PATRIOTS PUT ON SIMULATOR MODE
Piped in noise, faked injuries all done in walkthrough setting
FOXBORO — The final viewing practice for the media was essentially a walkthrough game simulation for the Patriots, who performed this exercise at Gillette Stadium on the game field.
This session was clearly about getting the players used to game conditions, from running out of tunnel at the beginning of the game, to rattling the kicker, to having a quarterback go down with an injury – fake of course – with the backup coming on in an instant.
It was Blue vs. White, with Cam Newton leading the Blue team, and Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham running the White team. It was a nonpadded affair.
Bill Belichick made sure all the “situations” were covered, in prepping his team for the start of the season, which is a little more than two weeks away.
“It felt really good getting back out there and getting to be in the stadium,” N’Keal Harry said on a video conference call after practice. “It’s something I missed a lot. It was good just for us to be able to get out there and kind of simulate what it’s like to be in a game, especially for the rookies.”
While this won’t be a traditional practice report with quarterback throwing numbers, plays of the day, and studs and duds, there was still plenty to dissect and write about.
Below is a recap of everything the Herald observed during Friday’s game field practice.
Attendance
Absent: LB Chase Winovich, LB Cassh Maluia, WR Will Hastings (he was waived by the team).
PUP: RB Lamar Miller Non-participants: S Devin McCourty, CB Michael Jackson, DT Beau Allen, TE Devin Asiasi
Player of the Day
P Jake Bailey
While game simulations aren’t the best place for players to shine, the kickers do have a shot, and Bailey stood out. He just continues to boom punts with outrageous hang time. It was even more noticeable in the stadium. And with game-like conditions, he also showed off his skills with directional kicks, pinning the opposition inside the 20 several times. His kickoffs were also on point, whether hitting them out of the end zone, or intentionally kicking them short to draw a return. It was just a good all-around effort from the second-year player.
QB Corner
Note: The passing stats below were tallied during competitive, full-speed periods only. Cam Newton: (Camp total: 106-173, 3 INTs)
Jarrett Stidham: (Camp total: 50-73, 6 INTs)
Brian Hoyer: (Camp total: 74-122, 2 INTs)
Offensive notes
Newton got into six series on the afternoon, while Stidham and Hoyer each had 2 and a half. Rookie Brian Lewerke did not get any reps as Newton’s backup.
Newton’s receivers were Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu, Damiere Byrd, and Isaiah Zuber with Sony Michel, James White and J.J. Taylor in the backfield. His favorite targets were Sanu and Byrd.
Stidham and Hoyer had Gunner Olszewski, Jakobi Meyers, who was wearing a red non-contact jersey, Devin Ross, and Jeff Thomas as receivers. Damien Harris and Rex Burkhead were in the backfield.
Hoyer feigned an injury at one point, even fake-limping off the field, to simulate having Stidham enter a game mid-drive. Stidham hit three of his next four passes after coming in on the fly.
As in past practices, all the quarterbacks had good moments, as well as moments they’d probably like to forget during this session, which was at three-quarters speed. While most of what happened was scripted, off-target throws with little push back from the defense aren’t part of the deal. Both Newton and Stidham threw behind receivers on a few occasions.
Joe Thuney, who suffered an injury late in Thursday’s practice, had a huge wrap around his left hand. That didn’t prevent him from participating, as he took his usual spot at left guard.
Hadn’t seen much of undrafted rookie Thomas due to injury, but he made his presence felt in this practice. He has unbelievably quick feet.
Boston College rookie Jake Burt popped a bit in this session, even without much impediment, catching a number of passes from Stidham.
Josh McDaniels (Blue team) and Jedd Fisch (White team) called the offensive plays.
Defensive notes
Beau Allen made his debut – sort of. The defensive tackle, who has missed the entire camp, came out with the White team. He didn’t participate. He was an observer, with his long ponytail flowing out of the helmet.
Devin McCourty was also present, but like Allen, simply observed from the sidelines.
Jackson came out a bit late, and moved slowly getting to the sideline. He didn’t participate. He appears to be dealing with an injury.
Both Steve Belichick (White team) and Jerod Mayo (Blue team) had headsets on calling the defensive plays.
This is one practice the defense didn’t completely dominate, but since it was basically a walkthrough, with defenders providing little resistance, it doesn’t count against their stellar record to this point.
Some of the veterans, namely Jason McCourty and Adrian Phillips, saw few reps during the simulation.
Rookie linebacker Josh Uche, who missed Thursday’s practice, returned.
Special teams
Veteran Nick Folk has moved ahead in the kicking competition. On the day, he was 2-for-3, hitting from 50 and 33 yards. His miss was from 48.
Justin Rohrwasser made his kick from 50, but missed kicks from 51 and 49 yards. He was also on the receiving end of the rattle treatment, with whistles being blown right before he made several of his attempts. The first time, he missed both 51-yarders before and after the do-over. The final rattler, meanwhile, produced a wide right from 49 yards out at the closed end of the stadium after he made good on the attempt that didn’t count. That was the final play of the simulation, as he came out with three seconds on the clock in a tied game, and failed to deliver. Game over. Score tied at 13-all.
Odds and ends
Newton led the Blue team out of the tunnel “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne, which is usually played when the Patriots head out on game day.
Players had to deal with piped in crowd noise, which will be the norm at home or away. Harry was impressed how Newton handled the signal-calling: “Cam did a good job getting the calls to us. If it does get too loud, we have other methods to help us through that.”
Newton celebrated a Michel touchdown by doing a big-time wiggle.
Officials were used for the second straight day.
The Patriots have today off, and are likely to resume Sunday. Media will no longer be allowed to view the full practice.