Patriots defense still finding its identity, and more notes from Day 13 of training camp

Between a full-pads session on Sunday and welcoming the Philadelphia Eagles to town for a joint practice on Tuesday, the New England Patriots held a lower-intensity practice on Monday. Players did not wear full pads, but rather helmets and shells — resulting in a somewhat toned-down session that ran for 90 minutes instead of the typical two hours.

To recap the action, please take a look at Brian Hines’ practice notebook. For everything else, let’ clean out that notebook before turning our attention to Day 14.

Patriots Training Camp Notebook: Day 13

Practice recap | Performances of note | Deshaun Fenwick signing | John Morgan III release | Free agency workouts | Pats Pulpit Training Camp Guide

Defense still finding its identity: The Patriots themselves know the formula for playing winning football in Year 1 of the Jerod Mayo era, and it all starts with a stout defensive performance. So far, so good for the unit that surrendered just three points in a dominant preseason opener versus the Carolina Panthers.

At this point in time, however, the unit is not yet where it needs to be. For defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington, it’s still learning about itself and its identity.

“We’re still in the phase of figuring out who we’re going to be, our identity,” Covington said on Monday. “How can we use the players to put them in the best position? Who are we going to be as a defense? What’s going to be our mentality? And, how can we help this football team win games? We’re still in the process of doing that. That’s what practice is for. That’s what training camp is for. We’re molding the identity right now, trust me.”

The Patriots retained a significant portion of their defensive roster from a year ago, when the unit was one of the NFL’s best despite being put in unfavorable situations time and again by an inept offense. Heading into 2024, the hope is that improved performance on that side of the ball will make life easier for Covington’s crew.

Even so, the first-year coordinator knows that he and his players need to focus on themselves — a process that starts anew every day.

“Every day we need to come out and act like we’ve done nothing. That’s the mindset — workers mentality, blue-collar mentality,” Covington said.

“We have to earn everything every day. What we did yesterday in practice doesn’t mean that we come and have that mindset today in practice. What we do today — can’t have the same mindset when the Eagles come here. Even after every game it doesn’t matter. It’s like a start-over mentality, every practice, every day, every week, every game.”

Azizi Hearn taking under-the-radar strides: While the top of the Patriots’ cornerback group is set, the backup positions still appear to be up for grabs. One player who has left a positive impression on his position coach is second-year man Azizi Hearn.

“I’m really, really pleased with his progress,” said cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino. “[Jerod] Mayo talks about it all the time: process, progress, payoff. He went through the process, he’s seeing the progress, which I’m so proud of. I really am very proud of his ability to play outside, play inside, really slow the game down. Because that was his thing from the beginning. And I’m just impressed with where he is right now.”

Hearn entered the NFL as a rookie free agent last spring, starting his career with the Las Vegas Raiders. He did not make it through final roster cuts, however, and eventually ended up on the Patriots practice squad a few weeks later.

While not seeing any game action in 2023, the 6-foot-1, 204-pound cornerback has gotten his fair share of opportunities this summer: he played 24 defensive snaps in the preseason opener — tied for the position lead — and has been actively involved in practice as well.

Dont’a Hightower enjoys life as a coach: The Patriots brought former linebacker Dont’a Hightower back into the mix as their inside linebackers coach this offseason. While Hightower is a veteran of 134 NFL games and three Super Bowls, coaching is a new experience for the former team captain.

So far, he seems to be enjoying it.

“It’s been good,” the 34-year-old said. “Just getting used to all the meeting time, getting used to kind of controlling the room. All of the guys in my room make it easy, though. I have a really good group of young men going from the top to the bottom. They’ve all been really good for me and for the room. It’s been great. I’ve been enjoying all of it.”

For him, it all starts with returning to a football environment. Hightower, a first-round draft pick in 2012, had been away from the game since after the 2021 season; he officially announced his retirement in March 2023.

“Just being back out here, just being around the guys,” he said. “A lot of guys that I’ve played with, a lot of guys that I’ve had connections with before this. Just being able to give back being around those guys, being ‘back in the locker room,’ so to speak. It’s just all of it: coaching, meeting, being on the field, off the field. It’s just been all I’ve thought it would be and a little bit more.”

Ja’Lynn Polk’s work ethic has him on the right track: Second-round draft pick Ja’Lynn Polk has played a prominent role for the Patriots offense so far this summer, and appears to be on track to become a valuable contributor even as a rookie. For his teammates, it all has to do with the work he has put into his craft since his arrival.

“He’s been working his butt off,” said fellow wide receiver DeMario Douglas. “He’s been doing a great job playing different positions, coming in as a rookie, and doing what we expected.”

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett echoed those remarks shortly after one of Polk’s best practices of the summer.

“He’s done a good job of answering the call,” he said. “He’s been thrown in a lot of different spots, a lot of different positions for us, and he very rarely misses a beat. He’s going out there, flying around, making plays, and he wants to learn and get better. So, I think that’s the starting point as far as a young guy: you just want them to come in willing to learn.”

Jeremy Springer takes a hands-off approach to coaching: The Patriots reorganized their entire coaching staff this offseason, including hiring Jeremy Springer as their special teams coordinator. Even though he may lack experience outside of serving as an assistant with the Los Angeles Rams for two years, the 35-year-old has done a good job leading his room — at least according to kicker Joey Slye.

“Great dude,” Slye said on Monday. “He’s got a lot of energy, which is really nice to have around a special teams unit. He allows us to be our own professionals, kind of laissez-faire, kind of hands-off a little bit. Just to say, ‘Hey, I trust that you’re going to get your job done and do it at the best of your ability. Which is really, really good for us, especially with specialists that have the ability to kind of self-correct themselves. So, it’s great having the confidence behind a coordinator like that.”

Slye, who also arrived in New England this offseason to challenge incumbent Chad Ryland, also made sure to mention Springer’s assistant. Tom Quinn, a veteran coach who spent time with the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans among other teams, also has an active hand in the Patriots’ kicking game operation.

“[Springer] also has someone like TQ behind him, whose a vet, a special teams coordinator who has been around a lot of good players like Graham Gano up in New York, Nick Folk last year when he was in Tennessee,” Slye said. “He understands, I wouldn’t say ‘old regime’ of special team coaching, but you kind of got like at an old age/new age guy that gives a really good balance to the group. It’s a nice operation to play under.”

Dell Pettus becoming a factor at safety? Barring incident or accident, Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, and Jaylinn Hawkins will be the top options at the Patriots’ safety position this season. There might be room for another player on the depth chart, though, at least on the practice squad.

Undrafted free agent Dell Pettus might qualify for that spot, and safeties coach Brian Belichick likes what he has seen from him.

“As a rookie, he’s come in and has done the right things,” Belichick said. “He knows he has a lot to learn. Trying to get better every day, and stack the days together, and see where he ends up. We’re still in the process, still are a lot of things to get better at. But he’s had the right mentality, played the way we want him to, and played as an individual, as his own self — free. We’re building trust, his teammates with him. It’s been good. Just keep stacking the days together and see where it ends up.”

Pettus led the Patriots with 46 defensive snaps last Thursday versus the Carolina Panthers. He is currently competing with Joshuah Bledsoe for the next spot behind Dugger, Peppers, and Hawkins.

Marte Mapu is putting in the work behind the scenes: Second-year defender Marte Mapu has struggled to take the field this summer, currently being sidelined with an undisclosed injury. The safety/linebacker hybrid would have projected as a rotational third option alongside starters Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers — a box safety option compared to free safety-type Jaylinn Hawkins — but his future is in question right now.

Nonetheless, Mapu is doing what he can to better himself even while unable to practice.

“He’s always been very consistent with being very engaged in meetings,” said Brian Belichick. “Asking great questions, asking questions to his teammates, trying to improve even though, right now, he can’t get on the field. But he’s working. He’s doing — we like to talk about, ‘Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.’ So, he’s doing what he can to get better, which is what we’re all trying to do.”

Christian Gonzalez’s improvement evident to his defensive coordinator: Coming off an injury-shortened rookie season, expectations are high for former first-round draft pick Christian Gonzalez entering his sophomore campaign. So far, however, the youngster seems to have an up-and-down training camp; his record in 1-on-1s in particular leave some to be desired.

The Patriots are not pushing the panic button yet, far from it.

“He’s improving as a leader, as a competitor on our team,” said DeMarcus Covington. “He’s doing it on the field, and that’s what we need him to do. We need our good players to be good, and be good in their roles.”

For Covington, Gonzalez is more than just a starter-level outside cornerback: he also is a player others on the team should use as a role model to better their own performance.

“Really for all the other corners to match him, Jon Jones, those guys — play to the level of their competition,” he said.

What’s next: The Patriots will be back on the practice field on Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET for their 14th overall session this summer. This one will look different than the others: the Philadelphia Eagles are in town for one joint practice ahead of their preseason meeting on Thursday.

Make sure to follow Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) as well as our very own Brian Hines (@iambrianhines) and Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) for updates.