Camp Observations

[patchick]

Has anyone seen any indication as to which fullback will most likely make the roster, if any at all?

Great question, I haven't seen their names at all so far. With early glowing reports coming in on a lot of potential bubble players at other skill positions (e.g. Bolden, Stallworth, Edelman, Shiancoe), roster space is looking tight.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Ok, I may look foolish in a month, but Bolden just ripped off four long runs and looks lightning quick. Screw making the team, if hes like this on the field he should be in competition to be the main back.

 

[jah]

Ok, I may look foolish in a month, but Bolden just ripped off four long runs and looks lightning quick. Screw making the team, if hes like this on the field he should be in competition to be the main back.

This is going to sound absolutely ******ed and I don't know if I even agree with what I'm saying, but here it goes: What if BB cuts Vereen in favor of Bolden? Vereen's apparently been having a rough camp and showed nothing last year.

If I were GM, I would keep both, but BB has never been afraid of making tough cuts. We've seen relatively early picks being cut after just one season (Taylor Price, Kevin O'Connell), even if the first season was unproductive due to injury (Tyrone McKenzie).

 

[shmessy]

Great question, I haven't seen their names at all so far. With early glowing reports coming in on a lot of potential bubble players at other skill positions (e.g. Bolden, Stallworth, Edelman, Shiancoe), roster space is looking tight.

Having a separate roster spot for a FB is like having a 3rd nipple. I vote for Daniel Fells or Marcus Canon for our FB.

 

[Marqui]

Vereen's apparently been having a rough camp

How, specifically, is Vereen having a "rough camp"?

 

[patsfan13]

Having a separate roster spot for a FB is like having a 3rd nipple. I vote for Daniel Fells or Marcus Canon for our FB.

I agree IMO Shinacoe, Fells, Larsen and Fiammetta are competing for the FB/TE slot maybe 2 people there.

 

[Mack Herron]

How, specifically, is Vereen having a "rough camp"?

Several have made this observation. Reiss for one:

Shaky start for Vereen. Running back Shane Vereen finds himself in the middle of what looks like a four-way fight for the Patriots’ primary running back job. So far, he hasn’t done much to lead us to consider him a front-runner. Vereen had electric speed coming out of college, but hasn’t applied that on the field that we’ve seen so far in camp, and has yet to show a propensity to make defenders miss. During the final rep of a goal-line period, Vereen coughed the football up.

Running back Brandon Bolden showed impressive burst on one running play that he bounced to the outside. He looks more explosive than second-year back Shane Vereen at this point

Bolden could be this years UFA surprise. Vereen lacks power, size, and break-away speed. His strength appears to be receiving out of the back field. If he can hang on the the ball, he could battle Woodhead for 3rd down back. Surprisingly, Woodhead continues as KR, which gives him some flexibility as well. If Vereen cannot beat out Woodhead, he could find himself on the outside looking in behind Ridley, Bolden and Woodhead.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Marcus Canon for our FB.

robertweathers likey.....

 

[JackBauer]

Good things re: Ron Brace for the second day in a row. It'd be huge if he could step up and play his way into the rotation this year.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Good things re: Ron Brace for the second day in a row. It'd be huge if he could step up and play his way into the rotation this year.

I agree. Good reports so far. Seems pretty active.

Having Brace, Warren and Love be the inside/goaline/VW breather-team would certainly make me feel better. Even though they play around 60% in sub-packages, team still need that beef. The question is of the 320lb + guys, how many do you keep? 3? All 4 if they have good camps? Not sure..

 

[WhiZa]

Hightower looks like a DL playing LB. He could end up being what Adalius Thomas was supposed to be. I'm going to try not to get my hopes up until we actually plays tho

 

[RobertWeathers]

Several have made this observation. Reiss for one:




Bolden could be this years UFA surprise. Vereen lacks power, size, and break-away speed. His strength appears to be receiving out of the back field. If he can hang on the the ball, he could battle Woodhead for 3rd down back. Surprisingly, Woodhead continues as KR, which gives him some flexibility as well. If Vereen cannot beat out Woodhead, he could find himself on the outside looking in behind Ridley, Bolden and Woodhead.

Bolden's problem at Ole Miss wasn't on the field. It was off it.

He applies himself here someone will not make this team that should. 5'11 220lb 4.5 kids that play with power and make people miss dont grow on trees.

 

[JackBauer]

I agree. Good reports so far. Seems pretty active.

Having Brace, Warren and Love be the inside/goaline/VW breather-team would certainly make me feel better. Even though they play around 60% in sub-packages, team still need that beef. The question is of the 320lb + guys, how many do you keep? 3? All 4 if they have good camps? Not sure..

I wouldn't mind Brace over G. Warren, as I'm not a huge fan of the latter. It would be really nice to have another fatty on the inside as Wilfork injury insurance. Not sure what Love's ceiling is.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I wouldn't mind Brace over G. Warren, as I'm not a huge fan of the latter. It would be really nice to have another fatty on the inside as Wilfork injury insurance. Not sure what Love's ceiling is.

I agree w/ Brace over Warren. If Brace, Pryor and heck, if Harrison have bang-up pre-seasons and make the Week 1 roster, I would not be surprised if Warren is cut and becomes a shadow roster player.

Love is an intriguing player. I read somewhere that after his Jr year and at the start of his Sr year several scouts saw him as a potential 3rd round pick. He fell off the board entirely because of issues with his legs and feet. I don't think he'll become the next VW but he seems to keep improving every year and better at the end of the year as well. Hes become pretty key to this defense IMO.

 

[Marqui]

Love is an intriguing player. I read somewhere that after his Jr year and at the start of his Sr year several scouts saw him as a potential 3rd round pick. He fell off the board entirely because of issues with his legs and feet. I don't think he'll become the next VW but he seems to keep improving every year and better at the end of the year as well. Hes become pretty key to this defense IMO.

Better at the end of the year? He was awful in the superbowl.

 

[Reckedtrek]

I agree w/ Brace over Warren. If Brace, Pryor and heck, if Harrison have bang-up pre-seasons and make the Week 1 roster, I would not be surprised if Warren is cut and becomes a shadow roster player.

At his age, I expect this anyway. He'll be waiting in the wings until someone gets hurt enough to pull them out of action for at least a few weeks.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Better at the end of the year? He was awful in the superbowl.

You are nitpicking. To go from UFA to Super Bowl starter is a pretty damn impressive accomplishment.

I would argue that he was awful.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Also IMO it seems clear that Hoyer is a better QB than Mallett. (as of now)

 

[AzPatsFan]

On of the few spots on the Defense that doesn't have outstanding talent is the big guys on the Defensive line, aside from VW. Gerard Warren has always paced himself, and was criticized for not always playing hard. But there is no question he has displayed superb talent on occasional plays.

Warren at 33, is slated to be a shadow roster cut before the first game and then brought back so they are not obligated to pay him a full seasons pay, even if he only plays one game. When used only in spurts he can be pretty good. That is what happened last season also.

Ron Brace has been a late bloomer all his career. Maybe he is blooming, finally. He has size and talent, it would be very good for the Team if he is now starting to contribute.

When the Pats were seeking to stop the Pass without any healthy Safeties last season, it was overlooked that the Pats were yielding 4.6 YPA, rushing. Now some was undoubtedly the LBs and Ss, but the DL line didn't help much.

I see this Defense already starting to get better.

 

[Marqui]

Donta Hightower is a MONSTER! - YouTube