***THE OFFICIAL 2014 New England Patriots training camp thread***

AndyJohnson said:

Never? 2001 post season? 2003? 2004 before the secondary injuries?
Hell last year when everyone was healthy was pretty exciting even though we clearly have upgraded the talent now.

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Brady6 said:

I was overseas for most of 2000-2005 so I was more of a casual fan. I was excited for 2012 and 2013 defensive units but not to this level. I thought Talib was a very good CB but I didn't have confidence in him being on the field. Having Revis is a game changer.

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Brady6--just for a point of reference to see how insanely dominating the 2003 defense was, (and 2004 as well), look no further than to the secondary:

2003 secondary--- #1 ranking vs pass----INSANE 11 TD passes allowed vs 29 INTs (according to a tweet from C.Price today)

2003 defense---allowed 14.9 points per game (1st in the NFL)

Won 15 straight and 17/18 to close the season

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2004 defense---allowed 16.2 points per game (2nd in the NFL)

Turnovers caused in EVERY game, with 16/19 games having 2+. Just to put the whole turnover aspect into a proper perspective, our defense caused 3+ turnovers in almost 50% of the games, including postseason (9/19).

The total number of turnovers in the postseason was 11:

3 vs IND
4 at PIT
4 in SB vs PHI

another 17-2 season with 11 of last 12 victories

supafly said:

Brady6--just for a point of reference to see how insanely dominating the 2003 defense was, (and 2004 as well), look no further than to the secondary:

2003 secondary--- #1 ranking vs pass----INSANE 11 TD passes allowed vs 29 INTs (according to a tweet from C.Price today)

2003 defense---allowed 14.9 points per game (1st in the NFL)

Won 15 straight and 17/18 to close the season

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2004 defense---allowed 16.2 points per game (2nd in the NFL)

Turnovers caused in EVERY game, with 16/19 games having 2+. Just to put the whole turnover aspect into a proper perspective, our defense caused 3+ turnovers in almost 50% of the games, including postseason (9/19).

The total number of turnovers in the postseason was 11:

3 vs IND
4 at PIT
4 in SB vs PHI

another 17-2 season with 11 of last 12 victories

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That 03 secondary was something else.

Ty Law and Rodney Harrison had some epic games. A rookie Eugene Wilson looked like he was at the time going to be, at the very least, a damn good Safety, if not a future pro bowler, that could lay the wood. A mini RH. Another rookie Asante Samuel, had some key INT's. And Tyroone Poole, who had a career year that year, and was an absolute stud.

And to think a week before that season started, BB cut Milloy and everyone thought the secondary was gonna fall apart, than week 2, Colvin goes out with a freaky injury against Philly ...

Man I know everyone has a special spot for the 2001 SB team, as they should, but that 2003 team was by far my favorite. The way they bounced back from that week 1 thrashing, and then repaying Buffalo, by thrashing them the
Last week with the same score, every game that went down to the wire, you knew at the end of the game, we were going to make that one play to win the game. The Tennessee OT game, where Bradys arm was completely bruised, the Troy Brown OT win at Miami, 9-0 Sunday night game vs Dallas, the 4th and goal vs Indy. All the playoff and SB game was epic!!

BradyFTW! said:

Well damn. I wonder what that means for Hightower; I really, really don't want to watch another season of him getting thoroughly beaten in coverage.

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Well get used to it. Unfortunately, Hightower is going to be asked to cover at points in time when he is on the field. That's an automatic win for the offense. The good news is that if the Pats are lining up in the nickel the majority of the time, as I expect them to, Hightower more than likely won't be on the field.

Video from 2014 Patriots Camp Day 1

It's not exactly Patriots T.C. news, but it is about a player people had talked about in connection with the Patriots, so....

With Houston's camp opening today, Texans WR Andre Johnson reported to team this morning and already is in its training facility.

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https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/492638757607051265

Here's a little preview of Day 2...

http://www.boston.com/sports/footba...training_camp_day_2_of_practice_schedule.html

The Patriots will not be in pads. The team will go through drills and team exercises as well as run through plays like they did on Thursday. Fans will again get the opportunity to get autographs after the practice is over.

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FlyboyPatsFan said:

Video from 2014 Patriots Camp Day 1

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Much appreciated, as always.

KontradictioN said:

Much appreciated, as always.

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Except, of course, that that's 44 minutes, 32 seconds of my life that could have been spent doing what I ought to be doing ...

BradyFTW! said:

Well damn. I wonder what that means for Hightower; I really, really don't want to watch another season of him getting thoroughly beaten in coverage.

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I bet on passing downs he will playing DE as much as he is playing LB. Possibly more. I have a feeling he might be part of the rotation at DE and might be the first guy in the line up when either Nink or Chandler come out of the game or Chandler gets kicked inside.

KontradictioN said:

Well get used to it. Unfortunately, Hightower is going to be asked to cover at points in time when he is on the field. That's an automatic win for the offense. The good news is that if the Pats are lining up in the nickel the majority of the time, as I expect them to, Hightower more than likely won't be on the field.

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In fairness though, Hightower a pretty good zone coverage guy. It's when he plays man he struggles.

When the game is infront of Hightower, he's a damn good player.

@RapSheet: Wow. Strong RT @JumboHart: Belichick on Mayo "really the guy the team revolves around more than any other ... Not just the defensive guys."

@MikeReiss: Bill Belichick on WR Kenbrell Thompkins, who made a few notable plays in 1st training camp practice: "One of our hardest working kids."

patsinthesnow said:

@RapSheet: Wow. Strong RT @JumboHart: Belichick on Mayo "really the guy the team revolves around more than any other ... Not just the defensive guys."

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His loss really had a ripple effect throughout the defense I think. It will be good to have him back.

AzorianPats said:

In fairness though, Hightower a pretty good zone coverage guy. It's when he plays man he struggles.

When the game is in front of Hightower, he's a damn good player.

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People on this board expect that every Patriot player should be perfect on every play. A LB gets isolated on a RB, and the offense will normally complete that pass. Every team does it every week against every LB. Do it against a Patriot and that LB sucks and we get stupid comments like "automatic win for the offense'. I would bet that Hightowers man caught a pass on less than 10% of the plays he was in coverage last season. Yet we get such asinine comments anyway by people trying to look smarter than they are.

Rob0729 said:

I bet on passing downs he will playing DE as much as he is playing LB. Possibly more. I have a feeling he might be part of the rotation at DE and might be the first guy in the line up when either Nink or Chandler come out of the game or Chandler gets kicked inside.

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I hope so. I don't think we'll be playing a whole lot of zone with this defense this year (as compared to previous years) given the signings in the secondary unless Bill suddenly turns into Schiano and goes full ******. My preference for a long time now has been to kick him down to DE and toss him into the rotation. I think that's where his best fit will be. I just hope we don't see TE's making a living against our LB's any more this season.

AzorianPats said:

In fairness though, Hightower a pretty good zone coverage guy. It's when he plays man he struggles.

When the game is infront of Hightower, he's a damn good player.

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With their personnel, the only way this team should be playing a lot of zone this year would be in the event of injuries. And Hightower is not that good in zone, either. He is what he is. A good, downhill, run stuffing LB. Covering TE's does not play to his strengths at all.

By the way, there's a new Tritonia out. I didn't share it but highly recommend giving it a listen.

I would love seeing Hightower play some DE this season.

For those that are worried about Hightower in coverage, first this team runs a ton of nickel which = Collins and Mayo or Anderson out there and even if Hightower is left to cover he's certainly better than Spikes so I'm not complaining.

I love this LB corps. Love it.

patfanken said:

OK B6 I need to know how you drew your board. Is it an ap, or something you have to buy? Let me know please. You don't know how long I have wished to have this ability.

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Ken I did not actually draw it; this is from an article a few years back about Wilfork and what he allows the Patriots to do. I would love to be able to draw the board as well, I am not sure of how, if you figure it out let me know, and I will do the same.

AzorianPats said:

In fairness though, Hightower a pretty good zone coverage guy. It's when he plays man he struggles.

When the game is infront of Hightower, he's a damn good player.

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Just to follow up on this, in late 2013, opposing quarterbacks were 21/39 199 yards and a TD when Hightower was in coverage. In fairness, a good portion of that had to do with the fact that he was playing in Mayo's position. But, as a LB, whether it's on the strong side or the weak side, he's going to be asked to cover. Again, that's a win for the offense. As a run-stuffing Sam LB, Hightower excels. That's what his skill set is. He's also capable of driving his man into the backfield on a bull rush and getting to the quarterback on a blitz. Again, his skill set allows him to excel there. His skill set does not include coverage, unfortunately. Whether it's zone or man, he's just not who you would want covering a TE and definitely not the guy you would want covering a RB. His coverage deficiencies are among the main reasons why offenses have been able to complete passes between the numbers against us with alarming regularity since the beginning of the 2012 season. I think the Pats should experiment with him more as a DE. He can play LB in a pinch in case of injuries, but I think he'd be more effective with his hand in the dirt.

Ben Volin @BenVolin · 13 Min.
Offensive players have to run a lap for a false start or fumble. Victims so far: Mankins, Garoppolo, Bolden. Bronx cheers from the fans

Doug Kyed@DougKyedNESN · 1h
Dobson, Slater, Dennard, Deontae Skinner, Easley, Jeremy Gallon and Tommy Kelly present at Fri training camp practice but not in uniform.

Doug Kyed@DougKyedNESN · 24m
#Patriots CB Jemea Thomas and OL Chris Martin are the only players not spotted at Day 2 of training camp.