Patriots offensive line not interested in discussing last year's struggles, and other observations from Day 2 of camp

Boston Globe

3 days ago

The offensive line, unable to effectively pass protect or run block consistently, has been a pain point for the Patriots amid their rebuild. Last season,
Those statistics mean that Patriots offensive linemen were among the worst in the NFL in both sustaining their blocks for longer than 2½ seconds on passing plays and creating open lanes on designed running plays. They also ceded the highest pressure rate on dropbacks (40.7 percent), according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
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Moses, an 11-season NFL veteran, will likely start at right tackle, while
It's difficult to evaluate the line's performance at this point because the Patriots aren't yet wearing pads to comply with NFL rules. As Moses noted, the linemen need something to grab in order to actually block.
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Still, there are already some changes.
The 34-year-old Moses has taken it upon himself to help usher in a new era, with an emphasis on creating camaraderie. He regularly meets with younger linemen after practice to review technique and serve as a resource able to answer any questions.
'I think the change in culture is the key,' Moses said. 'When I first got here, there weren't a lot of offensive line dinners and things like that. We've hung out a couple of times already. That's the key, being able to get to know each other outside of the building. Coach Vrabel's done a great job of allowing us to get up in team meetings and share our stories.'
Moses and the rest of the offensive line know the real tests will come when the pads come on next week. New England's defensive front, led by big free agent acquisition Milton Williams, will certainly pose a challenge, one that Moses hopes will benefit the O-line.
'Football is the same as every sport,' Moses said. 'It's won in the trenches. When it comes down to fourth and 1 or the two-minute drill and things like that, you count on the offensive line and D-line to go out there and eat. The great thing about it is we have a great offensive line and great defensive line, so we challenge each other every day. That's iron sharpens iron."
Other notes and observations from Day 2 of training camp . . .
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⋅ Most of the offensive gains during the team period came on short passes because, according to running back Rhamondre Stevenson, the focus of the session was picking up positive yardage on first down.
Quarterback Drake Maye looked comfortable and in command of the Patriots' offense on Day 2 of camp.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Thursday's session was light overall, as the team will gradually ramp up its intensity. Quarterback Drake Maye looked comfortable and in command for the second straight day, with exception to a fumbled snap from Wilson.
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⋅ No practice again for Ja'Lynn Polk, who remains sidelined for undisclosed reasons.
The Patriots did not place Polk on the physically unable to perform (PUP) or non-football injury (NFI) list, which makes his continued absence a surprise. The 2024 second-round pick passed his physical this week, after recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and practicing in a limited capacity during the spring.
The sooner Polk can return to the field, the better his chances of making the 53-man roster. He's competing for a spot alongside Javon Baker, Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, and undrafted rookie Efton Chism.
Cornerback Carlton Davis also was not spotted during Thursday's practice. Davis opened training camp on NFI but practiced on Wednesday. His availability is worth monitoring, as the 28-year-old has never played a complete NFL season.
Tight end Austin Hooper, wide receiver Mack Hollins, and tackle Vederian Lowe also remained sidelined for the second straight day while on PUP. Undrafted rookie defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie was a new absence.
Special guest appearances Thursday included former Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich.
⋅ Defensive tackle Christian Barmore didn't practice in team drills, instead spending time on individual work with director of strength and conditioning Frank Piraino and defensive assistant Milton Patterson. Barmore rejoined the team at the end of practice for conditioning. Vrabel made it clear on Tuesday that players, especially those dealing with lingering issues (e.g. Barmore's blood clots), will be following their own training plans.
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⋅ After serving as a popular target for Maye during the spring, Chism hasn't popped as much with the offense during camp. He is part of the rotation of punt returners, joining DeMario Douglas, Marcus Jones, and Kyle Williams, so a role on special teams could still facilitate his path to a roster spot. Chism returned both kickoffs and punts at Eastern Washington.
⋅ Vrabel has remained an active participant on the practice field, as he did in the spring, often sporting a No. 5 pinnie as a member of the defense. Safety Jabrill Peppers, who wears No. 5, joked, 'I keep telling him to take that No. 5 off. But he told me to go check in on the Patriots Hall of Fame. There's nothing I can say to come back from that.'
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel has been an active participant on the practice field.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Nicole Yang can be reached at