Coaching camp inventory watch: Javon Baker continues to impress initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Boston
FOXBORO — About 24 hours earlier than the Patriots donned pads for the primary time in coaching camp, issues obtained a bit of heated.
After a run-of-the-mill handoff to Rhamondre Stevenson throughout an 11-on-11 interval — the play seemed prefer it was blown up for no achieve by defensive sort out Daniel Ekuale — there was a quick skirmish between the offense and protection. David Andrews misplaced his helmet. Sidy Sow needed to readjust his shoulder pads. Chukwuma Okorafor and Davon Godchaux have been close to the middle of the pushing and shoving.
And issues continued to get a bit of free from there.
After a pair of Jacoby Brissett incompletions, Deatrich Smart appeared to contact Brissett within the backfield because the quarterback started his throwing movement. That is a no-no with passers in pink jerseys, and Smart acknowledged as a lot after the play, tapping his chest and elevating his hand as if to say, “My fault.”
Two performs later, with Drake Maye on the sector, it seemed just like the offense had a substitution situation and needed to re-huddle. Moments later, rookie guard Layden Robinson dedicated a false begin penalty and needed to be despatched for a lap.
It was a stretch value noting, partly, as a result of new head coach Jerod Mayo dealt with it in a different way than his predecessor would possibly’ve.
In earlier years, when camp practices inevitably obtained a bit of too bodily or disorganized, Invoice Belichick would usually collect the staff and emphatically remind them of his expectations. There have been moments when he would ship the whole roster, coaches included, for a lap or two simply to ship a message.
Mayo dealt with issues in a different way Sunday. The apply continued and issues ultimately tightened up with no cease within the motion. Through the subsequent aggressive interval, Brissett and Maye mixed to finish six of their subsequent seven makes an attempt, with the one incompletion coming because of a Ok.J. Osborn drop.
It is too early in Mayo’s tenure to evaluate from afar which approach is the precise approach of doing issues when practices get sideways. However the way in which during which he approached issues Sunday felt totally different for the Patriots, permitting gamers to get themselves in line in actual time.
Will that proceed when pads come on Monday if and when an analogous state of affairs presents itself?
In that case, add it to the listing of camp parts — together with later begin instances, music all through and extra aggressive staff intervals — Mayo might deal with in a different way than his previous boss.
Inventory Up
Javon Baker, broad receiver
For the third straight day, the rookie receiver out of Central Florida lands in our Inventory Up column. And Sunday would possibly’ve been his greatest day but. He began sluggish, not in search of a back-shoulder try from Jacoby Brissett throughout 1-on-1s, however he heated up from there. Later in the identical 1-on-1 interval, Baker put a nifty transfer on Christian Gonzalez on a deep over route for a protracted achieve. A number of performs later, he beat Mikey Victor and laid out to make a diving seize on a Jacoby Brissett move deep down the left sideline.
Later, in 11-on-11 work, Baker reeled in a crossing route from Drake Maye that seemed like it could’ve been a protracted catch-and-run in a dwell state of affairs. If Baker can proceed to make explosive performs in apply — he hauled within the longest play of the day on Friday, catching a landing on a 60-yard throw from Joe Milton — he might find yourself a contributing piece to the Patriots offense before his fourth-round pedigree would counsel.
Deatrich Smart, defensive finish
Whereas Smart might have gotten a bit of too near Brissett on one rep, he nonetheless did really get near the quarterback. That is the purpose. And it was one in every of two would-be sacks for Smart within the apply. He had one other later within the session the place each he and Ekuale obtained into the backfield early on. Brissett ultimately dumped it off to Antonio Gibson, however had the rep been dwell, he doubtless would’ve been swallowed up by Smart’s lengthy arms.
Smart additionally had a move batted on the line of scrimmage. He was third on the staff in pressures final season, per Professional Soccer Focus, and although a number of camp practices seems like he has an opportunity to be one in every of their most disruptive gamers up entrance but once more.
Antonio Gibson, working again
Talking of Gibson… He’s formally off of the non-football damage listing after collaborating in his first coaching camp apply as a member of the Patriots. The veteran working again confirmed good quickness at instances, placing a transfer on linebacker Jahlani Tavai in 1-on-1s that may’ve led to a holding penalty.
With Gibson wholesome and out there, he ought to see time forward of most different backs on the roster apart from Rhamondre Stevenson. There will probably be loads of work to go round for gamers at that place when pads are launched — and when the working sport turns into extra of a spotlight — on Monday.
Inventory Down
Patriots offensive line
For the second time within the final three practices, the massive boys up entrance for the Patriots offense land within the Inventory Down column. Layden Robinson’s false begin and subsequent lap would possibly’ve been the obvious of their miscues, however there have been others. There seemed to be a number of run-stuffs, three sacks, and Atonio Mafi fired two wayward snaps again to Bailey Zappe late within the apply.
For the second consecutive day, the Patriots began the day with Caedan Wallace at left sort out with Chukwuma Okorafor on the alternative finish of the road at proper sort out. We’ll see if this unit can generate a bit of extra constructive momentum — and get nearer to discovering their top-five grouping — with the pads on.
Ok.J. Osborn, broad receiver
There was a play throughout a late 7-on-7 interval the place it seemed as if Drake Maye made choice to attempt to shield one in every of his wideouts. Throwing a slant to Osborn, Maye appeared to attempt to lead his receiver away from linebacker Jahlani Tavai who was looming in the course of the sector. The move was on Osborn’s again shoulder pad however catchable. It ricocheted off its meant goal and fell incomplete. One other try and Osborn, this one throughout 11-on-11 work, was damaged up by Alex Austin. Osborn additionally had the soccer punched out of his grasp by Brenden Schooler throughout a ball-security drill.
It wasn’t all dangerous for the veteran free-agent add, although. He flashed his palms late to catch an in-the-bucket throw from Brissett throughout 1-on-1s. He additionally obtained a step on Marcus Jones deep down the sector and would possibly’ve had a protracted achieve had Maye not overthrown him by a yard or two.
Joe Milton, quarterback
After two practices within the Inventory Up column, Milton appeared to have a harder day Sunday. He accomplished simply one in every of his first 5 aggressive makes an attempt. In that stretch, on back-to-back passes, Milton gifted an interception to linebacker Joe Giles-Harris who was lurking beneath close to the road of scrimmage. Moments later, Milton sailed a throw to tight finish La’Michael Pettway that most likely ought to’ve been caught however was zipped unnecessarily over Pettway’s head.
Milton and Bailey Zappe break up aggressive reps right now, every getting 9 snaps complete in 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 intervals.
