The New England Patriots’ minicamp came to a conclusion on Thursday, with the team wrapping up their third and final mandatory spring practice. It will be the only work Tom Brady, Michael Bennett and others log with the team before training camp. Many of the other Patriots, however, will be on the field for organized team activities on June 10.
A few reminders: minicamp spanned from Tuesday to Thursday and the practices were non-contact. That’s why the emphasis during this span is on the passing game. Here’s a look at some of the best and worst performances during the three-day minicamp.
WINNER: Tom Brady, QB
Brady was statistically solid during minicamp, as he was 28 of 42 (66%) in 11-on-11 drills and 40 of 57 (70%) overall over the three practices. After a very rough practice without Brady at OTAs, he surely elevated the play of his peers, even while getting to know newcomers like rookie N’Keal Harry and free-agent signing Maurice Harris and Matt LaCosse. Gronk is gone, and the Patriots seem to be figuring out what’s next on offense.
Brady also got a chance to explain his second-annual absence at OTAs.
“I have a family at home and I think they get some of my time and energy,” Brady told reporters on Thursday. “My wife is a very ambitious woman and she travels a lot, so just trying to divide some responsibility at home. She supports me a lot, my family supports me a lot and my kids aren’t getting any younger. So just trying to spend the time with them when I can and still get the other things done that I need to get done and be ready to go when it’s time to go.”
LOSER: Danny Etling, QB
The quarterback was working on special teams. That’s a rarity — and not in a good way. He has fallen down to the basement of the quarterback depth chart, with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer sitting comfortably above Etling, who spent 2018 on the team’s practice squad.
The Patriots want to find a way to get Etling on the roster, otherwise, they wouldn’t be trying him on special teams. They also clearly know he can’t many the roster as a quarterback alone.
WINNER: Maurice Harris, WR
He has quickly risen up the ranks at receiver, and perhaps that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Harris’ former coach, the Washington Redskins’ Jay Gruden, provided a promising scouting report when speaking with the Providence Journal’s Mark Daniels earlier this offseason.
When asked what Harris has to do to find success in the NFL, Gruden responded, “Stay healthy.”
So far, so good.
Harris managed a handful of impressive practices, with a number of contested catches that seem to be setting him apart from the other receivers at the position.
LOSER: Dontrelle Inman, WR
Inman’s spring has taken a totally opposite course. He didn’t have a single reception in team drills during minicamp. (He also didn’t make a catch in team drills during the lone OTA practice that was open to the media.)
He was once a productive player for the then-San Diego Chargers in 2016, but his career has otherwise been muddled with unimpressive seasons. He needs to start getting targets if he wants to make sure 2019 isn’t another one of those unimpressive years.
WINNER: Stephon Gilmore, CB
This spring, he has been the same shutdown corner that the Patriots had 2018. He was influential in shutting down opponents last season, and he should be enormously important in 2019.
WINNER: N’Keal Harry, WR
Harry drew coverage from Gilmore during minicamp, which is something of a promotion. During an OTA practice, Harry was playing against the second-team defense, beating rookie cornerback Joejuan Williams, among others.
In minicamp, the Patriots seem intent on seeing if Harry could be equally dominant against one of the league’s best cornerbacks. Harry could not. But that doesn’t mean his spring session was a failure. The fact that he drew coverage from Gilmore was a compliment. Harry will get better at learning how to beat Gilmore’s blanketing coverage. (And even if Harry doesn’t, he’d still join the ranks of Davante Adams, Keenan Allen, Brandin Cooks and DeAndre Hopkins, all of who have been stymied by Gilmore.)
Harry’s promotion is notable — even if he struggled.
WINNER: Joe Thuney, LT (?)
Speaking of promotions, Thuney has moved from left guard to left tackle. Guards are getting paid well, particularly if they play on the left side. Left tackles, however, are the highest-paid offensive linemen. And Thuney is in a contract year. Thuney’s work at tackle is largely out of necessity, with tackles Isaiah Wynn and Yodny Cajuste dealing with injuries. But the Patriots wouldn’t put Thuney at that position if they didn’t think he could handle it. If Wynn’s health continues to come along slowly, the Patriots could start Thuney at left tackle in Week 1 (and beyond). That could boost his value if he hits free agency this offseason.
LOSER: Isaiah Wynn, LT
He hasn’t been healthy enough to get on the field. The left tackle position is, presumably, his job when he returns. But it’s never a good thing when other people are getting the shot to prove they’re capable of doing the job.
WINNER: Matt LaCosse, TE
By doing very little, LaCosse has a shot to the top of the Patriots’ depth chart for Week 1 of the regular season. Ben Watson will serve a four-game suspension, and the Patriots cut Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who is taking a month away from football to deal with personal issues. LaCosse hasn’t been brilliant on the field, but he may still start the season as the team’s No. 1 tight end.
LOSER: Sony Michel, RB
Few players could have benefitted more during minicamp, which is also referred to as “passing camp” or “teaching camp.” Michel desperately needs work in the passing game to build chemistry with Brady, which was lacking in Michel’s rookie season. Because Brady and Michel couldn’t get on the same page, the rookie barely caught the ball, logging seven receptions for 50 yards.
Running backs coach Ivan Fears believes Michel can earn a role as a pass-catcher in 2019. But Fears pointed to the 2018 offseason, much of which Michel missed with a knee injury, as an inhibitor for the running back’s development. If Michel can’t get back on the field, he could experience the same setback — and lack of receiving production — in 2019.
