The Boston Globe - 08.08.2019

(Joyce) #1

C2 Sports The Boston Globe THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2019


After a pair of high-intensity sessions, the Patriots and Lions went
throughajointwalkthrough that lastedlessthananhourWednes-
day morningin Allen Park, Mich. Everything was done at quarter-
speed as the teams get ready for their exhibition openerThursday
night.
Here are some observations from Day 11 of trainingcamp:
ROLLCALL
RTE Lance Kendricks (undisclosed), S Nate Ebner(PUP),WR Cam
Meredith (PUP),CB Ken Webster (PUP), and OT Yodny Cajuste (NFI)
did not travel with the team.
RWRs Julian Edelman (NFI) and Demaryius Thomas (PUP) and RB
Rex Burkhead (undisclosed) were not in uniform but were present
at the workout.
INJURIES:None.
DRESSCODE:Short and shells.
ODDS ANDENDS
RWR N’Keal Harry, who tweaked his hamstring late in Tuesday’s
practice, was on hand. The Patriots’ top draft pick this year did
some work during the solo walkthrough but didn’t participant in the
joint walkthrough. Harrylooked fine, but again,everythingwas
done in slow motion.
RQB Brian Hoyer went through the paces with the first group of
Patriots, which was a mix of first-, second-, and third-stringers.
Rookie Jarrett Stidham took over after a few series.
RNeither team tried to defend passes, which were mostly lobs
anyway.
RBill Belichickwas hands-on as he went over substitution patterns
and getting players in and out of different packages quickly.
RTom Brady was the hardest-working player on the field — what
else is new? The quarterback went through some drills with a staff-
er holdingresistance bands on a separate field. Brady worked on
pocket footwork and did some wind sprints.
RDanny Etling worked on the kickoff coverage team and as a wide
receiver and caught a few passes from Stidham.
RMichigan alum Chase Winovich again had a huge following at
practice, including one youngster wearing a long, blondewig.
POSTPRACTICEPORTRAIT
Belichickchatted with and gave a hug to Lions legendand Pro Foot-
ball Hall of Famer Lem Barney. The cornerback played for Detroit
from 1967-77and went to seven Pro Bowls. Belichickwas an as-
sistant on the Lions staff in 1976and ’77.
SCHEDULE
Thursday:ExhibitionGame1 vs. Lions, 7:30 p.m.
Friday:No practice.
JIM McBRIDE

Wednesday’s Patriots practice report Five things to watch in exhibition opener

in particular could use a good
showing.
At receiver, it’s timeto see
which of this year’s training
camp stars keep it up in full
pads,not playing against team-
mates. MauriceHarris, Jakobi
Meyers,and Gunner Olszewski
have madesplashesthus far.
It was interesting that Har-
ris and DontrelleInman didn’t
do much during Wednesday’s
walkthrough, whichmight
mean they won’t play a lot.
Thursday also will probably
mark Danny Etling’s profes-
sional debutas a receiver.
2.Keepyoureyesontwo
standoutrookies:Jarrett Stid-
hamandChaseWinovich.
Brian Hoyer probably will
get the bulk of the reps at quar-
terback,but Stidhamshould
get a few. It’s a lot of fun to
watch him throw.
Winovich has had a great
camp;he dominated his one-
on-ones Tuesday against the Li-
ons linemenand also had two
plays ruled“sacks”(there’s no
real sacking in training camp)
in 11-on-11s. Since he played at
Michigan,he’ll probably get
someattention on the broad-
cast.


  1. Pay attentionto what the
    coaches are doing.
    One major question for the


uPATRIOTS
ContinuedfromPageC1

Patriotsis how their defensive
coaching responsibilitieswill
come together. We know that
Bill Belichick will be heavily in-
volved,but we’ve alsoseen
first-yearlinebackers coach Je-
rod Mayo doingthe communi-
cation during training camp
practices.
Preseasongames are often
an opportunity for an assistant
to try his handat play-calling,
so, with so many changes to the
coaching staff, it will be inter-
estingto see if anyonehas
earned that opportunity.


  1. Doa speed check.
    The thing most players say
    they wantout of the first pre-


season gameis to feel fast. Even
competitive reps in training
camp aren’t at game speed, and
thosereps aren’t strung togeth-
er the way they are in games.
So, players wantto feel like
they’re comfortablegetting
revved up to 100 percent.
“I’m a big believer in just go-
ing out there and just playing
fast,” said Phillip Dorsett. “If
you make a mistake, make it
fast.”
Jason McCourty said the
samething almost verbatim.
He pointed out that players are
showcasing themselves not just
to theircurrent teams but to all
the teams,and that a highmo-

tor shines through to everyone
regardless of whether they
know the play calls or not.
“Play fast and play aggres-
sive,” McCourty said.“You
don’t wantto make any mis-
takes — the coaching staff is
watching— but you also have
to remember there’s 31 other
teams that may have no idea
that you just madea mistake on
that play.
“If you’re flying around and
on the mistake, you get a sack,
they’re going to give you a plus
for that play. So just playing
fast and playing aggressive.”
If you wantto put yourself
in the mind-set of a player on
the field, thinkaboutthe pace
of the game.If a team, unit, or
individual looksa step ahead,
they’re probablydoingwell by
themselves.


  1. If Jake Bailey is punting,
    stayseated.
    The rookieand Stanford
    graduate can senda punt from
    here to Palo Alto. He’s genuine
    competition for Ryan Allen,
    and has also donesomekick-
    offs duringcamp.If he’s about
    to boot one, just wait a moment
    before you go get your snack
    fromthe kitchen.


Nora Princiotti canbe reached
at [email protected].
Followheron Twitter at
@NoraPrinciotti.

CARLOS OSORIO/ASSOCIATEDPRESS
PatriotsrookieChaseWinovich(left), chattingwithWillie
McGinest, willbeworth watchingin Thursday’s opener.

RaidersWR Brown


has frostbite on foot


FROM STAFF ANDWIREREPORTS
Raiders receiverAntonio
Brownis apparentlysuffering
the aftereffects of a cryotherapy
incident gone
wrong.
According
to multiple re-
ports Wednesday night, the vet-
eran has been out of action
throughout the first week-plus
of Oakland’s camp after not
wearing the appropriate foot-
wear during a recent stint in a
cryotherapy machine.
The incident left him with
frostbite on the soles of his feet,
an image Brown posted to so-
cial media.
Cryotherapy is commonly
used to relieve muscle pain,
sprains, and swelling after soft
tissue damage or surgery. It can
range from using ice packs to
recover from a workout or time
in a cold chamber.
Oakland coachJonGruden
said he couldn’t provide an up-
date on Brown, but did say the
receiver is “gathering informa-
tion” as he gets up to speed in
the Raiders’ offense.
“I have nothing new on that,
no.Ihavenonewnews,”
Gruden told reporters. “He’s
gathering information, and I’ll
bring you up to speed when I
know something.
“But I’m not going to sit
here and speculate any more.”


Kaepernick‘ready’


Colin Kaepernicksays he’s
‘‘still ready’’ to return to the
NFL, even thoughhe is set to
enter his third season out of the
league.
In a video posted on social
media, the 31-year-old Kaeper-
nick is shown working out in a
gym.Hesaysinthevideo:‘‘5
a.m. 5 days a week. For 3 years.
Still Ready.’’
Kaepernick, then with the
San Francisco 49ers, helped
start a wave of protests about
social and racial injustice in
2016 by kneeling during the
national anthem at games.
The protests slowed down
last season as the NFL made
contributions to organizations
chosen by players and prom-
ised more attention to social


justice issues.
While he has been away
from the playing field, the for-
mer quarterback has become
an advocate for social and ra-
cial justice.
The NFL in February settled
a collusion grievance Kaeper-
nick and cornerbackEric Reid
filed against the league. Reid,
who played 13 games last sea-
son for the Panthers, signed a
three-year contract with Caroli-
na in February.

Redskins idle McCoy
The Washington Redskins
do not intend to playColt Mc-
Coyin their preseason opener
at the Cleveland Browns on
Thursday, according to a per-
son with knowledge of the deci-
sion, and instead will hold the
10-year veteran quarterback
out for precautionary reasons.
The movereflects the team’s
careful approach with McCoy
as he has worked his way back
from a broken leg that ended
his 2018season.
He was held out of all offi-
cial offseason workouts as he
rehabbed the injury before re-
turning for training camp.
McCoy is competing for the
team’s starting quarterback job
withCaseKeenum, acquired in
an offseason trade with the
Broncos, and rookie first-round
pickDwayneHaskins.

Donations to victims
The Dallas Cowboys and the
Cincinnati Bengals are making
donations to the victims of the
mass shootings over the week-
end in El Paso, Texas, and Day-
ton, Ohio. The NFL Foundation
was planning matching dona-
tions of $50,000 to the El Paso
Community Foundation Vic-
tims’ Fund and $75,000 to the
Dayton Foundation... The Pro
Bowl will return to Orlando for
the fourth straight year and be
held on Jan. 26, one week be-
fore the Super Bowl.. .Jack
DolbinJr., a wide receiver who
was on the Denver Broncos’
first Super Bowl team in 1977,
died at age 70. Dolbin, who be-
came a chiropractor, educator
and lecturer, died in Allentown,
Pa.

JOHN MCDONNELL/WASHINGTON POST

The Redskinsplanto sitQBColtMcCoyas a precautionin
theteam’s preseasonopenerThursday nightin Cleveland.


Dorsett, Brady have chemistry

ByJim McBride
GLOBESTAFF
ALLENPARK, Mich. —To m
Bradytook off like he was shot
out of cannon as he ran down-
field to cele-
brate a long
touchdown
pass toPhillip
Dorsett.
Brady practically tackled
Dorsett after the play, which
happened late in Tuesday’s
practice and came just two
snapsafter the pair had failed
to connect on another deep
shot.
Brady’s action underscored
how important Dorsett is to a
Patriots offense that is thin on
experienced receivers, especial-
ly withJulianEdelmanside-
linedwith a broken thumb.
Dorsett often talks about
how he feels as thoughhe con-
tinually learns and grows in
this offense. He said there’s no
secret to how you build chemis-
try with Brady.
“It’s going out there and
making plays,’’ Dorsett said af-
ter Wednesday’s walkthrough.
“It’s thinkinglike him. Being
where he thinksyou’re going to
be. And showing confidence
that you know what you’re do-
ing.’’
The two-play sequence
showshow far they’ve come.
Instead of ignoring Dorsett af-
ter the drop,Brady went right
back to him.
“I wouldsay it’s trust,’’ said
Dorsett. “Just throwit up there
and hopefully the receiver can
make a play for you. Obviously
I didn’t get the first one, but we
got the second one and that
showsyou the trust that we
have. But we have to keep go-
ing. It’s only the second weekof
camp.’’

Dorsett had just 32 recep-
tions for 290 yards last season
and his snaps declined when
Josh Gordoncame aboard and
quickly adapted to New Eng-
land’s offense.
After Gordon’s suspension,
Dorsett steppedup, particular-
ly in the postseason, wherehe
had five catches for 70 yards
and big touchdowns in the divi-
sional-round win over the
Chargers and the AFC Champi-
onshipgamein Kansas City.
“I believe I am one person
that [Brady] can trust,’’ said
Dorsett. “Obviously we’ve made
someplays in the past — we’ve
made some critical plays in the
past — and I feel like we have to
keep going, and I’m just trying
to get better each day, honestly.
He sees me working hard and
I’m never going to stop working
hard.’’

Gordonapplies
According to an ESPN re-

port, Gordon has officially ap-
pliedto the NFL for reinstate-
ment. He is serving an indefi-
nite suspension for violating
the league’s substance-abuse
policy. Gordonwas hit with the
ban Dec. 20 and missed New
England’s final two regular-sea-
son games and their playoff
marchto the Super Bowl.
Gordon became a big part of
the New England offense after
his arrival in Week 3, catching
40 passes for 720 yards and
threetouchdowns. His return
wouldbe a huge boost to the of-
fense.
It’s unclear if Gordon would
be suspended for any gamesif
and when he’s reinstated.
“Oncehe gets on the right
track, we’ll get to that place,’’
commissionerRoger Goodell
said in March. “But I think
right now, he has had a com-
plete focus on, ‘I have to get
myself all cleared in the right
placebefore I can get back on

the field.’ ’’
It’s also unknownwhat
plans the Patriots would have
for Gordon if he’s allowedto re-
turn, but he did sign his re-
stricted free agent tender in the
spring, which includes a base
salary of $2.025 million.

Playingtime
Based on Wednesday’s walk-
through, it’s highly likely that
Brady and most of the estab-
lished starters will get the night
off for Thursday’s exhibition
opener against the Lions. It
was interesting to note that
some projected starters and/or
expected major contributors
did line up for the walk-
through, including linebackers
Jamie CollinsandDerek Riv-
ers, and defensive tacklesMike
Pennel,Danny Shelton, and
AdamButler... Tight ends
Benjamin Watson,Matt La-
Cosse,StephenAnderson, and
RyanIzzoall are expected to
play as they continue theirbat-
tles for roster spots.. .Dan
Skipper,who has been taking
first-team reps at left tackle,
likely will play, though the rest
of the offensive line regulars
probably will rest... Expect to
see rookieGunnerOlszewski
return kickoffs andBraxton
Berriosto handle punts against
the Lions... CountDanny
Amendolaamong thosewho
think the 42-year-old Brady can
play for a lot longer. “Perhaps
we should stop putting a dead-
line on it and just let him play,”
said the Lions receiver and for-
mer Patriot. “There’s no time-
line, bro.’’

JimMcBride canbe reached at
[email protected].
Follow him on Twitter
@globejimmcbride.

PATRIOTS
NOTEBOOK

CARLOS OSORIO/ASSOCIATEDPRESS
PhillipDorsett (32 catchesfor 290 yardslast season)is oneof thefew receiverswithexperiencein thePatriots’offense.

NFL


NOTEBOOK


CARLOS OSORIO/ASSOCIATEDPRESS
PatriotsreceiverMatthew Slater(left) andTom Brady
shareda lightmomentaftera lightworkoutonWednesday.
Free download pdf