Pat Kirwan reports on the Pats Training Camp

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Five questions from Patriots camp - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy

I always hold value into what Pat has to say as IMO he in one of the more intelligent analysts and columnists in sports.

Pat sees a 12-4 team and lots of positives,thats always good news.

 

[WhiZa]

Kirwan is saying Bequette is more advanced than Jones and Hightower in rush technique, but Reiss reports that Beqette needs work. Is this not a good sign for our pass rush this year?

 

[patsfan13]

Kirwan's take on Mallett is very different than the local writers.

He feels Mallett is doing well both from a throwing POV and decision making. I like that.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

Nice link. This quote is worth pasting:

"There's no doubt the Patriots go as Brady goes but this camp visit revealed something else to me: Ryan Mallett is really starting to look the part. As Belichick told me, "It will be interesting to see the competition between [veteran backup QB Brian] Hoyer and Mallett for the second spot now that Ryan has had a whole offseason to learn the offense." Let me start by saying that Mallett was impressive in the padded practice I watched. I can confirm that Mallett didn't throw a bad pass in practice and spread the ball around with exceptional accuracy. The defensive players warned me before practice that Mallett was starting to stick the ball into tight spots with great velocity, accuracy and he understood where to go with the ball. Hoyer doesn't have the same natural physical gifts that Mallett has but he can run this team if need be. It is safe to say the Patriots are better off at quarterback than most teams in the NFL."

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

It's Hammer Time!

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Kirwan's take on Mallett is very different than the local writers.

He feels Mallett is doing well both from a throwing POV and decision making. I like that.

Ditto Vereen.

 

[PP2]

Kirwan's take on Mallett is very different than the local writers.

He feels Mallett is doing well both from a throwing POV and decision making. I like that.

I agree with this assessment completely. One thing that stood out to me was that Mallett has been much more fluid in his checkdown, and has softened his throws. Last year if he felt the slightest bit of threat, he would fire the football like a bullet, making it just about uncatchable.

 

[WhiZa]

Kirwan's take on Mallett is very different than the local writers.

I'm chalking that up to he was only there for one practice

 

[goheels22002]

This section really caught my eye:

"On the right side, Marcus Cannon looked solid working in place of Vollmer, which tells me when Vollmer is back the Patriots will use their three-tackle offense once again. Brady will protect any line combination the Patriots put on the field with his quick decision making."

Wow. First, it is really great to read that Marcus Cannon is impressing people in camp. That kid came so close to never playing anything again and Bill Belichick deserves major ups for taking the chance with a player recovering from cancer. Good for both of them.

The second sentence is interesting - isn't it the job of the offensive line to protect the QB? That is a huge compliment to one Mr. Tom Brady. The guy is Larry Bird - he makes everybody around him better.

 

[Gwedd]

I am already optimistic about this team, and jonesing for the season to start.

I am really glad to see we have what could be called "an embarrassment of riches" at the QB position. I certainly don't ever want to see Brady go down again. That 1st quarter of the KC game where he tore his ACL was enough of that for the rest of my lifetime (let alone his!).

Having said that, I don't feel it would be quite the disaster many think if Hoyer or Mallett had to come in and finish a game for New England.

 

[jmt57]

Kirwan is saying Bequette is more advanced than Jones and Hightower in rush technique, but Reiss reports that Beqette needs work. Is this not a good sign for our pass rush this year?

Mike Reiss will be the first person to say that he is not a professional scout. If I had to go with one or the other's scouting analysis, I'm more likely going to take Kirwan's opinion over Reiss'.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I am already optimistic about this team, and jonesing for the season to start.

I am really glad to see we have what could be called "an embarrassment of riches" at the QB position. I certainly don't ever want to see Brady go down again. That 1st quarter of the KC game where he tore his ACL was enough of that for the rest of my lifetime (let alone his!).

Having said that, I don't feel it would be quite the disaster many think if Hoyer or Mallett had to come in and finish a game for New England.

It also would be easier if not only the backup QBs are capable should Brady go down for any length of time but if Vereen and/or Ridley shows promise at RB it makes it more soothing.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Mike Reiss will be the first person to say that he is not a professional scout. If I had to go with one or the other's scouting analysis, I'm more likely going to take Kirwan's opinion over Reiss'.

Kirwan was once a scout for the Cardinals and Bucs so,yeah he has tons more experience than a writer who has not been as in depth within a team.

 

[Rob0729]

I think it safe to say that based on the disconnect between Kirwin and some local guys on player evaluations that it is far more subjective than some of us think. I might give an edge to Kirwin since he a personal connection with Belichick, but then again, he was only at one practice.

 

[Kontradiction]

It's great to hear the news about Mallett. I really trust Kirwan. His analysis is typically spot-on.

 

[Fencer]

I'm concerned about RB pass-blocking. Ridley's has been ripped by other writers. Kirwan is down on Vereen's & Woodhead's. Not exactly Dillon & Faulk.

My other concern is Connolly's shotgun snapping, which still seems to be a bit of an issue if I'm reading between the lines correctly. Recall that last season Waters told Connolly when to snap.

 

[patsfan13]

Given the previous working relationship between Kirwan and BB I have wondered id some of his opinions were based on talks with BB prior to his show as well what he and Ryan observed?

 

[Dingleberry]

12-4? Pffffft.

Kirwan's a hater

 

[Sfpat]

Nice link. This quote is worth pasting:

"There's no doubt the Patriots go as Brady goes but this camp visit revealed something else to me: Ryan Mallett is really starting to look the part. As Belichick told me, "It will be interesting to see the competition between [veteran backup QB Brian] Hoyer and Mallett for the second spot now that Ryan has had a whole offseason to learn the offense." Let me start by saying that Mallett was impressive in the padded practice I watched. I can confirm that Mallett didn't throw a bad pass in practice and spread the ball around with exceptional accuracy. The defensive players warned me before practice that Mallett was starting to stick the ball into tight spots with great velocity, accuracy and he understood where to go with the ball. Hoyer doesn't have the same natural physical gifts that Mallett has but he can run this team if need be. It is safe to say the Patriots are better off at quarterback than most teams in the NFL."

Wow. And wasn't it just yesterday that one of the experts on this board posted that Mallet should be cut since he wasn't progressing and had no trade value.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The second sentence is interesting - isn't it the job of the offensive line to protect the QB? That is a huge compliment to one Mr. Tom Brady. The guy is Larry Bird - he makes everybody around him better.

Most OLs prefer to run block than pass block, because the former usually takes longer. The less time they have to actually hold off defenders, the better.