Drake Maye shows command and 20 more takeaways – Boston Herald

For a second straight week, one team sat virtually all of its starters in a Patriots preseason game, and that team was not the Patriots.

Mike Vrabel trotted out his top offense and defense for a few series each Saturday in Minnesota, then sent in all available backups to wrap up a close win.

Once again, they did the job.

Here are the Herald’s film observations from the Pats’ 20-12 triumph in the Twin Cities:

Studs

WR Efton Chism III

The undrafted rookie can stop renting, and start looking for houses around Foxboro. His performance — six catches, 71 yards and a touchdown — should have locked up a roster spot.

OLB Anfernee Jennings

Three sacks and two hurries. Jennings could force the Patriots to reconsider whether he fits in Vrabel’s scheme. He dominated.

Duds

WR Javon Baker

Baker dealt with some bad luck — Joshua Dobbs threw him several errant passes — but he did himself no favors with a drop and some iffy route-running.

OT Demontrey Jacobs

Jacobs allowed two QB hits and a run-stuff, continuing a downward spiral for himself this summer.

Offensive notes

• Drake Maye missed high on a few throws, one of which nearly led to an interception, took an unnecessary hit on a scramble and a delay of game penalty. Chalk it up to preseason rust or jitters, but Maye left Minnesota with details to clean up.
• The good from Maye: showing command of the offense when he checked to a run on third-and-10 inside the red zone, where TreVeyon Henderson picked up a first down. He also found Mack Hollins deep on a scramble drill, though he missed a wide open receiver deep and to his left on the same play.
• Maye could stand to be more aggressive than he has been, but the directive from Josh McDaniels is to protect the ball above all else. He’s done that.
• Hollins has a natural feel for zone coverage. He twice sat down in soft spots to make catches, once on the aforementioned scramble drill and over the middle on a spot route.
• Third-round rookie Kyle Williams got hung out to dry on a high throw that led to a hit to the head. Williams again played well without much to show for it in the box score.
• And Williams wasn’t the only rookie to play well. Second-round running back TreVeyon Henderson sat after two series, showing patience and vision. His burst and long speed are special.
• McDaniels never put Antonio Gibson and Henderson on the field together, but deployed plenty of two-back personnel with tight end Jack Westover serving as a fullback.
• Westover threw a couple of key blocks but, from this view, is not strong enough at the point of attack as a fullback or tight end. The Pats lost the edge multiple times when running strongside in his direction as an in-line tight end.

Callahan: After 2 preseason games, the Patriots have 1 big question left

• Up front, the Patriots allowed five run-stuffs, and a few could be traced to late defensive line movement by the Vikings. If the Pats intend to major in zone-blocking (20 zone runs to seven man-blocked), this should be an easier fix, but Garrett Bradbury and Vederian Lowe can’t miss assignments like they did Saturday.
• Rookie guard/center Jared Wilson run-blocked far better than he pass-protected. He allowed one quick pressure in the second quarter, and looked more natural playing center.
• New starting left guard Ben Brown also offered a mixed bag, but reached second level well with rookie left tackle Will Campbell to erase linebackers on the Pats’ best runs.
• Campbell and starting right guard Mike Onwenu posted clean sheets in pass protection. Good game for Campbell.
• Seventh-round rookie Marcus Bryant appears to be the Pats’ new swing tackle, with Lowe and Demontrey Jacobs struggling.
• McDaniels’ favorite pass was a max-protect play-action throw with only two receivers downfield. Expect more of those early in the season, as the Patriots sort out their pass protection.

Player stats

Broken tackles: WR Efton Chism III 4, RB JaMycal Hasty 2, RB Shane Watts 2, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR John Jiles

Drops: WR Javon Baker, Jiles

Sacks allowed: None

QB hits allowed: OT Demontrey Jacobs 2, Team

Hurries allowed: OT Marcus Bryant, OG Cole Strange, Team 2

Run-stuffs allowed: C Garrett Bradbury, OT Vederian Lowe, OG Mekhi Butler, Jacobs, Team

Defensive notes

• Veteran safety Kyle Dugger finished the game with an interception, but the fact he was on the field for the final play speaks the loudest.
• The problems with Dugger are he looks at least a half-step slow than the last time we saw him fully healthy, and no longer has a calling card. He’s a hard-hitter and a good blitzer, but in Vrabel’s new scheme there are fewer chances for him to roam at the second level like a linebacker. The Pats need more from their safeties.
• Dugger is a liability in man-to-man, and his instincts aren’t presently helping him keep pace in zone. He also appeared to miss an assignment in man-to-man, falling for a play-action fake in the second quarter that led to a 13-yard gain.
• The best of Saturday: Anfernee Jennings’ emergence, improved tackling (four whiffs compared to 11 last week), a more balanced pass rush and Carlton Davis breaking up a third-down slant. Davis just finished his first full week of practice all summer.
• Behind Davis, Alex Austin continues to provide close to starting-caliber play at corner, while backups Kobee Minor and Miles Battle both allowed three catches.
• Rookie safety Craig Woodson did nothing to lose his starting job. Woodson is willing to stick his nose in as a box safety and is capable of playing single-high as a free safety.
• In Vrabel’s new scheme, the Patriots get more creative with their four-man rushes than most teams, sending a safety, nickelback or linebacker to rush in place of a dropping edge defender. This, so far, has suited players at those positions.
• The Patriots have some work to do against screens. They allowed 55 passing yards against four screen passes, after they got gouged in joint practices on these same designs. Outside linebacker Truman Jones, a bubble candidate, was fooled on one.

Player stats