Joe Milton has the tools to make the Patriots QB situation interesting, and other final thoughts
Joe Milton stole the show Thursday night by showcasing his big arm and athleticism.
Drake Maye isn’t the only big, strong-armed Patriots rookie quarterback generating some buzz during this preseason.
Joe Milton was the only Patriots quarterback to throw a touchdown in Thursday night’s preseason-opening 17-3 win over the Panthers at Gillette Stadium Thursday night.
He finished 4-for-6 for 54 yards and tied for second on the Patriots rushing list with 22 yards on five carries.
Milton’s touchdown pass, a 38-yard strike to JaQuae Jackson on an out-and-up route, along with a pair of highlight-worthy scrambles, injected energy into an otherwise sluggish preseason contest between the two teams that tied for fewest points per game last year.
Last month, The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin wrote that Milton, not Maye, was the Patriots’ ‘wow’ quarterback during training camp. Fox Sports 1’s Colin Cowherd told his audience not to be surprised if Milton ends up winning the quarterback job.
I won’t go that far. Jacoby Brissett is the starter right now and Maye is the future of the franchise. Neither threw more than three passes on Thursday night by design, according to coach Jerod Mayo.
But, it’s also fair to acknowledge that the Patriots have a 6-foot-5, 246-pound rookie with a cannon for an arm who also has the athleticism to easily pull off backflips in pads after good throws, and the possibility is there for things to get interesting if he keeps playing well.
Here are a few thoughts on Milton’s performance, and other aspects of the game.
This is nothing new for Joe Milton.
Joe Milton’s talent has been apparent for a long time. He was the 15th ranked Pro Style quarterback in the Class of 2018 according to 247 Sports, ahead of Brock Purdy, Will Levis, and Michael Penix among others.
He split six years of college football between a pair of storied programs – Michigan and Tennessee. He spent the bulk of his time as a backup but ultimately earned the opportunity to start at both schools.
The big question with Milton has always been: How will his physical tools translate in games?
The Patriots scored on both of Milton’s drives Thursday night. He completed a trio of short passes to Javon Baker and Terrell Jennings to set up a field goal. Then he hit Jackson for the touchdown on the following drive.
Mayo said he was impressed, naming the quarterback as a player who exceeded his expectations.
“We know he has a big arm, he has the athleticism,” Mayo said. “He’s getting better with his reads every day. He has natural leadership ability. But once again, it’s not about one game, it’s about the full body of work.”
“So, you can come out here and play well,” Mayo said. “But you also have to do it on a day-to-day basis in practice and you’ve got to gain the confidence of not only your coaches but also your teammates and this was a step forward for him.”
The Patriots are carrying four quarterbacks, and there’s a chance they could use Thursday night as a tool to evaluate how they might go about trimming that number to three.
Brissett and Maye aren’t going anywhere, and the Patriots gave Bailey Zappe an extended look.
As Mayo said, one strong preseason performance isn’t enough to change Milton’s outlook. But he certainly has the physical tools to make things interesting in a quarterback room that features a bridge quarterback and a fellow rookie who isn’t considered to be the most NFL-ready option at this time.
Strong start for Kayshon Boutte
The Patriots’ receiver room is crowded, and Kayshon Boutte is among those competing for a roster spot.
He was New England’s most productive receiver, finishing with three catches for 53 yards.
His best catch was a contested 28-yarder from Bailey Zappe. Boutte was able to catch the ball at its high point with two hands and set the Patriots up in the red zone for their first score, a two-yard touchdown from Kevin Harris.
Rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker combined for 25 yards on five catches.
Mayo salutes Jeremiah Pharms‘ ‘remarkable story’
The Patriots’ defense was dominant, holding the Panthers scoreless until they made a field-goal on their final drive in the fourth quarter.
New England posted five sacks and held the Panthers to 62 rushing yards.
Defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. played a big role in that, drawing a pair of penalties on opposing offensive linemen, and generally helping to clog things up in the middle.
“Anytime he steps foot on the field, he takes advantage of that opportunity. His story is remarkable. He was just a guy on the street,” Mayo said. “He was here and we moved him to fullback, he played defensive tackle, he played guard, he played all those positions. When you find a player that just loves the game of football no matter what the coach asks him to do, it’s a great player in my mind and Pharms displays that.”
Pharms’s teammates displayed their happiness for his success by yelling his name in the locker room, calling him “famous” when reporters came up to him, and suggesting for them to ask Pharms about his time working as a security guard as a nightclub when he was in college.
Pharms attended an NAIA school, Friends University, and played for the Wichita Force and Pittsburgh Maulers before making it to the Patriots.
“A lot of support, even right now them saying my name,” Pharms said. “They know my journey and everything like that so it’s a lot of respect in the locker room when I feel I do good like this.”
Oshane Ximines takes advantage of opportunity
Another standout on the defensive line was Oshane Ximines, who posted a sack and four tackles, including one tackle for loss.
He also laid a big hit on the Panthers’ punt returner during his special teams coverage.
The Patriots picked him up after he was cut by the Giants. He was at home for a while, working out and waiting for an opportunity before the Patriots called.
“Working out, chilling with my daughter, that’s pretty much all I do in my free-time,” Ximines said. “Like coach Mayo says it’s a job interview and I’m just trying to make the most of it every day.”
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