Official Friday Minicamp Updates Thread

[BelichickFan]

Love these:

Yeah, we'd talked about Ferentz, looks like it's official that he's the unofficial TE coach.

Of all the stuff posted, the thing I'm happiest about is it sounds like Spikes has the leadership "it" that we've been missing. Him and Mayo can take over the defense from a leadership standpoint.

 

[Patspsycho]

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

He wore Ben Coates' old #!

That's gotta be a good sign.

 

[JSn]

Yeah, we'd talked about Ferentz, looks like it's official that he's the unofficial TE coach.

Of all the stuff posted, the thing I'm happiest about is it sounds like Spikes has the leadership "it" that we've been missing. Him and Mayo can take over the defense from a leadership standpoint.

Seriously! I'm more jacked about the mega-drive to training camp for this year than I was last year!

 

[BelichickFan]

Breer takes a break from tracking down more sources to check in :

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2010/04/rookie_camp_pra.html

Everyone talks about Spikes' "presence" or similar word. Sounds like he's what we expected.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Seriously! I'm more jacked about the mega-drive to training camp for this year than I was last year!

Excellent. I hope you're in training -- we need reports.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Breer takes a break from tracking down more sources to check in :

Rookie camp Practice 1 impressions - Extra Points - Boston.com

Everyone talks about Spikes' "presence" or similar word. Sounds like he's what we expected.

But you notice he couldn't let it go and had to lead with his own wasted question to BB. The story is now personal, so he can't let it go.

 

[Brady2Welker]

I've been so high on Hernandez and Price. This has me elated.

 

[JSn]

I've been so high on Hernandez and Price. This has me elated.

Smoke, snort or inject?

 

[JSn]

Excellent. I hope you're in training -- we need reports.

Yeah, should be there for 2-3 days, anyway. Got awesome pics last year.

Plus I owe Chris Price and adult beverage... or is it the other way around...

 

[Leave No Doubt]

But you notice he couldn't let it go and had to lead with his own wasted question to BB. The story is now personal, so he can't let it go.

He's cooking his own goose. BB's reply:

"“Well, everybody that’s here, we feel can help our football team. That’s why they’re on the field.”"

There's a Dis with a capital D

 

[upstater1]

Mesko needs to get it together. No game situation and shanking punts reminds me of Senior Bowl practice.

 

[DarrylS]

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

I like football players who are tough son of a ******es.

 

[DarrylS]

Much love for Spikes from Tom E. Curran... Spikes sounds like a walking sound bite, who has chugged the Kool Aid...

New England Patriots Breaking News and Video | Comcast SportsNet - CSNNE.com

"I've been watching this game for a while, I have yet to see a player run in a straight line 40 yards in a game," Spikes offered. "So I've got a little saying: It is what it is, but it ain't what you think."

In Spikes' case, many more things argue for him than that 40 time that argues against. He's got a tall, athletic build, similar to another Florida product: inside linebacker Channing Crowder of the Dolphins. He also has a tremendous personality -- engaging, insightful -- that's going to make him a natural leader among this rookie group. The 55 jersey the team handed him has been previously worn by guys who could get people on board -- Willie McGinest and Junior Seau.

 

[Kontradiction]

Keep 'em coming, guys. Love the feedback on Gronk and Spikes especially.

 

[Water Boy]

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.

The run on WRs in the 3rd round was the most intriguing part of the draft for me. I was sweating bullets watching the receivers come off the board. I'd love to give BB some truth serum and ask these questions:

1. How were the WRs that went in Round 3 rated on your draft board?
2. Was Price your first choice in round 3 or a consolation prize?
3. Did you try to trade up once the run on WRs started?
4. If Price was off the board would you have drafted another WR in that slot (e.g. Gilyard)?

I hope BB is happy with Price. I assume he is. I'd be critical if BB really wanted Decker, for example, but didn't attempt a trade up once the run on WRs started.

 

[Schmo]

I don't want to be a downer, but it seems like evaluations so far on the rooks is going to be fairly relative to the other rookies around them. It is hard to see how well they will do when they practice with the big boys. That said, it IS encouraging that the only negative notes so far are about the punter.

I am very excited about Spikes... we could possibly have that Ray Lewis type of presence in the huddle (it would be expecting too much to say he's going to be a Ray Lewis type of player, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed). So, he needs to show his abilities ON the field so we can have that presence. This defense really needs a loudmouth to motivate them. I'm sick of seeing guys on the sidelines, hanging their heads and breathing heavily.

 

[reflexblue]

Mesko needs to get it together. No game situation and shanking punts reminds me of Senior Bowl practice.

I know hes a bust, total wast of a pick.....

 

[patriotscpfc]

Great find. Very informative.

I'm not taking the piss, but the PFW blog should not be a great find, during camps, they are as good as Reiss for their information.

 

[Feep50]

I'm keeping my eyes open for some comments on that 6'5" receiver they signed. Was his name Bryan Anderson? Seems like a WR that tall would standout visually and garner some interest........ Hmmmmm

 

[Metaphors]

The run on WRs in the 3rd round was the most intriguing part of the draft for me. I was sweating bullets watching the receivers come off the board. I'd love to give BB some truth serum and ask these questions:

1. How were the WRs that went in Round 3 rated on your draft board?
2. Was Price your first choice in round 3 or a consolation prize?
3. Did you try to trade up once the run on WRs started?
4. If Price was off the board would you have drafted another WR in that slot (e.g. Gilyard)?

I hope BB is happy with Price. I assume he is. I'd be critical if BB really wanted Decker, for example, but didn't attempt a trade up once the run on WRs started.

I obviously can't speak for Belichick, but Price was my top pick after the top 4 receivers. Seeing that run and knowing Carolina would be looking receiver, I was sure Price was gone. I was shocked when Edwards (major reach) was taken at 89. Amazing that 12 receivers went from 77-108...equivalent to one round of picks (Price going 8th in the run).

Didn't see a lot of Price but saw enough to notice a couple of things:

Pro: Can attack all layers of the defense and dude is always open.

Con: Hands don't seem natural. Doesn't have the dropsies but his "strike zone" seems smaller than it should be.

So load up the jugs machine and get him super-tacky gloves and he could be a real asset this year.