FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts. – Quick thoughts and notes about the New England Patriots and the NFL:
1. Parker’s Place: The red zone was the primary focus during the first four days of training camp, and it quickly became apparent that veteran receiver DeVante Parker was a big part of the Patriots’ plans.
When space gets tight on the field, the catch radius of a 6-foot-3, 219-pound target like Parker stands out as quarterback Mack Jones evaluates his options.
“Big body, he can make a lot of plays, disputed catches,” said Hunter Henry. “It’s always nice to add a guy like that and put a little pressure on everyone else.”
One signature play came from the early stretch of camp on a 7v7 practice with the ball spotted on the 10-yard line – Jones on the gun, Parker split on his left.
When Jones released the ball as Parker crossed the goal line, the eight-year veteran wasn’t even open. Jalen Mills, wearing gloves as part of a technique to avoid being caught, began to lock.
But Jones delivered a perfect back shoulder throw and Parker tweaked it, tapping his feet along the left boundary.
said Parker, who has led the NFL in tight ends over the past five seasons (defined as less than 1 yard of separation on passer reach), according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
That’s likely what Bill Belichick envisioned when the Patriots acquired Parker and a fifth-round pick from the Miami Dolphins in March in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick.
The Patriots may not have a well-defined No. 1 receiver, but pairing Parker with top target running back Nelson Agholor, Jacoby Myers, and Kendrick Bourne — and drafting speed Tyquan Thornton (Baylor) in the second round — will likely give them depth, variety.
Parker, in essence, projects to fill a role what the Patriots thought they would get when they drafted N’Keal Harry at the end of the first round in 2019. Harry was traded to the Chicago Bears on July 12 for a 2023-round pick (and Parker now wears jersey number 1 ).
Parker, 29, was fueling the energy of the lively scene at training camp, where thousands fill the stands and mounds each day. After crashing into various windows in the red area, he pointed at the crowd and raised his arms in the air, causing a roar from those present.
“Big energy,” said Mills, a veteran fullback who was often assigned to cover him. “You’d love to see that.”
2. Real Football: Monday marks a big day for the Patriots – first practice in full pads. This is the date Belichick referred to as the true beginning of training camp. Defensive tackle Davon Godcho said players in his position “can’t do much” before that point and he expected some tension. Mills added, “That’s when we’re playing real football, and we see big guys in the trenches, and we hear those pillows clapping, and we finally spar with the receivers, and jam them up a little bit.”
3. Take charge: Teammates are noticing a difference in Jones in his sophomore season, and longtime team captains like Matthew Slater have said it’s only a matter of time before he’s truly on the team. “He’s definitely more of a leader than he was last year,” added offensive tackle Trent Brown. Jones is usually one of the first players to arrive for practice each day, giving himself 15-20 minutes to relax and work on the basics.
4.OT Switch: Belichick downplayed the team’s offensive turnaround in the spring—Brown on the left, Isaiah Wayne on the right—as nothing more than a benchmark for building diversity along the line. But that’s also how it was early in training camp and it seems to have a more permanent feel, especially when Brown said of the left tackle: “It feels like home.”
5. Fear corner? An important question looms in the corner opposite Mills, where veteran Terrence Mitchell received the initial opportunity to camp, and Belichick praised his instincts. The Patriots are the sixth team that Mitchell, 30, has been to in his nine-year career. Then there’s 32-year-old Malcolm Butler, who admitted he’s “getting in shape” while feeling like he’s already rusted up after not playing in 2021. They were the first two picks ahead of rookie Jack Jones (Fourth Round, Arizona State) .
6. Stevenson Change: Rhamundry Stephenson ran into training camp at 225 pounds, and said he’s seven pounds lighter than last year. But it’s not just about the number as much as the kind of weight it carries. “I think I’m getting leaner and I feel better in general,” he said. It shows, as Stevenson appeared flexible as a passing pro in space, which was one of his goals in the offseason. The result is that Stevenson gives himself a chance to stay on the court in a “back” role.
VIDEO: Patriots RB Ramondry Stephenson, who said he’s 225 pounds (7 pounds less than when he reported last year), on being leaner in 2022. pic.twitter.com/q8k1SOyTvd
– Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 28, 2022
7. Simple = success? If there’s one common thread listening to Patriots offensive players after their first run of runs, it’s been their optimism about changes to streamline the offense. Stephenson, for example, said that it is “simpler and easier to learn, and you can play faster.” Brown and Bourne were among those who echoed those ideas, with MacJones saying, “We’re doing a lot of good things tactically to get up there and catch the ball a lot faster.”
8. O’Shea’s “Hack” The Browns anticipate a “breakout year” for linebacker Josh Uche, a 2020 second-round pick who played just three snaps (not including a kneeling down) in last season’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, but has shown signs of being an annoying pass player when healthy. Uche was at his best in Michigan when he weighed in the 230s, and it looks like he’s back in that range now despite being listed at 245. Uche moves well in the early days of camp when he’s asked to cover running backs in the flat.
9. Tight Coverage: The Patriots defense isn’t the only group that offers tight coverage; The team issued about 200 media credentials to training camp during the first four days, which is reflective of the number of reporters, camera operators, etc., who showed up each day.
10. Did you know? The Patriots finished 11th last season in red zone offense, with a 61.9 touchdown percentage (63 carries, 39 TDs). The AFC East champions, the Bills, are ranked eighth, with a league-high 77 tackles, and 48 touchdowns (62.3%).