FOXBORO, Mass. — There’s good news and bad news for New England Patriots fans on Jimmy Garoppolo watch.
With time in the pocket, Garoppolo was 12 for 14 with an interception in 11-on-11 drills and 10 for 11 in 7-on-7s. Those numbers dipped to 15 of 25 with four interceptions while Garoppolo was running the two-minute offense, however. So, the second-year pro has plenty to work on during the final weeks of OTAs.
His receivers weren’t doing him many favors. Tight end Fred Davis had two drops, and two of Garoppolo’s interceptions came off deflected passes.
Garoppolo took his time without a pass rush, and he’ll need to hurry through his reads in game action. Garoppolo appears to have improved his arm strength and accuracy over the offseason, however, and he looks more comfortable in the Patriots’ offense.
Check out the rest of our observations from Thursday’s OTA:
— Quarterback Tom Brady went 5Â of 10 in 11-on-11 drills and 8 of 11 in 7-on-7s. Brady was 17 of 20 in the two-minute offense with one interception.
— Defensive backs Devin McCourty, Jimmy Jean, Bradley Fletcher and Duron Harmon were among Patriots defenders who picked off passes.
— Brady had completions to tight ends Rob Gronkowski, Michael Hoomanawanui and Scott Chandler, running backs LeGarrette Blount and Brandon Bolden and wide receivers Brandon Gibson, Josh Boyce, Julian Edelman, Aaron Dobson, Danny Amendola.
— Garoppolo threw completions to Amendola, Dobson, Gibson, Tyms, Chandler, Edelman, Hoomanawanui, Boyce, running backs James White, Dion Lewis, Jonas Gray and James Devlin, tight ends Fred Davis, Jake Bequette and Tim Wright and wide receivers Jonathan Krause and Chris Harper.
— Chandler seems heavily involved in the offense already. He had five catches in the two-minute drill from Brady.
— Cornerback Malcolm Butler was absent from practice, which left plenty of opportunities for Darryl Roberts, Logan Ryan and Bradley Fletcher.
— Linebacker Jamie Collins made an impressive pass breakup in the end zone on a pass from Brady intended for Gronkowski.
— Some players seem to have transformed their bodies over the offseason. Defensive lineman Zach Moore appears to have bulked up in his time off. Blount appears slimmer and said after practice he worked hard over the offseason.
— Edelman took a shot below the belt during 11-on-11 drills and briefly had to be stretched on the sideline. He looked fine walking off the field, however.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
