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I wasn't planning to post because I only saw a random half hour of camp today, featuring the Pats' 2nd & 3rd string offenses. But then I thought about how eager I always am to read ANY camp reports and thought some of you might feel the same. Plus all the other reports today are, quite reasonably, about the 1st-string scrimmages. So FWIW, a smattering of impressions:
- Edelman & Tate both fielded routine punts cleanly. Price missed badly on a nasty one that was slicing wobbily away from him. It was a tough ball to track, but he really looked lost going after it.
- With the 2nd offense, Edelman really stood out. The guy just always seems to be where he ought to be, quick and precise and a clean step ahead of the defender. He clearly wasn't Hoyer's first read on most plays (a quick out being the exception), but more often than not the pass ended up in his hands.
- Heaven help anybody who tries to tackle Crumpler. The guy looks bigger than most of the 2nd-string OL, but showed his steady hands making a grab in the corner of the endzone. His downfield range is obviously limited, but he could catch folks napping if they treat him as just a blocker.
- Even Rod Owens and Darnell Jenkins look better than Sam Aiken at WR. Amazing to think he was the #3 WR last year.
- When it comes to QBs at camp, I always seem to come away with a gestalt impression: this guy is a legit QB, or he isn't. Period. Since my first camp in 2005, the only young QB who struck me as having "it" was Matt Cassel. Brian Hoyer is now the second. Hoyer looks awfully small for a Patriots quarterback, and I suspect he lacks the downfield arm strength of a starter, but he seemed poised, in control of the offense, and accurate. I'll take that in my backup any day.
- On the flip side, Zac Robinson did not impress. He looked skittish and indecisive. (BTW, a number of draftniks here wanted QB Tim Hiller in the 7th instead of Robinson, but reports out of Colts TC say Hiller isn't impressing anybody either. Brian Hoyers don't grow on trees.
)
- Edelman & Tate both fielded routine punts cleanly. Price missed badly on a nasty one that was slicing wobbily away from him. It was a tough ball to track, but he really looked lost going after it.
- With the 2nd offense, Edelman really stood out. The guy just always seems to be where he ought to be, quick and precise and a clean step ahead of the defender. He clearly wasn't Hoyer's first read on most plays (a quick out being the exception), but more often than not the pass ended up in his hands.
- Heaven help anybody who tries to tackle Crumpler. The guy looks bigger than most of the 2nd-string OL, but showed his steady hands making a grab in the corner of the endzone. His downfield range is obviously limited, but he could catch folks napping if they treat him as just a blocker.
- Even Rod Owens and Darnell Jenkins look better than Sam Aiken at WR. Amazing to think he was the #3 WR last year.
- When it comes to QBs at camp, I always seem to come away with a gestalt impression: this guy is a legit QB, or he isn't. Period. Since my first camp in 2005, the only young QB who struck me as having "it" was Matt Cassel. Brian Hoyer is now the second. Hoyer looks awfully small for a Patriots quarterback, and I suspect he lacks the downfield arm strength of a starter, but he seemed poised, in control of the offense, and accurate. I'll take that in my backup any day.
- On the flip side, Zac Robinson did not impress. He looked skittish and indecisive. (BTW, a number of draftniks here wanted QB Tim Hiller in the 7th instead of Robinson, but reports out of Colts TC say Hiller isn't impressing anybody either. Brian Hoyers don't grow on trees.
)
