SMITHFIELD, RI -- When you win a Superbowl,
fans tend to take more of an interest in the team.
That was certainly apparent on Friday
when the Patriots actually had to close access to the remaining fans who
flocked to Bryant College to watch the Patriots practice as the team opened
Training Camp.
About 5,000 fans watched the team
begin their preparations for the 2002 season on Friday, which is a turnout
of about twice the size of recent seasons.
Patriots fan Ryan Mathison who was
on hand for day one noticed that the bandwagon had certainly gotten larger.
"Last year when the Pats were coming
off of a 5-11 record, about 200 people showed up to the 1st afternoon session,"
said Mathison.
"This year, thousands showed up
to the first day...hmm I wonder why?"
A Lombardi Trophy may obvously have
that effect.
Meanwhile there were a couple of
players who apparently failed head coach Bill Belichick's conditioning
drill. Runningbacks Antowain Smith and Patrick Pass spent the afternoon
on stationary bikes while the rest of the team practiced. Smith failed
for the second straight season, although Belichick said the runningback's
test is one of the most grueling.
Fans also pointed out that Willie
McGinest wasn't on the field. He reportedly had an excused absense.
Also sidelined were Ben Kelly, Matt
Light , Richard Seymour, Joe Andruzzi , Cam Cleeland, and Antwoine Womack.
Light and Seymour are reportedly recovering from offseason surgery, while
Womack isn't expected to participate as he recovers from a serious knee
injury.
Belichick said on Friday that his
goal for the beginning of this season is to try and improve on the poor
start his team has had over the past two seasons.
"The first month of the season is
a target for us," said Belichick. The last two years, as we all know
we have not started well, 0-4 and 1-3 and we have a target this year on
the first quarter of the season to try to improve that, starting with Pittsburgh."
"I think we can improve on from what
we've done the last two years, and that will be what our goal is.
OTHER FAN OBSERVATIONS
"I got great looks at Davey, Branch
& Graham.
I was VERY IMPRESSED with Branch.
He caught everything thrown to him away from his body in full stride. I
noticed that his acceleration from a stand still is tremendous. He is like
Brown, but just more nimble...quicker.
Graham dropped a couple of easy passes
from Davey on one passing session. Also, I noticed that Graham likes to
catch the ball with his body a lot...when forced to reach out for the ball,
he doesn't always make the catch.
Davey has a CANNON of an arm! He
was in a drop back scramble session with BB watching and all the QB's were
throwing it to a little highschool looking kid (probably the son of one
of the coaches). Anyway this kid was like 15yards out and Rohan almost
knocked the kid over with his throw...seriously the kid thought about ducking
instead of trying to catch the friggin pass.
"QBs - Brady was very sharp, moving
well and rarely missing a pass - some very nice deep balls. Huard was pretty
good, though he underthrew most of his long balls. Davey looked sloppy,
both with his footwork and his throwing - very erratic. He definitely looks
like a project, not surprisingly. No question who was the best QB (something
I haven't always been able to say after going to a camp).
Other rookies - Graham was most impressive
as a blocker. I thought, in comparing him to Fauria, that he was better
in that department. He moves well - more smooth than quick - and has excellent
hands, but did not have much thrown to him in the 7 on 7 or 11 on 11 drills.
Branch looked terrific. Watching him on television in college, he seemed
really small, but in person, he looks powerfully built, especially in the
lower body. He is very quick and displayed good hands the whole session.
Green had some nice bull rushes in the one on one drills, but got pancaked
a couple times by Kenyatta Jones in the 11 on 11s. Givens did not stand
out.
Other vets - Patten, as he was when
I went last year, was the standout player. Jones was again the first team
LT (as in minicamp), and seemed vastly improved. Last year he was unable
to handle outside rushes, both when I saw him in camp and in exhibition
games, but he was moving much better this year. And he is scary strong
- really obliterating a couple guys (see above note) once he gets locked
on. Hayes looked pretty good, although I was more impressed with Patten
and Branch. Fauria looked a little slow, but otherwise okay.
By the way, it may just have been
what they were working on today, but they spent a lot of time in two tight
end sets, with Fauria and Graham working with the first teamers." - TROC
FROM THE PATSFANS.COM FORUM
Other than that, Davey looked like
a rookie. SOme great throws, and some horrid ones..." - RYEMAN
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