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- Jul 11, 2005
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... Once again I'll let the professionals fill you in with the attendence report, who made catches and who didn't... and of course all the Brady talk. Instead I'll try and talk more about the "flavor" or the practice....at least to my eyes.
If you have coached (and I have) you can't help but marvel at the precision and purpose that make up a Patriots practice. The basic structure actually hasn't really changed much since I was doing it on the HS level. Stretching, warm up drills like over the bags, individual position work, followed by group work, followed by team work, and interspersed with special teams work. Just like what we see at camp....only SOOOOO much better.
That horn sounds and EVERYONE, players, coaches, support staff, RUN to the next segment. ITS BEAUTIFUL. Now I didn't have hours to prepare a practice (more like a half hour between classes). I didn't have 10 assistants, support staff, and my kids had to learn BOTH offense and defense, but still.....
I would love to question guys like Galloway, Lewis, Taylor, and McGowan and get their impressions of how different (or not) things are here in NE, especially as it pertains to practice.
Another reason I like BB so much is that at the bottom of his soul, he is a coach. No one has deserved the right to stand with his arms crossed "observing the big picture", and barking out orders to subordinates (a la Bear Bryant) than BB. However there he is, down in the trenches working with star and scrub alike during individual drills. Hands on, getting dirty...and OBVIOUSLY loving it. Clearly much happier in that environment than at his presser.
Highlight of the morning - I got a great view today of a OL/RBs, vs DL/LBs group drill that was run right in front of the stands. Here are the 2 major impressions I got. First Ron Brace. Once again you can't help but notice how quick his is off the ball....and they played him ALOT. He worked with the first group at 3-4 DE and 4-3 DT. He worked with the 2nd group as both a DE and NT. He clearly got more snaps than any DLman. Personally it makes me think that he's going to be in the mix THIS year. Not a starter, but "in the mix"
The second impression was less encouraging. Yesterday I mentioned Vince Redd and his speed on KO coverage. Well today in individual work I watched him, and noticed how high be played. More discouraging was the fact that in this OL/RBs vs DL/LBs drill, Vince never saw a snap.
During practice there was a CB that stood out but his # wasn't in the program, #28. I was going to ask if anyone knew who he was, when I noticed a thread that announced that Ron Springs was back, so unless I'm told differently I'm assuming THAT was the guy. The fact that he popped out to me makes me happy. Good sign
Once again there were a lot of guys out, mostly vets.
You can't help notice Tedy Bruschi this year. Has a real bounce back in his step. He doesn't jog between drills....he RUNS. I don't know if he's in better shape, though its been mention what good shape he looks to be in. I don't know if it will translate into more productivity this season. Just an impression.
Finally its kind of interesting to watch after practice breaks up who stays out there. Heres what I saw. Edelman and Nun Catching passes. Ray Ventrone down by himself with the JUGS machine catching bullets from short range. BJGE in an animated conversation with Ivan Fears (actually Fears was the one who was animated, BJGE was absorbing all that "animation". All the QBs NOT named Brady working on drills
Hope you enjoy...until the PM
If you have coached (and I have) you can't help but marvel at the precision and purpose that make up a Patriots practice. The basic structure actually hasn't really changed much since I was doing it on the HS level. Stretching, warm up drills like over the bags, individual position work, followed by group work, followed by team work, and interspersed with special teams work. Just like what we see at camp....only SOOOOO much better.
That horn sounds and EVERYONE, players, coaches, support staff, RUN to the next segment. ITS BEAUTIFUL. Now I didn't have hours to prepare a practice (more like a half hour between classes). I didn't have 10 assistants, support staff, and my kids had to learn BOTH offense and defense, but still.....
I would love to question guys like Galloway, Lewis, Taylor, and McGowan and get their impressions of how different (or not) things are here in NE, especially as it pertains to practice.
Another reason I like BB so much is that at the bottom of his soul, he is a coach. No one has deserved the right to stand with his arms crossed "observing the big picture", and barking out orders to subordinates (a la Bear Bryant) than BB. However there he is, down in the trenches working with star and scrub alike during individual drills. Hands on, getting dirty...and OBVIOUSLY loving it. Clearly much happier in that environment than at his presser.
Highlight of the morning - I got a great view today of a OL/RBs, vs DL/LBs group drill that was run right in front of the stands. Here are the 2 major impressions I got. First Ron Brace. Once again you can't help but notice how quick his is off the ball....and they played him ALOT. He worked with the first group at 3-4 DE and 4-3 DT. He worked with the 2nd group as both a DE and NT. He clearly got more snaps than any DLman. Personally it makes me think that he's going to be in the mix THIS year. Not a starter, but "in the mix"
The second impression was less encouraging. Yesterday I mentioned Vince Redd and his speed on KO coverage. Well today in individual work I watched him, and noticed how high be played. More discouraging was the fact that in this OL/RBs vs DL/LBs drill, Vince never saw a snap.
During practice there was a CB that stood out but his # wasn't in the program, #28. I was going to ask if anyone knew who he was, when I noticed a thread that announced that Ron Springs was back, so unless I'm told differently I'm assuming THAT was the guy. The fact that he popped out to me makes me happy. Good sign
Once again there were a lot of guys out, mostly vets.
You can't help notice Tedy Bruschi this year. Has a real bounce back in his step. He doesn't jog between drills....he RUNS. I don't know if he's in better shape, though its been mention what good shape he looks to be in. I don't know if it will translate into more productivity this season. Just an impression.
Finally its kind of interesting to watch after practice breaks up who stays out there. Heres what I saw. Edelman and Nun Catching passes. Ray Ventrone down by himself with the JUGS machine catching bullets from short range. BJGE in an animated conversation with Ivan Fears (actually Fears was the one who was animated, BJGE was absorbing all that "animation". All the QBs NOT named Brady working on drills
Hope you enjoy...until the PM
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