Went to my first training camp with the wife and kids today.
I will provide some quick assessments, but have to mention in advance due to the fact that I was accompanied by wife and kids, I was not able to pay as much attention to things like formations and we HAD to leave about a half hour into the second session (3 hour practice today).
First off...no Haynesworth.
Got to see Mesko have a pretty average day, but he did a couple of boomers.
I have to say that the most intriguing thing about watching practice and watching players go through the same drills, you can glaringly see the differences in talent and effort. This was most
obvious in the passing game amongst the wide receivers.
Not as much regarding catching the ball, but things like running crisp routes and making quick breaks. most importantly how much effort you put into it.
In this regard, no one stood out more than Welker and Edelman. These guys ran full tilt...full time. The speed leaves you awestruck. Branch does not exhibit the suddenness of the other two, but there is a smoothness to his route running and he and the ball were at the someplace every time. Ochocinco seems to be a hybrid of the other styles....a long strider who runs very clean routes but has the suddenness on things likes quickly breaking to the sideline or on a buttonhook comeback. Taylor Price was steady, fast but did not have any WOW moments during my time there. I didn't
see any drops by the top 5 WRs in camp. The talent drop off in regards to speed, quickness and most importantly a lack smoothness is big when you get to the Farnham, Jenkins, Ross...etc. The great players make it all look easy...the others look like they labor to make anything happen.
Secondly...... Gronkowski......... is starting to look like the best player on the field. He is truly a man amongst boys and whoever covers him will suffer nothing but humiliation. Ask Big Bang Clock....he got burnt on a deep route badly. Merriweather made some effort on the play, but it really looked like a JV player facing off against a HOFer. His hands are all world...on a between the cones tacking drill.....he pushed away his would tackler like a gnat. The crowd laughed...but with undertones of disbelief. Truly a ridiculously talented player.
Hernandez made some nice grabs, dropped one and was overall steady. Smith and Yeatman are big dudes, nice blockers, both have goods hands....but are lumbering bodies.
The QBs all had a decent day. No one was overly amazing and in 11 on 11, all three would have gotten knocked on their butts a few times if the pass rushers had not held up before they released the ball. Overall....the accuracy of all 3 was very good.
I was eager to get to RBs. BJGE looks very strong and quick. Woodhead looked good especially in the passing game. The guy who amazed the crap out of me was #22, Stevan Ridley. Everyone around us agreed the dude stood out every time. He has great hands..plays VERY confident..hits the hole hard and runs with some authority. He's got the effortlessness I eluded to earlier. Really shined and one to keep an eye on. The new DIV II guy, Rich Medelin got lots of reps...and didn't look bad. Very steady. Sammy Morris on the other hand looks like he doesn't have much left in the tank.
Our jewel of the draft got ***** slapped on one of his first plays. Second to last to sign boy....got swam over and obliterated into the ground by Eric Moore. It was ugly. So ugly...Dante pulled him out and "had words with him".
Since that was the baseline for the O line...the rest of the day for them all was so so...with piss poor pass blocking and decent run blocking. Looks to me like they have a long way to go.
Wife calling.....defense next post.
