Despite cloudy skies and occasional rain drops the water hoses were out to start Patriots practice on Sunday, as rookies and first-year coaches took turns recovering footballs under a deluge manned by various Patriots veteran leaders like Deatrich Wise and David Andrews.
The annual "carwash" tradition continued over near Dante's Inferno but soon after everyone was back on the practice fields, drying off and getting underway on a lively two-hour padded session, their 16th practice of the summer and ninth in pads.
The day climaxed with the offense running a two-minute drill and the defense prevailing with a stop.
"We didn't finish, but you know, that's something we could continue to work on in preseason," said running back Antonio Gibson afterward. "I rather it happen now than during the season, but we saw some positive things, we saw some negative things. So it's our job to come out here and correct that."
Drake Maye had a solid day again particularly in red zone 7-on-7s where he threw three touchdowns in five plays, hitting Tyquan Thornton, K.J. Osborn and Javon Baker for scores. Maye's best throw of the day came in third-down situational work as he placed a fade where Osborn could jump and catch it over Marcus Jones. The downfield throws have been there all summer, but it's his improving consistency and calm decisiveness that are most promising.
For the second straight day, the offensive line depth was thinned with Calvin Anderson and Nick Leverett not participating and there was a lot of rotation across the line, however, it still seems like the Lowe-Sow-Andrew-Onwenu-Okorafor lineup is atop the depth chart, despite Onwenu taking right tackle snaps and Caedan Wallace, Layden Robinson and Michael Jordan getting plenty of looks at multiple spots.
Lowe continues to be the top option at left tackle and the 2022 Vikings 6th-rounder has impressed EVP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf, who spoke before practice.
"Vederian's done a really nice job," said Wolf. "He's steadily improved. We said it last year, if he could just learn that he has really good length to get his hands out, then he would have a chance to ascend to that starter level. He's really started to do that this year, and it's been impressive to watch him progress. We're excited to continue working with him.
"My main thing is just trying to be consistent down in and down out," said Lowe after practice. "I'm very particular on my game and, you know, just things that I can work on. So just listen to coach Peters, just focus on little things that I can work on to kind of perfect that.
"I'm very picky with myself. And they're very particular with what I need to get better at as well. So, you know, working with them so I can just improve every single week."
With Austin Hooper joining Hunter Henry as absences, Mitchell Wilcox assumed the top tight end reps until he was then spotted leaving practice with a team trainer. That opened the door for rookie Jaheim Bell and vets La'Michael Pettway and Jacob Warren to get more snaps and Bell in particular showed up with three touchdown catches in red zone 11s, one each from Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye and Joe Milton.
Bell has shown some flashes since missing five practices earlier this month and will have plenty of chances to shine with a banged-up tight end room that could be down their top three.
The practice wrapped up with a competitive field goal drill, with spare players close in around the kick attempt trying to be as distracting as possible. Joey Slye was 4-of-4 while Chad Ryland went 3-of-5 (wide left from 49 and wide right from 55).
Jabrill Peppers was 1-of-1 with his Irish jig to Shippin' up to Boston.
The Patriots will be back on the practice fields on Monday before a day off on Tuesday.
Practice Notes
Absent - Marte Mapu, Nick Leverett, Joshua Uche, Calvin Anderson, Austin Hooper (new), JaQuae Jackson, Hunter Henry, Christian Barmore, Oshane Ximines, Armon Watts (new)
PUP - Bourne, Strange, Takitaki
Without Uche or Ximines the edge pass rush is looking extremely thin... Marcus Jones and Jonathan Jones both look back and full go, that's great news, M-Jones will be fun to watch in the kick return game this year... Rough start to red zone 7s for the first-team offense, none of the six plays were successful...Some nice holes in the run game today, notable on first-team early-down 11s... Keion White seemed a lighter participant than usual, Deatrich Wise played some stand-up edge... Michael Jordan is the latest to get a look at center, Liam Fornadel took second-team reps without Leverett... Drake Maye and the second team did not get a two-minute opportunity at the end of practice... Milton and Zappe split limited reps.
Quotes of Note
Jahlani Tavai on teammate Raekwon McMillan
"He's a dog... that guy, he's been through a lot, and you could see the passion that he plays with, especially, you know, last week, whether he was coming downhill or chasing guys to make a tackle. So I have nothing but respect for Raekwon. And you know, the sky's the limit for him. You know, I can't really speak on him, because I don't know what's going on his mind. But that guy, he's been on a mission."
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