Letter From Patriots Camp, Volume 2

At the end of a week that began with Ty Law’s (and Leon Gray’s) induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame, a practice in the stadium for season ticket holders and (pick one):

1) Emperor Belichick demonstrating that his Weather Machine is fully operational, or
2) Tom Brady picking up Thor’s hammer

… and is culminating with a weekend trip to Detroit, it’s as good a time as any to update the notes from Training Camp 2019.

— It’s the nature of football that the defense starts out ahead of the offense early in camp. At all levels. Throughout time. Ever since God first laid out the first 120 x 53 1/3 yard field and in His divine wisdom created the hash mark and said it was good. For 2019 Patriots it’s especially so. The defense has been dominating, from the full squad scrimmages to the 7-on-7s on down to the individual drills. Brady has admitted as much. Whether that worries you about the offense or encourages you about the defense is probably a window into your soul. But I’m choosing to be glad given how the offense always manages to figure itself out and the defense looks like it’s picking up where it left off last year, with five impressive, lock-down halves out of the six they played in the postseason.

— One standout in particular has been Michael Bennett, who no sooner got off a plane from Honolulu than he started ragdolling the starting offensive linemen in 1-on-1 drills, including earholing Joe Thuney and Shaq Mason both. Since those are the best tandem of guards in the NFL and we couldn’t be sure about Bennett coming in, you have to be a masochist to not love hearing that.

— A couple of days ago I mentioned how good UDFA Jakobi “With a K and and I” Meyers “With two Es and an S” has looked. And he hasn’t regressed at all. In fact Thursday he went over the top of 2nd round pick Joejuan Williams for a grab that went at least 50 yards. LIke I mentioned, he went undrafted largely because he posted the fourth slowest time at the Indianapolis Dog & Pony Show out of the 37 wideouts who ran. But he gets open. He’s shown play-speed to out run guys like JC Jackson. And he’s caught every ball he’s had a chance on. Towards the end of the longest practice of camp, Brady hit him twice. Meaning that for now at least, he’s in the Coveted Circle of Trust.

— The best news out of Friday mostly involves the returning sophomores. One is that Isaiah Wynn finally took part in some reps, albeit in a non-padded practice and with the second unit. But still. They are bringing him along slowly after watching his Achilles blow out like a tire in a fauxball game last August, and this is encouraging. The other news is that Sony Michel was a full participant, looks to be running full speed and making sharp cuts. Even better than that, he took a lot of snaps alongside rookie/human insurance policy Damien Harris, catching passes. That was the biggest weakness of his game last year, to the point they simply stopped throwing to him. If he can upgrade and that area and both he and Harris can be dual threats at the same time that would make them … what? A quadruple threat? Anyway they could present matchup nightmares, giving teams a Jumbo look then checking to pass or forcing them to respect the pass and then gashing them with power runs. There’s a long way to go, but it’ll be one of the most interesting elements to look for.

— Your other most consistently reliable WR continues to be Maurice Harris. Edelman is taking it slow with a busted thumb. For all his clutch catches when they’ve needed him most, Phillip Dorsett still disappears for stretches for long stretches like he’s got Predator invisibility armor. The sand continues to run out of Demaryius Thomas’ hourglass. And Dontrelle Inman is the same body type as Harris only four years older with none of the production. Braxton Berrios still seems like a bubble guy who’ll make the roster. But don’t be surprised if Harris starts the year as Brady’s safe 2nd option while they bring Harry along and figure out what they’ve got in Meyers.

— It should give the heart of every Pats fan a warm, glowing, glowing warmth to see so many retired Patriots working around the team. Jamie Collins has talked about how much he likes working with his old ‘backer mate Jerod Mayo. Troy Brown has been a regular. Randy Moss showed up to give crazily awesome Randy Moss inspirational speeches and catch bombs from Brady. And Chase Winovich talked about how much he’s gotten out of listening to pointers from Willie McGinest. Given the fact that Belichick probably asked every one of those guys to take a pay cut at some point, their presence should tell you all you need to know about The Patriot Way.

–Winovich also stuck around after practice to get extra work in with Brady, learning ways to turn the corner more effectively using a blocking pad. It’s been a big week for Michigan Men.

— But no one is staying after for the professor’s office hours more than Danny Etling. He’s one practice away from the equipment guys giving him the keys and telling him to turn the lights out when he leaves.

— Pat Chung continues to wear a red jersey, which is great for two reasons. First, fuck him getting hit in practice. Second, it’s giving big time starter reps to Obi Melifonwu, who I was hoping to get a look at last season but he barely saw the field. If you aren’t at least a little curious about what a 6-4 224 lb defensive back would be like to have around in the age of base 4-2-5 defenses, we cannot be friends.

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— As someone who is way more invested in whether rookie 5th round punter Jake Bailey makes the team than any rational person should be, I was sorry to see him not holding on field goals. Then they had him kicking off as an emergency backup for Stephen Gostkowski. And he’s demonstrated he’s got the leg strength of a Street Fighter character. I suppose anyone can catch a snap and put it on the ground, right?

— Also for what it’s worth, one of the guys who’s being tried as a punt returner is Gunner Olszewski, the best Special Teamer name in Patriots history and their best football name since Patrick Pass. Though if it makes it, it’s gonna get confusing in those meeting rooms.

— Lastly, Dan Skipper is a 6-9 backup defensive lineman. With the look of the floor manager at Best Buy. And a flair for avoiding controversial answers to questions that has no doubt endeared him to his head coach.

I’m just sorry they won’t have practice on Brady’s 42nd birthday tomorrow. The crowd singing to him is as much a part of summer as Bob Marley and Jimmy Buffett.