Patriots Training Camp 2013 (Day Four, Monday July 29)

[belichick010405]

nice writeup, 50 YardLine...I agree with you 100% on the D observations....and Chandler Jones IS thicker this season. It's exciting looking forward.Adrian Wilson is BIG....Talib was the star to me...man he's like a glove...the second star was our Alabama LB'er...you're gonna see him all over the field this season. Every time I focused on the D I saw a unit AHEAD of the O. I think we may be thin after Wilfork/Kelly inside though.

Joker - how did Grissom look to you or did Cunningham swing inside at all at DT?

 

[50-yard-line]

1. Who are the sub-rushers both inside and off the edge?

2. There are two functional DT's right now and some UDFA's.

3. Can Adrian Wilson be an every down safety?

You might not have questions, but I still do.

Aren't those questions what makes it interesting? Personally, I'm loving that Brady will have to sort out a bunch of new receivers this year. You're never going to find the next Victor Cruz or Fitz or, well, anyone if you keep throwing the ball to the same four guys year after year.

They need Armstead to get healthy and live up to his hype. Kelly and Wilfork are beasts, but they're not young. (I'd really like to see them go get Seymore, but...sigh.)

 

[Deus Irae]

1. Who are the sub-rushers both inside and off the edge?

2. There are two functional DT's right now and some UDFA's.

3. Can Adrian Wilson be an every down safety?

You might not have questions, but I still do.

There are all kinds of questions, with starters and backups, and on both sides of the ball. Anyone who says otherwise is just fooling himself.

 

[Tunescribe]

just got home from the practice for season ticket holders...thank to Mr. Tunescribe...a finer gentleman does not exist.

My pleasure, bro.

Saw a lot...really, really got good looks at a lot of different players. Let's just say, for you Tebowers, that the jury is still out but it doesn't look good. His reads are molasses like and he has a real problem on throws to his right. It's accuracy. He does not have consistent accuracy and in this offense a QB needs THAT more than anything else. He's got a lot of work ,and I mean a real lot of work, to do for him to stick. Tunes is much harsher in his assessment as I'm sure you'll read.

Hold your horses on any Canton inductions also as far as our new wide receivers are concerned. Amendola is easily the standout. Dobson LOOKS like a really tremendous athlete. He moves like a bona fide #1 does. I just think he's very raw right now.Boyce? yeah ..he flashed and then he flubbed easy throws...I mean, OK, he's got youth and some skill...just lkike hundreds of other hopefuls..meh...Hawkins and Aiken...up/down, catch/drops. Jenkins just doesn't excite me at all.

Tight ends are a different story. I don't think we have to worry about production from THIS position. Fells is a good player. Ballard looks like a robbery and there's NOTHING wrong with the way he's moving.

The main part of tonight's practice that jumped out all night?...Tom freakin' Brady. You all know I'm an old dog with a lot of years on the bench but man, Tom Brady is something else. When you see him take reps in this offense and then Mallett with the same offensive grouping it just jumps out at you how good T.B. really is....and let me just say, for anyone who's just waiting to jump on this board and start blabbing about his arm strength and what he can and cannot throw...do yourself a favor and go up to these practices and LOOK at how TB is throwing the ball. He is so accurate throwing into spots it almost defies description. We ARE blessed to have been witnesses and fans of a player like this, believe me. If they can keep him upright, and the O line does look impressive,I firmly believe this team will not only make the playoffs but be a force to be reckoned with.

I write up a few D takes in a few minutes...I'm starving....

Concur with the above and will add:

* Tebow just can't muster consistency with his mechanics. They're perfect when he's playing catch before practice, become erratic while throwing in drills and then go AWOL against a defense. I think at this point what we're seeing with this guy is what you're going to get, which is non-NFL caliber QB play. Held his own at punt protector, though.

* Mallett has a great arm but for every two good decisions he makes an awful one. HOWEVER, I'd like to see him in extended action with the first unit in a preseason game to know if he can establish a rhythm. It's still hard to tell what he brings to the table.

* Aside from Amendola (a quality possession guy), the WRs overall look quite average so far. Very little "wow" factor in terms of getting big separation or flat-out beating coverages. Brady threw a lot to Dobson who has good hands and looked best after Amendola. Boyce had a couple bright moments but didn't really establish himself. I expected Jenkins to stand out but he didn't, except for being tall. Everyone else was mediocre; Kenbrell had some terrible drops. This crew concerns me.

* Ridley looks bigger; he and Vereen should pick up where they left off last year. Washington also had some carries so I'd expect to see him mixed in.

* Fells had one of the best catches of the night, snagging a bullet down the seam from Brady in tight coverage.

* Adrian Wilson is a really BIG guy!

* The defense looks pretty stout overall and is quite a physical bunch. Jones definitely has packed on muscle and looks like a beast. Hightower is all over the place and even impressed in coverage. Talib dominated his side of the field all night. Dennard looked good; didn't notice much from Dowling aside from a bad pass interference. Collins got absolutely owned trying to set the edge on a play where the running back blew past him.

* Washington made some nifty punt returns.

* Rookie punter Ryan Allen has an impressive leg.

I'll add more if it comes to me, but bedtime is calling ...

 

[Joker]

I'm still just a big kid...probably what's kept me alive all these years

 

[manxman2601]

Aren't those questions what makes it interesting? Personally, I'm loving that Brady will have to sort out a bunch of new receivers this year. You're never going to find the next Victor Cruz or Fitz or, well, anyone if you keep throwing the ball to the same four guys year after year.

They need Armstead to get healthy and live up to his hype. Kelly and Wilfork are beasts, but they're not young. (I'd really like to see them go get Seymore, but...sigh.)

Absolutely. That's why this is such an interesting off-season. As for DTs, we double dip in the draft every year. I'm guessing scouting DTs might be in order.

 

[belichick010405]

Yep - that sure sounds like the Pats are going to sign a veteran wideout in the next couple of weeks to me...

 

[Joker]

BTW...you know sometimes you look at a player in action and you say "now THAT is a stud"..may sound funny but that's what I felt watching Washington. At rest he just oozes "player".Some feared he may be too long in the tooth and may have slowed down...I can only say, just wait until you see how he plays in preseason games.As it stands today, THAT part of special teams is FIXED and I'm beginning to wonder if they consider using him situationally in the offense.

 

[Christian]

DT is thin...we knew that. Even with Armstead who is a mystery. Going to need to add a body IMO. Kelly and VW are both durable but they're up there in age. Maybe Fortson will be a big help but it doesn't seem it to this point.

We knew the WR group was going to be rough. But at least Dobson looks like he's poised to come in and start. Need him to be a threat on the outside. If/when Gronk comes back...hopefully we'll have 3 legit options between Dobson, DA, and Gronk. After that, Edelman/Boyce are going to need to step up.

I expect the defense to be very solid this year. Haven't heard a peep about Logan Ryan. Think we should keep Ras regardless because you cant have enough CB's...and maybe with some more time being HEALTHY for once, he can develop into what we thought.

 

[50-yard-line]

Nice write ups. Don't take this the wrong way, but you sound excited like you had a really good time tonight.

Had a blast - that was my first practice. I was surprised at how easy it was to determine the fluidity of movement from the various players. Regarding technique and such, I"m more of a hockey and baseball guy (particularly baseball - if you saw "Trouble With the Curve - well, my Dad was Clint Eastwood's character, figuratively speaking).

I think the Pats are in for a rocky start offensively, but Brady will get them through it to Fells (if he's your Day 1 starter, don't be surprised), Amendola and Dobson. Hopefully Edelman and Gronk get back and up to speed quickly, but I think this team's going to be fine anyway. Tons of upside to Amendola, Dobson and Boyce.

I (respectfully) disagree with Tune on Boyce. I'm not concerned with a drop here or a drop there, honestly. Boyce was getting tons of separation, and he seems very strong at the line of scrimmage.

Defensively, they need ONE lineman (who's not named Wilfork, Jones or Kelly) to step up and they will be a top 10 D. I really believe that. Keeping Talib was critical, Dennard is the real deal and so is Arrington (in the slot), and Dowling is getting there and he's long and strong. Adding Wilson to SS will be huge.

Oh, and I noticed a ton of rapport between McCourty and the two Rutgers DBs. These backs are talking to each other and seem to be having a lot of fun - that's been missing for years.

The only team I'd consider trading LBs with is San Fran. This is a very talented LB group.

Oh and ps before I head to bed: LaGarrett Blount might prove to be the steal of the year. He looks like he's in pretty good shape and is frighteningly (Jacobsian) big. It's not har dfor me to believe he was a 1,000-yard rusher - at all.

And pps. What Joker said about Washington. He looks like a kid out there - like the Leon with the jets who used to make me hide my face every time we kicked to him. Underestimate him at your peril.

 

[belichick010405]

BTW...you know sometimes you look at a player in action and you say "now THAT is a stud"..may sound funny but that's what I felt watching Washington. At rest he just oozes "player".Some feared he may be too long in the tooth and may have slowed down...I can only say, just wait until you see how he plays in preseason games.As it stands today, THAT part of special teams is FIXED and I'm beginning to wonder if they consider using him situationally in the offense.

There was a time when Leon Washington was considered as the next lead tailback for the New York Jets and because of Thomas Jones it never materialized.

After his rookie 2006 season, he was swapped out with Thomas Jones and since that time, he has been a career backup with little to no opportunity of becoming an everyday player in a teams' offense.

This could be a year where Washington, like Vereen, get their opportunity to catch balls from Brady.

 

[manxman2601]

When, if ever, do we start talking about a punter camp battle?

@Nick_Underhill I said it the day he was signed. Ryan Allen is legit. One of the best college punters to come along in a while

https://twitter.com/NEPD_Loyko/status/362076337810325504

 

[Tunescribe]

When, if ever, do we start talking about a punter camp battle?



https://twitter.com/NEPD_Loyko/status/362076337810325504

Why not? The rookie sure looked impressive tonight.

 

[manxman2601]

Why not? The rookie sure looked impressive tonight.

And Mesko's contract is up at the end of the year I believe.

 

[Tunescribe]

]I (respectfully) disagree with Tune on Boyce. I'm not concerned with a drop here or a drop there, honestly. Boyce was getting tons of separation, and he seems very strong at the line of scrimmage.

Not against the first-team defense, though.

 

[JMC00]

And Mesko's contract is up at the end of the year I believe.

Would not surprise me if Ryan Allen is the punter come Week 1. They free up a little bit of cap space if they cut Mesko and get Ryan Allen for 3 years at undrafted rookie free agent money and the money they would have given Mesko could be used elsewhere.

 

[AzPatsFan]

1. Who are the sub-rushers both inside and off the edge?

2. There are two functional DT's right now and some UDFA's.

3. Can Adrian Wilson be an every down safety?

You might not have questions, but I still do.

A) The starters are now proven and competent with Jones, Kelly, Wilfork and Ninkovich. You are asking about the reserves; and that is what I said. But now there is at least several candidates on the outside, Inside is certifiably the weakest position, but last season it was worse, Love/Deaderick alongside Wilfork as starters.

I agree we have no third DT. Apparently, Armstead will have to wait until 2014, alongside a high pick at DT.

Adrian Wilson is and always was a SS. If he can't play in the box, he can always be a coverage OLB. (if Collins doesn't take the job!). Or he may be the "Big Nickle" fifth/sixth DB that BB hash been seeking for most of a decade.

Meanwhile his prime and number 1 job is and will be to guide the young secondary into maturity. With Tavon, Steve, and Duron, a fair to middlin' second genuine safety can be selected to play alongside standout McCourty, without resorting to a ST only maven like Ebner or Sergio Brown.

 

[Joker]

New England Patriots Forums - PatsFans.com Patriots Fan Messageboard

 

[Fencer]

My preferences would be Amendola, Dobson, Boyce, Edelman, Aiken, Thompkins. But I have no idea how the last thee will wind up.

Not sure there's room for 7 WRs (counting Slater). But I wouldn't mind starting out heavy at the position, given how many question marks there are in the group.

 

[belichick010405]

A) The starters are now proven and competent with Jones, Kelly, Wilfork and Ninkovich. You are asking about the reserves; and that is what I said. But now there is at least several candidates on the outside, Inside is certifiably the weakest position, but last season it was worse, Love/Deaderick alongside Wilfork as starters.

I agree we have no third DT. Apparently, Armstead will have to wait until 2014, alongside a high pick at DT.

Adrian Wilson is and always was a SS. If he can't play in the box, he can always be a coverage OLB. (if Collins doesn't take the job!). Or he may be the "Big Nickle" fifth/sixth DB that BB hash been seeking for most of a decade.

Meanwhile his prime and number 1 job is and will be to guide the young secondary into maturity. With Tavon, Steve, and Duron, a fair to middlin' second genuine safety can be selected to play alongside standout McCourty, without resorting to a ST only maven like Ebner or Sergio Brown.

The reports that I have seen have been decent on Grissom and Cunningham can always rotate to the inside like last year. I have not seen that much on Francis so far in camp...