7/26- the late report

Sorry not to have posted this earlier, but this is the first chance I've had to get to my lap top today. I'll try not to repeat too much of what has already been written.

1. You had to get there early to get a seat this morning. It sucks waiting around for a couple of hours before something meaningful happens

2. Gronk moved the needle just a bit by not only doing full speed work in individual drills, but also getting a few reps in group drills in the running game before he was again shut down,

3. I would characterize the practices more as "thud" than full contact

4. I heard Kelly was out there as well, though I didn't notice him.

5. I had a chance to watch Buchanon take on some TE's and OT's in group run D. He looked like he set the edge much better than he did last season. For a tall guy he plays with great knee bend and leverage

6. Last year's starting OL (Solder, Mankins Wendell, Connolly and Volmer) was back in place for the most part. TWilson worked the majority of time as the starting "other safety" and looked sharp, decisive and quick. Harmon and Chung got snaps with McCourty as well as practice wore on.

7. Saw Vince getting his hand taped during practice but it didn't seem to slow him down much. Still waiting for him to start skipping and hopping in warm ups. Chandler Jones (who usually runs next to Vince) is a BIG skipper and hopper, btw,

8. When the OL and DL broke off to do some one on one drills in the far field, DAMNED Bill if he didn't have 7-7 drills going on right in front of us. It was like he dared me to focus on the lines instead of all the action. I failed. Its hard not to take every opportunity to watch the receivers go up against this pass defense. NOTHING was easy. I will try to do better tomorrow.

9. If you want to know why Wendell is currently the starter, I suggest you watch him closely when the Pats are running the ball. He is by far the quickest and most explosive offensive lineman off the ball. Its a rare skill. In this respect he reminds me of the old Dolphin great C, (Stephenson IIRC) who was also smaller but incredibly quick off the ball. I'm sure Wendell isn't THAT quick, but you get the idea.

There are going to be certain DLmen who are going to give Wendell a problem in pass protection. I think the Pats will be OK if they plan accordingly. You can't win every match up going into a game. Stork hasn't shown anything special enough to think he's going to be a day one starter, though its still very early.

10, I find it amazing that while I was walking out 2 minutes after the practice was over, I over heard some guys walking alongside of me and one was checking out his phone and relating all the completion rates of Brady, Mallett, and Garapolo in different drills. It was like instantaneously.

I'll be there tomorrow as well. I hope I can concentrate better and be more informative. So much to see.

BTW- Joker I usually sit in the bleachers about half way down on the top row. Look for the old skin head with the Binocs and the NYFD hat. I would to have a chance to chat with you or anyone here who will be going

In the other thread, Joker said Connolly started at C and Cannon at RG...

That's what I saw on Friday and assumed (making an ass of me) that I was looking at the same set from a distance. It was Wendell and Halapio in the 7's and 11's.

"The center and right guard spot battles are ongoing. Friday, Dan Connolly (center) and Josh Kline (right guard) had a majority of the snaps. Saturday was a different story. Ryan Wendell returned to center with rookie Jon Halapio seeing some action at right guard. It’s the NFL version of musical chairs, only so many spots available. Wendell and Connolly might be fighting for one spot with all of the young lineman on the current roster."

The best writeup comes from our own site right here, done by Derek..
http://www.patsfans.com/blogs/derek...-camp-observations-72614/?sc=rss#.U9R4trHSQcE

Hell, I thought Cannon was playing RG yesterday and it was Kline. I think it's the sets and mixing and matching up personnel here and there. I don't really watch the lines that closely as much as I try to zero in on the receivers.It's an old habit borne of attending so many camps.

Joker said:

That's what I saw on Friday and assumed (making an ass of me) that I was looking at the same set from a distance. It was Wendell and Halapio in the 7's and 11's.

"The center and right guard spot battles are ongoing. Friday, Dan Connolly (center) and Josh Kline (right guard) had a majority of the snaps. Saturday was a different story. Ryan Wendell returned to center with rookie Jon Halapio seeing some action at right guard. It’s the NFL version of musical chairs, only so many spots available. Wendell and Connolly might be fighting for one spot with all of the young lineman on the current roster."

The best writeup comes from our own site right here, done by Derek..
http://www.patsfans.com/blogs/derek...-camp-observations-72614/?sc=rss#.U9R4trHSQcE

Hell, I thought Cannon was playing RG yesterday and it was Kline. I think it's the sets and mixing and matching up personnel here and there. I don't really watch the lines that closely as much as I try to zero in on the receivers.It's an old habit borne of attending so many camps.

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Its very hard most of the time to know who is who. The OL/DL both do most of the individual and group work on the far reaches of the field where even with Binocs it can be hard to follow what's going on.

I took the trouble to focus on who was getting the first looks at every group drill. Friday it was Connolly and Kline, yesterday it was Wendell and Connolly.

You know me, Joker, I am still holding out hope that Cannon will get a good look at RG this summer. Maybe tomorrow.

patfanken said:

Its very hard most of the time to know who is who. The OL/DL both do most of the individual and group work on the far reaches of the field where even with Binocs it can be hard to follow what's going on.

I took the trouble to focus on who was getting the first looks at every group drill. Friday it was Connolly and Kline, yesterday it was Wendell and Connolly.

You know me, Joker, I am still holding out hope that Cannon will get a good look at RG this summer. Maybe tomorrow.

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Honestly, we'll probably need to wait until the first preseason game to have any idea what the "grand scheme" looks like. They're probably going to try every possible combination as "first team" in TC, if such a thing even exists most of the time.

I hope you attend ,Ken. I'm still wired from yesterday. Doubt I'll get enough sleep to make it there before 11. I will probably relax tomorrow and see what Tuesday brings.

I'd love to be there. I had hoped to get at least 2-3 days of TC this year, but alas, fate intervened. I'm a single parent of a 16 year old daughter who has an interest in Gronk and some passing interest in the Patriots. She has NO interest in attending training camp.

I had tried like h3ll to find someone to stay with her, or even to let her stay with her mother, but to no avail. So thanks, fellows, for the write-ups, comments, and insights. I actually look forward to every word from folks who can make it there to see training camp up close and personal like.

I don't think a 16 year old needs to be watched unless you're worried about a boy sneakin over, get your ass out to camp!

There are going to be certain DLmen who are going to give Wendell a problem in pass protection

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There are also going to be times where a d-line stunt completely fools the o-line, caught in the wrong protection scheme. Everyone points to one of those blow through the line sacks where Brady takes a knee as an example of Wendell's poor play, but I suspect that sack was a bad protection call and Brady, recognizing that the play had no chance, just decided to live for another play. The other team gets paid, too and it's not all about winning or losing a physical matchup.

Thanks for posting these for junkies like me. I just can't read enough. Look forward to your future reports.

Does Buchnanon look like he's added some mass to his frame? I haven't read a word about Zach Moore.
Anyone notice him?

SacPete1 said:

Does Buchnanon look like he's added some mass to his frame? I haven't read a word about Zach Moore.
Anyone notice him?

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I can't tell about Buchanon gaining any mass. But during the drills he definitely held his own. As for more, I can't tell you much except he looks the part. I'll try and do more on him today. Opps I got to run.

strngplyr said:

I don't think a 16 year old needs to be watched unless you're worried about a boy sneakin over, get your ass out to camp!

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I'm more worried about someone breaking in. She knows how to handle a shotgun, so it's having to clean up the mess that I don't want to deal with.

But seriously, I'm not about to leave alone while I'm 5+ hours away. Sigh.

Gwedd said:

I'm more worried about someone breaking in. She knows how to handle a shotgun, so it's having to clean up the mess that I don't want to deal with.

But seriously, I'm not about to leave alone while I'm 5+ hours away. Sigh.

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I feel your pain, brother. I've been trying to schedule a trip down but family activities keep getting in the way. Plus with 4.5 hours round trip, you need to make sure there is not a chance of storms, if they move practice indoors the trip is for nothing. I'm targeting the 13th practice with the Eagles to make the trip down this year.