Tomase 7/28 notes

[patsox23]

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/patriots/

July 28th, 2008
Practice observations: Thomas leaves, Pollard talks hoops
Posted by John Tomase at 5:56 pm

The Patriots had a nice crowd for this afternoon’s lone practice on a breezy, pleasant afternoon on the back practice field. The team was once again in pads, working on fundamentals and red zone plays.

Tight end David Thomas left the field about a half hour into the session with a member of the staff. It was hard to tell exactly what happened to him. If he was limping, it was only slightly, but he appeared to be favoring one of his ankles. Thomas did not return.

The highlight of the interview sessions was veteran tight end Marcus Pollard discussing his college basketball career at Bradley, which didn’t even have a football team during his time there. Pollard joked that, “I’m the most famous flag football player in America,” because that’s the only football he played in college, but his story is actually pretty amazing.

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[wdkantro2]

Re: TE notes on practice...

Interesting about Pollard. I always hated him with the Colts, mostly for his "give us the rings now" comment, but he seems like an interesting guy. Hopefully he can actually be a TE who doesn't get hurt AND can catch a pass for us, something we don't have right now.

 

[patsox23]

Re: TE notes on practice...

Hopefully (Pollard) can actually be a TE who doesn't get hurt AND can catch a pass for us, something we don't have right now.

That would be nice. Dave Thomas is intriguing but leaving the field today is vexing. Ditto (times ten) for Benjamin Watson. Only problem is, the one way Pollard really fits on this team is if either of them gets hurt. He's just like them - all catch, no block. (That's simplfying, but still.)

 

[bradmahn]

Re: TE notes on practice...

That would be nice. Dave Thomas is intriguing but leaving the field today is vexing. Ditto (times ten) for Benjamin Watson. Only problem is, the one way Pollard really fits on this team is if either of them gets hurt. He's just like them - all catch, no block. (That's simplfying, but still.)

Not to mention, Wrong.

Both are better blockers than Pollard and Watson is better now than he was two years ago, when your assessment would have been right. His forte is obviously the passing game but he isn't a liability against the run and does have some value there.

 

[wdkantro2]

Re: TE notes on practice...

Not to mention, Wrong.

Both are better blockers than Pollard and Watson is better now than he was two years ago, when your assessment would have been right. His forte is obviously the passing game but he isn't a liability against the run and does have some value there.

I think it would be a stretch to consider either Thomas or Watson as blockers before pass catchers. Watson's blocking has improved immensely, but neither of them will ever be a block-first TE in the Daniel Graham mold. I agree they both can block, but I think it's legitimate to say they are both catch-first TEs, or at least they will catch first in an ideal situation.

 

[patsox23]

Re: TE notes on practice...

Not to mention, Wrong.

Both are better blockers than Pollard and Watson is better now than he was two years ago, when your assessment would have been right. His forte is obviously the passing game but he isn't a liability against the run and does have some value there.

Setting aside your Jr. High School Girl tone, I think it's disingenuous for you to suggest that I was even making an either/or comparison - ALL of these guys are pass-catching TEs, not blockers. Period.

Furthermore, back to the snarky "Not to mention, Wrong." Kindly sit on it, Fonzi.

 

[bradmahn]

Re: TE notes on practice...

Setting aside your Jr. High School Girl tone, I think it's disingenuous for you to suggest that I was even making an either/or comparison - ALL of these guys are pass-catching TEs, not blockers. Period.

Furthermore, back to the snarky "Not to mention, Wrong." Kindly sit on it, Fonzi.

"[A]ll catch, no block." That's wrong. Sorry if I offended your oh-so sensitive feelings by pointing out something that was indeed incorrect.

 

[Keegs]

David Thomas injured? I don't believe it.

(Get it, there's like 4 jokes tied into that comment......)

 

[patsox23]

Re: TE notes on practice...

"[A]ll catch, no block." That's wrong. Sorry if I offended your oh-so sensitive feelings by pointing out something that was indeed incorrect.

If you're going to call me out on being oversensitive, I guess I'll have to call you out on being a totally dishonest poster. The quote was "all catch, no block. (That's simplfying, but still.)" So way to be scummy by not including the entire quote, leaving off the qualifier. Cool move.

And besides that, ALL of those guys are absolutely and without question pass-catching TEs, as opposed to blocking TEs. Or are you now going to make the totally feeble argument that I meant it LITERALLY - that they actually do "no" blocking, as in ZERO? Is that your position? That they NEVER block. I didn't even mention "running," are you trying to tell us that they also don't run routes? What about breathing? Do they BREATHE?

Don't mess with the bull, missy. You get the horns.