Bailey’s boot a secret weapon
Punter came up big as a rookie last season
For better or worse, no Patriots rookie made a greater impact last season than punter Jake Bailey.
He consistently dropped punts inside the 20-yard line and watched them roll magnetically toward the end zone. Those skyhigh, mile-long kicks ultimately drove the Pats’ second-best league ranking in net yards per punt. Not to mention, Patriot opponents combined for the worst average starting field position in the NFL, a significant credit to Bailey.
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Oh, and he also won a conference-best two AFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards.
By season’s end, thanks to Bailey and special teams aces like Matthew Slater, it wasn’t a stretch to call the Patriots the best punting team in the NFL. They could flip the field as well as anyone.
“I love playing with him. I’ve got to get my legs loose and ready to go when he’s kicking that ball, because I know I’m going to be running for a long time,” Slater said Thursday via video call. “He’s a weapon for us in the punting game. He’s a weapon for us on kickoffs.”
This summer, Bailey’s back at it. His punts in practice again appear magnetized, this time drawn to the 5-yard line. Bailey credits his successes and failures to the execution of his technique, explaining everything stems from how he drops the ball after receiving it from long snapper Joe Cardona.
“(You) angle the nose down, so that you can flip the ball and make the ball have backspin. It’s not a perfect process that it will always have backspin — the ball bounces forward sometimes — but it gives it the best shot for it to have hang time,” Bailey explained. “And if not bounce backwards, it’ll bounce straight up, and Slater will be down there and usually that ends in a good play.”
He and Slater often drill individually in practice; Bailey booming kicks and the camp sharpening his hand fighting and overcoming blockers before speeding downfield to simulate kick coverage. It isn’t until Bill Belichick calls them together for team periods that they can work together, crushing any hopes of a return and making magic like they did last fall.
“He’s always looking to get better. He always takes ownership and responsibility in what he’s doing, and that goes a long way,” Slater said. “He’s a great teammate, and you really appreciate working with a kid like that.”
Asiasi, Keene grinding
It’s been 10 years since the Patriots relied on rookies as heavily as they will this season, and no more so than at tight end.
Third-round rookie Devin Asiasi has seen the lion’s share of snaps at the start of team periods in training camp, proving himself as a reliable receiver and blocker. After
Dalton Keene has waited his turn, he’s done the same during practices, occasionally working out of the backfield. Keene caught one of the best throws of camp Wednesday, splitting safeties down the middle on a post route.
Last season, tight end Ryan Izzo was the rookie under a spotlight. He eventually made the team as a seventh-round pick. So far, Izzo says he’s impressed with the young guns.
“They’re hard-working guys with their heads on straight,” Izzo said. “Getting to know them ... I’m excited to get to work with them for the rest of fall camp and continue to get to know them.”
High praise for Harris
Second-year running back Damien Harris has established himself as one of the more intriguing storylines of Patriots camp to date.
He’s quicker, faster and more explosive than he showed as a rookie. With Sony Michel and Lamar Miller sidelined, Harris is seizing the opportunity to prove he can be more consistent, too. And perhaps even start.
“He can see a lot of things. He’s a really explosive runner. Great teammate, great guy to be around. We all like blocking for him,” left guard Joe Thuney said Thursday.
Veteran running back James White, who, like Harris, essentially redshirted as a rookie, has been in the youngster’s ear about how navigate his situation. By the looks of practice, Harris has taken the advice to heart.
“I just told him to put his head down and work,” White shared earlier this week. “You go out there every day in practice and prove that you’re a good football player, the coaches will take notice. Just try and do the right think as much as possible and work hard. Everything will take care of itself.”
Gronk: Brady refreshed
Down in Tampa Bay, former Patriot greats Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski are hoping to find football’s version of the fountain of youth.
According to Gronkowski, Brady’s already taken a quick dip.
“From my eyes, just looking at him, he looks refreshed,” Gronkowski told local reporters Thursday. “He looks ready to go. He looks ready to play every single day, and he’s motivated every day. It’s nice to see.”
Gronkowski speculated Brady’s arm may be even stronger than it was 10 years ago, when the two first joined forces over a 14-win season in New England. The Patriots are scheduled to welcome the Bucs to Gillette Stadium next season.