Jimmy G ‘takes over’
Quarterback given main reps in drills
FOXBORO — Bill Belichick wasn’t messing around.
As a matter of fact, neither was Jimmy Garoppolo.
If yesterday’s campopening practice was any indication, Belichick didn’t mince words when unveiling the Patriots’ summerlong objective. Garoppolo worked as the starting quarterback during all three 11on-11 drills, playing behind the first-string offensive line and against the starting defense.
And to the Patriots’ delight, Garoppolo was on point throughout. He completed 24-of-29 attempts in all team drills, including 18of-21 in 11-on-11s. The 2014 second-round pick hit on 17 of his final 18 throws.
Though these first noncontact practices are conducive to offensive success, Garoppolo still has to make the throws, and yesterday he delivered.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Garoppolo said. “You have to go out there and take advantage of it. You don’t get many opportunities in this league. You might only get one, so you’ve got to make the best of it.”
Belichick officially tabbed Garoppolo as the starter while Tom Brady serves his four-game suspension, though he hadn’t previously unveiled how they’d allocate the practice reps. Yet, yesterday’s workload was essentially telegraphed, as Belichick extinguished any future controversy by announcing Brady would return to his perch in Week 5, thereby squashing all immediate storylines on days when Garoppolo seizes control of the offense.
Nope, the Patriots are just concerned with Garoppolo’s four-week window.
So after Brady set the tone by starting the first 7-on-7, it was essentially Garoppolo’s day. The pair worked with a combination of the same skill-position players, but Brady’s 11-on-11 reps came with the secondstring offensive line and against the backup defense. The soon-to-be 39-year-old completed 21-of-29 passes in team drills, though he was bitten by a pair of drops.
Garoppolo was as precise as expected. After all, the quarterback’s steady ascension has impressed everyone at Gillette Stadium.
“I’ve been preparing to be the starter from Day 1,” Garoppolo said.
He still hasn’t had a chance to work with wide receivers Julian Edelman (foot) or Danny Amendola (knee, ankle), who missed the offseason workout program after surgeries and opened camp on the physically unable to perform list. But he did connect with tight ends Martellus Bennett (four) and Rob Gronkowski (two).
That’s important because some of Garoppolo’s best camp work in 2014 and 2015 came with wide receivers Brian Tyms and Brandon Gibson. He also had one practice this spring when he hit wideout Nate Washington nine times. Most of that was predicated on opportunity, as Garoppolo typically worked with receivers who were on the roster bubble.
Now, for the Pats to succeed against the Cardinals, Dolphins, Texans and Bills, Garoppolo has to be in sync with the big fellas.
“It’s awesome. It makes my job a whole lot easier, that’s for sure,” he said. “There are some big-bodied guys out there. Martellus had a nice catch. Gronk had a couple nice ones.
“So when you have guys like that, it always makes throwing a lot easier.”
In the spirit of overanalyzing one practice during the 46-day lead-up to the regular-season opener, there was one period of contention. Garoppolo’s last seven completions during the two-minute drill went to running back Donald Brown (five) and special teams captain Matthew Slater (two). The throws to Brown gained yards — obviously the whole objective while also minimizing mistakes — but it’d be nice to see Garoppolo push it down field a bit more because this is the time to push his limits.
Aside from that, Garoppolo was just fine.
It can be taken for granted how smoothly practices run with Brady. Surely, Garoppolo, the student, shined during the teacher’s relegation period.
“We play to get out there and get your opportunity,” Garoppolo said. “And when it comes, you’ve got to be ready for it.”
‘I’ve been preparing to be the starter from Day 1.’ — JIMMY GAROPPOLO On opportunity to play