Sean's Training Camp Notes 7/31/07 PM (The Good, the Bad and The Ugly)

[SeanBruschi54]

Well, Well, Well if it isn't about time that I got back to another TC session!

WOOO!

Before I get into the good bad and the ugly. I just want to say I go to these camps and pay attention. And I mean a TON! I notice small changes in formations, who goes where, dime packages, reverse formations, audibles, coaches' teachings etc. I have tons of fun with this and thats why I'm able to come back with so much information for you guys and gals. Even after I post still ask me questions because more often than not I'll remember something that I forgot to post.

Now down to the good stuff.

(mind you in no particular order)

Special Teams Fun:

--Danny Baugher has one hell of a kicking leg. Too bad he cant get balls inside the 10 or he would be out fighting Miller for punting duties. Baugher has to stop kicking them DEEP into the endzone before he gets a nod to be on this team.

--Andrews is coming into his own. And by that I mean he has to be the best ST'er we have out there. He is gunner numero uno in my book. Gets balls downed at the one, gets to the carrier first. Lets just hope he keeps this up into the preseason games. Later on in 11v11 backups style. Andrews was perhaps the best defensive player on that field. Even picked a very nice ball. We might have something here.

QB's
--Brady is overthrowing guys a bit and at times under throwing. Just not hitting his marks yet. BUT he is hitting Moss regularly and better than anyone else.
--Cassel, looks bad. I was going to give him a break but he holds onto the ball WAY WAY too long he could have been sacked numerous times tonight. Besides he is sailing his passes WAY over his intended target.
--Guttierrez, I like him. He has potential and needs to pick up speed a bit but he could be a nice project QB

WR's
--Randy Moss, he's keeping it up. Catching balls that are anywhere in his range.

--Kelley Washington, I don't know if QB's are trying to screw him by throwing balls no where near him but you know what he's chasing them down and making some great catches. A few weeks ago I worried about his spot on this team. Now I think he makes this roster as he's making great catches out of terrible passes. Do not sleep on Kelley. He is the one man over-benefiting from Stallworth's absence.

--Gaffney is making great plays from Tom. Gaffney has been Tom's Red Zone target. As weird as that seems.

--Welker made another great catch then got popped in the mouth by Hobbs. Welker responded by getting up and jogging back to the huddle. Enough said he made that first down.

--Reche Caldwell made the play of the night by diving through the air and catching the ball between two defenders. He got a sitting ovation from the crowd in attendance.

TE
--Up until today Watson has looked lost at times catching the football. Today apparently he forgot about his nerves and caught every ball thrown to him. Broke away from Vrabel twice and Thomas once. Good day for Ben. Watson made a tough catch over Harrison today, Harrison thought it would be funny to knock him down and strip the ball from him. It worked. Watson then got up and threw the ball at a laughing Rodney, crowd favorite.

--Kranchick makes a ton of catches but he is going to have to make it on another team.

LB
MAJOR NEWS!!!
--Pierre Woods took starting snaps with the first team defense in! I was in shock. I don't mean like two or three snaps, I'm talking multiple snaps.

--Alexander did the same as well in the middle. But he was donning a red jersey so he wasn't in their often.

--Vrabel was first in sprints if anyone's keeping score.

--Seau got beat good in one on ones against Morris.

--Rogers and Lua were doing tons of special team work today. Lua still called out the plays for the backup defense.

DBs
--Your starting safties are Harrison and Wilson. Your backups are Sanders Meriweather.
--Meriweather is Rodney's shadow, wherever Rodney is Brandon is there too. Meriweather is probably the most used player right now on defense. He took CB, S and ST's snaps all night. He had Washington and Gaffney covered very well.
--Rodney is being extremely vocal when DB's are making plays. High fives, loud praise the works. He's into it.
--Sanders looks like he is going to be special for us if injuries occur. He just looks to play with that fire to hit someone out there.
--Ellis Hobbs is 10x better right now then he was last year. If someone or anyone has gone to practice and seen someone against Hobbs please let me know if he lets them catch that ball because he has shut down everyone so far. Including Moss, Gaffney and a backup. Hobbs looks like this could be his breakout season. Things look good.
--Tory James looks absolutely terrible. He is Eric Warfield part two right now. Likely cut in my book at this moment.
--Mike Richardson is trying to make this team. One of the guys Rodney was praising and he made a few good plays.
--Gay is looking good. Not great but good.

DL
--After Wright and Green I don't think we have anything to talk about for backups. Chad Brown was taking snaps at DE tonight. Take it for what its worth. I think I can see the writing on the wall for this unit.

Other Stuff
--Matt light took a lap as well as DT Kenny Smith. Light took the laziest lap I have ever seen. He was walking while his upper body was running.
--Brady and Cassel were tossing the ball back and forth, Brady dropped a toss and got a shock reaction from the crowd. Brady with his head down goes to pick up the ball, a man from the bleachers yells out "Spike it Tommy!"
Brady obviously hearing the comment smashes the ball to the ground and walks back to the huddle. Ball boy runs to fetch thrown ball. Funny moment.
--Don't want to leave this out C.J. Jones (the other WR) made a great one-handed catch.

As always any questions are welcome!

Thanks for reading!
-Sean

 

[sarge]

Good stuff!

Enjoyed the read.

 

[Phoenix111]

Excellent stuff Sean. Thanks a ton. :rocker:

Anything notable with A.D. today? I saw him in some pictures but didn't know if you saw anything out of him worth mentioning.

 

[zippo59]

I can't tell if the offense was just really good today or the defense was really bad.

 

[Kdo5]

I didnt hear anywhere else that James was doing badly but I know that Bengals fans said that he was awful last year....interesting. Thanks for a great report, dude.

 

[rabthepat]

What were the "Genius" and other coaches up to? Josh Mcdaniels out there?

 

[unoriginal]

He was walking while his upper body was running.

I don't know if that's a stock phrase, but if it is I haven't heard it before.

 

[Patti37]

I've spent two practices watching Merriweather and I also noticed that Merriweather is shadowing Rodney...couple times Rodney has gone up to Brandon...it is very interesting to watch their exchange. Brandon got called out once by Belichick...not sure why...they were running some drills.

The biggest surprise in camp for me has been Welker. I knew he was good but I am impressed his catches, route running and toughness...ie hit by Hobbs.

 

[TeamPats]

Hey Sean,

You had mentioned Willie Andrews looked good out there on defense, he is a personal favorite of mine, do you know if he was playing mostly safety or was he also playing some corner? And at which did he seem to excel?

 

[pats1]

Hey Sean,

You had mentioned Willie Andrews looked good out there on defense, he is a personal favorite of mine, do you know if he was playing mostly safety or was he also playing some corner? And at which did he seem to excel?

He was playing safety.

 

[Krugman]

Thanks Sean,good stuff.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Excellent stuff Sean. Thanks a ton. :rocker:

Anything notable with A.D. today? I saw him in some pictures but didn't know if you saw anything out of him worth mentioning.

Nothing to noteworthy. I mean during a one on one against Watson he was on top of Watson step for step but Watson still made the catch. Nothing that really jumped out at you.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

What were the "Genius" and other coaches up to? Josh Mcdaniels out there?

McDaniels worked with most notably offesive team drills.

Dean Peas worked with Defensive team drills.

Bill worked with a ton of defensive stuff as usual but made his way over to ST's kick returns.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

I don't know if that's a stock phrase, but if it is I haven't heard it before.

O come on you have to have seen someone fake run before!

There lower body is walking (extremely slow jog if you may) and his upper body was running (ie arms moving as if he was running. It was funny, because i dont think one coached noticed he slacked.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Hey Sean,

You had mentioned Willie Andrews looked good out there on defense, he is a personal favorite of mine, do you know if he was playing mostly safety or was he also playing some corner? And at which did he seem to excel?

As Pats1 said Safety. But i wouldnt count him out as a possible darkhorse CB for this team yet. He has a ton of speed and tackles well. Two things Belichick loves with his corners.

Andrews is quickly becomming one of my favs on this team as well.

 

[patchick]

Thanks, Sean! It's amazing to read these reports of a strong, deep competitive WR group...all without Stallworth, let alone Jackson or Brown.

On Andrews, when he was drafted I assumed his KR skills were the #1 draw. Did you see him on any returns?

Oh, and thanks for the major news on my man Pierre!

 

[RayClay]

Great report, Sean. Love any Pierre Woods tributes.

I was getting that impression about Tory James (reading between the lines), but you came right out and said it.

Really hurts in light of the Chad Scott/Asante situations, if true.

They must be scouting opposing camps for CBs.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

Hey Sean,

that piece about Kelley Washington, does it look obvious to spectators that the QB's aren't getting it to KW? and making him move all over the place for the ball. I'm rooting for him, a great red zone threat IMO.

 

[patfanken]

This is why its so good to have several opinions on what goes on in practise. You contradict comments on James and Cassell that I have heard on other reports. Up to now, I thought James was looking good. The same with Cassell. Hopefully I can get out there next week to see for myself. I don't doubt your observations Sean, but I'm hoping that James can play the OTIS roll on this team, especially down in the red zone. He's the only CB we have that has any size. Here's hoping your wrong.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Thanks Sean, much to ponder.