Pats change practice routine
Hoping faster start in drills translates to the first quarter
Stretching ends, and the stations are set.
This is how most every midseason Patriots practice starts, following an opening walkthrough period and warmups. Defenders run through circuits designed to sharpen their fundamentals. Offensive players rotate in position-specific drills.
The purpose of this individualized opening is to build toward team periods, when the Pats will rehearse and refine their 11-on-11 game plans for game day. That is except for this week.
Nowadays, the Patriots are working backwards.
“Lately, we’ve been going against (each other) doing offense- versus- defense periods right off the bat,” Pats wide receiver Damiere Byrd said Thursday. “As soon as we get through warmups. We’ve been just jumping into practice, jumping into team periods really fast.”
The reason behind the Patriots’ change goes without saying. Their offense has been slow out of bed on Sundays.
The Pats rank dead last in the NFL in first-quarter points, averaging 1.9 per game. They went the entire first half of the season without scoring an offensive touchdown in the first quarter. Lately, they’ve been better, but for a 5-6 team fighting for its playoff life, every second is precious on game day.
“We’ll keep working on it and see if we can get better results there,” Bill Belichick said Wednesday. “We’ve had a few (fast starts), but not consistently as a team. Not where we need to be or want to be. It’ll be important this week. It’s important every week.”
Even in their latest win, the Patriots were inches away from trailing by 10 at halftime against Arizona. The week before, they fell behind by 11 heading into the locker room at Houston. The climb doesn’t figure to be as steep Sunday against the Chargers, who rank 21st in first-half points scored.
But it will be if Cam Newton repeats his passing performance against the Cardinals; a game where a defensive goal-line stand kept the Pats within reach in the first half and then a stellar special teams showing in the second was enough to save their postseason hopes for one more week.
“It’s always important to start fast and set the tone in the game. And that’s what the coaches have kind of been focusing in on,” Newton said. “Starting fast and staying in on the pace — or the standard — that we know we can keep.”
Pats claim Bucs LB off waivers
The Patriots claimed former Buccaneers linebacker Jack Cichy off waivers Thursday.
Cichy contributed primarily on special teams over two-plus seasons in Tampa Bay, where he selected in the sixth round of the 2018 draft. The 25year-old has been injury prone dating back to college, ending each of the last four seasons with serious ailments, including two torn ACLs and a torn pectoral muscle. Cichy has seen only seven defensive snaps in the NFL, but 259 as a regular on special teams.
As a prospect out of Wisconsin, Cichy was regarded as a hard-working edge rusher who would immediately impact the kicking game. Before joining the Pats, the 6-foot-2, 238pounder must clear the league’s COVID-19 protocols, which mandate testing negative for five consecutive days. Cichy will not immediately count against the team’s roster limit.
Eventually, he should pad the Patriots’ outside linebackers depth, which currently includes Chase Winovich, John Simon, Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings and Tashawn Bower, with veteran Shilique Calhoun still on injured reserve.
Andrews leads Pro Bowl voting for Cs
With two weeks left for Pro Bowl voting, Patriots center David Andrews stands as the leading vote-getter among AFC centers.
Andrews has received 73,958 votes, according to the NFL’s latest count released Thursday. He is the only Patriot currently leading the conference at his position. It is unknown where his teammates stand, though cornerback Stephon Gilmore and special teams captain Matthew Slater are likely among the top Patriot vote-getters.
When healthy, Andrews has been one of the Pats’ most durable and consistent players. He missed three games earlier this season due to a broken thumb. Otherwise, the 28-year-old hasn’t missed a single offensive snap.
He’s allowed just one sack this season and a handful of pressures. Andrews ranks as the sixth-best center in the league, per Pro Football Focus player grades. His return has helped stabilized the Pats’ offensive line, which missed him a year ago when he was forced to miss the season due to blood clots.
“It’s been great (having Andrews back). That’s my dog,” Patriots right guard Shaq Mason said this week. “We came in together, so it’s definitely good to have him back. He’s a leader, you know? He’s a guy we love to follow. He puts us all in position, and we’re lucky to have him.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes currently leads all players with 206,525 Pro Bowl votes. Fans can vote players to the Pro Bowl online at NFL.com/ProBowlVote.
Folk makes history, wins AFC award
Patriots kicker Nick Folk became the first player in NFL history last Sunday to make multiple game-winning field goals from 50 or more yards as time expired during a season.
For his heroics, Folk was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
His 50-yarder against the Cardinals gave the Pats a 20-17 win at the final gun last weekend. Folk also drilled 51-yard field goal at the end of a road win at the Jets in Week 9. Folk has now won the weekly award twice this year and six times over 13-year NFL career.
Against Arizona, Folk made both of his extra points and went 2-for-2 on field goals, his other a 22yarder that tied the game in the third quarter.
On the season, Folk has connected on 86% of his field goals and hit 20 of 22 PATs.