A Rookie Camp article I missed last week...good read

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.courant.com/sports/footb...14,0,3838203.story?coll=hc-headlines-football

For Central Connecticut running back Justise Hairston, a sixth-round draft pick, there was never an offseason, even though the Blue Devils' season ended in the fall.

"I started conditioning myself, doing things that I did in college, even in high school," said Hairston, who, like former Patriots safety Tebucky Jones, calls New Britain home. "I asked Tebucky what kind of things they do here, just to give me a head start.

"You have to work out on your own. If you take time off, you're losing already. Any day you're not working to get better, you're getting worse. There is always something you can do to better yourself."
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"It doesn't end. This is a full-time job," Hairston said. "I don't think people really understand that. It's truly a morning-to-night thing, and it should be. People are trying hard to perfect their skills, and they should take pride in that.

"Preparation is most important, and anytime you have an opportunity to better yourself, you should take advantage of it. That's what you should do."
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With the rookie minicamp behind them, the Patriots' newest players can concentrate on the thick playbook they were issued. They were also taught how to use the film system, and Hairston already had plans to watch films of the offense with free agent quarterback Matt Gutierrez Sunday night. Players are housed in a motel 15 minutes away, and their three meals are served buffet-style inside Gillette Stadium.

 

[sebman2112]

http://www.courant.com/sports/footb...14,0,3838203.story?coll=hc-headlines-football

BOR, I hope Hairston makes it and I think he has some potential.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

I like this kid a lot already heres hoping he tries hard enough for the staff to make them think he has the ability to be something good.

 

[pats63]

Is there room for him???Maybe put on the PS...He is saying all the right things....

 

[patsox23]

I've heard he looked TERRIBLE in rookie camp.

 

[pats63]

I've heard he looked TERRIBLE in rookie camp.

Really,how did you get the info????

 

[jczxohn1]

Saw the blurb, too. Dropped some passes. Must have had the "yips".

 

[sebman2112]

I've heard he looked TERRIBLE in rookie camp.

No, he looked good in running drills, he just had a few problems receiving (dropped some balls). The Patriots don't want him for his receiving ability anyways, and he has training camp to work on it. He didn't look terrible at all.

 

[patsgo]

No, he looked good in running drills, he just had a few problems receiving (dropped some balls). The Patriots don't want him for his receiving ability anyways, and he has training camp to work on it. He didn't look terrible at all.

recieving is important for any running back, especally one from central conn., you mean to tell me your going to keep a runner who cant catch? what happens if the runner who catches passes gets hurt? you change your offense to fit hairston? of course not there are enough backup runners that can both run and catch, i could understand your argument if he had blazing speed which he does not

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

It's just ROOKIE camp. Rookies are rookies. WAY too soon to characterize anyone except the very, very worst. They get cut.

 

[patsgo]

No, he looked good in running drills, he just had a few problems receiving (dropped some balls). The Patriots don't want him for his receiving ability anyways, and he has training camp to work on it. He didn't look terrible at all.

the article i saw said he droped alot of balls and if he didnt drop them he was bobbling them, were you at the mini camp, how do you say he looked good?the press had the only access, so im not quite sure you know what your talking about

 

[zippo59]

I read everything there was to read about mini camp and no one said he looked terrible. They did say he struggled in pass catching drills but a rookie running back having some trouble hauling in balls in his first camp is not the end of the world. We don't know how much he was used as a receiver in college, so he could have very little experience with it, and they might not even be planning on using him as a pass catcher. They rarely used Dillon in a receiving role and I see Hairston being used similar to Dillon, if he makes the team.

 

[captain stone]

BOR, I hope Hairston makes it and I think he has some potential.

But you wouldn't have chosen him ahead of Deshawn Wynn, would you?

Admit it, that Sunday was a shocking, utter waste of draft picks, by an FO with an arrogant, incompetant disregard for value. Had those picks been made by Booby Grier, or Ainge, or Chiapet, they would have been justifiably ripped a new one from Eastport to Block Island.

 

[letekro]

But you wouldn't have chosen him ahead of Deshawn Wynn, would you?

Admit it, that Sunday was a shocking, utter waste of draft picks, by an FO with an arrogant, incompetant disregard for value. Had those picks been made by Booby Grier, or Ainge, or Chiapet, they would have been justifiably ripped a new one from Eastport to Block Island.

Uh-oh...Them's fightin' words

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Uh-oh...Them's fightin' words

I don't know why some folks bother watching second day draft coverage, it just sends them into a depression over what are high risk picks at the best of times.

 

[zippo59]

But you wouldn't have chosen him ahead of Deshawn Wynn, would you?

Admit it, that Sunday was a shocking, utter waste of draft picks, by an FO with an arrogant, incompetant disregard for value. Had those picks been made by Booby Grier, or Ainge, or Chiapet, they would have been justifiably ripped a new one from Eastport to Block Island.

Fans never cease to amaze me.

 

[Urgent]

From what I heard, second-hand:

Positives: he didn't puke on the field.
Negatives: feet looked slow, terrible hands, dropped four straight at one point

If you look at the RB depth:

Maroney - starter, workhorse
Morris - back-up
Faulk - third-down, return man, some back-up duty
Evans - fullback, short yardage, mudder
Mills - receiving fullback, H-back
Hairston - way back-up

I can't see how Hairston could possibly climb up the depth chart without major injuries.

He apparently can't catch at all. He had 1857 yards on the ground against low-level competition, but only 58 receiving yards. If he could break a tackle on the ground, he couldn't break a tackle receiving? So he can't function as a third-down back.

Morris and Faulk are far more tested as back-up running backs. Hairston was not an effective back-up RB at Rutgers against better competition, averaging less than 3 yards per carry. And if Morris goes down, it's far more likely the team increases its offer to Chris Brown.

He doesn't have the size to replace Evans as a blocking back. Again, he doesn't have the receiving skills to fit in Mills' role.

Practice squad maybe.

 

[FarScapeR]

I seem to recall Brady not looking so great at first either. We'll know nothing until training camp.

 

[gomezcat]

http://www.courant.com/sports/footb...14,0,3838203.story?coll=hc-headlines-football

I have a serious question (I feel that I might soil our "relationship" if I ask too many serious questions). How do you find all these articles? I am impressed.

 

[gomezcat]

".....that Sunday was a shocking, utter waste of draft picks, by an FO with an arrogant, incompetant disregard for value."

I'll trust the judgement of a scouting network, coaching staff and FO which has won the Superbowl THREE TIMES, over a bunch of journalists, many of whom have as much NFL experience as I do.