As Patriots Put The Pads On, The Game Speeds Up

Tuesday was the first day the NFL allowed teams to wear full pads and participate in full contact drills.

The Patriots did just that, and went full speed ahead.

Though quarterbacks don’t take contact, the speed of the game is key for the position. As a result, veteran QB Cam Newton looked to have a better day than his rookie counterpart Mac Jones, who saw full NFL speed for the first time.

The Pats also took the opportunity to work on rushing offense and defense.

New England’s rush defense was the seventh worst in football, giving up 131 yards per game.