Positive Patriots: Upbeat After 'Winning' Packers Practice; Zeke 'Three-Down Back'?

The New England Patriots may have altered their trajectory - and found a "three-down back" in Ezekiel Elliott - after a successful week of practices against the Green Bay Packers.

Come December, we likely won't remember any New England Patriots details from mid-August. By then they'll probably be looking up the AFC East standings at the Bills and Jets - maybe even the Dolphins - and scrambling for a Wild Card playoff berth.

Or ... was the Pats' Aug. 17 practice against the Packers in Green Bay the day this team found its identity and re-routed the season?

After a mostly lethargic training camp, they came to life. With new running back Ezekiel Elliott adding a spark, the Patriots' offense dominated the Packers. Quarterback Mac Jones lofted perfect deep passes. The defense intercepted Green Bay's Jordan Love, and then commenced trash-talking. The Patriots executed. They fought (literally). They were galvanized. They clearly "won" Thursday's practice.

But will the suddenly positive vibes from one practice carry over into the season, into December or ... even into Saturday's preseason game against the Packers at Lambeau Field?

“I think this was good,” said coach Bill Belichick in what amounts to a relative mountain of hyperbole. "For the team to be able to make those adjustments as well, those were great learning situations and communication on the respective sides of the ball between the coaches and players, players and players, and then there was obviously more of that in the meetings after Wednesday’s practice and before Thursday’s practice.

"It was a great experience."

Jones had one of his best-ever practices as a pro. He completed deep passes. He was accurate on the sidelines. He threw with zip over the middle. He went through his progressions correctly, and quickly.

“I can’t state more emphatically that these guys have done a great job of learning and working with us, and we work with them,” offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien said Friday morning in a video conference call. “And I think it’s just really been a good process to this point.”

Though panned by some critics as "washed up," Elliott has been a pleasant surprise if only for two days in Pats' camp. He took reps with the starting unit Thursday, scoring would-be touchdowns on both a hand-off and a screen pass from Jones.

“One thing you see right away is he’s smart," O'Brien said. "I do think he’s a three-down back and has been a really good addition the last few days to our football team.”

Added running backs coach Vinnie Sunseri, "He has a lot of experience. He talks to all the guys in the room about how he sees runs, sees protections. He communicates well. It’s been good."

It remains to be seen how much, if any, Elliott plays Saturday night against the Packers. Same for Jones and the bulk of New England' starters.

“We’ll take stock of the team’s physical condition after a couple practices," Belichick said, "and then make those decisions a little bit later on."

With their new-found, feel-good mood, the Patriots next week will hold joint practices with the Titans in Nashville before finishing the preseason against Tennessee Aug. 25.

---

Follow Richie Whitt on Twitter

Follow Patriots Country on Twitter and Facebook

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Patriots? Click Here

More Patriots coverage from Sports Illustrated here.