Official Friday Minicamp Updates Thread

[Ian]

Post any updates, etc. or interesting topics to this thread today. We'll run another one tomorrow as well.

 

[BelichickFan]

Jermaine Cunningham has #96 for now. Ick, I'd like them to retire that number in effigy.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

I believe Cunningham's number may indicate that they think he will be a DE although we know BB will put him in the best spot to help the team after training camp. It shows what they view him as currently, IMO.

Cunningham coming in on third downs to spell Warren/Lewis seems like a nice plan because you get immediate pass rush production from a rookie and the OLB skills can be developed later on.

 

[RodThePat]

You mean DE in a 4-3 alignment? He'll play that too, eventually, but I doubt that'll be his primary role. The number 96 doesn't mean much if you take into account AD wore it in 2007 when he was an inside linebacker. Another example is Roman Phifer who wore 95 and never played a down at DE.

 

[Metaphors]

I believe Cunningham's number may indicate that they think he will be a DE although we know BB will put him in the best spot to help the team after training camp. It shows what they view him as currently, IMO.

Cunningham coming in on third downs to spell Warren/Lewis seems like a nice plan because you get immediate pass rush production from a rookie and the OLB skills can be developed later on.

Some past LBs have had numbers in the 90's (Colvin, Phifer, AD) and a couple of current ones do (TBC, Crable). I wouldn't read much into it...and I certainly wouldn't think that it means Cunningham will be running the old Jarvis role (3-4 sub package DE).

 

[BelichickFan]

First blog update :

BostonHerald.com - Blogs: Rap Sheet Blog Archive What happened at the Patriots first mini-camp?

 

[DefenseRules]

– WR Taylor Price looks fast, as we thought he would. Definitely among the quicker guys here, and he runs good routes.

This note on Price is very encouraging, IMO.

 

[BelichickFan]

This note on Price is very encouraging, IMO.

Yeah, Price is funny for me - I like him, I really do, and we need young WR with Moss and Holt both possibly being gone in 2011 but I think I feel like we took the last guy standing when we took Price as there had been a run on WR; instead of being out in front taking who we wanted he feels like the leftover - I say that, having no idea where he was on the Patriots' board, of course. And, again, I do like him as a player and a person.

 

[Criptonite]

Yeah, Price is funny for me - I like him, I really do, and we need young WR with Moss and Holt both possibly being gone in 2011 but I think I feel like we took the last guy standing when we took Price as there had been a run on WR; instead of being out in front taking who we wanted he feels like the leftover - I say that, having no idea where he was on the Patriots' board, of course. And, again, I do like him as a player and a person.

I feel the same way. In the first 76 picks only 4 WRs were taken. Then 11 came off the board over the next 32 selections. We got in on it in the middle of the run. I liked Decker and Roberts more, but we'll never know who we really wanted there.

BB got out in front of runs on CBs and TEs though. He also played the LBs correctly IMO, whereas very few pass rushers were taken as early as most thought. He thought he could wait until the mid-late 2nd and he was correct.

One other run we may have missed out on was RBs. I felt like Mesko had to be picked in round 5, so it looked like round 6 would be a RB considering so many decent options were still on the board. But then all of a sudden Dixon, Karim, Dwyer, Starks and Scott all got gobbled up. We couldn't have gotten in on that run without having to give up a 2011 5th rounder or a player.

 

[BelichickFan]

Reiss checks in :

Observations from rookie minicamp - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Interesting the Cunningham is at ROLB, I expected him to be at LOLB, we'll see how that goes over time.

Breer's last, he must be checking in with his sources to spread more crap.

 

[Patspsycho]

This note on Price is very encouraging, IMO.

Yes, I'm high on him. Not only is he fast, but he is one tough son of a *****.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

Jermaine Cunningham has #96 for now. Ick, I'd like them to retire that number in effigy.

Maybe JC will do it some justice:rocker:

 

[upstater1]

Yeah, Price is funny for me - I like him, I really do, and we need young WR with Moss and Holt both possibly being gone in 2011 but I think I feel like we took the last guy standing when we took Price as there had been a run on WR; instead of being out in front taking who we wanted he feels like the leftover - I say that, having no idea where he was on the Patriots' board, of course. And, again, I do like him as a player and a person.

He was taken over Mardy Gilyard, so that's saying something, at least for me. If it was the right choice, that is.

 

[BelichickFan]

Big update from PatsFW :

Official Patriots Football Weekly Blog Blog Archive From the Hart: Morning rookie camp notes

 

[JSn]

Reiss being awesome:

Observations from rookie minicamp - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

My fave snippet of all the great bits...

Jermaine Cunningham at right outside linebacker. Second-round draft choice Jermaine Cunningham, who played defensive end in Florida's 4-3 defense, spent the workout at right outside linebacker. This will be an important transition to monitor, as Cunningham could help the team in a top area of need, the pass rush. After the practice, Cunningham said he dropped into coverage about 50 percent of the time while at Florida, which seems like an unusually high number. While no definitive judgment can be made at this point, Cunningham looked comfortable playing in a two-point stance. He said this was the first practice he's spent that much time in a two-point stance.

 

[BelichickFan]

Overall sounds like the skill guys looked very solid and Spikes is the personality we expect; and as PFW quotes him, Spikes tweaked one of Bill's favorite quotes when talking about his 40 time :

"“It is what it is, but it ain’t what you think.”"

 

[Patspsycho]

Big update from PatsFW :

Official Patriots Football Weekly Blog Blog Archive From the Hart: Morning rookie camp notes

Great find. Very informative.

 

[BelichickFan]

Great find. Very informative.

They love Gronk. We have to have more red zone threats, I think we'll be shocked at what a big upgrade we get this year at TE.

 

[JSn]

First blog update :

BostonHerald.com - Blogs: Rap Sheet Blog Archive What happened at the Patriots first mini-camp?

Love these:

– TE Aaron Hernandez mis-timed a jump and hung in the air for forever to make the catch anyway. Pretty impressive.

– Cunningham is standing up as an OLB, and Spikes called the plays for the young group.

– TE Rob Gronkowski is monstrous. But he really does receive the balls pretty softly. Both TEs were being coached by Brian Ferentz.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

I can’t say enough good things about Gronkowski. Everything we saw on tape – soft hands, smooth routes and casual playmaking style – were evident on the practice field. I’ll say it again, Tom Brady is going to love this guy

Official Patriots Football Weekly Blog Blog Archive From the Hart: Morning rookie camp notes

He wore Ben Coates' old #!