8/4 AM notes: Rapoport, Reiss, SMY, Hart, Perillo

[pats1]

BostonHerald.com - Blogs: Rap Sheet Blog Archive Mike Shanahan stops by for Patriots practice day number 6…

August 4th, 2009
Mike Shanahan stops by for Patriots practice day number 6…
Posted by Ian Rapoport at 11:31 am

Here’s what’s going on:
– Free agent quarterback Andrew Walter was in the house, looking very tall and wearing number 16. He battled some accuracy issues and appeared erratic, but it’s too early to judge anything definitive, like if Kevin O’Connell is happy… In one drill, 5 didn’t seem to take many reps.
– Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan made a cameo, looking very much like an ex-coach. He addressed the team before practice, and we’ll see if he’ll say anything after.
– During one portion of practice, Tom Brady, Walter, and the rest fo the QBs worked exclusively with Randy Moss and Joey Galloway in the red area. Continuing to build that rapport…

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Day 6, first Patriots practice - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

Day 6, first Patriots practice
Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff
August 4, 2009 12:44 PM

FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots held their morning practice in full pads (9:30-11:15), with the session getting off to a different type of start as Mike Shanahan briefly addressed the players.

Here are a few observations from the practice:

1) Eyes on Andrew Walter. This was the first practice for newly signed quarterback Andrew Walter and the first thing that stands out is his size. At 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, he looks like a basketball player. Walter rotated in for some reps behind Tom Brady. From my view, I thought he had the third-most reps of practice, behind Tom Brady and Brian Hoyer. Second-stringer Kevin O’Connell has had reduced reps of late. In one drill early in practice, receivers worked one-on-one against defensive backs on routes into the end zone, and Walter connected with former Raiders teammate Randy Moss in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Yet on the next rep, Walter was picked off by Terrence Wheatley on a delivery under the goal posts. Walter, who seemed to develop some early chemistry with tight end David Thomas, did not speak to reporters after practice.

2) Offense is fired up at end of practice. The practice ended with a lot of energy, as Bill Belichick gave the offense and defense some added motivation. With the ball at what looked like the 5 yard line, the offense had one chance to punch it in. If the offense scored, the defense had to run a lap. If the defense stopped them, the offense had to run a lap. With rookie quarterback Brian Hoyer at the controls, he found Joey Galloway at the goal-line, after Galloway ran at Jerod Mayo and then cut to his right where the throw was delivered on time. Hoyer sprinted up to Galloway to celebrate and the offense was really ribbing the defense, led by Tom Brady.

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Camp session #11 -- attendance and notes - Projo Pats Blog

Camp session #11 -- attendance and notes
12:08 PM Tue, Aug 04, 2009
By Shalise Manza Young

Randy Moss took in his second morning practice out of six today, so the roster of who was missing is pretty familiar:

DE Richard Seymour
CB Shawn Springs
TE Benjamin Watson
CB Jonathan Wilhite
LB Tedy Bruschi
DE Jarvis Green
DE Le Kevin Smith
DL Myron Pryor
OL Mark LeVoir
OL Ryan O'Callaghan
OL George Bussey

Those are, of course, in addition to the PUP and NFI players.

* The Patriots had a visitor today: former Denver coach Mike Shanahan, whom Bill Belichick has a great deal of respect for, was on the sidelines and took in the session. As the players huddled up before practice got underway, Belichick called Shanahan into the huddle to address the players. Shanahan, who has said that he will be coaching in 2010, also spent time chatting with Floyd Reese and Robert Kraft.

* Andrew Walter was on the field, and was wearing number 16, which means Shun White is now wearing number 15. Walter got in a few reps, and his first pass of camp went to new/old teammate Moss -- the two played together in Oakland. Walter definitely has a good arm, but obviously he only got his playbook yesterday, so he has a lot to digest in a short amount of time.

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http://blog.pfwonline.com/?p=2082

From the Hart: Tuesday morning notes
Written by Andy Hart on August 4, 2009 – 12:59 pm

The Patriots just left the field following the 11 practice of training camp, Tuesday morning’s full-pads session under cloudy skies on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium. The workout displayed plenty of reps for the newest Patriot, quarterback Andrew Walter. Wearing Matt Cassel’s old No. 16 jersey, Walter got plenty of work in group and team drills.

Beyond that – here’s one man’s observations for the morning session:

–Those players not spotted on the field for the morning workout included Jonathan Wilhite, Shawn Springs, Tedy Bruschi, Al Johnson, George “Bus” Bussey, Ryan O’Callaghan, Benjamin Watson, Le Kevin Smith, Myron Pryor, Richard Seymour and Jarvis Green. Also missing were Brandon Tate (NFI), Tyrone McKenzie (injured, unsigned) and PUP guys Rich Ohrnberger, Mark LeVoir, Darryl Richard, Ty Warren and Shawn Crable.

–Randy Moss took part in just his second morning practice of camp. He look his usual smooth, impressive self. Moss also caught a few throws from his former staring QB with the Raiders, Walter.

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http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=generalnewsdetail&pid=38167

8/4/09
Walter on board; Tuesday morning notes
By Paul Perillo, Patriots Football Weekly

The Patriots made a move at quarterback Moday night, but it wasn't involving any of the passers rumored to be coming in. Andrew Walter, the former Oakland Raider, replaced Matt Gutierrez on the team's depth chart instead.

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Who’s hot: Brian Hoyer – The undrafted rookie free agent quarterback has seen his workload increase in recent days and he’s dine well with them. While he doesn’t possess the strongest arm, his passes are generally accurate and arrive on time. Gutierrez’s release has to be perceived as a good sign for the former Spartan.

Who’s not: Paris Lenon – Lenon is a tackling machine so it might be tough on him during camp when players aren’t allowed to actually bring down the ball carrier, but the linebacker has had trouble getting off blocks in 9-on-7 drills and hasn’t made much of an impact early on.

Play of the day – The aforementioned two-point conversion play wasn’t the prettiest we’ve seen so far, but it was important. Hoyer made a nice through in traffic, and even though the ball was slightly behind Galloway, the veteran reached back and made a nice grab to create one of the first moments of emotion we’ve seen in camp.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

"Who’s hot: Brian Hoyer – The undrafted rookie free agent quarterback has seen his workload increase in recent days and he’s dine well with them. While he doesn’t possess the strongest arm, his passes are generally accurate and arrive on time."

Perillo must have missed yestarday's PM session. Hoyer was absolutely atrocious. OK, his receivers weren't helping him either. That said, one or two bad sessions does not make a camp.

 

[apple strudel]

I was pleased to read that Maroney smoked Mayo in one on ones. I doubt that'll do anything to help cut him some slack on this board, though.

Fred Taylor also appears to be looking good.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I was pleased to read that Maroney smoked Mayo in one on ones.

Whoa! Mayo a one year wonder???

(Insert smiley here for the impaired)

 

[PatsBoy12]

Every report thus far has talked about Lenon's failure to excel in any form. That's a bit discouraging.