Training Camp Thread 8/8/15

Injuries are a part of the game, one of the reasons Pats outperform the league is building back of the roster depth. This just helps give those bubble players more live reps. Also, helps to winnow the roster down. We have so many good receivers that they can't all make the roster. IR might redshirt one or two and help solve the question of who gets cut.

WR receptions through nine practices according to Jeff Howe:

Receptions from Brady passes: Amendola: 26 Gronkowski: 21 Boyce: 19 Edelman: 15 Gibson: 15 Chandler: 14 White: 11 Bolden: 10 Dobson: 10

Jeff Howe:

Practice observations: Tom Brady runs for 60-yard TD, Jimmy Garoppolo completes pass to himself

Click to expand...

They took away our unbalanced line so BB comes up with a new all-QB kink to scupper the Ravens and Colts.

I will take 15 non season ending injuries which may nag for a few weeks over 3 of our premier players going down with torn ACLS every time

Especially this early in the season

manxman2601 said:

WR receptions through nine practices according to Jeff Howe:

Receptions from Brady passes: Amendola: 26 Gronkowski: 21 Boyce: 19 Edelman: 15 Gibson: 15 Chandler: 14 White: 11 Bolden: 10 Dobson: 10

Click to expand...

Damn, that's a ton of passes to Boyce. Maybe he can actually make a move this year if he can put the pieces together.

Also interesting to see White and Bolden about even in receptions. IMO, Bolden wouldn't be the worst thing in the world as a 3rd down back/change of pace back. He's not Vereen, but he would at least be dependable.

Ross12 said:

Damn, that's a ton of passes to Boyce. Maybe he can actually make a move this year if he can put the pieces together.

Also interesting to see White and Bolden about even in receptions. IMO, Bolden wouldn't be the worst thing in the world as a 3rd down back/change of pace back. He's not Vereen, but he would at least be dependable.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure Boyce is good enough only as a WR to make the team. I'd like to see him returning kicks this pre-season. If he can do that, might be enough to make the squad. Don't want to risk Amendola to injury. I think Boyce is best with the ball in his hands. In addition to the kick-offs, I'd like to see some quick screens to him that are like laterals.

patsfaninpa said:

I'm not sure Boyce is good enough only as a WR to make the team. I'd like to see him returning kicks this pre-season. If he can do that, might be enough to make the squad. Don't want to risk Amendola to injury. I think Boyce is best with the ball in his hands. In addition to the kick-offs, I'd like to see some quick screens to him that are like laterals.

Click to expand...

IIRC I think the Pats ran a few screens to him in his rookie season, late in the year. So I believe they think the same thing about him. He could be a pretty good KR... What the hell, let's try him as the third down back!

Mike Loyko ‏@NEPD_Loyko 8s8 seconds ago

According to @DraftDiamonds DT Casey Walker is on a plane headed back to Boston. Expectation is he'll be a #Patriots again.

Click to expand...

Guy had some skills in brief first appearance.

Mack Herron said:

Guy had some skills in brief first appearance.

Click to expand...

I wonder why he is coming back though. Maybe they are preparing to move on from Branch? I don't get the feeling the injuries to DT are serious.

Are there any openings on the roster ATM??

Wikipedia says Walker is a member of the Ravens? Did they cut him since signing him off the Pats' practice squad last year?

Edit: I Volin'ed my question and see that yes, they have cut him recently.

Some interesting tidbits from Reiss that interest me:

A few hours after Belichick mentioned that undrafted rookie Chris Harper(Cal) has shown the ability to return punts, Harper drew a reaction from the crowd on one return with a sharp cut and explosion to the sideline.

Click to expand...

Really interested in Harper, as I think he has real talent and just needs to put it all together, kind of like Boyce. Working him at punt returner makes sense, and I like seeing terms like "explosion"...

With Stork not practicing at center, undrafted rookie David Andrews and third-year man Josh Kline split reps. Andrews, of Georgia, hasn't looked out of place.

Click to expand...

Interesting to see Kline getting work at center. And also nice to hear Andrews looks good, he seemed like one of the better UDFA signings.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-england...adet-joins-growing-list-of-banged-up-patriots

Ross12 said:

Edit: I Volin'ed my question and see that yes, they have cut him recently.

Click to expand...

Wait, does that mean you made a wrong assumption or just came up with the wrong answer?

Danger Zone said:

Wait, does that mean you made a wrong assumption or just came up with the wrong answer?

Click to expand...

Means I used Google and looked at the first/simplest answer.

patsfaninpa said:

I'm not sure Boyce is good enough only as a WR to make the team. I'd like to see him returning kicks this pre-season. If he can do that, might be enough to make the squad. Don't want to risk Amendola to injury. I think Boyce is best with the ball in his hands. In addition to the kick-offs, I'd like to see some quick screens to him that are like laterals.

Click to expand...

He needs to be active to return kicks. Amendola will probably return kicks unless they can get Boyce active for the game. In a perfect world we cut Boyce then resign him to the practice squad until we need to promote him.

Ross12 said:

Damn, that's a ton of passes to Boyce. Maybe he can actually make a move this year if he can put the pieces together.

Also interesting to see White and Bolden about even in receptions. IMO, Bolden wouldn't be the worst thing in the world as a 3rd down back/change of pace back. He's not Vereen, but he would at least be dependable.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree. I think we could do worse, that's for sure.

FWIW--in 2013, Bolden snagged 21 passes on 29 attempts to him. He's at least serviceable.

supafly said:

Yeah, I agree. I think we could do worse, that's for sure.

FWIW--in 2013, Bolden snagged 21 passes on 29 attempts to him. He's at least serviceable.

Click to expand...

Could have been 22 catches with a receiving TD if he didn't quit on the route.

supafly said:

Yeah, I agree. I think we could do worse, that's for sure.

FWIW--in 2013, Bolden snagged 21 passes on 29 attempts to him. He's at least serviceable.

Click to expand...

I also think that his performance would increase if he knew he was the starter in that role, vs. being Vereen's backup last year. Knowing he was the top guy might motivate him to improve his routes, hands, etc just a little bit more.

That said, I would definitely prefer White, Cadet or Lewis to win out. Hopefully Cadet's injury isn't bad. I haven't really seen anything on Lewis outside of one tweet last week.

Ross12 said:

IIRC I think the Pats ran a few screens to him in his rookie season, late in the year. So I believe they think the same thing about him. He could be a pretty good KR... What the hell, let's try him as the third down back!

Click to expand...

I said that about Boyce in his rookie year. He'll make plays if you get the ball in his hands.