The heat and humidity continue to be unrelenting in Foxborough, and on Monday so was the defensive front seven.
It's quite rare to see NFL teams tackling to the ground during training camp, and even more so when the ball isn't near the goal line. Jerod Mayo decided to change things a bit in that regard, running two full periods of 11-on-11 reps that featured tackling to the ground.
The results were overwhelmingly positive … for the defense. The action featured a lot of running game work, and the big fellas up front were in control. Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, Kevin Harris, JaMycal Hasty and Terrell Jennings all received carries playing behind Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye. Of the 10 running plays that were called, only Jennings managed to pick up more than a couple of yards when he squirted through a hole off an inside handoff out of the shotgun. Otherwise, most carries were stacked up at the line and left the backs with nowhere to go.
"It was just a little wakeup call," linebacker Jahlani Tavai said. "We need to get our heads and shoulders ready to make sure we're ready to go on Thursday."
Thursday, of course, is the preseason opener against Carolina. But Mayo did not want to wait until then to acclimate his team to full contact. Perhaps that's a sign that most of the frontline players won't get many, if any, reps against the Panthers and they got their physical work in on Monday instead.
"We got two live periods of tackling in," added Keion White. "It's always good to feel what it feels like to tackle."
He and his mates had plenty of practice. Ja'Whaun Bentley was a standout during the periods, picking off a Brissett pass in the end zone on a goal line rep, then later taking down Stevenson after a minimal gain before knocking down Brissett's pass at the line on the following snap.
Even the receivers had to endure the hits immediately after the catch. Hunter Henry was taken down quickly after a short throw in the flat, and later JaQuae Jackson was buried by safety A.J. Thomas after catching a slant.
The lone exception to the defense's dominance came when Brissett hit Ja'Lynn Polk on a quick out and the rookie eluded the tackle of Alex Austin before picking up an additional 10-15 yards down the sideline. Otherwise, it was all defense.
Beyond the tackling, here's are one man's observations from Day 10 of training camp.
*One of the members of the front seven, Matthew Judon, was in pads and took part in plenty of reps. Since returning to practice August 1, Judon has been involved in most drills but not extensively in the 11-on-11 work. He was on Monday and spoke after practice for the first time since missing practice early last week.
When asked about his absence from practice July 30, a day after he wasn't in pads and had animated conversations with Mayo as well as Eliot Wolf and Matt Groh, Judon didn't offer much clarity.
"We had a conversation, and I didn't want to be a distraction to the team," Judon said. "I wasn't going to take part in those drills that day. I went inside and got a message and came back out to talk to [Wolf and Groh]."
Judon later said he "had something going on" when asked what prevented him from taking part in those practices but offered little in the way of details. Judon was asked about his comments from earlier in the offseason when he said he would play and would honor his contract.
"I'm going to play," he said. "I didn't say anything about practice." As for his contract, which he still would like to see addressed, he added, "You have to talk to them. It's not up to me. I love playing football and I love my teammates. I don't love the business of football."
*The day proved to be helpful in the attendance department as the Patriots got some players back on Monday. Tyquan Thornton, Jaheim Bell and Calvin Anderson all returned to the lineup. Chuks Okorafor missed his second straight practice while Marcus Jones and Joshuah Bledsoe were out for third straight day of work. Christian Barmore(blood clots) and Marte Mapu also remain out.
Thornton grabbed a touchdown in an early red zone rep, but later was seen running on the lower rehab field so he's still working his way back to 100 percent. With Okorafor out, Anderson took the right tackle spot with the first group while Vederian Lowe continued to hold down the fort at left tackle.
Unfortunately, there were no changes to the PUP list as Kendrick Bourne (knee), Cole Strange (knee), Sione Takitaki and Jake Andrews all remain out.
*Shaun Wade was back in his normal blue defensive jersey after practice for several days in a red, non-contact shirt. DeMario Douglas continues to practice in red.
*Keep an eye on Jennings, an undrafted rookie out of Florida A&M. He runs with power at 6-0, 217 pounds and tends to move the pile while showing some quickness and elusiveness as well. The backfield doesn't have much depth and he could provide some if he can take advantage of his opportunities. He should get some carries against the Panthers Thursday night.
*Members of the Bentley University staff, including head coach Saj Thakkar, were on the field watching practice.
*Jon Bon Jovi and Robert Kraft watched most of practice together on the field.
*One of the lesser-known players on the roster who has been seeing plenty of reps is outside linebacker Oshane Ximines. The 6-4, 254-pounder spent five seasons with the Giants with nine career starts and 6.5 sacks in 48 games. With Matthew Judon's availability being sporadic during the first week of camp, Ximines got reps with the first group on the edge and after Saturday's practice explained some of the differences between his role in New England from his time with the Giants. "Setting the edge and rushing the passer. It's a lot different," he said. "I felt like I was in more of a blitz scheme with the Giants, doing a lot of different things. But we still got some sauce [here] too. Don't get that twisted." Ximines flashed at times last week coming off the edge to provide some heat on the passer.
*There was a player wearing No. 46 in blue who was doing some long snapping with the kickers on the opposite field during the 11-on-11s. Joe Cardona was seen doing a lot of running back and forth at the time, so it's possible he's dealing with a minor injury and the team brought in a potential replacement.
*The players closed practice with some conditioning work on the hills.
*In addition to Judon, Tavai and White, Javon Baker, Jaylinn Hawkins and Caedan Wallace were among those who chatted with the media after practice.
*The Patriots are expected to be in pads once again on Tuesday with practice set to begin at 11 a.m. The session will be open to the public with gates opening at 10 a.m.
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