Eckel back at practice

[DefenseRules]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

Practice report
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff January 9, 2008 01:19 PM
FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots are holding their afternoon practice inside the Dana-Farber Field House. The team is in short/sweatpants, shoulder pads and helmets, so this isn't a full-pads workout.

TE Stephen Spach and DB Antwain Spann were the lone players not present for the media-access portion of the practice, which included stretching and one set of warmup drills.

RB Kyle Eckel (stomach), who was not present for the media-access portion of Tuesday's practice, was back on the field.

 

[BelichickFan]

Sounds like we're seriously healthy other than the IRed guys. Good news on Eckel, we need as many ST guys as we can for the playoffs - this week especially.

 

[Mack Herron]

Agree that this is great news. Jags have some great ST players and Eckel has been terrific.

 

[Oswlek]

Agree that this is great news. Jags have some great ST players and Eckel has been terrific.

:agree:

Every time I watch a game replay, I see Eckel make a big play or two in special teams coverage. I will be very happy if he is active in this game.

 

[Julius]

Thank goodness we need someone to pick up garbage yards for the upcoming blow-out.

 

[NEPatriot]

healthy players = sure win for Pats.

 

[captain stone]

:agree:

Every time I watch a game replay, I see Eckel make a big play or two in special teams coverage. I will be very happy if he is active in this game.

A healthy and activated Eckel I hope means deactivation for Spann and Ventrone. Heck, they're lucky that they're on the 53 at all.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

A healthy and activated Eckel I hope means deactivation for Spann and Ventrone. Heck, they're lucky that they're on the 53 at all.

Watch the Giants game again. Bubba can make plays, too.

 

[captain stone]

Watch the Giants game again. Bubba can make plays, too.

I don't have the Giants game on tape, but according to NFL.com's Gamebook,
http://www.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/29435/NYG_Gamebook.pdf,
Ventrone is not credited with any tackles or assists.

I'm no big Eckel fan, but I feel better with him on ST than with the other two.

 

[Oswlek]

Stolen from AWTE on Patriotsplanet:

I am also interested in seeing how the Pats handle their kick-offs. They certainly don't want to give the Jags any free points, field position or momentum with big kick returns. They were missing people against the Giants and it showed. Eckel is their best wedge buster type and it looks like he may not play so some game planning is going on their I bet.

after I pointed out that Eckel practiced today

Hopefully [Eckel] is ready to go. They used Ventrone in his spot last week. He tried his best but he can't do what Eckel does. Eckel may be a running back but he's also a big tough physical guy who makes a big impact on special teams. I too see him sticking around because he is valuable on special teams and can fill several roles on offense.

Eckel is the man. I can see him becoming the next fan favorite and sticking around for a decade or so.

 

[unoriginal]

Looks like he's one step closer to getting those 5 interceptions he needs for that incentive bonus.

 

[Shoofyou10]

A healthy and activated Eckel I hope means deactivation for Spann and Ventrone. Heck, they're lucky that they're on the 53 at all.

Bubba's job on kickoff is to fly in first and bust up the wedge. I watched the kickoff that the Giants ran back and if you watch for Ventrone, he is the first one down there and knocks into the wedge. That should free up other guys to come in and make the tackle. He did his job.