Working Hard

[Bostonian1962]

Just getting something off my mind, as we continue with training camp.

You hear so many stories in sports about certain superstars, and how hard they work, and how they are the first to get to the gym and the last to leave. It just seems to me that so many times, the hardest workers are the elite players. For the Patriots, this year's offseason award winners were:

Tedy Bruschi, Jabar Gaffney, Stephen Gostkowski, Logan Mankins, Sammy Morris, James Sanders, Vince Wilfork, and Ty Warren.

It will be interesting to see how they all do this season, but I expect nice seasons from all of them.

Alot of people are pondering who will be the 3rd receiver between Gaffney and Jackson. Well, it appears as though Gaffney is going the extra mile to make sure he's the one.

Richard Seymour prefers to work out at home in the offseason, and we see him being injured all the time, and not living up to his God given talent. In fact, many have posted right here that Wilfork and Warren have been playing better than Seymour. Is it related to the extra mile they go in the offseason?

I know, I know, Seymour has lost 10 pounds, and claims to be in great shape. Heck, I've lost 10 pounds also, from giving up cheeseburgers. Let's see what type of year he has, and then we can readdress this.

I don't know if you will all agree with me, but if I'm a wealthy athlete, with free time on my hands, I'm working out all the time, I'm paying for a personal trainer, I'm going for that parking space. If I played a kids game for a living, and being in the best shape made me better, got me richer, and kept me healthy, THAT'S what I'd be doing.

Thoughts? Ideas? Quotes? Musings? Lies?

 

[jczxohn1]

Speaking of that parking space, while everyone heard that Tommy didn't compete for it this past spring, I never did hear who won it. Anybody?

 

[DarrylS]

#93 becomes an easy target on this board for some reason, last year he was coming back from an injury but according to BB he had some of his best games as a Patriot. He also receives kudos from opposing coaches and players..

It always concerns me when I hear that he is not playing up to his potential, not sure, first how you quantify this in a team defense that does not use stats as a barometer and secondly how do we know how well he played as we do not know his assignment?? This D is complex and there is no reason to minimize his efforts as we do not really know what the team expects of him.

He does not seem to miss tackles, opposing teams tend to shy away from him and most of the time he is double and triple teamed, he makes Warren and Wilfork better and vica versa, his role to tie up blockers and clog gaps so the LB's can make the plays.

 

[Bostonian1962]

Speaking of that parking space, while everyone heard that Tommy didn't compete for it this past spring, I never did hear who won it. Anybody?

I think everybody I mentioned above gets such a parking space. Anybody know for sure?

 

[Bostonian1962]

#93 becomes an easy target on this board for some reason, last year he was coming back from an injury but according to BB he had some of his best games as a Patriot. He also receives kudos from opposing coaches and players..

It always concerns me when I hear that he is not playing up to his potential, not sure, first how you quantify this in a team defense that does not use stats as a barometer and secondly how do we know how well he played as we do not know his assignment?? This D is complex and there is no reason to minimize his efforts as we do not really know what the team expects of him.

He does not seem to miss tackles, opposing teams tend to shy away from him and most of the time he is double and triple teamed, he makes Warren and Wilfork better and vica versa, his role to tie up blockers and clog gaps so the LB's can make the plays.

I admit he has become an easy target, and there have been many responses like yours saying it's a team defense, and how do you know, etc. You don't think when he was considered the best DLineman in football, and dominating the line, and pressuring the QB, and being a tackling machine, that he wasn't double teamed, and that teams didn't run away from him?

No offense at all intended, but you can just watch the game to see his drop off. I'm no expert, but it's not that hard to see.

In fact, don't take my word for it, Seymour now admits that his play hasn't been great, and claims it's because he's been injured. Read some of his interviews leading into camp.

If the player himself owns up to it (which I give him credit for), it's probably time to stop protecting him with the "team defense" thing.

 

[PatsFan37]

Some guys who signed as vets had been working with a particular trainer in structured programs for several years and attribute their success to that offseason work. They frequently have an agreement with the coach that they'll continue exactly that.

I believe Ty Law was one of those guys and he was always in terrific shape, a great on-field performer with unquestioned toughness. I know Troy Palomalu has a training regimen that works on his speed. I don't believe he trains in Pittsburgh.

In other words, while I think the offseason award is a positive indicator of a great team-first attitude, it's not the sole indicator and failing to win the award tells you little.

 

[xmarkd400x]

I was under the impression that Seymour's knee injury is still bothering him. From what people say, it seems like the type of surgery that would have kept somebody out for a season.

If anything, it appears (to me) that Seymour is only guilty of trying to come back to early, and it has really taken it's toll on his knee.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Seymour's criticism is undue I believe. "Not living up to his God given talent". that statement is ridiculous. You are painting a picture he is lazy.

It's a no brainer right now that Gaffney is the 3rd receiver. Until CJ picks up the pace Gaffney has produced. I went to yesterdays practice and Brady barely threw at CJ because he wasn't getting open. The one throw in the end zone on an out pattern was either a bad throw or bad timing but he had a chance. We're not reading CJ catching everything in sight. Hopefully he produces in the preseason games.

 

[Bostonian1962]

Some guys who signed as vets had been working with a particular trainer in structured programs for several years and attribute their success to that offseason work. They frequently have an agreement with the coach that they'll continue exactly that.

I believe Ty Law was one of those guys and he was always in terrific shape, a great on-field performer with unquestioned toughness. I know Troy Palomalu has a training regimen that works on his speed. I don't believe he trains in Pittsburgh.

In other words, while I think the offseason award is a positive indicator of a great team-first attitude, it's not the sole indicator and failing to win the award tells you little.

I couldn't agree more, and your Ty Law example is one I almost mentioned, as the exception. However, my guess is that is the exception and not the rule.

 

[Kontradiction]

#93 becomes an easy target on this board for some reason, last year he was coming back from an injury but according to BB he had some of his best games as a Patriot. He also receives kudos from opposing coaches and players..

It always concerns me when I hear that he is not playing up to his potential, not sure, first how you quantify this in a team defense that does not use stats as a barometer and secondly how do we know how well he played as we do not know his assignment?? This D is complex and there is no reason to minimize his efforts as we do not really know what the team expects of him.

He does not seem to miss tackles, opposing teams tend to shy away from him and most of the time he is double and triple teamed, he makes Warren and Wilfork better and vica versa, his role to tie up blockers and clog gaps so the LB's can make the plays.

Holy crap! Are you in my head? I was literally about to post the same thing.

 

[Bostonian1962]

Seymour's criticism is undue I believe. "Not living up to his God given talent". that statement is ridiculous. You are painting a picture he is lazy.

It's a no brainer right now that Gaffney is the 3rd receiver. Until CJ picks up the pace Gaffney has produced. I went to yesterdays practice and Brady barely threw at CJ because he wasn't getting open. The one throw in the end zone on an out pattern was either a bad throw or bad timing but he had a chance. We're not reading CJ catching everything in sight. Hopefully he produces in the preseason games.

So, if the statement is ridiculous, are you saying that Seymour HAS been living up to his God given talent the last couple of years??? If you simply said, he has not played like before, and you think it's because of his elbow and knee injury, I could buy that. But to simply say that statement is ridiculous without backing it up, is........well, ridiculous.

I don't know for a fact that his injuries are in any way related to him not participating in the team's offseason program, nor do I know what his "home" workout regimen is. But, I do know that for one reason or another his play has dropped, and I do know that he does get injured. And, it is my personal opinion that most of the elite players of their sports have reputations of working at their craft more than the others. Whether it is hitting the gym, or studying the playbooks, or watching tape, it makes good players very good, and very good players great. It even helps borderline players make the team.

I respect your difference of opinion. We can agree to disagree.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

So, if the statement is ridiculous, are you saying that Seymour HAS been living up to his God given talent the last couple of years??? If you simply said, he has not played like before, and you think it's because of his elbow and knee injury, I could buy that. But to simply say that statement is ridiculous without backing it up, is........well, ridiculous.

I don't know for a fact that his injuries are in any way related to him not participating in the team's offseason program, nor do I know what his "home" workout regimen is. But, I do know that for one reason or another his play has dropped, and I do know that he does get injured. And, it is my personal opinion that most of the elite players of their sports have reputations of working at their craft more than the others. Whether it is hitting the gym, or studying the playbooks, or watching tape, it makes good players very good, and very good players great. It even helps borderline players make the team.

I respect your difference of opinion. We can agree to disagree.

I firmly believe it has been his injuries. Not lack of participation in the offseason program. Some say it was the contract.

Now if Brady has a lackluster season is it because he didn't partipate in the offseason program or could it be that he just had a bad year or maybe the should finally gave out. We'd never know