PatsFans.com Menu
PatsFans.com - The Hub For New England Patriots Fans

My camp report and pictures (7/27/07 AM)


Status
Not open for further replies.

pats1

Moderator
PatsFans.com Supporter
Joined
May 28, 2005
Messages
13,274
Reaction score
0
Report:

Just got home (had a few stops to make, plus heavy traffic on 495), and I've only had a chance to glance at the blogs, so I apologize if some of this has already been covered:

-No Stallworth, Meriweather, Brown, or Samuel. I could have sworn I didn't see Hilliard out there, but apparently he was.

-Practiced opened up as usual, with punting drills. Here were the gunner pairs (left, right): (Washington, Williams), (Anam, Andrews), (Baker, Kight), (Richardson, Gay) - I might have mixed a few of the pairs up, both those were definitely the 8 out there.

-Punt returners: Welker, Faulk, Bam.

-Starting OL: Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur
-Second OL: Britt, Mruczkowski, Hochstein, Yates, O'Callaghan
-Third OL: Hilliard, RANDOM, Elgin, Barthelmes, Oldenburg

-Starting DL: Green, Wilfork, Warren

-Starting LBs: Vrabel (LOLB), Thomas (SILB), Bruschi (WILB), Colvin (ROLB)
-Second LBs: Brown/Rogers (LOLB), Lua/Izzo (SILB), Mays (WILB), Woods (ROLB)

-Seau, in the no-contact jersey, stood about 30 yards behind the play on the 11v11 drills and mimicked whatever he would normally be doing at the line. He was wearing a wrap on his right arm - something he normally wears on both arms.

-Brady put on a black band around his right upper-arm, partially hidden by his white armband there. This is something he did all of last year too.

-Harrison had a wrap on his upper-right arm as well. He wore it last year after his shoulder injury, and it's also something Neal wears frequently.

-With Caserio in there, there was a new set of WR drills this year. Gone were the four-square passing drill and the blocking dummy diving drill. In were a 4-point weaving catch drill and some in/out cut drills.

-Bill O'Brien, the new offensive assistant coach, worked with Caserio on the WRs. In the in/out cut drill, he was close enough to be heard. Bam slipped in on of his cuts and then dropped the pass, so O'Brien made him take the drill over and told him to not spend so much time in his cut. This was a departure from the in-cut drill, where O'Brien had to remind a few of the guys to stutter-step more. Caserio worked the other 4 receivers (including Moss and Caldwell) on the far side.

-Dropped pass brigade: Washington (skeleton drill), Jones (bobble, 4-point catch drill), Gaffney (passing drill), Childress (4-point catch drill), Watson (skeleton drill).

-When Brady came over to practice with the medicine ball and McDaniels near the beginning of the practice, the crowd started to go wild, and Brady did his signature hard clap to pump up the crowd.

-Moss and Welker had plenty of nice catches on the day, drawing cheers from the crowd.

-Generally, Welker and Moss were on the first team (with a random 3rd man for 3-WR sets), and Gaffney/Caldwell/Washington were the 3 second-teamers. Bam, Kight, Dunlap, and Jones were the leftovers, and mainly played defense in the offensive 7v7 drills with Gutierrez, Oldenburg, and the rest of the 3rd teamers.

-Kyle Brady is a large, large man.

-All players had #91 decals on the backs of their helmets.

-Adalius Thomas batted down a pass intended for Kranchick.

-Lots and lots of falling down at the line today. The OL seemed to employ a "knock 'em over" strategy, and the DL was on their butts all day. It was a mosh pit at some points.

-It was hot. Damn hot.

-Matt Patricia was in long pants and a sweatshirt. 'Nuff said.

-Pioli was there the entire time, along with Kraft (not Jonathan, of course - he does all the work). They both chatted it up for a bit, then Pioli fielded a few calls on his phone.

-Hobbs left the field at one point (which I saw), but returned (didn't see that - thanks Mrs. B - who I also saw on her way in with the crew, and chatting it up with Mike Reiss.).

-Signing today were the RBs (and Ivan Fears), plus Brady, Bruschi, Moss, and Vrabel/Woods, who stuck around to practice with each other. I got autographs from Maroney, Evans, Vrabel, and Faulk.

-As we all knew, there was tons and tons of construction going on. This meant for new routes, many walking paths off-limits, and some traffic (and confusion) getting down to the Pro Shop. The Pro Shop, as Reiss pointed out, is definitely temporary. Basically a big balloon.

-More to come, if I can remember...

Pictures:

They're in reverse-chronological order:

http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/ekem015/2007-7-27/
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

Sweet recap.
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

Thanks for recapping. The point that stands out to me is the OL knocking down a lot of guys. That bodes well for the new zone blocking scheme if they are getting early results against one of the most talented DL in the league.
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

Awesome work. I like that Vrabel is mentoring Woods.
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

I like that Vrabel is mentoring Woods.
A Buckeye helping a Wolverine, who'd have guessed it . . . I know, they're both Patriots now ;)

I read somewhere about Thomas and Vrabel lining up together at ILB at times. I'm envisioning some passing downs with Chad Brown and Colvin outside and Thomas/Vrabel inside . . .
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

Great recap, can't wait for the pics.
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

Great report. I wonder if the "knock 'em over" strategy goes along with their new zone blocking scheme.
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

The Gibbs zone blocking system is predicated on "getting the D-linemen on the ground by any means necessary". If this 1st practice is an indication that the Pats are moving in that direction and away from the power blocking of the past, that's a good think considering their lead rb's strengths. This change was predicted in ProFW some months ago, and probably elsewhere on this board I missed. Definitely worth keeping an eye on...
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

How did that 3rd string OL RANDOM look? I was very high on him coming out of college.
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

Nice Pats1!

Does AD look as big as they were saying in mini camp? They said that he looked huge for a LB.
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

Great stuff.
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

How did that 3rd string OL RANDOM look? I was very high on him coming out of college.

:D

That LG position did change throughout the practice though. I think I saw Barthelmes, Yates, and Mruczkowski all in there, besides Mankins.
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

Nice Pats1!

Does AD look as big as they were saying in mini camp? They said that he looked huge for a LB.

He did, yes.
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

Pictures are uploading to PhotoBucket right now.

I'll tell you when that damn progress meter moves along some more.
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

Great report. Looking forward to Pics.
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

Report:

-When Brady came over to practice with the medicine ball and McDaniels near the beginning of the practice, the crowd started to go wild, and Brady did his signature hard clap to pump up the crowd.



--Signing today were the RBs (and Ivan Fears), plus Brady, Bruschi, Moss, and Vrabel/Woods, who stuck around to practice with each other. I got autographs from Maroney, Evans, Vrabel, and Faulk.

It was exciting to be at the first session despite the heat and 2.5 hour drive home...only took an hour to get there. The media reported that 6,000 fans attended TC today...I believe it.

I think the crowd would have cheered for Brady if he bent down to tie his shoes...he is definitely a New England icon...he earned the title.

I was watching Vrabel and Woods practicing with each...without their shirts I could not figure out who Woods was...at first I thought it was Thomas. I couldn't get a good look at him. Thanks for pointing it out because I was very curious.
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

Nice Pats1!

Does AD look as big as they were saying in mini camp? They said that he looked huge for a LB.

I was surprised at how big AD. I was also surprised at the size of Kyle Brady...I didn't expect him to be so big.

And man is Junior Seau in shape.
 
Re: My camp report and pictures (7/27/07)

Thanks Pats1. A great recap...You are second only to Mrs. B.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.


TRANSCRIPT: Eliot Wolf’s Pre-Draft Press Conference 4/18/24
Thursday Patriots Notebook 4/18: News and Notes
Wednesday Patriots Notebook 4/17: News and Notes
Tuesday Patriots Notebook 4/16: News and Notes
Monday Patriots Notebook 4/15: News and Notes
Patriots News 4-14, Mock Draft 3.0, Gilmore, Law Rally For Bill 
Potential Patriot: Boston Globe’s Price Talks to Georgia WR McConkey
Friday Patriots Notebook 4/12: News and Notes
Not a First Round Pick? Hoge Doubles Down on Maye
Thursday Patriots Notebook 4/11: News and Notes
Back
Top