- Joined
- May 28, 2005
- Messages
- 13,274
- Reaction score
- 0
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=10
Observations from 3rd practice
Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff
July 25, 2008 05:50 PM
FOXBOROUGH – Five observations from the Patriots’ third training camp practice, which was held today on the upper practice fields behind Gillette Stadium:
1) Quarterbacks in focus. Talk to personnel men in the NFL, and many often say “this is a quarterback league.” Their point is essentially that teams with good quarterbacks have the best chance to win, because it’s the most important – and most challenging – position on the field. With that in mind, the highlight of this practice came when the top three quarterbacks led the hurry-up offense in situational work near the end of the session. In that setting, you see the way the quarterbacks communicate with the rest of the offense without a huddle and how they react under pressure. While one would expect Tom Brady to ace such a test – which he generally did -- it was interesting to watch the cool command of Matt Cassel, who took the second-unit reps. He appears to be as comfortable as he’s been under center in his four years here. Meanwhile, it was more difficult to get a read on Matt Guttierez, as the protection seemed to break down in front of him.
2) Thin on the offensive line. If there is one primary area of concern at this time, it would probably be the right side of the offensive line with first-stringers Nick Kaczur (tackle) and Stephen Neal (guard) on PUP. Wesley Britt remained at right tackle for the third straight practice, but Billy Yates was a newcomer with the first unit at right guard. Russ Hochstein – the first-team right guard for the first two practices – was the second-string center. Part of this is probably the team building the position flexibility to which Bill Belichick often refers, but it also highlights the current depth situation. Ryan O’Callaghan, primarily a right tackle, was working at second-string left tackle in the practice.
...
