Paul Perillo: Belichick made Ventrone his PS scout WR last year

[SeanBruschi54]

Perillo just said belichick was so impressed last season of how Ventrone looked as a scout WR that he wanted him to take the role seriously and come into this year as a WR for the team.

The end result was a success. Ventrone makes the roster over Jackson and Belichick gets a potential 4th WR/ST's gunner.

 

[pats1]

Yeah, Belichick has mentioned that many times before this offseason. Nothing new.

Most recently:

http://www.patriots.com/mediacenter/index.cfm?ac=videonewsdetail&pcid=45&pid=33473

Q: How has Ray Ventrone handled the change to wide receiver?

BB: Ray has handled it well. We used Ray last year on the practice squad to run routes for the defense as an offensive receiver and he really did a good job. At the end of the year when we had our postseason evaluations we talked about putting him at receiver and using him there because he had already had a year of defensive meetings. I think he has been able to keep up with some extra work with coach [Dom] Capers and coach [Dean] Pees just on keeping up on his assignments on defense for any adjustments or little things that have changed. I think he has had a year of fundamentals and background on that so he has a decent idea of what is going on with that. Offensively, he has spent the bulk of this year over there and from time to time we flip him back and forth. I think he can play both receiver and defensive back at a competent level. I think he has done a good job as a receiver when he has had the opportunity to play. He is a tough kid, he runs hard, he catches the ball well and he showed up in the kicking game. His versatility is his number one strength at this point but when he does play he has been productive in defense, special teams and offense. He is a unique guy.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I'd say the kid has excelled. Now it's game time and let's see what he can do.

 

[Zeke_Mowatt]

Yeah, Belichick has mentioned that many times before this offseason. Nothing new.

Most recently:

http://www.patriots.com/mediacenter/index.cfm?ac=videonewsdetail&pcid=45&pid=33473

Think we can end up with 10 2 way players with Brady and Bruschi (? he's the only one that doesn't catch TDs or play FB ) going 1 way each? LOL - I have to say, I love the versatility he installs in our guys, the character guys especially. Imagine Slater and Ventrone #4/#5 WR #4/#5 Safety, redundancy opens up roster slots, especially in backups!

 

[Pats726]

yes...I heard it before as well..versatility can be very important...and Ventrone is a tough player...Not sure how many the team can find...Dillard who is on the PSquad only played the last 2 college years on D..before that was a RB. I really LOVE that though utilization to the utmost.

 

[stinkypete]

Ventrone has become my binky this preseason. He looks like he knows what he's doing, even when he misses the ball he's where he needs to be, and he can make a tough play.

I can see him deveoping into a nice reciever if he can develop that timing with Brady.

 

[PATRIOT64]

How fast is this kid? - I have not seen him play all that much

Does he compare with speed to a guy like Welker or Gaffney?

 

[PATRIOT64]

Ventrone kind of reminds me of Banta Cain who was on and off the roster till he finally got a shot in 06 and was good enough to start but got released a season later but found a new home in SF

 

[ctpatsfan77]

How fast is this kid? - I have not seen him play all that much

Does he compare with speed to a guy like Welker or Gaffney?

Ventrone ran track in HS, so I'm guessing he's faster than Welker, but doesn't accelerate as quickly (then again, I honestly think that Welker may be one of the five fastest players in the NFL over the first 5-10 yards).

 

[fnordcircle]

Think we can end up with 10 2 way players with Brady and Bruschi (? he's the only one that doesn't catch TDs or play FB ) going 1 way each?

Bruschi is great for dropping passes on 4th down punt attempts against the Broncos.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I thought Bubba looked like he'd been Welkerized in preseason, not so much the hands (though I think this was his first chance to truly get hit while making a catch), but in the way he ran routes and found ways to get open when the QB was pressured. I hope to see him get a full year on the active roster to develop, he could push Gaffney off the roster if he can run routes like Welker with a bit greater speed.

 

[Sicilian]

I thought Bubba looked like he'd been Welkerized in preseason, not so much the hands (though I think this was his first chance to truly get hit while making a catch), but in the way he ran routes and found ways to get open when the QB was pressured. I hope to see him get a full year on the active roster to develop, he could push Gaffney off the roster if he can run routes like Welker with a bit greater speed.

But I see him being very similar to Welker, which I'm not sure would be the best thing in a 3-wide set. I like having Ventrone as a #4/5, and in the event that Welker misses some time, he can slide into that slot and I wouldn't feel too bad about it. But having Moss, Welker, and Ventrone as the 3 wideouts would throw either Welker or Ventrone into a situation they're not best suited for IMO.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

But I see him being very similar to Welker, which I'm not sure would be the best thing in a 3-wide set. I like having Ventrone as a #4/5, and in the event that Welker misses some time, he can slide into that slot and I wouldn't feel too bad about it. But having Moss, Welker, and Ventrone as the 3 wideouts would throw either Welker or Ventrone into a situation they're not best suited for IMO.

Speaking of which . . . even if Ventrone is going to be primarily a receiver, he doesn't need to change his number, does he?

 

[Sicilian]

Speaking of which . . . even if Ventrone is going to be primarily a receiver, he doesn't need to change his number, does he?

I don't think so. One year Troy Brown played more DB than he did WR, but was still allowed to keep #80. I imagine it's just whichever position you're officially listed as.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I don't think so. One year Troy Brown played more DB than he did WR, but was still allowed to keep #80. I imagine it's just whichever position you're officially listed as.

That's different, though. The issue is the fact that, on offense, not everyone is an eligible receiver. Vrabel, for example, wears a number that normally would make him ineligible, so he has to be announced as eligible every time he lines up at TE. OTOH, all defensive players, so no D player ever needs to be announced. I'm just clarifying that Ventrone could (as I believe he can) wear 41 and still line up at WR.

As I said before, the other advantage to having Ventrone as a Welker-like receiver is that they can use him later in games to dish out hits as a DB/smaller LB blocker in the running game, to save wear and tear on 83.

 

[Born_a_Patriot]

Ventrone looks to me more lie a tight end in the style of Brent Jones.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Ventrone looks to me more lie a tight end in the style of Brent Jones.

Brent Jones: 6'4" 230#. Bubba: 5'10" 200#.

Not saying it's impossible, but I don't see how you get there.

 

[Mark Morse]

I think Ventrone is alot like Troy Brown in the respect that Brown was a 9th round draft choice ( an UDFA now) that was selected on his college coaches recommendation to Parcells. Brown was cut, resigned to the taxi squad, and finally made the roster.

I don't think Ventrone will be as good a WR as Brown, but he is a suitable backup to Wleker right now (Brown was never as good as Ventrone as DB). Ventrone is the heir apparent to Izzo as a special teams ace that happens to play multiple positions adequately.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Well congrats to Ventrone. He obviously won the spot with his hard work and took it away from CJ. Ventrone's versatility sounds like a big point in his favor for BB - ST, D, or O. He sounds like a younger Troy Brown.

 

[Shoofyou10]

I think Ventrone is alot like Troy Brown in the respect that Brown was a 9th round draft choice ( an UDFA now) that was selected on his college coaches recommendation to Parcells. Brown was cut, resigned to the taxi squad, and finally made the roster.

I don't think Ventrone will be as good a WR as Brown, but he is a suitable backup to Wleker right now (Brown was never as good as Ventrone as DB). Ventrone is the heir apparent to Izzo as a special teams ace that happens to play multiple positions adequately.

Before his senior year in college Ventrone was considered a mid to late round pick but he broke his foot in his 3rd game and ended up not playing another game in his senior season. He would have most likely been drafted had it not been for that injury.

So his odds werent that long. His knocks coming in his rookie year were his health (was his foot healed), his size, and the fact that he played in D 1-A.