still percolates.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

1. Same ol' Bill: Bill Belichick at 70 years old. Same as it ever was.

There were several takeaways from the media's first look at Patriots spring practice last week, but perhaps nothing rates more significant than this:

As Belichick attempts to do what no head coach in the history of the NFL has done -- win a Super Bowl after his 70th birthday -- his tank looks full. Belichick at a Patriots 2022 practice looked no different than a 2012 practice, or one in 2002.

In fact, he might have been more involved with some of the fundamental teaching that is at the core of spring practices.

"I've always said, when people ask me what's Bill like, that he's the model of consistency," said Patriots safety and captain Devin McCourty, who has been with the team since 2010. "Showing up to your job every day, having the same attitude, the same messaging, and being able to do that over and over again is hard.

"He continues to come in here, Day 1 of OTAs, for however many years it is, and it's the same intensity."

This marks Belichick's 48th season in the NFL and 28th as a head coach (including his stint in Cleveland from 1991 to '95). His passion for the fundamentals, details and every facet of football still percolates, as evidenced by one moment in practice when he pulled practice-squad receiver Malcolm Perry aside, flashed his hands in front of him, and discussed how Perry should attack the ball.

Perry probably won't be on the 53-man roster when the season begins, but there's a chance he's called on at some point to help the Patriots win a game.

It was peak Belichick.

"It's fundamentals, doing the right things, the small things over and over again. He never slips up on that," McCourty said. "This being my 13th year, I've seen that over and over again. It's hard to replicate, but I think getting an opportunity to play for him as a player has made me a better player."

Belichick has some notable challenges to conquer, and his heavy involvement with the offense in Monday's practice amplifies it. Quarterback Mac Jones is a promising second-year player, but without coordinator Josh McDaniels, there is a significant transition on the coaching staff with Joe Judge working with quarterbacks and Matt Patricia the offensive line.

No coordinator or playcaller has been named, but it was obvious at practice that Belichick, Judge and Patricia are sharing the role until further notice.

3. Mac's blind side: With starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn not at voluntary offseason practices last week, veteran Trent Brown flipped to that side, with swing tackle Justin Herron elevated as the top right tackle. Brown was excellent at left tackle in 2018, before playing right tackle upon his return to the team in 2021. Could Wynn's absence be the opening to return Brown to left tackle permanently, especially when considering the valuable chemistry he's developing with left guard/first-round pick Cole Strange? At the least, it's a question Belichick and O-line coaches Patricia and Billy Yates are probably asking.

4. Wynn in retrospect: Wynn is a good example of the challenges for teams in having to decide on the fifth-year option for first-round picks after just three seasons. When the Patriots decided to pick up Wynn's option in May 2021, it guaranteed Wynn a salary of $10.4 million for the 2022 season. The Patriots' decision-making seemed reasonable at the time, considering the premium position Wynn plays. But given the linemen the team now has in place, one wonders if there is some internal regret, as Wynn's $10.4 million cap charge could create some much-needed space.

9. Russey on radar: The Patriots have had at least one undrafted free agent make the opening-day 53-man roster in each of the past 18 seasons -- the third-longest streak in the NFL behind the Chargers (25) and Colts (23) -- and University of Houston center Kody Russey is a leading candidate to continue the streak. Consider that the Patriots hosted Russey on one of their valuable 30 pre-draft visits at Gillette Stadium, and also guaranteed him $180,000 (most among undrafted players signed by the team). With starting center David Andrews not yet fully cleared as he recovers from shoulder surgery, the 6-foot-1, 301-pound Russey has a nice opportunity this spring to make a favorable impression.
 
Wynn has done himself no favors. He came to camp overweight and out of shape the last 2 seasons and now he's not at OTAs.
I wouldn't be surprised to see him replaced although I don't expect it.
 
Take it with a grain of salt ( I can't vouch for the accuracy of this)
But according to to walterfootball Pats had pre-draft visits with only two guys they drafted.
  • Slade Bolden, Wide Receiver, Alabama (WOR)
  • Thomas Booker, Defensive Tackle, Stanford (VIR)
  • Andrew Booth Jr., Cornerback, Clemson (PRI)
  • Treylon Burks, Wide Receiver, Arkansas (COM)
  • James Cook, Running Back, Georgia (PRI)
  • Nakobe Dean, Outside Linebacker, Georgia (PRO)
  • Jahan Dotson, Wide Receiver, Penn State (PRO)
  • Romeo Doubs, Wide Receiver, Nevada (PRI)
  • Mateo Durant, Running Back, Duke (WOR)
  • Josh Ezeudu, Offensive Tackle, North Carolina (PRI)
  • Kenyon Green, Offensive Guard, Texas A&M (PRI)
  • Jack Jones, Cornerback, Arizona State (PRI)
  • Marcus Jones, Cornerback, Houston (PRI)
  • D'Eriq King, Quarterback, Miami (PRI)
  • Chase Lucas, Cornerback, Arizona State (PRI)
  • Sincere McCormick, Running Back, Texas-San Antonio (PRO)
  • Trent McDuffie, Cornerback, Washington (PRI)
  • John Metchie III^, Wide Receiver, Alabama (COM, PRI)
  • Rayshad Nichols, Defensive Tackle, Stephen F. Austin (WOR)
  • Trevor Penning, Offensive Tackle, Northern Iowa (PRI)
  • E.J. Perry, Quarterback, Brown University (LOC)
  • Bernhard Raimann, Offensive Tackle, Central Michigan (PRI)
  • Tyler Vrabel, Offensive Tackle, Boston College (LOC)
  • Malik Willis, Quarterback, Liberty (COM)
  • 2022 NFL Draft Prospect Visits Tracked by Team
 
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