DefenseRules
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2005
- Messages
- 13,773
- Reaction score
- 2,673
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/08/observations_fr_11.html
I guess those of you who thought that Hobson wasn't doing well are correct.
Hopefully by the end of preseason, he starts to "Get it".
Good to see Hobbs and Vrabel back in the lineup. Note the top three WRs working with Brady: Moss, Welker, Gaffney...no Jackson...interesting.
Observations from 20th practice
Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff August 11, 2008 08:46 PM
FOXBOROUGH – Five observations from the Patriots’ 20th training camp practice, which was held in full pads tonight inside Gillette Stadium (6:30 p.m.):
1) Wet conditions challenge players with ball security. It started pouring about halfway through tonight’s session, which created an elements-type practice. Players’ concentration had to rise when taking care of the ball. Two center/quarterback exchanges were botched, with the combination of Dan Koppen/Matt Cassel and Dan Connolly/Kevin O’Connell taking the standard penalty lap. All three quarterbacks stayed after practice with centers to work on exchanges, as they were the last players off the field. Elsewhere in practice, return man Matthew Slater fumbled a kickoff, while tight end Benjamin Watson had a drop across the middle in 7-on-7 work. On the flip side, safety Brandon Meriweather made a nice interception in 11-on-11 work – and later had a second pick in 11-on-11 drills – an indication that his work to improve his hands is paying off.
2) Mike Vrabel and Ellis Hobbs join the first string. Outside linebacker Mike Vrabel and cornerback Ellis Hobbs seemed to have their workload increase. Both took their place with the first-unit defense, with Vrabel knocking out Pierre Woods at left outside linebacker and Hobbs lining up at right cornerback, with Fernando Bryant at left cornerback. That meant rookie cornerback Terrence Wheatley was now with the second unit. Vrabel showed up by tipping a Tom Brady pass in half-speed work at the 2-yard line (the tip was intercepted by Titus Adams) and Hobbs had a nice breakup on a long pass over the middle, as quarterback Matt Cassel was attempting to hook up with speedy receiver Matthew Slater.
3) John Welbourn locks in at right tackle. The Patriots continue to battle with a numbers shortage on the offensive line – Russ Hochstein is the latest player knocked out (he suffered an undisclosed injury in Thursday’s preseason opener) – although tonight marked veteran John Welbourn’s most extensive work since joining the team seven days ago. Welbourn worked exclusively at right tackle with the second unit. While Welbourn also has experience at guard, it looks like the Patriots will look to him initially at the tackle spot.
4) Victor Hobson yet to emerge at inside linebacker. A considerable chunk of time was spent watching Victor Hobson in his transition from outside linebacker in the Jets’ 3-4 defense to inside linebacker in the Patriots’ 3-4 alignment. It doesn’t seem to be coming easily to him. At 6-foot-0, 252 pounds, Hobson was engulfed at times by linemen and tight ends in 11-on-11 work, pushed away from the play. In the spring, it appeared that Hobson was a good bet to help the Patriots this year, but he’s yet to break through in training camp (most recently working next to Bo Ruud & Eric Alexander), and could be in jeopardy of not making the club if a player like Gary Guyton (rookie free agent) continues to excel on special teams.
5) Jabar Gaffney over Chad Jackson. In 11-on-11 work, the top receiving trio for quarterback Tom Brady was Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Jabar Gaffney. Chad Jackson, who struggled at times in the preseason opener, did not got any work with Brady when the team had three receivers on the field in the drill. Jackson came on with backup quarterback Matt Cassel.
EXTRA POINTS: In the corner of the end zone on the south side of the field, offensive linemen worked against defensive linemen/outside linebackers in a 2-on-2 drill where the blockers had to work together and pass off their man if necessary. At one point, left tackle Wesley Britt and left guard Logan Mankins held their ground against the difficult tandem of Adalius Thomas and Richard Seymour. … The second-unit offensive line was comprised of Barry Stokes (left tackle), Ryan Wendell (left guard), Dan Connolly (center), Jimmy Martin (right guard) and John Welbourn (right tackle). … Rookie quarterback Kevin O’Connell, getting some extended work with Matt Gutierrez not present at practice, was intercepted by Brandon Meriweather in 7-on-7 work on an underthrown ball intended for tight end Jonathan Stupar. He was almost intercepted a second time in 11-on-11 work by newly signed cornerback Jeff Shoate on another underthrown ball. ... Tom Brady seemed to keep the mood light, at one time joking as if he was coming off the sideline to trip kickoff returner Ellis Hobbs, and later taunting defensive lineman Titus Adams as he was walking into the end zone on work near the goal-line. But in a twist of fate, Adams intercepted Brady’s next pass when it was tipped by Mike Vrabel. ... The session ended with the team huddled around head coach Bill Belichick for what seemed like a longer meeting than normal.
Tuesday schedule: The Patriots have a single practice, scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The session is open to the public.
I guess those of you who thought that Hobson wasn't doing well are correct.
Hopefully by the end of preseason, he starts to "Get it".
Good to see Hobbs and Vrabel back in the lineup. Note the top three WRs working with Brady: Moss, Welker, Gaffney...no Jackson...interesting.