Breer 8/8/07 PM notes

[pats1]

http://news.bostonherald.com/blogs/patriots/

August 8th, 2007
From practice
Posted by Albert Breer at 8:20 pm

Even in full pads, the Patriots’ practice was decidedly light on contact this afternoon, which would likely be to gear down a bit with the preseason opener two days away. More here:

– With Randy Moss down, Reche Caldwell continues to take advantage of his chances. Early in camp, he didn’t see a ton of first-team reps, and that might be part of the reason why he failed to impress. But it’s clear now that Tom Brady looks to and trusts him. The two clearly have a rapport stronger than Brady does with the new receivers, and it’s evidenced by the way the quarterback doesn’t hesitate to throw to him in tight spots on timing routes. Another thing that stands out about Caldwell, especially when compared with some of the other tight ends and wideouts, is the way he’s catching everything with his hands. On one play, he combined the two edges he carries. Caldwell was running a comeback route to the offensive left, and just as he chopped his feet, Brady released the ball. It flew a bit over his head, but Caldwell was aware enough to quickly extend up and snatch the ball high out of the air for the catch. The last couple days, Caldwell’s looking likely he’d be harder and harder to cut.

– On the flip side, the strong starts of Florida Gators Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney spell trouble for one of the guys from the rival Tennessee Vols: Kelley Washington (couldn’t help myself at all with the college football reference.) Washington has a strange propensity to leave his feet for everything. There was one example in 11-on-11s, where Washington ran a dig right into the teeth of defense. Matt Cassel delivered a laser that cut right through the coverage, in between two defenders and came to Washington chest high. Instead of just positioning his hands up, Washington hopped slightly into the air and trapped the ball in his midsection. It’s a little thing here. But in the heat of the battle, that just might get your head knocked off.

– The coaches wasted little time getting Marcellus Rivers in on the offense — and with Benjamin Watson, David Thomas and Kyle Brady sideline, they had little choice. For a guy who seemed like he got out of a cab from the airport an hour ago, Rivers looked fairly comfortable in the offense. And he even had a catch in the back of the end zone where he climbed the ladder to full extension to pull in a touchdown catch.

...

 

[Keegs]

holy crap does that guy have a hardon for Caldwell or what?

i've never seen someone go into such detail to try and make someone look so great.

hilarious


thanks for the reports tho, good stuff.

 

[pats1]

holy crap does that guy have a hardon for Caldwell or what?

Breer knows more football than 95% of this board does.

Oh, and the same could probably be said about a certain someone and a certain receiver with the initials "J.G."

 

[Kdo5]

holy crap does that guy have a hardon for Caldwell or what?

i've never seen someone go into such detail to try and make someone look so great.

hilarious


thanks for the reports tho, good stuff.

OR perhaps Caldwell really is doing a great job in camp and will get a roster spot?

 

[Seymour93]

Oh, and the same could probably be said about a certain someone and a certain receiver with the initials "J.G."

That J.G. who's, by all accounts, had a stellar TC so far.

 

[patsox23]

holy crap does that guy have a hardon for Caldwell or what?

i've never seen someone go into such detail to try and make someone look so great.

hilarious.

Keegs, somehow you manage to be annoying in about eight different directions. Maybe Caldwell - you know, the guy who SAVED this WR corps last year and led the team in receiving - maybe he's putting together a decent showing. I didn't read anything in that write-up that's out of step with EVERYTHING ELSE I've read from Reiss, PFW, etc...

 

[zippo59]

holy crap does that guy have a hardon for Caldwell or what?

i've never seen someone go into such detail to try and make someone look so great.

hilarious


thanks for the reports tho, good stuff.

I'm going to assume this was written with a facetious tone.

 

[pats1]

I'm going to assume this was written with a facetious tone.

I'd have a hard time believing it was.

 

[pats1]

That J.G. who's, by all accounts, had a stellar TC so far.

And there should be room for the one with 61 receptions on the roster, too, considering how Washington has been looking.

 

[Rob0729]

It looks like the back up WR race is pretty much over. Washington seems to have to worry more about falling behind Childress on the depth chart than trying to beat out Caldwell and Gaffney for a spot.

I kinda felt Washington was a rehab project anyway. Before Moss got traded to the Pats, I thought they might bury him on the roster. But now, I don't give him much of a shot at all. Personally, I would rather have Childress on the 53 man roster.

It is good to see Caldwell coming on. As Breer kinda alluded to, Caldwell and Gaffney just are more in synch with this offense right now than the new guys. I expect both to play a much bigger role than expected early in the season. I wouldn't be surprised to see either guy as an opening game starter as Moss, Welker, and Stallworth ease their way into the offense.

 

[Rob0729]

holy crap does that guy have a hardon for Caldwell or what?

i've never seen someone go into such detail to try and make someone look so great.

hilarious


thanks for the reports tho, good stuff.

We all know you hate Caldwell for his two drops in the AFC Championship, but it doesn't mean Breer has a hard on for Caldwell just because he has been impressing as of late. Breer seems to be pretty fair and balanced and seems to provide more insight into his judgements on players than most of the other bloggers.

I went back and looked and other than Breer's reference about Caldwell the last two days, he barely mentions Caldwell the first two weeks of practice. That doesn't seem to be a guy who has Caldwell as his binky.

 

[patsox23]

I went back and looked and other than Breer's reference about Caldwell the last two days, he barely mentions Caldwell the first two weeks of practice. That doesn't seem to be a guy who has Caldwell as his binky.

Not only that, but Breer's blog mentions that Caldwell HADN'T been showing up so much in the early going. Keegs once again just whiffs like Wily Mo. Not even close.

 

[patsox23]

"Early in camp, he didn’t see a ton of first-team reps, and that might be part of the reason why he failed to impress."

Keegs?

 

[captain stone]

With QBs and WRs, familiarity breeds success. If payaton had to deal with the WR turnover that TB had the past two seasons, his precious numbers would be not nearly as espn-impressive.

I would be surprised if either Caldwell or Gaffney were left off the Opening-Day Roster (or is it Rooster?).

 

[psychoPat]

.... Washington seems to have to worry more about falling behind Childress on the depth chart than trying to beat out Caldwell and Gaffney for a spot.

....

With so many of us ... once again this year ... rooting for Bam,
it behooves us not to lose track of Kelvin Kight.

Last season i was surprised that KK seemed to spend more time on the varsity than Bam did.
This t/c, the few mentions Kight has gotten have all been favorable ...
with emphasis on his STELLAR gunning.

 

[37Harrison]

Caldwell is the man, he will end up being the #4 WR after Moss, Stallworth, and Welker and Gaffney will be #5.

 

[Rob0729]

With so many of us ... once again this year ... rooting for Bam,
it behooves us not to lose track of Kelvin Kight.

Last season i was surprised that KK seemed to spend more time on the varsity than Bam did.
This t/c, the few mentions Kight has gotten have all been favorable ...
with emphasis on his STELLAR gunning.

I did not forget about Kight. I just said Childress since Childress has been breaking out in recent days. Then again, Childress seemed to break out last year too and ended up on the PS.

 

[mgteich]

I'm not sure why we don't have consensus yet on these five. BTW, it makes very little difference who is called #4 and #5. There is no such position on the depth chart. Welker should be the slot back and the #3 WR on both sides. Gaffney and Caldwell should be the #2 on each side. Moss and Stallworth are the starters. Isn't it that simple, except for those who have made a binky of Childress or Washington?

Caldwell is the man, he will end up being the #4 WR after Moss, Stallworth, and Welker and Gaffney will be #5.

 

[Fencer]

I'm not sure why we don't have consensus yet on these five. BTW, it makes very little difference who is called #4 and #5. There is no such position on the depth chart. Welker should be the slot back and the #3 WR on both sides. Gaffney and Caldwell should be the #2 on each side. Moss and Stallworth are the starters. Isn't it that simple, except for those who have made a binky of Childress or Washington?

1. What has Stallworth proved recently?
2. Who's a better #2 slot guy -- Troy or Gaffney (or one of the other outside guys)?

Outside of that, you're right. A lot of guys who basically deserve roster slots won't get them due to the competition.