PATRIOTS TRAINING CAMP Training Camp Day 5 - July 28

[Zuma]

So Polk hit the ground running...if he shows I can see them moving on from Bourne and Hollins.

 

[n1997y]

…
You see the thing is that I have always believed that the deepest position in EVERY draft are the WRs and even the camp guys who have no chance of making an NFL are wildly skilled athletes. The difference shows up on who can execute on game day.

Lots of great comments, as always. Thanks Ken.

I think this one is something I’ve also always believed. Maybe a little less so for the big uglies on the line, simply because statistically there are many more guys around 6’ +/- a couple of inches who are fast and agile than there are guys who are 6’6”+ and 280+ and also muscular and athletic. But the athleticism to play WR or DB is not rare. By the time you get to an NFL contract it is a given.

As Ken says, the differences show up on game day. Or in camp. And half of that is ninety percent mental.

There are different mental aspects: intelligence to read and react, skills to execute toe taps or high point the ball, not choking, perseverance and grit, etc. some guys are quicker to develop those traits. Some come into the league already skilled while others have a lot to learn.

So a couple of things are true:
- every player cut at the end of training camp is a damned good athlete
- anyone who disses the athleticism of any player signed to an NFL contract wildly underestimates that player and equally overestimates their own abilities to evaluate

I am confident that at the end of the season the Pats WRs, whoever they may be, will end up outperforming expectations.

I expect that if Gonzo is out for a significant period of time whoever is on the field in his absence will also perform well. Most likely Davis steps up to be CB1 and one of the young kids seizes the opportunity at CB2. Personally I’d like to see that be either Bolden or Dial, but there are several other good candidates. It’s not good to have Gonzo go down but at least there’s plenty of time to figure out who is next man up.

It will be interesting and fun to see which players take advantage of their chances.

 

[captain stone]

There's zero reason for an NFL team to say their star shut down corner has a problem.

As a courtesy to its paying customers?

 

[WinstonSmith]

Well he played 60 snaps all season and 55 were against the Bills when they were trying to lose and playing Mitch Trubisky and Mike White, so I’m not sure any of that tells us anything.

PFF and profootballrefernce have his CB snaps at 141, which although is not a ton of snaps, it's significant enough to make basic projections. Where did you get your snap counts from?

 

[captain stone]

What's that little girl doing in there?

 

[Urgent]

Just a couple of comments after going through most of this thread.

I can't understand why ANYONE would be shocked to see that the defense is ahead of the offense at this point. We all agree that we have the potential to be a top 10 defense this season. And they are playing against an offensive group who are having its first live practice learning a brand new offense and all

Just a couple of comments after going through most of this thread

BTW- it would appear that Campbell's flaw in his loss to White was getting bull rushed At least we know that tera dactyl arms had no bearing on it

Pterodactyls had like a 40 foot wingspan.
Sincerely
The internet

 

[Steve102]

As a courtesy to its paying customers?

 

[jdlboot14]

1. Gonzo's hammy is the one thing we didn't want. He's one of 2 players on the team we can't replace (Maye & Gonzo)
2. Pop & Boutte are going to be the top WR's, and that should be a fantastic thing for Pats fans. Diggs will do his thing too, and Williams is gravy this year. But Bourne/Polk/Baker/Hollins might be a real battle after all... (and then there's x-factor Chism)
3. Not worried about Campbell, sounds like he fought back after a tough start in pads vs. White.
4. Our front 7 is going to be most improved & most dominant unit on the team.
5. We may have to carry 4 RB's - how do you risk losing Larison?
6. Adding Hooper to PUP may allow Bell, Dippre or Lampre to figure out, and demote one back to PS week 5 if they can't once Hooper is all good. I think that TE experience will be important down the stretch, I can foresee Hooper or Henry being hurt this year.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

We have to worry about a LOT of players' development in this camp. Gonzo ISN'T one of them. His absence the next 2 or 3 weeks (if necessary) is not something I'm going to waste a second being worried about. To me, it just means that meaningful snaps are going to be available to those who DO need those snaps. Just let him be healthy come September.

If he went off on a cart it could be a lot more than 2 - 3 weeks.

 

[captain stone]

I like Battle's size and athleticism but hes raw.

As do I.

DJ James is another name to watch...

 

[n1997y]

4. Our front 7 is going to be most improved & most dominant unit on the team.

minor disagreement here.

OL will be most improved.

DL will be most dominant.

 

[n1997y]

I like Battle's size and athleticism but hes raw.

As do I. DJ James is another name to watch...

Agree on both, and think both Dial and Bolden are also strong contenders.

I’m not sold on Austin but if he can stay in front with those four pushing him maybe he’s got something.

 

[Ross12]

Agree on both, and think both Dial and Bolden are also strong contenders.

I’m not sold on Austin but if he can stay in front with those four pushing him maybe he’s got something.

It’s tough because there were several guys that I HOPED would take a step forward last year but didn’t - was it their fault or was it because of bad coaching? Austin is one such guy. Granted, he still had Mike Pellegrino coaching him, but even Gonzo was put in bad positions at times last year. So, I’m optimistic that better coaching and scheme may help Austin.

 

[DaBruinz]

Does anyone remember if Mayo had the team running "The Hill" last year? This was one of BB's brilliant moves when he had the Facility built. He made it mandatory and the team had some of the fewest hamstring injuries in the league during his tenure.

 

[Ross12]

Does anyone remember if Mayo had the team running "The Hill" last year? This was one of BB's brilliant moves when he had the Facility built. He made it mandatory and the team had some of the fewest hamstring injuries in the league during his tenure.

If my memory serves, he did it a couple times at the start of camp but then he stopped

 

[DaBruinz]

If my memory serves, he did it a couple times at the start of camp but then he stopped

I know lots of people can't stand LaDanian Tomlinson, but he credited his hill running (had one built at his house) for not having hammy issues..

This should be a near DAILY thing. Especially for DB, RBs, WRs, TEs, and LB..

 

[Ross12]

So Polk hit the ground running...if he shows I can see them moving on from Bourne and Hollins.

He’s definitely competing with those two guys primarily for a job. Diggs / Pop / Boutte / Williams feel like locks. So Polk, Bourne, Hollins, Chism and Baker are competing for between 1 and 3 jobs. Assuming, of course, no injuries.

 

[signbabybrady]

Does anyone remember if Mayo had the team running "The Hill" last year? This was one of BB's brilliant moves when he had the Facility built. He made it mandatory and the team had some of the fewest hamstring injuries in the league during his tenure.

I believe Mayo used it I don't know about Vrabel.

I think there was some sort of quote about it after the Cincy win.

 

[Ross12]

I believe Mayo used it I don't know about Vrabel.

I think there was some sort of quote about it after the Cincy win.

“Take ‘em to the hill”

That was cool at the time but in retrospect is embarrassing considering the number of injuries they suffered and how they clearly were less conditioned than their opponents as time went along.

 

[RobertWeathers]

He’s definitely competing with those two guys primarily for a job. Diggs / Pop / Boutte / Williams feel like locks. So Polk, Bourne, Hollins, Chism and Baker are competing for between 1 and 3 jobs. Assuming, of course, no injuries.

Yep. I bet they keep 6 WRs.

I wouldn't be surprised if Hollins starts on PUP/IR and they keep 2 of the 5 you mention w Hollins on IR.

I don't see Bourne making it.