Patriots Practice Observations: Tom Brady Perfect In Full-Team Scrimmage

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Aug 5, 2016

FOXBORO, Mass. — Jimmy Garoppolo beat Tom Brady in a post-practice competition Thursday. Brady got his revenge Friday in a full-team scrimmage, however.

Brady was a perfect 25 of 25 passing in Team Blue’s 17-9 victory over Team White. Garoppolo was just 18 of 33 with an interception.

Brady was fired up throughout the scrimmage, chirping at Team White and showing his typical passion during Team Blue celebrations.

Brady also beat Garoppolo by throwing a football into a barrel first after practice. Garoppolo matched Brady on the next throw and won Thursday. It will be fun to keep track of their post-practice challenges.

Here are some other notes from Friday’s scrimmage:

— Cornerback Malcolm Butler deflected two passes from Garoppolo in the end zone during the scrimmage. The Patriots’ No. 1 cornerback has been impressive all camp.

— Wide receiver Chris Hogan practiced in a non-contact red jersey and did a nice job catching the ball away from his body, snagging it out of the air. He caught eight of Brady’s 25 completions.

— Brady hit tight end Martellus Bennett five times during the scrimmage.

— Garoppolo hit tight end Rob Gronkowski on a seam route early in the scrimmage. Gronkowski attempted a pass on a reverse trick play. He was picked off by free safety Devin McCourty.

— Trey Flowers was impressive as a pass rusher during the scrimmage, getting in the backfield multiple times. Vincent Valentine, Shea McClellin, Rufus Johnson and Jabaal Sheard were charged with sacks, though they didn’t contact the quarterbacks.

— Garoppolo worked with the first-team offensive line: Nate Solder, Joe Thuney, David Andrews, Josh Kline and Marcus Cannon. Most of the first-team defense was on Team Blue with Brady, though Patrick Chung, Dont’a Hightower and Logan Ryan were on Team White.

— Running back Brandon Bolden, wide receivers Malcolm Mitchell and Matthew Slater and Bennett all caught deep balls from Brady. Bolden and Hogan grabbed the touchdowns.

Bolden beat linebacker Kevin Snyder. Bennett beat safety Patrick Chung, and Slater beat cornerback Darryl Roberts. Mitchell was wide open with cornerback Jonathan Jones the closest. Brady sprinted down the field to celebrate with Slater after the deep grab.

— Butler, Justin Coleman and E.J. Biggers had pass breakups at cornerback. Linebacker Jamie Collins picked off Garoppolo on a pass that was tipped by defensive lineman Frank Kearse.

— Head coach Bill Belichick went a bit easy on Team White, giving them the ball at the end of the game on a phantom onside kick. He also didn’t call a couple of Brady’s deep passes touchdowns.

— Mitchell was flagged for offensive pass interference when he pushed off on cornerback Cre’von LeBlanc on a back-shoulder catch. Mitchell was otherwise impressive.

— There were some shenanigans during practice beyond Gronk’s pass attempt. McCourty lined up at wide receiver and Collins played running back for Team Blue. Neither had touches beyond their interceptions.

— Third-down back James White caught five of Garoppolo’s 18 completions. Wide receivers Chris Harper and Aaron Dobson failed to stand out. DeAndre Carter had three catches.

— Cornerbacks V’Angelo Bentley and Cyrus Jones worked as punt and kick returners.

Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images

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