The Mike Vrabel era kicked off in sunny Foxborough as the Patriots met for their first official practice of training camp. The workout ran about 90 minutes in length and featured a full complement of players – 91 to be exact – and Vrabel was excited to get things started.
"I think we're grateful. I think we're excited. There's an energy in the building. The players seemed excited," Vrabel began. "We had a long meeting. That first training camp meeting is brutal. It is long. There are a lot of presentations that we have to get in front of them. They stayed engaged and then came in here this morning. I'm excited to hit the field with them, and our coaches are ready to work and continue to build what we started out in the offseason."
"So, we've got everybody in here. We had an early group that started a couple of days ago, which was the rookie class, quarterbacks and then some players that may have been not full or 100 percent in the offseason. That was the first group, just to kind of get them in there and get them acclimated. The rest of the group reported [Tuesday] morning, went through physicals, had a great run test."
The biggest news as camp opened was the presence of Stefon Diggs. Fans got an inkling of what was to come prior to Wednesday when the veteran wide receiver wasn't among the seven players slated to be on the physically unable to perform or non-football injury lists.
Instead, just eight months following surgery to repair his torn ACL, Diggs was active in his first camp practice and Vrabel reported no physical restrictions for the wideout.
"I know that everybody heals differently, especially from that type of injury. But I would say that I think it's just a testament to how hard he worked," Vrabel said. "Marcus Epps also went through that surgery and worked extremely hard, and he's been out there the last couple days with us as well. So, I appreciate their efforts to get back out there and get ready, and then we'll continue to monitor as we work through training camp."
It didn't take long for fans to get their first glimpse of what Diggs' presence may look like. On the first play of the first team period, Drake Maye looked toward his new target and hit Diggs in stride cutting across the middle, drawing a nice reaction from the crowd on hand. As was the case during the spring, Diggs ran fluidly and was cutting and moving effortlessly as he led off every position drill for his fellow wideouts.
"When [Diggs] practices, when he took the reps, it was full go. Everybody, every day is going to have a different plan. There will be some players that aren't out there for individual. There will be players that are just out there for team. There will be players that are just taking some specific reps. I don't see any limitations right now. Is he going to take every single rep of every single period? No, and I don't think any player will. But I think we're off to a good start and encouraged by what we saw here in the last couple of days."
Diggs expressed similar excitement after his first practice with his new team. "Just to be back out there playing football … I didn't really think about any timeline too much. Everybody is different," he said. "It's Day 1 and I'm just super excited. I'm not setting any expectations."
In addition to the presence of Diggs, here are one man's observations from Day 1 of training camp.
*Vrabel offered some additional medical information during his Tuesday press conference, indicating that Jahlani Tavai (calf), Carlton Davis III and Jeremiah Webb would be ready to go to start camp. All three were indeed on the field and took part in the workout. That left three players – Vederian Lowe, Austin Hooper and Mack Hollins – on PUP and safety Josh Minkins on NFI. Tavai opened on PUP while Davis and Webb were initially on NFI. Vrabel said Minkins may need a couple more days before he's ready to return.
*In addition to the four players currently on lists, wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk did not take part in practice. Polk underwent offseason shoulder surgery and was seen rehabbing on the lower practice field with Hooper, Hollins, Lowe and Minkins.
*Terrell Williams made his first appearance on the field as Patriots defensive coordinator after missing the spring due to an undisclosed medical issue. Williams remained in contact with the team and met with the players remotely throughout the offseason but having him back in the fold was a welcome addition.
"Big T (Williams) is here, ready to go," Vrabel said. "He's been out on the field with us the last couple of days. Players were excited to see him. I was excited to see him, and we'll move forward.
"He's the only D-line coach that I've had. Just a great reach to every player on the football team. I saw him reach young offensive linemen that were across the ball, but he worked with [them] extensively in different drills or pass rush drills. He's got a great perspective. I think it's just helped me personally to kind of reach guys that maybe I haven't been able to reach. He's been a great mentor for young coaches as well. I think our players have always responded very well, and his units have always been prepared and productive no matter who he was coaching."
Defensive tackle Milton Williams was also happy to see his coach back on the field.
"He's a smart dude. He's coached a lot of great players. Just to have the ability to pick his brain is helpful," Williams said.
*As mandated by the collective bargaining agreement, the first practice took place in shorts and helmets with no contact. That didn't prevent a couple of edge players from making an impact on Day 1. Harold Landry and K'Lavon Chaisson were both constantly in the backfield and made life tough on Maye. Obviously with no pads on it's difficult for the blockers to contain the pressure, but Landry in particular spent a lot of time in the backfield.
*One play where the rush seemed to affect Maye came early when the quarterback tried to force one deep down the middle to avoid a would-be sack. His pass wound up going straight to Jabrill Peppers, but the veteran safety dropped it as he was coming to the ground. Maye said after practice that he "definitely had some things to clean up" and it wouldn't be a surprise if this was one of the plays he was referring to.
*Some of the offensive highlights came courtesy of Kyle Williams as the rookie made a nice first impression. He showed an exceptional burst after catching a short out-route while cutting up the sideline. A few snaps later he made a nice catch near the sideline on a backside throw from Maye, beating Christian Gonzalez on the play. Williams got leverage on his route and showed strong hands on the deeper out-route.
*First-year corner D.J. James came up with the first pick of camp when he snared Joshua Dobbs' deep ball down the seam intended for Javon Baker. Baker never separated on the play and James was in perfect position to haul in the deep throw.
*About midway through practice, Vrabel had the field goal units working together while simulating rushes and blocks. Edge rushers would begin to come across the line while the blockers adjusted as they would under normal circumstances. The ball never got snapped and the kickers never attempted any field goals, however.
*Practice ended with about 10 minutes of conditioning running by the entire team. Rather than using the hills as has been the case in the past, Vrabel chose to get the work done on the field to the right.
*In addition to Maye, Diggs and Milton Williams, DeMario Douglas, Robert Spillane and Antonio Gibson visited the podiums after practice to chat with the media.
*Camp continues on Thursday with another practice in shorts and helmets in Foxborough. Gates are scheduled to open at 9:15 a.m. with the workout, which is open to the public, set to begin at 10:15 a.m.
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