The Patriots donned pads for the first time since Thursday night's game, but there weren't many competitive periods. Instead, there was mostly prep work for the regulation, and a lengthy deceptions (screens, trick plays) period.
Growing injury list: TE Aaron Hernandez and WR Brandon Lloyd joined TE Rob Gronkowski as being spectators at practice. The injuries aren't known, but they're likely minor and preventive. The Patriots had just two TEs (former DL Alex Silvestro and UFA Tyler Urban) and zero FBs to work with.
Koppen comeback: Veteran C Dan Koppen has looked terrible at times in camp, but Monday was his best day all-round. Koppen won all three of his one-on-one matchups. He had won just one of his last 11 reps coming in. Koppen also looked better in team drills. His heavy hands are back, and he’s moving well. Don’t count him out yet.
Running flat: The running backs were destroyed by the linebackers in a pass-blocking drill. The only time they did anything was when the RBs faked blocking and went out on a pass route. Jerod Mayo, Mike Rivera and Niko Koutouvides each used a push-pull technique that nearly left Danny Woodhead (twice) and Brandon Bolden flat on their faces. The running backs lost all their reps until the final one when Woodhead held his own against Dont’a Hightower.
Struggling Cannon: RT Marcus Cannon, who gave up a team-high six total quarterback pressures against the Saints, went 0-3 in his one-on-ones. Cannon just has a really tough time against strength. We saw that again when veteran DL Tim Bulman used a push-pull-rip move to easily get around Cannon. DE Rob Ninkovich, who usually prefers speed moves, used a power bull rush against Cannon the second time. Seems like the book on him is to just muscle Cannon.
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