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Patriots training camp Day 1 observations Offense emphasizing red zone execution following 2022 str |
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| ymakerpi8d | |||
Joined: March 13, 2024
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FOXBOROUGH, Ma s. -- And we're back. The kicked off training camp on Wednesday, and as the team began laying the groundwork for the 2023 season, Bill Belichick's club put an emphasis on one of its biggest weakne ses from a year ago. The most competitive aspects of Day 1 came during red zone drills when there was a variation of 7-on-7s, 11-on-11s, and more slow-paced execution to ensure everyone was on the same page.This comes one year after New England ranked dead last in the in red zone efficiency, scoring a touchdown on just 42.22% of their red zone trips in 2022."Just trying to get better in the red zone is a big emphasis every year," quarterback said after practice. "At the end of the day, a lot of defenses, you know, they'll let you get down there and then when you get down there they want to shut you down. To be able to go against our defense who is very multiple and does a lot compared to come other teams, but it's good Quentin Harris Jersey to experience it. It's good to watch the tape. Day 1 is all about watching the tape and seeing what you can adjust, right? ... I feel like the red zone's a great area that we definitely need to improve. I need to improve down there. Things happen quick and it all comes from practice." NE QB #10 CMP%65.2YDs2997TD14INT11YD/Att6.78 Jones completed just 58.9% of his throws in the red area last season and registered eight pa sing touchdowns (and one rushing) with one interception. That's a rather sharp drop off to Jones' rookie season where he completed 60.5% of his throws to go along with 16 pa sing touchdowns and one Drew Brees Jersey interception to give him a 101.2 pa ser rating in the red zone. On Day 1 of camp, Jones and New England's red zone offense did seem like a work in progre s. His first dropback of camp during a competitive 7-on-7 drill was picked off by on a throw intended for tight end but did bounce back with a touchdown to a few plays later. During 11-on-11, Jones was 4-for-7 by my count. Arguably his best throw of the day came on a low, over-the-middle throw to tight end , who was able to extend past rookie corner for the sliding score.One of the biggest storylines coming into camp was New England's two starting tackle spots and how that would ultimately shake out. The club kept in-house this offseason and added free agents like and . Brown was late arriving to minicamp and didn't part in much Adarius Lemons Jersey action while he was there, but the behemoth was slotted in as the team's left tackle when Mac Jones was under center, signaling that he has the inside track at manning the blindside in 2023. As for the right side, it was Reiff that took the first snaps at tackle while Jones was under center.Elsewhere along the line, , who has been with the team since 2020 and converted to the offensive line last season after beginning his career on the defensive side, was New England's right guard with the presumed starts (alongside and ) with Michael Onwenu starting camp on the PUP list.The top wide receivers for the Patriots were largely mi sing in action during the offseason program, particularly free agent signee , who was reportedly recovering from a knee injury he suffered during Kansas City's run last year. Wednesday was the first time we were able to see Smith-Schuster practice with the Patriots. While he was unable to get work in with Mac Jones this offseason, the wideout was able to haul in a pa s from his new quarterback during 11-on-11s that were primarily featured in the red zone. Smith-Schuster appears to be one of New England's top wide receivers along with with the likes of and following suit. Caleb Daniels Jersey Ty Montgomery made waves during training camp last summer, but things were unable to materialize during the regular season after he was placed on IR in mid-September. Now that he's back and healthy, he's picking up where he left off last summer and continued to impre s as a wide receiver/running back hybrid. While Montgomery may be able to line up in the backfield and as a wide receiver, New England may view him as more of a wideout. An indication of that was due to Montgomery not wearing the extra layer of padding on his outer helmet, which is required for running backs, tight ends, and linemen on offense.As we've previously noted during OTAs and minicamp, 2023 first-round pick Christian Gonzalez continues to look like a plug-and-play cornerback within this secondary. That held true on Day 1 of camp as he continued to work with the regular starters on defense.It's worth noting that cornerback was present and participating on Day 1 of camp. which is what Belichick noted would happen Nick O'Leary Jersey during his Tuesday pre ser. Jones pleaded not guilty this offseason of weapons after the cornerback tried to bring two firearms in his carry-on luggage at Boston Logan International Airport, according to Ma sachusetts State Police. Belichick said Tuesday that "it's a legal situation that I can't comment on, that's ongoing."The Patriots e sentially had perfect attendance on Day 1 of camp outside of Onwenu (PUP), (PUP), and (PUP). Offensive tackle Calvin Anderson, who signed with the team this offseason, is on the NFI list. | ||
| Posted: March 13, 2024 | Quote | ||
