The Official "Everything OTA" Thread

supafly said:

Hey--good to see Revis back today. I'm a worrier like that.

Also, great to see the DL taking shape with the injured players seeming to progress.

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Me too. But what is it with a muscle injury to Boyce during WARM-UPs? Football is an impact game and impact injuries are going to happen -- through collisions or just with the ground. But that just looks like poor conditioning and training to me.

Mike the Brit said:

Mods. B6 has laid down his weapons. I suggest that, if Deus and Bruins don't do the same, they should be asked to leave the thread. JMHO.

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Just had to interject here. Deus has done nothing wrong here, so please don't attack him. He's been pretty much fair and on point in this thread. Anyways back to lurking.

Mike the Brit said:

Me too. But what is it with a muscle injury to Boyce during WARM-UPs? Football is an impact game and impact injuries are going to happen -- through collisions or just with the ground. But that just looks like poor conditioning and training to me.

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You can pull a muscle by stretching, the body can be very unforgiving even to the most conditioned athletes. Freakish things happen, without really know what it was or how it happened its hard to speculate.

strngplyr said:

You can pull a muscle by stretching, the body can be very unforgiving even to the most conditioned athletes. Freakish things happen, without really know what it was or how it happened its hard to speculate.

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"Stretching" -- yes, of course. But, in a warm-up it should be taking place gently and without unpredictable twists. That kind of injury is disappointing.

Mike the Brit said:

Mods. B6 has laid down his weapons. I suggest that, if Deus and Bruins don't do the same, they should be asked to leave the thread. JMHO.

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In fairness to Dues he was not out of line, he kept to football, I respect him, and how he handles himself, even when we get into it the discussion stays on track. Bruins and I spoke in PM and we are going to interact with each other differently moving forward. As for my #1 fan I put him back on ignore where he belongs.

I appreciate your previous post, you delivered a message that I needed to hear respectfully.

I am glad that the thread is now back on track, B6 -- no postmortems or recriminations, I hope.

Revis had some awfully nice things to say today

Mike the Brit said:

Me too. But what is it with a muscle injury to Boyce during WARM-UPs? Football is an impact game and impact injuries are going to happen -- through collisions or just with the ground. But that just looks like poor conditioning and training to me.

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It could be that the team is being overly precautious with Boyce to prevent any further injury. Last season we had a number of skill position players suffer through injuries related to muscles, in the first 5 weeks of 2013 we had these players show up on the injury report with injuries –

Dobson - hamstring
Amendola – groin
Arrington – groin
Cole – hamstring
Sudfeld – hamstring
Washington – thigh
Ninkovich – groin
Wilson – hamstring

Brady_to_Moss said:

Revis had some awfully nice things to say today

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He is a great player and carries himself very well. When you look at his offseason compared to Talib’s and the way they both have handled the media. Revis was cut by Tampa, has not said a single thing negative about them, Talib had his career resurrected by the Patriots and signed for a ton of money with the Broncos and he is crying that Belichick did not want to pay him and claiming false injury reports.

Brady_to_Moss said:

Revis had some awfully nice things to say today

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I hope he's here for a good long time.

Mike Reiss agrees with Brady6's OL outlook:

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/50797/patriots-with-mike-reiss

Mike
(3:12 PM)
Chris, I've been watching the OL competition closely. I think locks are Solder, Mankins, Vollmer, Cannon, Stork, Fleming and Halapio. I'd put Kline in the near-lock category. That's seven-eight right there, so that leaves Wendell/Connolly among those hoping for the team to keep nine.

Mike feels there will be 7 WRs on the roster, and that KT has outperformed Lafell:

Mike
(3:13 PM)
Eddy, I'd put seven WRs on the roster right now -- Dobson, Edelman, Amendola, Thompkins, LaFell, Boyce and Slater. Thompkins had a better camp than LaFell from my view, in part because he was out there the whole time. Still a long way to go.

Mike
(3:32 PM)
If the season started today, and they didn't have Dobson, I think you'd see a 3-WR set of Thompkins, Edelman and Amendola (slot). LaFell and Boyce (kickoff returner) round it out.

patsinthesnow said:

Mike Reiss agrees with Brady6's OL outlook:

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/50797/patriots-with-mike-reiss

Mike
(3:12 PM)
Chris, I've been watching the OL competition closely. I think locks are Solder, Mankins, Vollmer, Cannon, Stork, Fleming and Halapio. I'd put Kline in the near-lock category. That's seven-eight right there, so that leaves Wendell/Connolly among those hoping for the team to keep nine.

Mike feels there will be 7 WRs on the roster, and that KT has outperformed Lafell:

Mike
(3:13 PM)
Eddy, I'd put seven WRs on the roster right now -- Dobson, Edelman, Amendola, Thompkins, LaFell, Boyce and Slater. Thompkins had a better camp than LaFell from my view, in part because he was out there the whole time. Still a long way to go.

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Eh, but...

1. No pads.

2. Thompkins has a year longer in the system than LaFell.

LaFell is still trying to master one of the harder playbooks in the league. That takes time. We'll see how things shape up there at the end of TC. That said, I agree with his outlook on the WR position.

Well we have had 3 OTAs open to the media and 3 minicamps open to the media. I just thought it be a good time to run down some final thoughts after reading all the reports (keep in mind that is highly reactive but that is part of the fun).

#1 Boyce and Thompkins are on this roster till proven otherwise - Obviously it is early but if I had to pick today I would keep both these players. That probably means carrying 7 WRs (6 true ones) but I just don't see a way around it. It appears both have started to make that 2nd year leap and though I doubt either with be a Probowl anytime soon you don't cut 2nd year WRs that appear to be getting it. If need be we can make a move after 4 weeks but they deserve a chance to show what they got.

#2 Swanson should make this team. He is a CB that has not had anything less than a good practice (sometimes VERY good) whenever the media was there. Assuming he can play some STs he should be on this team over Wilson/Ebner/Chung. You have enough proven guys in front and I believe taking chances on your 9th and 10th depth player. Go for upside. This kid seems to have it. Ryan Moving to safety makes keeping him easier.

#3 Finch should make this team even though he is a niche player. Dude seems to just make plays and that is something you find a way to keep. While a bigger back who might have a more complete skill set may be a more prudent choice a guy like Finch I think is harder to find and so more valuable. You can easily find another RB to put on the PS that is more complete but I don't risk Finch being picked up by someone else.

#4 Harmon or bust. It was probably his job to lose from the start and it seems like he is getting it. Not much else to say here.

#5 DTs looking good. Armstead obviously is not doing so hot currently. However encouraging reports on Kelly, Wilfork and Easley (today). If we assume Jones & Siliga are able to repeat or improve on last year I have no issue fielding this unit for this year.

#6 RBs in focus on O. I think this year we will see a return to more screens and dumps offs. If we build this team they way I think we will instead of the traditional slot we will go back to a more mix and match for that safety valve with more RBs in that spot. Not too mention how often we have seen Brady pass to RBs in this camp.

I could go on I guess but that will do it.

I think perhaps we should wait until defenders can actually press before attempting to make any kinds of evaluations on who is outplaying whom at WR.

BobDigital said:

#2 Saxton should make this team. He is a CB that has not had anything less than a good practice (sometimes VERY good) whenever the media was there. Assuming he can play some STs he should be on this team over Wilson/Ebner/Chung. You have enough proven guys in front and I believe taking chances on your 9th and 10th depth player. Go for upside. This kid seems to have it. Ryan Moving to safety makes keeping him easier.

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I assume by "Saxton" you mean Daxton Swanson. I agree he's had a great OTA/minicamp and seems to have a nose for the ball, but it's still a bit early to be awarding him a roster spot, IMO. Also, do you think Swanson fits better at CB or at S? He played both in college, and it seems to me that he has better ball skills than he does press/man skills. He has similar size and a somewhat similar game to Devin McCourty from what I can tell (though obviously not on the same level). There is a big crowd at the nickel/dime back right now. And what about Jemea Thomas?

I agree that Swanson has been a pleasant surprise and looks promising, but I think the depth situation at CB and S is a long way from being sorted out.

I am very upset about the whole Armstead situation. As much as i like C. Jonas and Siliga, i don't envision them being more than good players at best (which is awesome, if we consider they're 4th and 5th on the depth chart). However, at start of camp, I had in my mind that Easly and Armstead could have been a incredible duo for years to come, replacing Wilfork and Kelly eventually.

Anyway, i hope he's alright and that he makes a full-recovery to get his life back to normal

Every year since we got rid of moss we bring in a receiver that is going to "change everything" And kick one of the "scrubs'" to the curb.

I don't know what people see in Lafell that makes him a LOCK over thompkins, who we know can play and potentially thrive in this system. up until he got hurt he was in the top 4 rookie receivers.

Brady6 said:

He is a great player and carries himself very well. When you look at his offseason compared to Talib’s and the way they both have handled the media. Revis was cut by Tampa, has not said a single thing negative about them, Talib had his career resurrected by the Patriots and signed for a ton of money with the Broncos and he is crying that Belichick did not want to pay him and claiming false injury reports.

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He's not a loud month...he just goes out there and does his job well and that's that

chasa said:

Every year since we got rid of moss we bring in a receiver that is going to "change everything" And kick one of the "scrubs'" to the curb.

I don't know what people see in Lafell that makes him a LOCK over thompkins, who we know can play and potentially thrive in this system. up until he got hurt he was in the top 4 rookie receivers.

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Didn't a fair amount of people assume that Mike Jenkins was a lock for the roster last year? Not that he and Lafell are tremendously similar, but just saying...

mayoclinic said:

I assume by "Saxton" you mean Daxton Swanson. I agree he's had a great OTA/minicamp and seems to have a nose for the ball, but it's still a bit early to be awarding him a roster spot, IMO. Also, do you think Swanson fits better at CB or at S? He played both in college, and it seems to me that he has better ball skills than he does press/man skills. He has similar size and a somewhat similar game to Devin McCourty from what I can tell (though obviously not on the same level). There is a big crowd at the nickel/dime back right now. And what about Jemea Thomas?

I agree that Swanson has been a pleasant surprise and looks promising, but I think the depth situation at CB and S is a long way from being sorted out.

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Good points, of course.

But, since it's the off-season and we can ride our hobby-horses, it would be very nice to have a season in which there is a surplus of competent defensive backs and we are not going into the playoffs to watch questionable special-teamers struggling with top wide receivers. At the rate at which DBs get injured, it seems that they can't have too many.

I'd not be surprised if Swanson turns out to be less of a find when the pads are on, but I'd be dismayed if he is edged out by this season's equivalent of Malcolm Williams or Derrick Martin.