Reiss passing camp report 5/28 and 5/29 [merged]

[Sicilian]

Re: Reiss' 5 from mini camp

I don't understand why the FO would give away its 7th-rounder to move up in the 5th round to take a guy who would almost certainly have been available as a UDFA.

We don't know this. There were what, 70-80 picks left after Matt Slater? All it takes is one team in the late 7th who also liked him a little bit and the chance is gone. Not to mention there's no guarantee we're the first ones to get to him once he's a free agent.

The Patriots are good at evaluating talent, but to think it likely that NO other team could have possibly been targeting this guy for the same reasons the Pats were is a dangerous assumption.

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: Reiss' 5 from mini camp

But if Slater can't return KOs, then he'll be another wasted draft pick. I don't understand why the FO would give away its 7th-rounder to move up in the 5th round to take a guy who would almost certainly have been available as a UDFA. After all, Larry Izzo has been one of the better STers over the last dozen years, and he went undrafted.

And comparing him with Troy Brown does a great disservive to Troy, one of the all-time Patriots and a highly productive, if under-recognized, WR during his time at Marshall.

And let's hope that the drops suffered by Slater, Wilhite and Sam Aiken during yesterday's session are just aberrations, and not the continuations of trends already established by those three at their previous destinations.

Slater could go three ways. He has the speed and the hitting ability to return kicks, he has the speed and can be taught the proper footwork to be a "Darren Sproles" in our offense, and he can line up as a cornerback on the defense. Give him a chance before you're down on him. He has to learn CB, obviously, but he will do it. The Patriots specialize in players that can go two or three ways. Plus, the guy has very little experience playing CB. And, like I said, if they didn't intercept it, they at least batted the ball down.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Reiss' 5 from mini camp

I don't understand why the FO would give away its 7th-rounder to move up in the 5th round to take a guy who would almost certainly have been available as a UDFA.

We don't know this. There were what, 70-80 picks left after Matt Slater? All it takes is one team in the late 7th who also liked him a little bit and the chance is gone.

Lots of people seem to think they know more than the front office does. Might Slater have been available later or as an UDFA ? Maybe. But Belichick also knows a heck of a lot more than what we do - he probably had a feel from the UCLA coaches how much interest there was or wasn't in the guy. Then you have to play a little value game - what are you giving up vs. how much do you want to make sure you get the guy. Clearly giving up a #7 was worth the insurance - and we still had what looks like a solid UDFA class. People who complain would probably have been fine if we'd drafted Drago in the 7th round.

All you have to do is look at the returners around the league, and the impact they have, to be intrigued. Maybe Slater is cut - no biggie, we took a shot. But he had very impressive #s in college in his limited chances - I wouldn't take that trade or pick back; Slater is well worth a shot there.

 

[Pats726]

Re: Reiss' 5 from mini camp

We don't know this. There were what, 70-80 picks left after Matt Slater? All it takes is one team in the late 7th who also liked him a little bit and the chance is gone. Not to mention there's no guarantee we're the first ones to get to him once he's a free agent.

The Patriots are good at evaluating talent, but to think it likely that NO other team could have possibly been targeting this guy for the same reasons the Pats were is a dangerous assumption.

I agree...if a team waits..they can lose..I would RATHER draft a player that has something special than just waiting and ASSUMING that another team doesn't see the same thing. NOT at all bad..I do think it's interesting that both Slater and Ventrone (Andrws even) may be sort like what I think they were trying to do with Childress.....what Troy Brown was...and NO I am only using Troy as an example as he was incredibly versatile, playing O, D and STs. Having that versatility MAY save a place here there.. I love that idea!!!

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: Reiss' 5 from mini camp

Slater could go three ways. He has the speed and the hitting ability to return kicks, he has the speed and can be taught the proper footwork to be a "Darren Sproles" in our offense, and he can line up as a cornerback on the defense. Give him a chance before you're down on him. He has to learn CB, obviously, but he will do it. The Patriots specialize in players that can go two or three ways. Plus, the guy has very little experience playing CB. And, like I said, if they didn't intercept it, they at least batted the ball down.

And if all that fails we can always make him a LT.

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: Reiss' 5 from mini camp

And if all that fails we can always make him a LT.

A lettuce and tomato?

 

[tombonneau]

Re: Reiss' 5 from mini camp

But if Slater can't return KOs, then he'll be another wasted draft pick. I don't understand why the FO would give away its 7th-rounder to move up in the 5th round to take a guy who would almost certainly have been available as a UDFA. After all, Larry Izzo has been one of the better STers over the last dozen years, and he went undrafted.

And comparing him with Troy Brown does a great disservive to Troy, one of the all-time Patriots and a highly productive, if under-recognized, WR during his time at Marshall.

And let's hope that the drops suffered by Slater, Wilhite and Sam Aiken during yesterday's session are just aberrations, and not the continuations of trends already established by those three at their previous destinations.

Wow. Tell me how you really feel? Haha.

My Troy Brown comparison was meant more the Twilight Troy, who played WR5, dime back and return game. If Slater can work as a lower rung WR, backup S, gunner & return guy, he'd be offering similar versatility to what Troy did in his last days.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Re: Reiss' 5 from mini camp

Perhaps we are on the cusp of NFL teams drafting for special teams. Parcells noted last year that in the past, the rookies played special teams while transitioning to starters (Merriweather). However, today's contracts and cap drives them into the starting lineup. Therefore, special teams are made up of guys who are there for financial not athletic reasons.

If you look at the number of games that are decided by special teams in 2007, it might be safe to bet that "special teams" will become a specialty and might warrant picks in the 4th or even 3rd round.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Reiss' 5 from mini camp

Perhaps we are on the cusp of NFL teams drafting for special teams. Parcells noted last year that in the past, the rookies played special teams while transitioning to starters (Merriweather). However, today's contracts and cap drives them into the starting lineup. Therefore, special teams are made up of guys who are there for financial not athletic reasons.

If you look at the number of games that are decided by special teams in 2007, it might be safe to bet that "special teams" will become a specialty and might warrant picks in the 4th or even 3rd round.

Stephen Gostkowski, Adam Podlesh, and Daniel Sepulveda all say hi, and Devin Hester says "might warrant a fourth?"

 

[Pats726]

Re: Reiss' 5 from mini camp

Special team players CAN BE special..and be drafted..usually kickers..punters and super return guys like Hester...I see NO problem with using a 2nd day pick for an ST player...

 

[BelichickFan]

Thursday Report from Reiss

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/05/5_minicamp_obse_1.html

"We spotted rookie CBs Jonathan Wilhite and Terrence Wheatley with interceptions."

"the view from here is that Hobson is going to help the Patriots this season."

"While their (Redd and Crable) true test will come when there is hitting and physical play, it is intriguing to consider the possibilities of what their sheer length could bring to the defense in terms of disruptive presences as pass rushers. They have long arms and long legs, and can make a passing lane seem quite narrow."

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Re: Thursday Report from Reiss

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/05/5_minicamp_obse_1.html

"We spotted rookie CBs Jonathan Wilhite and Terrence Wheatley with interceptions."

I got good news and I got bad news. The good news is our rookie CBs are catching interceptions, the bad news is our rookie QB is throwing interceptions.

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: Thursday Report from Reiss

Looking good, looking good. Wheatley and Wilhite are going to be good corners in this defense. Good to see Hobson can move well. We got burned way too much over the middle last year.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Thursday Report from Reiss

I got good news and I got bad news. The good news is our rookie CBs are catching interceptions, the bad news is our rookie QB is throwing interceptions.

The rookie QB likely won't see the field for 3 years - the INT are good news

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Thursday Report from Reiss

I got good news and I got bad news. The good news is our rookie CBs are catching interceptions, the bad news is our rookie QB is throwing interceptions.

How do you know it's O'Connell? Earlier Reiss was reporting that Gutierrez was getting most of the pass attempts. . . .

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Re: Thursday Report from Reiss

How do you know it's O'Connell? Earlier Reiss was reporting that Gutierrez was getting most of the pass attempts. . . .

Didn't realize that... but it is still a good news/bad news situation. A QB on the Pats roster is throwing the ints.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Thursday Report from Reiss

A QB on the Pats roster is throwing the ints.

A QB who won't be on the field once the regular season starts is throwing the INTs to DBs who will be on the field once the regular season starts.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Re: Thursday Report from Reiss

A QB who won't be on the field once the regular season starts is throwing the INTs to DBs who will be on the field once the regular season starts.

I hope your right early indications are Brady is going to be on the injury report before the KC game, something about a shoulder injury. I hope he will be okay.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Thursday Report from Reiss

I hope your right early indications are Brady is going to be on the injury report before the KC game, something about a shoulder injury. I hope he will be okay.

Crap, Brady has a shoulder injury ? Now I'm worried

 

[upstater1]

Re: Thursday Report from Reiss

I got good news and I got bad news. The good news is our rookie CBs are catching interceptions, the bad news is our rookie QB is throwing interceptions.

The thing is, we need CBs, we don't need QBs, so this is just fine by me.