Patriots & Saints Joint Practice 8/19

[supafly]

Is anyone else concerned that LaFell still has not seen the field at all? Aside from his obvious importance in the passing game, he is also one of my favorites on the team. It bums me out that he has been out this whole time, especially considering nobody really knew he was even injured and it was a bit of a shock (to me at least) when the story even emerged that he was in a boot.

What may be much more concerning is the fact that he reportedly shed the walking boot awhile ago, right around the beginning of July.

Hopefully they are just taking things cautiously, after all, he is a proven vet. I won't begin to worry that much until the next couple of weeks.

 

[supafly]

I want to see if Harper can string together this little run he has had. He is a long shot but he is showing a lot of effort and ability out there.

Is he PS eligible?

Oh, he's PS eligible for sure. He's a rookie.

 

[mgteich]

So we have Dobson being treated like a guy the Patriots plan to keep on the roster.
We have good reports on Gibson and Harper.
We have Boyce VERY up and down, and Tyms not accomplishing that much.

WR continues to be complicated. But the base case seems to be Dobson and Gibson on the roster, Harper and Boyce cut (and I'm not sure which of them would make it through to the PS).

Your analysis doesn't sound complicated to me. If Dobson makes it, Harper won't. If Dobson doesn't, then Harper may or may not make it.

 

[Fencer]

I want to see if Harper can string together this little run he has had. He is a long shot but he is showing a lot of effort and ability out there.

Is he PS eligible?

He's a UDFA this season, so sure he is.

 

[supafly]

Wait a moment. "Last few practices?"

That's sounding like a position move, perhaps just for one season or a part thereof, could be in the cards.

McCourty will come up and play closer to the line in different situations. He did it in live game reps last year as well, shifting back and forth to CB with the high majority of his reps coming at safety.

It could be that Belichick simply wants to take advantage of the practice opportunity, is evaluating other talent at McCourty's "normal" position, has some thoughts on playing 3 safeties in subs, and/or is preparing a different scheme to use against high passing attacks. Lots of possibilities there. I still think he'll be a safety, personally.

EDIT: just saw that you addressed some of this already in another post.

 

[supafly]

I'm not trying to hype him too much, but I really wouldn't be surprised to see him make the team. Every report I've read to this point indicates that he is doing a fine job in camp. With injuries being what they are, and Stork has already had some issues, I would not be surprised at all to see him make the roster . . . especially considering there's always a cut or two that catches us all off guard.

At the moment, I'd have the following OL:

1) Solder
2) Vollmer
3) Stork
4) Wendell
5) Jackson
6) Cannon
7) Fleming
8) Mason
9) Kline

As you mentioned, it's possible that Andrews could be the 10th OL or even beat out Kline, but I think he's pretty much the perfect PS candidate assuming that no other team offers him more. In a tough 53 man decision, I think you have to take advantage of placing guys like Andrews on the PS. Of course the gamble is that another team may step in and lure him away.

 

[PatsBoy12]

What may be much more concerning is the fact that he reportedly shed the walking boot awhile ago, right around the beginning of July.

Hopefully they are just taking things cautiously, after all, he is a proven vet. I won't begin to worry that much until the next couple of weeks.

I hear you, Supa. I hope you're right. I still have to believe that he'd be out there even if they were being cautious, unless his progress in terms of rehab just has not been satisfactory. He's a complete receiver. He can do the short, intermediate and deep routes. He blocks. He's smart. He is physical. I just love the guy. I even liked him when he was killing us with the Panthers. I was really happy we got him, even as everyone was whining about Sanders. LOL

 

[Fencer]

At the moment, I'd have the following OL:

1) Solder
2) Vollmer
3) Stork
4) Wendell
5) Jackson
6) Cannon
7) Fleming
8) Mason
9) Kline

As you mentioned, it's possible that Andrews could be the 10th OL or even beat out Kline, but I think he's pretty much the perfect PS candidate assuming that no other team offers him more. In a tough 53 man decision, I think you have to take advantage of placing guys like Andrews on the PS. Of course the gamble is that another team may step in and lure him away.

Wendell (age/health/how much strength did he start with anyway?) and Kline are year-to-year at best. So that could put Andrews on a PS with only 7 guys solidly ahead of him, with 4 of the 7 being OTs rather than interior OL. He could do worse (assuming he isn't snatched to a 53).

 

[PatsBoy12]

At the moment, I'd have the following OL:

1) Solder
2) Vollmer
3) Stork
4) Wendell
5) Jackson
6) Cannon
7) Fleming
8) Mason
9) Kline

As you mentioned, it's possible that Andrews could be the 10th OL or even beat out Kline, but I think he's pretty much the perfect PS candidate assuming that no other team offers him more. In a tough 53 man decision, I think you have to take advantage of placing guys like Andrews on the PS. Of course the gamble is that another team may step in and lure him away.

Indeed, Supa. I have not heard much of Kline, but I'd replace him on this list if I were forced to make a list today. A lot can change between now and opening night, as we all know. Cannon is one of the bigger "head-scratchers." He flashed competence a few years ago, but he was abysmal last season. Holding, false starts, missed assignments . . . the whole nine yards. I know they say he is naturally a T, but c'mon. I think it must be a confidence thing with him at this point.

Brady is not getting any younger and all of the teams in the AFC East boast really good to great D-Lines. The Texans will be good up front. The Broncos will be decent up front. Heck, even the Giants scare me a bit, although their line is not the menacing line of yesteryear. I'm not sure what scheme the Steelers are running these days, but I would imagine they're a team that could also bring some heat. That O-Line must be stout.

 

[supafly]

Indeed, Supa. I have not heard much of Kline, but I'd replace him on this list if I were forced to make a list today. A lot can change between now and opening night, as we all know. Cannon is one of the bigger "head-scratchers." He flashed competence a few years ago, but he was abysmal last season. Holding, false starts, missed assignments . . . the whole nine yards. I know they say he is naturally a T, but c'mon. I think it must be a confidence thing with him at this point.

Brady is not getting any younger and all of the teams in the AFC East boast really good to great D-Lines. The Texans will be good up front. The Broncos will be decent up front. Heck, even the Giants scare me a bit, although their line is not the menacing line of yesteryear. I'm not sure what scheme the Steelers are running these days, but I would imagine they're a team that could also bring some heat. That O-Line must be stout.

The main reason why I include Kline is his ability to play all 3 interior spots, his experience here--starting and playing well in the postseason, and the fact that no one else has stepped up enough to beat him out (although it's still early regarding Andrews). Add in the recent trade of Jordan Devey, and I have a hard time imagining no 2nd/3rd year developmental project on the initial 53.

Just my opinion, though. I may be way off. Personally, I tend to think that Kline played much better than Devey. The real question is whether that means a damn thing or not, considering how low the bar had been set?

 

[PatsBoy12]

The main reason why I include Kline is his ability to play all 3 interior spots, his experience here--starting and playing well in the postseason, and the fact that no one else has stepped up enough to beat him out (although it's still early regarding Andrews). Add in the recent trade of Jordan Devey, and I have a hard time imagining no 2nd/3rd year developmental project on the initial 53.

Just my opinion, though. I may be way off. Personally, I tend to think that Kline played much better than Devey. The real question is whether that means a damn thing or not, considering how low the bar had been set?

Kline absolutely outplayed Devey. And I totally see your point on Kline. His play has been good at times. But he is overall a bit inconsistent. He actually reminds me of a guy like Hochstein (sp) who is good in spot duty but probably not someone you hope to go wire-to-wire with in a season (or even a long stretch for that matter). Ultimately, I hope Mason and Jackson can pick things up quickly in the next few weeks. Both could be starters by the real push down the line, Jackson is being talked about as a day 1 type of guy.
Honestly, I don't know much about Andrews other than the very positive things I've read. He has won a lot of his one on one battles and they say he is blocking well in full team stuff in both phases. As you've stated, I really hope we can stash him on the PS. Sh*t if we've kept Bequette this long, why not Andrews? LOL

 

[captain stone]

Tyms played a lot of ST's last season and looked good as a gunner. What I don't know is if or what Gibson and Boyce are doing on ST's but I imagine how much they play on ST's will count a lot towards who makes the final roster.

Gibson's making the Opening Night 53; book it.

And it will have Zero to do with STs.