9 Patriots training camp observations from the in-stadium practice

[ASFN Admin]

FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots held their annual in-stadium practice on Friday night, welcoming season-ticket members to watch. And head coach Mike Vrabel decided to have some fun, opting for the team to have a scrimmage where the team split up the coaching staff and had them draft the players to either the white or the blue team.

"The players are excited. We split the coaches up. Me and 'Stretch' are the only ones that are impartial. Everybody else is going against each other," Vrabel said before the scrimmage began. "We'll see some trick plays. Both sides were drawing it up. I gave them two trick plays each that they'll come up with, that we haven't run thus far in camp."

Here were the players on each team:

Blue Team: QB Drake Maye (captain), RB Rhamondre Stevenson, RB Terrell Jennings, WR Stefon Diggs, WR Kyle Williams, WR Kendrick Bourne, WR Efton Chism, WR John Jiles, TE Austin Hooper, TE Gee Scott, TE CJ Dipree, TE Tyler Davis, TE Cole Fotheringham, OT Demontry Jacobs, OG Tyrese Robinson, C Ben Brown, OG Jared Wilson, OT Will Campbell, OT Mekhi Butler, DL Christian Barmore, DL Khyiris Tonga, DL Jeremiah Pharms, DL Javaree Ritzie, LB Christian Elliss (captain), LB K'Lavon Chaisson, LB Bradyn Swinson, LB Elijah Ponder, LB Monty rice, LB RJ Moten, CB Jordan Polk, CB Miles Battle, CB Marcellas Dial, CB DJ James, S Jaylinn Hawkins (captain), S Josh Minkins, S Craig Woodson, S Marcus Epps, K Andy Borregales

White Team: QB Josh Dobbs, RB TreVeyon Henderson, RB Lan Larison, WR DeMario Douglas, WR Kayshon Boutte, WR Ja'Lynn Polk, WR Javon Baker, WR Jeremiah Webb, TE Hunter Henry (captain), TE Jaheim Bell, TE Jack Westover, OT Morgan Moses, OG Mike Onwenu, OG Layden Robinson, C Alec Lindstrom, C Cole Strange, OG Caedan Wallace, OT Marcus Bryant, DL Jacquelin Roy, DL Milton Williams, DL David Olajiuga, DL Isaiah Iton, LB Truman Jones, LB Anfernee Jennings, LB Harold Landry, LB Robert Spillane, LB Marte Mapu, LB Cam Riley, CB Marcusn Jones, CB Alex Austin, CB Kobee Minor, CB Brandon Crossley, S Jabrill Peppers (captain), S Brenden Schooler (captain), S Kyle Dugger, S Dell Pettus, K Parker Romo

And now, let's get into some key takeaways from the in-stadium scrimmage:

1. Drake Maye Throws His First Interception of Training Camp​

Just one day after being asked about his lack of interceptions throughout training camp, Maye recorded his first on Friday during the annual in-stadium practice. Maye sent a pass to Stefon Diggs, which was tipped by rookie cornerback Kobee Minor and caught by linebacker Robert Spillane.

Then he threw a second one during a two-minute drill, where Alex Austin intercepted a pass intended for Kyle Williams. Austin would have been able to get the pick-six, but instead, he slid to keep the clock running in a very strategic move.

2. Josh McDaniels Breaks Out A Trick Play​

The Patriots' offensive coordinator certainly had some fun with his play calling, introducing a trick play in the early minutes of the game. Maye threw the ball to Rhamondre Stevenson, who threw it back to the quarterback. Maye then sent a deep pass to Williams for a touchdown.

3. DeMario Douglas Throws an Interception​

Yes, you read that right.

After Maye's successful trick play, the other team tried one of their own. But they didn't have the same success. Instead of Josh Dobbs, it was DeMario Douglas who tried to hit Javon Baker, but the pass was intercepted by Jaylinn Hawkins.

4. Rhamondre Stevenson's Fumbling Issues Continue​

Last season, Stevenson had a lot of trouble holding onto the ball, and it wasn't a good sign on Friday when he fumbled during the scrimmage. Maye handed the ball to Stevenson on the first snap of the series and the running back had a nice run, but the ball was punched out by Brandon Crossley and recovered by Spillane

5. A Few Notable Injuries​

• Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne was seen grimacing after a play and limped over to the sideline, where trainers started attending to him. He took his left shoe off, and soon after, he walked off the field with a trainer.
• Offensive lineman Caedan Wallace also spent some time in the blue medical tent before leaving with a trainer and heading into the locker room.
• Linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson also left the practice early and headed to the locker room

6. Defensive Stars​

Robert Spillane ended the day with an interception, along with a fumble recovery.

“Being around the ball is very important to me,” Spillane said. “Those are big-time plays, but it doesn’t happen alone. You need your teammates. On the pick, our corner made a big play on the ball. Fumble recovery, somebody else popped it out, and I was able to scoop it out.”

Jaylinn Hawkins also finished the night with two interceptions.

7. Kicking Competition​

Andy Borregales was the kicker for the blue team and made all four of his attempts, including from a distance of 53 yards. As for Parker Romo, he nailed all three of his attempts, including a 33-yard field goal and two extra points for the White Team.

8. Attendance​

Absent: C Garrett Bradbury, CB Carlton Davis, DT Joshua Farmer, RB Antonio Gibson, CB Christian Gonzalez, WR Mack Hollins, LB Jahlani Tavai, G Sidy Sow, ED Keion White

Physically Unable to Perform: LT Vederian Lowe

Left Early: WR Kendrick Bourne, G Caedan Wallace, ED K’Lavon Chaisson

9. What's Next​

The Patriots will be back out on the field on Monday for their tenth practice of the summer, with gates set to open at 9:15 a.m. ET and practice beginning at 10:15 a.m. ET.

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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 9 Patriots training camp observations from the in-stadium practice

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