Training Camp Observations 8/5

[Patriot 37]

Just a couple thoughts from what I saw at camp today.

Where I was sitting I wasn't able to see a lot of OL vs DL drills. I mostly watched the WR vs DB passing drills (7 on 7s ect)

First Gronk looks like mid 90s Ben Coates, he made multiple catches when he was fairly well covered. In a red zone 7 on 7 drill Brady was going to him almost every time for 3 or 4 Tds.

Also, Price looked very good, (as a WR not as a PR). Everyone else about what you'd expect.

On Defense, Bodden looked very good even when people caught the ball on him it was a tough catch.

McCourty had a OK (by his standards below average) day, but made one spectacular play breaking up a deep sideline route.

I was very impressed with Arrington clearly the front runner for nickel. Close coverage and a couple nice break ups.

Butler looked well like Butler (ie bad). He did jump a route and broke up a pass to OchoCinco. Ocho yelled at him "stop cheating" then gave him a high five. So maybe he overheard the play.

My Ex-Binkie Wilhite looked god awful couldn't cover Jenkins and Barnes or anyone else.

As has been reported numerous times Mallett has a cannon and Ridley is niftier that advertised.

None of the RFAs really jumped out at me.

 

[DaBruinz]

Just a couple thoughts from what I saw at camp today.

Where I was sitting I wasn't able to see a lot of OL vs DL drills. I mostly watched the WR vs DB passing drills (7 on 7s ect)

First Gronk looks like mid 90s Ben Coates, he made multiple catches when he was fairly well covered. In a red zone 7 on 7 drill Brady was going to him almost every time for 3 or 4 Tds.

Also, Price looked very good, (as a WR not as a PR). Everyone else about what you'd expect.

On Defense, Bodden looked very good even when people caught the ball on him it was a tough catch.

McCourty had a OK (by his standards below average) day, but made one spectacular play breaking up a deep sideline route.

I was very impressed with Arrington clearly the front runner for nickel. Close coverage and a couple nice break ups.

Butler looked well like Butler (ie bad). He did jump a route and broke up a pass to OchoCinco. Ocho yelled at him "stop cheating" then gave him a high five. So maybe he overheard the play.

My Ex-Binkie Wilhite looked god awful couldn't cover Jenkins and Barnes or anyone else.

As has been reported numerous times Mallett has a cannon and Ridley is niftier that advertised.

None of the RFAs really jumped out at me.

What do you mean by RFAs? Did you actually mean UDFA (Undrafted Free Agents)?

 

[Patriot 37]

What do you mean by RFAs? Did you actually mean UDFA (Undrafted Free Agents)?

Yeah I meant Rookie Free Agents (UDFAs) not Restricted Free Agents.

 

[strngplyr]

I think if we dump a WR this year Tate (assuming we value Slater's ST contributions that much) loses out and Price takes over a KR. I've heard nothing but great things about his TC so far, him and Gronk are also the only ones I don't recall reading about getting a case of the dropsies at all.

From what I've read so far it sounds like:
1a Welker
1b Ochocinco
2 Deion
3a Edelman (PR)
3b Price
4 Tate (KR)
5 Slater (ST only really)

Honestly have nothing against Tate, he just sounds like he's having a quiet (not even bad) TC in comparison to guys like Price.

How weird is it calling Gronk our veteran TE, too? Oldest on the roster and has 2 more games under his belt than Hernandez. I'm expecting a breakout (is that even possible after last season?) season for Gronk and I expect Price to see plenty of playing time, he sounds like the fastest guy on the roster, is this wrong? If he has good enough hands and runs his route he could fight his way into the top 3 before the season ends.

 

[patriot lifer]

I think if we dump a WR this year Tate (assuming we value Slater's ST contributions that much) loses out and Price takes over a KR. I've heard nothing but great things about his TC so far, him and Gronk are also the only ones I don't recall reading about getting a case of the dropsies at all.

From what I've read so far it sounds like:
1a Welker
1b Ochocinco
2 Deion
3a Edelman (PR)
3b Price
4 Tate (KR)
5 Slater (ST only really)

Honestly have nothing against Tate, he just sounds like he's having a quiet (not even bad) TC in comparison to guys like Price.

How weird is it calling Gronk our veteran TE, too? Oldest on the roster and has 2 more games under his belt than Hernandez. I'm expecting a breakout (is that even possible after last season?) season for Gronk and I expect Price to see plenty of playing time, he sounds like the fastest guy on the roster, is this wrong? If he has good enough hands and runs his route he could fight his way into the top 3 before the season ends.

I agree with the Tate assessment. He just doesn't seem to have it. It's a shame to give up on the 3rd round pick who was supposedly a steal when we originally drafted him (first round talent). I recall Troy Brown mentioning that he doesn't think he's going to fit in either. I have more hope in Price developing.
However, his ST may be his saving grace. We seem to always undervalue the ST contributions of players. Perhaps he'll contract some mystery illness that sidelines him for the year.

We'll have to pay extra attention to his performance on kick returns this preseason. He could make or break his chances.


It's good to hear that Arrington is asserting himself out of the crop of players we have.

 

[LesPaul]

Why in the world is anyone surprised about Tate, he wasn't considered a good WR in college.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

How weird is it calling Gronk our veteran TE, too? Oldest on the roster and has 2 more games under his belt than Hernandez.

Ummm . . . GRONK is younger than both Yeatman and Smith. . . .

 

[Patriot 37]

I agree with the Tate assessment. He just doesn't seem to have it. It's a shame to give up on the 3rd round pick who was supposedly a steal when we originally drafted him (first round talent). I recall Troy Brown mentioning that he doesn't think he's going to fit in either. I have more hope in Price developing.
However, his ST may be his saving grace. We seem to always undervalue the ST contributions of players. Perhaps he'll contract some mystery illness that sidelines him for the year.

We'll have to pay extra attention to his performance on kick returns this preseason. He could make or break his chances.


It's good to hear that Arrington is asserting himself out of the crop of players we have.

If everyones healthy the Wrs should be interesting to watch. Ocho, Wes, Branch, Eddleman obviously make the team, It would be insane to cut 2nd year 3rd pick who is having a great camp. My question is if Slater makes the team solely as a STer then why can't Tate make it solely as a KR ?

I realize 7 WRs is too many but we had 4 QBs one year.

 

[patriot lifer]

Why in the world is anyone surprised about Tate, he wasn't considered a good WR in college.

I'm no college football guy, but I thought he did really well at UNC. Wasn't he considered to be a first round talent until his senior year injury? I thought this was a general consensus.

 

[DaBruinz]

Why in the world is anyone surprised about Tate, he wasn't considered a good WR in college.

This is false and total BS. Tate was considered a late developing WR with tons of potential.

Gotta love how people re-write history..

 

[PatsBoy12]

First, thanks for the post. I continue to hear nothing but good things about Bodden and the secondary as a whole. It's very encouraging. Also, it's encouraging to hear that Arrington is doing well. I really liked him last year. He's not the best but not the worst either. I'm proud of the guy. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Darius Butler. The kid just doesn't seem to have it. Wasn't he the "Clay Mathews" pick? Sorry, not trying to bring that up again, but I think he was.

Also, I can't even put into words what I feel about everything I've read about Gronk. I really hope he can show the same stuff in the regular season. Soon, every team in the NFL will be trying to run some variation of the two tight end set. Here is an excerpt from one of the more recent TC reports I've read:

TE Rob Gronkowski, once again, was unguardable running pass routes against linebacker coverage. He ran great routes, got open with nice juke moves, and caught everything thrown his way, even with ‘backers sometimes draped all over him.

Price has apparently leap-frogged Tate from what I've been reading and can surmise. That's not a problem with me, as Tate pissed me off in many games last year as a pass catcher. He's nothing special as a receiver. And aside from his early season prowess, he ended up being nothing special as a kick returner either. He and Butler really piss me off.

 

[drew4008]

I'll be happy if Butler and Wilhite are cut. My throat swallows hard every time I see these two on the field.

 

[Triumph]

I'll be happy if Butler and Wilhite are cut. My throat swallows hard every time I see these two on the field.

A man after my own heart.

Wilhite is likely gone. IMO, BB is ready to cut the cord on that mistake.

 

[ausbacker]

This is false and total BS. Tate was considered a late developing WR with tons of potential.

Gotta love how people re-write history..

I've seen this line of thinking before. I wonder why that is? Oh, we've argued this point to death where you said potato and I said potato.

The overwhelming comment was that he was a kick return specialist coming into his own with NFL receiver potential. Don't misrepresent it to tons of potential because that's re-writing history. Let's hope Price comes along.

Thanks Patriot 37. Great to have some TC reports coming in.

 

[spacecrime]

I'm no college football guy, but I thought he did really well at UNC. Wasn't he considered to be a first round talent until his senior year injury?

Yes, he was.

 

[drew4008]

Give it up guys, Tate is what he is. His skills as a WR just aren't there, so I really hope we never have to see him in that role again.

When you have TOM BRADY throwing you the ball, and you still can't progress even with tons of opportunities... something's wrong.

 

[pdangle]

I suggest anyone who has any doubts between the relative receiving differences between Tate and Price, to check out any short 2010 highlight video of each. I think the one i saw was on PatsPulpit, but I'm sure you can find them anywhere.

It was eye opening. While viewing the vids, Price dominated Tate in all the most important WR skills. I no longer had any doubt that in 2011 Price was he real deal and a possible breakout player. Tate..., well let's just say Tate might want to start looking for real estate agent. When you watch, it's tough to describe, but it's almost like a textbook breakdown of A vs B, good vs bad, receiving fundamentals, measurables and intangibles of two WR's against pretty much the same game competition.

That said, I expect big things from Price this year. From the vid and early TC reports he definitely bulked up, improved his route running and is more comfortable with the playbook and has better communication with TB. Much less can be said of Tate. Still, maybe BB gives him a short leash just to see if he can pull it together with the injury a bit further behind him, IMO his only saving grace at the moment. No way I see him sticking over Price -who will surprise-, but good luck to both.

 

[micronin127]

Tate needs to stay healthy and keep working.

If today was cutdown day, he'd probably be on the bubble maybe even out the door, but they have 4 preseason games to play and players are coming up lame all over the league getting injured from lack of preparation.

I hope to God that Belichick plays the starters for one or two series maximum against Jacksonville next Thursday.

 

[Daigle]

Wasnt Branch kind of brought in because Tate wasnt really doing it or is that just my feeling from last season ?

Thats why they are bringing in Mr 85 this year too maybe ?

 

[drew4008]

Wasnt Branch kind of brought in because Tate wasnt really doing it or is that just my feeling from last season ?

That's what I thought too. Aside from that onee long TD, Tate was a mess.