The training wheels are about to come off for the New England Patriots’ rookie class. After 13 training camp practices of only going up against their themselves and their veteran teammates, they now will get a chance to hit somebody else.
That somebody else is the Indianapolis Colts, who are in Foxborough on Tuesday for a two-hour joint session. It projects to be the most competitive practice of the summer thus far, and a new experience for the first-year players on New England’s roster.
“That’ll be
the real taste of the NFL going against a different team,” said offensive tackle Caleb Lomu.
Lomu, who projects to spend his rookie season as the third offensive tackle behind starters Will Campbell and Morgan Moses, last competed against other players in late November. That day, he played 59 snaps as Utah’s left tackle in a 31-21 win over Kansas.
There are obvious differences between that game and Tuesday’s practice. Nonetheless, the first-round draft pick is looking forward to the upcoming challenge.
“It’ll be fun to go against another team besides the Patriots, who we have been going up against all camp,” he explained. “It’ll be nice to really put my my skills on tape going against the Colts. And so, I’m just excited for the opportunity.”
The same is true for Tanner Arkin, the undrafted rookie tight end who has been one of the positive surprises of camp so far.
“I’m expecting a high-energy, awesome day,” Arkin said after the Patriots’ practice on Monday. “Two teams colliding. First joint practice. So, hopefully there’s going to be a lot of great energy out there, great competition. I’m excited to just put my best foot forward and attack the day really.”
While the excitement is palpable among New England’s rookies and roster in general, the joint session with the Colts is just the latest of several steps toward the regular season and start of truly meaningful football. Understanding that and keeping everything in perspective will be a key for the youngsters, according to fifth-year veteran and team captain Marcus Jones.
“Take it one play at a time,” Jones said when asked about the advice he had for his rookie teammates.
“You’re not going to make every single play, but the main thing is how you respond. There’s going to be some times where you don’t catch the ball. There’s going to be some times when you give up a big play. But at the end of the day, it’s minimizing that and making sure confidence-wise that you have it. Because, at the end of the day, you’re playing against one of the best. You know, it’s not college anymore and you’re playing in that 1%.”
