Thoughts going into TC

shmessy said:

BTW, the rumors about Kazcur and immaturity issues? I hadn't heard about that. Is that coming from a credible source?

Click to expand...

Per Boston Hearld: Page is down right now so heres a USA Today article linking to the site when it comes up later Link of Kaczur "cut"

Patriots offensive tackle Nick Kaczur could be a surprise cut out of training camp, according to the Boston Herald.

Kaczur has struggled to stay healthy in his first two years and the Pats are high on second-year OT Ryan O'Callaghan. There are reportedly "whispers" in Foxborough that the team is disappointed in Kaczur's work ethic and focus.

Click to expand...

shmessy said:

BTW, the rumors about Kazcur and immaturity issues? I hadn't heard about that. Is that coming from a credible source?

Click to expand...

The one I can definitely pinpoint is Felger saying that was more to do with why Kaczur was out in the playoff game vs. Denver in 2005. Credible ? You pick IIRC, Tomase also said it this offseason - again, you can judge the credibility for yourself

BelichickFan said:

The one I can definitely pinpoint is Felger saying that was more to do with why Kaczur was out in the playoff game vs. Denver in 2005. Credible ? You pick IIRC, Tomase also said it this offseason - again, you can judge the credibility for yourself

Click to expand...

Tomase can be um reliable AT TIMES.

Felger though is more believeable despite his rampages he goes on from time to time.

patfanken said:

That means Washington or Gaffney are on the bubble. I don't see a trade since other teams know that one will go, and can just wait until the cut is made.

Click to expand...

I see a trade. We aren't talking about a lot in return, just some second day pick, and it doesn't really matter if a team knows we're cutting a guy - by trading for him they get him as opposed to waiting for him to be released and being one of a possible thirty one interested parties.

patfanken said:

This is the best WR corps in Pats history...by far. However we should note that it is also a very NEW group and we won't see the real benefits of the talent assembled until AT LEAST December.

Click to expand...

It had better be WAY before December. This isn't rocket science, it's football. Moss, Stallworth, Welker are veterans and Brady has more experience now in working new WR in. Plus he's gonna have a much better frame of mind about it that last year when his pal was traded.

Gabriel and Gaffney weren't even on the opening day roster last year - this year everyone was here by April or earlier. You can lower you expectations if you want - not me.

SeanBruschi54 said:

Per Boston Hearld: Page is down right now so heres a USA Today article linking to the site when it comes up later Link of Kaczur "cut"

Click to expand...

Wow. Thanks. This is the first I heard about that.

I do remember during his first year, there was a mini feature on him being sort of a free-spirit, biker-dude.

That's too bad if it is lessening his focus.

I agree that Brady developes chemistry early and having Moss, Stallworth and Welker there ahead of time in non-mandatory camps helps way to much to even comprehend.

This team should show cohesiveness by week 2 or 3 the absolute latest.

shmessy said:

Wow. Thanks. This is the first I heard about that.

I do remember during his first year, there was a mini feature on him being sort of a free-spirit, biker-dude.

That's too bad if it is lessening his focus.

Click to expand...

Thats a couple months old too. So they had figured he might be a goner and drafted a few OL to sort of replace him. Notice how two of them were big tackles.

shmessy said:

Wow. Thanks. This is the first I heard about that.

Click to expand...

If you want a toally unreliable source , there was a poster on KFFL who said he talked to one of Kaczur's friends who . . . well you can read it for yourself here :

http://www.kffl.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3510563&postcount=9

Totally unreliable - although the fact that the poster admitted he talked football with this girl instead of other options suggests he probably didn't make it up

SeanBruschi54 said:

-Sean

Click to expand...

Thanks for a great post. Here are some of my thoughts...

WR - Moss, Stallworth, Welker, Caldewell, and Gafney all make the initial cut with Jackson (and possibly Brown) on PUP. I'll leave an outside chance that Washington is kept as a 6th WR, but I am doubtful. I think the familiarity that Gaffney and Caldewell have with the offense will be very valuable at the beginning of the season. I could see them shining early while the others get progressively better and possibly one of the two traded as PUP approaches.

FB - I have been a big Mills fan from the beginning. I agree with those who see him breaking out.

LB - I see all the LBs have a more productive year with Thomas in the rotation. It wouldn't suprise me to see Woods, Alexander, or someone else begin to emerge the way TBC had last year. I don't think they will have the same opportunity in terms of starting or number of snaps though because of Thomas pickup and Seau being healthy.

Oline - I think those late draft picks were definitely fodder for the future. I don't know if we will see anyone traded unless they are damaged goods. Oline depth is important after all.

RB - I worry a bit about Maroney. I hope Sammy Morris can be an effective addition. A better passing game should help.

BelichickFan said:

If you want a toally unreliable source , there was a poster on KFFL who said he talked to one of Kaczur's friends who . . . well you can read it for yourself here :

http://www.kffl.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3510563&postcount=9

Totally unreliable - although the fact that the poster admitted he talked football with this girl instead of other options suggests he probably didn't make it up

Click to expand...

Thats pretty funny because i never remember reading that.

Damn Hippe Kaczur.

BelichickFan said:

I see a trade. We aren't talking about a lot in return, just some second day pick, and it doesn't really matter if a team knows we're cutting a guy - by trading for him they get him as opposed to waiting for him to be released and being one of a possible thirty one interested parties.


It had better be WAY before December. This isn't rocket science, it's football. Moss, Stallworth, Welker are veterans and Brady has more experience now in working new WR in. Plus he's gonna have a much better frame of mind about it that last year when his pal was traded.

Gabriel and Gaffney weren't even on the opening day roster last year - this year everyone was here by April or earlier. You can lower you expectations if you want - not me.

Click to expand...

I agree with you about Moss, Stallworth, Welker, etc. I think the fact that these guys are here participating in the offseason workouts and mini-camps, TC et al is going to be a HUGE benefit.

Like you said, Tom now has some experience in working in a few new WR's. That coupled with the fact that Moss, Stallworth, and Welker are heads above Gaffney and Caldwell in terms of talent and/or football IQ will help Brady and the WR's gel faster than we saw last year. Plus there isn't the distraction of Branch holdingout/leaving, times getting rough with Bridgett (?), along with everything else that happened last year.

I too have high expectations, especially seeing what Stallworth did last year in a new system, Welker working his butt off, and Moss, well, he's Randy freakin' Moss!

Add to that Caldwell or Gaffney's familiarity with Tom....

Man, my Patriots preseason hard-on is getting out of control!

Lloyd_Christmas said:

Thanks for a great post. Here are some of my thoughts...

WR - Moss, Stallworth, Welker, Caldewell, and Gafney all make the initial cut with Jackson (and possibly Brown) on PUP. I'll leave an outside chance that Washington is kept as a 6th WR, but I am doubtful. I think the familiarity that Gaffney and Caldewell have with the offense will be very valuable at the beginning of the season. I could see them shining early while the others get progressively better and possibly one of the two traded as PUP approaches.

FB - I have been a big Mills fan from the beginning. I agree with those who see him breaking out.

LB - I see all the LBs have a more productive year with Thomas in the rotation. It wouldn't suprise me to see Woods, Alexander, or someone else begin to emerge the way TBC had last year. I don't think they will have the same opportunity in terms of starting or number of snaps though because of Thomas pickup and Seau being healthy.

Oline - I think those late draft picks were definitely fodder for the future. I don't know if we will see anyone traded unless they are damaged goods. Oline depth is important after all.

RB - I worry a bit about Maroney. I hope Sammy Morris can be an effective addition. A better passing game should help.

Click to expand...

Thanks for reading.

I never really thought of Brown AND Jackson starting off on the PUP list but that is a distinct possibility.

I'm not that big into Alexander. I dont know what it is. It seems like he has the potential to play but never lives up to it. I for one would love to bring back Barry Gardner. Played very well and showed great signs in ST's. Coulndt hurt.

I think Morris helps out more than we know. We all saw Dillon the past two seasons and his almost dead leg speed. Morris is the same type of brusing back but with fresher legs. I think it can only help.

SeanBruschi54 said:

I for one would love to bring back Barry Gardner. Played very well and showed great signs in ST's. Coulndt hurt.

Click to expand...

Tell that to Barry Gardner.

37Harrison said:

Tell that to Barry Gardner.

Click to expand...

Ha Ha.

I honestly dont know if his leg has healed or not yet but he could be useful if healthy.

Running back could be something to keep an eye on. Right now it looks like

Maroney
Faulk
Morris
Evans (FB)

They might be interesting in carrying a fourth running back (possibly Hairston?) If that were to happen I would not be totally shocked if they dropped Evans and used Mills more as a blocking fullback. However if I had to bet I would say this does not happen.

zippo59 said:

Running back could be something to keep an eye on. Right now it looks like

Maroney
Faulk
Morris
Evans (FB)

They might be interesting in carrying a fourth running back (possibly Hairston?) If that were to happen I would not be totally shocked if they dropped Evans and used Mills more as a blocking fullback. However if I had to bet I would say this does not happen.

Click to expand...

I'd rather see Hairston put on the ps and give the extra slot to Mills who can be used as a FB or a TE.

Lloyd_Christmas said:

I'd rather see Hairston put on the ps and give the extra slot to Mills who can be used as a FB or a TE.

Click to expand...

I think Mills makes the team either way.

In reference to our defense, for as well as they played last year, I just feel like they can be between a little and significantly better (at least in some areas) than last year.

At linebacker AD does numerous things.First, due to injuries last year, not only were we down a regular starter (Seau), but it had a domino effect in that others were out of position consequently. With AD, Vrabel can move back to his strong side, contribute to run d by setting the hard edge. Whereas Colvin struggles to set the edge sometimes, he can now move back to his side and focus more on pass rushing. Depending on AD's supposed move inside, Bruschi can move back as well.

Finally, AD can play with his hand down in the 3 point stance. This allows us to change between 3-4 4-3 looks in a flash a la McGinest. If AD drops down to end, Seymour can play DT, or even AD can play inside sparingly.

Despite Ken's belief that SB54 was alone in liking Antwain Spann, I see two responses in the affirmative, make that three.

ditto on kaczur

shmessy said:

BTW, the rumors about Kazcur and immaturity issues? I hadn't heard about that. Is that coming from a credible source?

Click to expand...

the guy was 26 when they drafted him out of my 2nd-favorite school, toledo (wife went there - #1 is texas). heck, he's 28 now, older than koppen and mankins.
hadn't heard about any "immaturity" issues. and what, precisely, would those be?