FOXBOROUGH — As Bailey Zappe begins his second Patriots training camp, the backup quarterback is far more at ease than he was last summer.
“About 100% more (comfortable). I mean, it’s night and day difference for me,” Zappe said on Sunday afternoon. “Speaking from a defensive standpoint, being able to see defenses pre and post snap has been the biggest thing with me. I think that translates to meeting with both (Bill Belichick and Bill O’Brien). Watching more film. Just diving into the playbook and everything. It’s slowed the game down for me.”
That recognition was on display during a particularly sharp 11-on-11 period on Sunday.
Zappe found Jalen Hurd in the back of the end zone with a perfectly placed ball that he released from the 25-yard line. After the session, Zappe explained that Hurd was running a conversion route. The quarterback recognized that with the defense in Cover 2, he had a hole shot, and Zappe drilled it. On the next play, Zappe went back to the well and found Tre Nixon for a score in the same neighborhood.
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“Kind of a similar thing,” Zappe said. “In the red zone everything is a lot more quick and the field is a lot shorter. The defense doesn’t have to cover as much field down there. So decision making for us as quarterbacks is a lot more fast-paced. To be able to do what we did today and score touchdowns like we did is really good to see.”
Last week Belichick praised the second-year quarterback, saying he “had a really good spring,” and Zappe said his offseason focus was simple.
“Try to limit the turnovers,” Zappe said. “Big plays. Completions. Just trying to lead the offense and score touchdowns. That’s really about it.”
