Thirteen practices in, and Caleb Lomu has already identified what's holding him back: his own brain. The quarterback acknowledged that overthinking in the early stages of camp caused him to play slower than he's capable of. That's not a small realization—it's the kind of self-awareness that separates guys who develop in this league from guys who wash out.
Vrabel's system is complex. There's a lot to digest pre-snap and post-snap, and young QBs often get tangled up trying to hit every mark perfectly before the ball leaves their hands. Lomu recognizing the trap early is a positive sign. The question now is whether he can actually execute the correction when the lights get brighter and the margin for error shrinks.
The good news? His receivers are giving him reasons to be aggressive. Romeo Doubs and Efton Chism III have both made big catches in camp, suggesting there's genuine playmaking talent around him. That kind of production early doesn't guarantee anything, but it does mean when Lomu loosens his grip and lets the ball fly, he's got targets who can win routes and move the chains.
Joshua Farmer's elevation at defensive tackle is worth monitoring too—interior line depth matters, especially in September. But the real story here is Lomu's mental approach. If he can sustain this tempo without the hesitation, the Patriots' offense gets a different beast. Not overthinking doesn't mean reckless. It means trusting your reads, trusting your arm, trusting your preparation. Camp's the time to build that muscle memory. Lomu's already ahead of schedule.