Brady in town; will lead workouts

[Patspsycho]

A couple more interesting tidbits from Mike Reiss:

2. It was easy to see how impressed quarterback Tom Brady was that first-round draft choice Nate Solder stuck around this week to attend his Best Buddies charity football game Friday night. Solder was the only rookie there. The scouting report on Solder is that he "gets it" off the field and he made a strong first impression on Brady.

3. I was surprised at how many reps rookie quarterback Ryan Mallett took in Friday's informal workout. After one of them, in which it looked like he tried to force the ball into a tight spot, he clapped his hands together in frustration and the offense hit the turf for push-ups. While that one play didn't go his way, he certainly looked comfortable in the professional football environment.

6. Saw a lot of Eric Moore at outside linebacker in 7 on 7 drills during informal workouts at Boston College. Moore was signed Dec. 3, 2010, flashed a bit with the pass rush, and ended up starting the team's playoff loss to the Jets. The team's need for an improved pass rush has been dissected this offseason and perhaps more of Moore is part of the plan.

7. When I watched receiver Julian Edelman, I sensed that his hard work this offseason, coupled with some time spent with Tom Brady, has given him even more confidence. I also noticed that offensive tackle Steve Maneri, who the Patriots claimed on waivers from the Texans last September and later placed on the practice squad, looked noticeably bigger in his upper body.


10. Watching veteran running back Kevin Faulk go through informal workouts with the Patriots, it's hard to imagine he won't be re-signed when free agency ultimately begins. His knowledge of the system, coupled with his willingness to be a mentor to rookies like Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley, adds to his value to the team. A spot on the final roster might not be a certainty, but at the start of training camp, it seems obvious that the Patriots are a better team with Faulk around.

Quick-hit thoughts around NFL & Pats - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[convertedpatsfan]

A couple more interesting tidbits from Mike Reiss:



Quick-hit thoughts around NFL & Pats - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

I just posted point 2 in another thread. Nice timing

If Maneri is developing, Light's time with the team may be coming to a close. Then again, not sure what the open market holds for him since the draft is done and most teams addressed their tackle needs in the draft.

I wonder if Faulk will be back. Would love to have him for one more year to mentor the kids but not sure about the roster spot. Hopefully they will expand rosters.

 

[JoeSixPat]

The height difference doesn't show up that much but i'm also talking about his overall size...he doesn't look very bulky even when compared to Brady.

I think he will definately need to add some muscle to handle the more powerful rushers in the league

There may have been some slight embellishment on Solder's reported 6'8" 312 lbs - but when you're that tall you're not going to look like you weigh 300 lbs - especially standing next to a QB who is nearly 6'5" himself

Beyond that there's a paradigm shift when it comes to offensive linemen in the NFL - or at least for Belichick. The squat heavy guys of yesteryear are out - taller guys who have mass in healthier proportions who can use their height as leverage and maintain high energy the entire game are in

I'm sure you're correct that once the lockout is over the Pats training staff will have some molding to do with Solder but overall he fits the Belichickian OL profile already

 

[Patspsycho]

From WEEI:

It Is What It Is » Patriots go through a second day of players-only workouts at Boston College

During the workout, which was held in T-shirts and shorts, the following offensive players were spotted (with help from colleagues Jeff Howe, Ian Rapaport, Tom E. Curran and Greg Bedard): quarterbacks Tom Brady and Brian Hoyer; wide receivers Julian Edelman, Wes Welker, Buddy Farnham, Taylor Price, Darnell Jenkins and Deion Branch; running backs Thomas Clayton, Danny Woodhead, Kevin Faulk and BenJarvus Green-Ellis; offensive linemen Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell, Steve Maneri, Dan Koppen, Sebastian Vollmer, Rich Ohrnberger and Mark LeVoir; and tight end Rob Gronkowski.

We also saw the following defensive players at Thursday’s workout: defensive linemen Vince Wilfork, Kade Weston, Kyle Love, Mike Wright and Brandon Deaderick, cornerbacks Devin McCourty and Darius Butler; defensive back Matthew Slater; safeties Sergio Brown, Brandon Meriweather, Bret Lockett and Ross Ventrone; linebackers Dane Fletcher, Gary Guyton, Jerod Mayo, Rob Ninkovich and Jermaine Cunningham.

In addition, plenty of rookies were in attendance: offensive lineman Nate Solder, cornerback Ras-I Dowling, defensive back Malcolm Williams, running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen, linebacker Markell Carter and quarterback Ryan Mallett.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The squat heavy guys of yesteryear are out - taller guys who have mass in healthier proportions who can use their height as leverage and maintain high energy the entire game are in

And then you have Marcus Cannon. . . . 6'5" 358

 

[randomk1]

And then you have Marcus Cannon. . . . 6'5" 358

Cannon looks pretty athletic for his size though...it's not like he is some giant slob.

 

[JoeSixPat]

And then you have Marcus Cannon. . . . 6'5" 358

Take a look at some of the video on this guy and you won't believe he weighs that much.

But Cannon's a bit of a freak like that. He looks like he doesn't fit the mold but his speed and athleticism make up for the weight - and allow him to use that weight for his advantage.

I'm mainly thinking of the potential guys on the outside - Vollmer and Solder, ultimately.

 

[BlueThunder]

With all these behemoths playing on the OL...how will any defense even SEE Woody coming thru the line? :singing:

 

[Patspsycho]

Not much, but still something:

per Christopher price of WEEI:

The rookies who showed up for the players-only practices at Boston College built up some currency with their veteran counterparts.


This rookie class was put into an unenviable position: even though you’re unsigned, show up for the players’ workouts and run the risk of an injury, which could threaten your professional career before it even got started. Or, don’t show and take a chance alienating your veteran brethren. It’s not known why some of the first-year players showed and some didn’t, but the ones who were in attendance not only got a brief taste of NFL life, they also managed to impress the veterans. Based on everything they have already missed out on, there should be diminished expectations for this year’s rookie class, at least early on. But the fact they were there (and the fact that top pick Nate Solder showed up on Friday at Brady’s charity game) will go a long way in the locker room when/if training camp rolls around in July.


This is shaping up to be quite a year for Jerod Mayo.


The transformation of Jerod Mayo has been fascinating to watch since he arrived in the spring of 2008. In three seasons, Mayo has gone from deferential rookie to absolutely irreplaceable veteran, and based on his growth, it's clear he is now poised to enter that rarified air inhabited by middle/inside linebackers like Ray Lewis. (In fact, the only thing that might hold him back from making him a true household name across the NFL is the fact that he has zero interest in anything other than football — and that includes things like off-the-field endorsement opportunities.)


But it's not just the on-field numbers that will make Mayo a truly special talent. He has served as captain before, but now it appears that now his transformation into full-on leader is complete, at least from what we witnessed this week. He was the guy running the show when the players were getting together in the area for the last month for workouts, and peeking between the bars this week at Boston College, there was no doubt as to who was running the defensive drills — Mayo was calling out signals, telling people where to be and unafraid to shout out directions. Veterans like Vince Wilfork were deferential to the linebacker. At one point, when there was a defensive breakdown, he instructed some teammates to drop down to the ground for pushups. It’s early in the process, but it certainly appears that Mayo has evolved into the lead voice for the New England defense in 2011.

patriots - Five Things We Learned This Week: Tom Brady looks like he's ready to roll - WEEI | Christopher Price

 

[ctpatsfan77]

With all these behemoths playing on the OL...how will any defense even SEE Woody coming thru the line? :singing:

Cannon—Vollmer—Smith—Crumpler—GRONK

Woodhead​

 

[BlueThunder]

Cannon—Vollmer—Smith—Crumpler—GRONK

Woodhead​

EGGSACTLEE :rocker:

And SOLDER may even find a spot there

 

[randomk1]

EGGSACTLEE :rocker:

And SOLDER may even find a spot there

If Cannon lives up to his value and our future O-line is Vollmer,Solder,Cannon,Mankins,X + Gronk,Smith....that has to be one of the biggest lines in the game.

 

[BradyManny]

I take it the minicamp is over and these guys aren't practicing today? It seems they are mirroring the schedule of actual OTAs, so you have to wonder if they get back together when TC should be starting.

 

[Patspsycho]

Not much to digest, but still better than nothing:

Gronkowski undeterred by lockout - Bills & NFL - The Buffalo News