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Tweets of Note

Tweets of Note: Patriots Sunday Training Camp Practice

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Greetings from Philadelphia, where so far I haven’t been too subjected to too much Super Bowl 52 misery. In fact, you’ll be pleased to know that most Eagles fans seem to have returned to the norm, being totally miserable about their opening preseason loss. We’ll see if my Patriots-plated car is still in one piece when I pick it up from the parking garage on Tuesday morning.

Imagine what’ll happen if they lose to the Pats Thursday? Won’t make up for the Super Bowl that’s for sure, but it’s always nice to see Eagles fans miserable and really, it’s their natural state anyway.

There’s only two more training camp practices open to the public left. That means, unfortunately, I won’t get to see them again and will instead have to rely on the great reporters whose job it is to be there in person.

It looks like it was another interesting day of practice after what has become a standard downpour that has affected numerous practices thus far. Here are the Tweets of Note…

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Patriots Clear Off PUP, Tuesday Tweets of Note

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The Patriots welcomed back the remaining members of the PUP squad meaning that they’ll open the season with no one getting a free pass behind the scenes until Week 6. Cyrus Jones, Jonathan Jones and Nate Ebner all returned to practice, donning full pads meaning their time being physically unable to perform were coming to an end.

For the Joneses, it’s a good sign that they’re back before the first preseason game. Jonathan could insert himself into the slot conversation over rookie Duke Dawson, while Cyrus faces a make or break year where the Pats could really use his punt return ability. He’s a bit of a wild card as a cornerback, especially with a loaded depth chart but maybe just maybe he could be a factor.

As for Ebner, he’s just about a roster lock for his special team prowess and is a good presence to have back on the field for Bill Belichick’s favorite phase of the game.

More on the brewing battles and what went down at Tuesday’s practice in the Tweets of Note.

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Tweets of Note: 2018 Patriots Training Camp Practice #3

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The pads came on at Patriots training camp on Saturday, and despite the potential for some physicality, it sounds like the energy was muted in the third practice of the season. Hopefully, when I’m there tomorrow the energy is up again, though this is where camp starts to turn into a grind.

Here are the tweets that stood out:

By all accounts, Wise had an excellent practice and was dominant. This kind of tone-setting is just what you want to see out of the second-year player. He had a reduced role in the Super Bowl and I think he might’ve been able to help. The top three ends are pretty set with Flowers, Clayborn and Wise. Whether Derek Rivers can carve a pass-rushing role remains to be seen, but he is way down the depth chart on the regular personnel packages.

Reminder the Pats haven’t scored a defensive touchdown since 2015. Another thing — Mike Lombardi writes in Gridiron Genius that you can judge how fast a defense is by how many fumbles they force. Well in 2017 the Pats ranked 30th with nine forced fumbles. 2016 – 19 t-3rd, 2015 – 24 3rd. Defense needs more plays like the one Harmon made today in practice, so it’s nice to see.

Sounds like the towel was bloody too? Hopefully just stitches and not an eye injury. Eek.

Matt Chatham had some good tweets about loving Wynn too. Brown will be the guy at least to start, but if somebody gets hurt we could see Wynn in there and it could be fun to watch.

Second time in three days Michel has lost a ball, not good for the guy who had the highest fumble rate in this year’s draft class. Nothing will delay his development quicker than losing the ball. Just ask Stevan Ridley.


Another good day for Brady and Matthews, an excellent sign.

 

Tweets of Note: 2018 Patriots Training Camp Practice #1

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The Patriots kicked things off with a shorts and shells practice on Thursday and will have a similar affair on Friday before busting out the pads this weekend. Despite the lack of full contact there was still plenty that could be gleaned based on the post-practice tweets from the best beat writers who were there live, as I plan to be tomorrow and Sunday.

Here are the tweets that stood out, especially ones that answered some of my questions:

With Kenny Britt out, Dorsett is going to be one to watch this summer. Working inside is interesting, but there’s an obvious need there and if he’s versatile enough to play any receiver spot he’s going to play a big part in the offense this year. We’ll see how Kenny Britt looks as he’s expected back soon per Jeff Howe.

As expected Brown stepped into the left tackle spot and Thuney returned. I’m not sure I quite understand where all the Thuney dislike comes from. Many seem to want to replace him but I still think he’s an ascending player. Wynn working at backup left tackle is VERY interesting and a sign that after the spring where he played some guard they’re going to give him a look at left tackle now. Brown vs. Wynn is very real.

Say hello to the base defense, a three-safety nickel with a mix of Hightower and run-stopper Roberts. Malcom Brown is still recovering, swap him in for Guy when he’s back. Makes sense to have Gilmore-Rowe out there to start, experienced group to get the initial communication and calls down. Then start taking a look at the three and four cornerback packages with new faces like Jason McCourty and the rookies.

Van Noy should swap in for Roberts (and Rivers/Butler/Wise for one of the DTs) in the “sub” passing down packages. But Roberts is clearly atop the depth chart and slated to play a significant role as a top-three linebacker. I was excited about him in 2016 as a rookie when he’d come on, blow up a running play, then get off the field when they were throwing it. The defense had to rely on him more in 2017 and he lost some of the early pop he had as a rookie, often caught by play action. His inadequacies led the team to experiment more with Marquis Flowers in an effort to get more athletic in the middle of the field.

Gonna be a group effort for a season or two with Flores but I’m excited just to see a new twist on the Belichick Patriot Defense. What characteristics from Matt Patricia left? Which remain? How do they get the defense more ready to go this year than they were last year when they were shredded?

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Tweets of Note from Patriots Minicamp Practice #2

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC1clbWAF88

Another day of actual football to talk about! There will only be one more before we start the long void until training camp, which means it’s time to way overanalyze everything that has been going on at Patriots minicamp.

Here are some tweets that stood out to me with commentary.

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Patriots Tweets of Note from Minicamp Practice #1

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Mandatory minicamp started for the Patriots on Tuesday, finally giving us a glimpse of the full 2018 squad for the first time.  While the teaching period continues, there was was still plenty to digest from the live practice tweets.

Let’s dive into what stood out most to me!

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Tuesday Patriots-Texans Tweets of Note

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The Patriots and Texans are off on a good ole times camping trip in West Virginia, in what should be a competitive set of training camp joint practices.

After slicing up the Jags last week, the Texans should provide a more formidable practice partner. Houston is a young team and should be looking to set the tone for their season with this week’s work against the team that sent them packing twice last year, including in the AFCDG.

Houston has to go New England again in Week 3 so these teams know each other pretty well, both on the field and off it. A few practices together… another preseason game… This is blossoming into a strange frenemy rivalry and you wonder if BO’B can ever figure out how to crack BB.

There’s also something fascinating about Mike Vrabel now being the defensive coordinator charged with stopping Tom Brady…. but there will be plenty of time for that once the bullets are real.

Here’s the tweets that stood out from practice #1 vs. Houston.

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