FOXBORO — Training camp is the perfect time for the Patriots to practice trial and error, and sometimes players need to rely on their teammates on the other side of the ball to correct any potential tells.
For the Patriots’ secondary, quarterback Drake Maye is making it obvious when the defensive backfield is showing its hand in practice.
“He’s always getting better at calling us out,” safety Dell Pettus said Monday. “Where if we show something too soon, he’s already making the check. We’re like, ‘Oh, well, now we got to deal with that because he just knows what he’s doing.’ I think that’s a testament of his preparation. I think that’s a testament of how well he played last season, and having a chip on his shoulder that he wants to be the best and continue to show why he feels like he is the best. I definitely feel like Drake is making it a lot harder for us, but also making us better because we’re learning from him.”
Veteran safety Kevin Byard said he likes to pick Maye’s brain after practice about why the quarterback audibles to different play calls or motions a receiver based on what the defense is showing in their disguises.
“It’s just those small things, getting little nuances, and that’s what training camp is for,” Byard said.
Defensive tackle Milton Williams says he points out different tells to the Patriots’ offensive linemen after every practice.
And yes, he waits until after practice is over, because as much as the offense and defense want to help each other going into the 2026 season, they’re still competing against each other in training camp.
“I’m always looking at their stance, any pass or run tell that they’re giving us up front, because I know other D-linemen across the league are looking at the same things,” Williams said. “So, if I feel like they’re giving away a look, I’m telling them after practice.
“I’m gonna use that to my advantage during practice, but after, I’m gonna say, ‘I knew y’all was doing this because y’all was leaning this way, y’all was looking a certain way, or some of y’all communication, maybe I picked up on.’ But having those conversations and knowing that I’m not the only one listening to those calls, it’s just gonna help them in the future and help us continue to grow.”
New England Patriots offensive tackle Morgan Moses, left, during the team’s NFL training camp, Friday, July 31, 2026, in Foxboro. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Patriots left tackle Will Campbell chalks it up to the “family feeling” in the Patriots’ facility.
Dating back to last season, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has pushed his players to get out of their comfort zone and get to know their teammates in other position groups or on the other side of the ball.
This spring, Patriots players were divided into groups of seven to compete against one another in different contests. During minicamp, the groups worked among themselves to see who could push a blocking sled downfield the fastest with just three players touching the sled at once.
“As much as we want to kick their ass at practice and they want to kick our ass, we want them to get as many sacks as possible,” Campbell said. “They want us to give up as few as possible. We’re all trying to help each other be better because that’s the way that we’re going to be successful during the season. …
“It’s all the D-linemen talking to the O-linemen, and vice versa. If we see something that they might be showing that we see that we can take advantage of, we communicate that, and they do the same, vice versa. And I think that just comes from the way that this team is tight-knit and can communicate with each other and just try to help each other become the best player they possibly can.”
Campbell has enjoyed competing with and learning from veteran outside linebacker free-agent pickup Dre’Mont Jones this summer because they faced each other last season when Jones was on the Titans. He also enjoys facing off against second-year pros Elijah Ponder and Bradyn Swinson, because they bring speed in team drills and 1-on-1s.
The work is paying off for Campbell, who’s had a hot start to training camp, especially in those 1-on-1 matchups. And it’s partially a credit to Campbell and his teammates’ willingness to help each other.