This was a tremendous opportunity for the Patriots to test themselves against a top-quality opponent. Minnesota is one of the favorites to make the playoffs and have a run at the Super Bowl. Their Defense is rated as the #2 in DVOA. Their pass rush led by Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel is fierce and a reflection of their Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores. The Offense under Kevin O’Connell is innovative and as long as 2nd year QB JJ McCarthy can play within himself, they will go far. They have a good Offensive line (got rid of their one sieve – Garrett Bradbury) with the additions of Ryan Kelly and rookie Donovan Jackson. Christian Darrisaw is back at LT after missing the 2nd half of last season with an injury. They were the perfect opponent in Joint Practice.
On Wednesday, I think the Patriots shocked the Vikings by playing them to a draw! The Patriots’ pass rush, which we have seen shred our own Offensive Line in Training Camp practices, put it to the experienced Vikings Offensive line to the tune of 7 sacks. The Pats’ Offensive line, starting two rookies on the left side, had problems with the Flores pass rush. I must add that this part of practice emphasized 2nd and long situational play. In this scenario, running the ball is basically eliminated, and the pass rush can pin their ears back and just fly upfield. Flores used multiple faux fronts with LBs up on the line and DL dropping in coverage. They also ran stunts and twists to confuse the young lineman of the Pats. The Pats gave up 3 of their totals of 6 sacks in this period. This type of play is invaluable for the young line and the unit as a whole trying to develop chemistry with the 5-person unit.
Although Drake Maye was under pressure, he completed several big plays. The highlight was a 2-minute drill in which Maye hit RB Tre’Veyon Henderson on a blown coverage. He took it 75 yards to the house. In the workout, he also threw 3 more big plays in 11-on-11 competition. He went from getting smacked in the mouth during the 2nd and long situations to shredding the Vikings’ Defense in 11-on-11.
Ben Brown
Ben Brown stepped in at left guard this week. (PHOTO: Eric Canha-Imagn Images)
The second joint practice was not nearly as good as the first for the Pats. It started badly for the Pats when rookie LG Jared Wilson pulled up after a one-on-one rep. he walked off under his own power and went back to the Locker Room. Ben Brown (not Cole Strange) replaced him at LG and struggled all day. This practice emphasized Red Zone play. In the Pre-season game versus Washington, the Patriots’ Defense gave up 5 scores in the Red Zone. The only real stop they made was after the Maye fumble, and they held the Commanders to a Field Goal attempt (which they missed).
Minnesota dominated this practice on both sides of the ball. J.J. McCarthy couldn’t be stopped in the Red Zone. He had tight end TJ Hockenson open at will. This is the second week the Pats Defense has not been able to cover a TE. On the other side, Drake Maye was under constant pressure, and Will Campbell had his worst practice, giving up 3 sacks, and then had a false start in a 1-minute drill. To Maye’s credit, after back-to-back sacks and then a 5-yard false start on Campbell, Maye unloaded a 40-yard prayer to Kayshon Boutte (into double coverage) for a TD.
The Defense (probably because of the emphasis on Red Zone play) didn’t have the pass rush they showed the day before, registering only two (both by Christian Barmore, who didn’t practice on Wednesday).
The good news coming out of the two days of Practice is that Drake Maye, despite the high amount of pressure, didn’t have any turnovers. Also, Josh Dobbs bounced back from a bad practice on Wednesday to have a very good practice on Thursday. Efton Chism, Kayshon Boutte, and Javon Baker had two good practice sessions. Chism in particular had 3 TDs over the two days. There is no way they are exposing Chism to waivers at cutdown day. It’s also becoming clear that Boutte, who some thought might be traded before the draft, and Baker, who has stacked multiple good practices together, are all going to make the team.
Pre-Season Game #2 Versus Vikings
Minnesota will not be playing Justin Jefferson and J.J. McCarthy, according to head coach Kevin O’Connell.
The Patriots will probably not have Christian Gonzalez, Rhamondre Stevenson, Marte Mapu, Ja’Lynn Polk, Kendrick Bourne, Jahlani Tavai, or Terrell Jennings, who didn’t practice Thursday. Jabrill Peppers and DJ James were limited, and Jared Wilson left practice, and I don’t expect him to play.
Who Should Play and Who Should Sit
I am in the camp that says you need to get the second year QB as many snaps in the Pre-Season as you can. He didn’t start until the 5th game last year, he needs reps. The Offensive Line needs to play together and build chemistry.
Now does Jared Wilson need to play if his is nicked up – NO! Any of those players that have injuries or have come back from injury (Diggs + Barmore) don’t need to prove anything and should be held out.
I would expect the starters to play for a half. Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston thinks it may be just a coupe of series because Maye threw 48 passes in the two joint practice.
Players to Watch
Kyle Dugger – he has gone from a potential Captain to on the bubble to make the team. I said before the season started that Dugger needs to be moved to Linebacker. His pass coverage skills are abysmal. He can’t even cover a TE. He has lost his starting position and even with Jabrill Peppers out, he was still relegated to the second team defense.
Will Campbell – He has been under a microscope since the day camp started. I am very concerned about Campbell’s play. He has given up at least a sack or more in each practice or game. He is on a pace for 17+ sacks for the season. The worst player in the league gave up just 12 sacks. If Wilson is hurt for any length of time, I would consider moving Campbell inside to Guard and playing Lowe at Left Tackle. I expect that Campbell’s run blocking will continue to be spectacular. You can call it short arms, but I don’t think that Campbell can play Left Tackle in this league.
Vederian Lowe – is a fourth-year player, essentially a 3rd year player because he played only one game for Minnesota in 2022. He was traded to the Patriots in 2023 and played 11 games. Last season he gave up just 5 sacks in 14 games. His big problem was 13 penalties called on him. Lowe is just 26 and this is his prime. Pats suffered through his growing pains, and I think they need to re-install him in the lineup. I would also add that the present Offensive Line coaching staff has greatly improved over the coaching that Lowe had over the last two seasons. Lowe’s ratings from PFF last year was 54.0 Overall, 66.9 Pass Blocking and 45.8 Run Blocking. His pass blocking True Grade was 56th. Only 4 rookies had better Pas Blocking grades. Joe Alt and Roger Rosengarten played Right Tackle. Troy Fautanu and JC Latham had better pass blocking grades than Lowe. He should be playing with the 2nd unit as he switched out with Marcus Bryant there. He appears to be ahead of Demontrey Jacobs.
Pass Rush – Was Thursday’s practice a fluke? Have the Patriots really improved the pass rush? K’Lavon Chaisson didn’t play in the Washington game where the team only had two sacks. Elijah Ponder has had his moments in practice and he has been playing ahead of Anfernee Jennings. Truman Jones won an off-season practice award and served as a Captain last week against Washington. Harold Landry has had a good camp and I would like to see if the pressure from the inside is handing him clean up sacks or does he still have the juice to make the sacks on his own. Interior lineman such as Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Jeremiah Pharns and Isaiah Iton have been pushing the pocket.
Keion White – Has he hit the wall after beating up on rookie Will Campbell at the beginning of camp. He has done little in the two joint practices. He had 5 sacks in the 1st two games of last year and didn’t have another sack the rest of the way. I believe all of his sacks were from the DT position over a guard. White is also a below average run stopper and doesn’t hold the edge. He also loved to rush up field and abandon his rush lane, allowing the QB to escape the pocket and extend plays or scramble for 1st down.
Red Zone Defense – As noted above, the Red Zone Defense is awful. No one can cover TE. Marcus Jones is a liability in confined spaces and can be easily overwhelmed by receivers. Even Efton Chism has beaten Jones in the corner of the End Zone. Jones had great coverage. He just got bodied off the ball.
Kicker Competition – This has been a terrific competition. The battle has been very close, with both players having just one bad day (Monday’s practice). Andy Borregales got all the kicks in Wednesday’s practice had hit 4 of 5 including a 51-yarder. His only miss was from 54 yards. Curiously, John Parker-Romo didn’t kick at all on Wednesday, and neither kicked on Thursday. I thought that Parker-Romo’s kickoff were better than Borregales. Let’s see what happens on Saturday.
GAME TIME Game is being played on Saturday at 1:00. The game will be broadcast on WBZ-4 and on the radio on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
About Mark Morse
Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
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