Today was the perfect day to get back to Patriots training camp.
One, because it was the first practice of the offseason to feature full pads.
I figure at the very least I can join her onstage for a Destiny’s Child number or two.
Blocking, tackling, hitting and so on.
–But the run game was featured heavily in 11-on-11s.
At least more than it has the rest of camp so far.
A lot of stretch runs, motions by the running backs and so on.
–To that end, Rhamondre Stevenson is being given light duty.
So the workload was carried by Kevin Harris, Pierre Strong Jr. and JJ Taylor.
And interestingly enough, the fullback duties where handled by Jalani Tavai.
Then toward the end of practice, they came up without pads on to watch from the sideline.
Which could mean they flunked the conditioning run at the beginning of camp.
Or it might be, like Stevenson, a sign they ran out battery power late in the season.
Or it could be that they’re just getting a veteran benefit of the doubt.
Regardless, the chances it’s got to do with being unhappy with their contracts is seems pretty minimal.
These are not the actions of a player or a franchise in the heated throes of a nasty negotiation.
The O-linemen worked on double teams using the hand-held pads.
Rookie DE Keion White against Rookie OL Sidy Sow.
S Brandon Schooler on TE Anthony Firsker.
All Funny Namer TE Johnny Lumpkin facing LB Anfernee Jennings.
It felt like every late summer youth football practice in America.
–With one exception.
But other than that, hitting drills make the whole enterprise seem familiar, at least.
Cole Strange had to get examined after a blocking drill, replaced by 5th round rookie Antonio Mafi.
As did depth WR Jalen Hurd.
DB Brad Hawkins had to be helped off the field.
And a couple of others went down as well.
Which is less than ideal.
Even a handsome genius like me doesn’t know the answer.
But hopefully it’ll be a major issue in the elections next year.
But the breakout star of camp so far has been Demario Douglas.
They gave him the ball on a Jet Sweep.
Have had him in the punt return rotations.
And even stood out while blocking upfield on a few of those aforementioned screen passes.
Stay tuned for further posts about this guy.
There were more touchdowns in the red zone than there have been so far.
Probably owing to the threat of full speed run plays.
(To be fair, he’s 5-8, so that’s not hard to do.)
Zappe also had an end zone pass for Thornton broken up by Isaiah Bolden,.
and overall completed about half his throws.
He seems destined to end up in whatever league is next to go bankrupt.
At least it was by my time.
For the ones who had the misfortune of standing within earshot of him, it probably felt like millennia.
I mean, I have no idea what he was saying, and I’m just speculating.
Thanks for all you’re doing on this journey of personal discovery for us all."
And it wasn’t long after that everyone was sent to the hill down back to run gassers.
