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

[Patjew]

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.

He's been one of my favorites for years. Killed us in 2008.

 

[fnordcircle]

I don't know who it was who floated the idea but I am really starting to warm up to the idea of Dobson/Amendola on the outside and Boyce in the slot, if these training camp reports are any indication about the quality of receiver we have in those 3.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I don't know who it was who floated the idea but I am really starting to warm up to the idea of Dobson/Amendola on the outside and Boyce in the slot, if these training camp reports are any indication about the quality of receiver we have in those 3.

Boyce could be a Victor Cruz type in the slot. From what I'm hearing, Boyce has shifty moves, great speed, and is an accomplished smart route runner already. Amendola is the quintessential slot receiver though. I would assume in this offense, with no established positions at WR (Hell even Dobson was practicing lining up in the slot), the receivers will line up all over the place. With Amendola in the slot a decent amount of the time, but also lining up outside, with possibly Edelman or Boyce in the slot. It's going to be interesting if everyone can stay healthy and keep progressing.

 

[stumeister]

I agree with this 100%, and I think Tebow sticking goes something like this: he's going to have to find a way to contribute something more than just being a 3rd string QB. Special teams, some packages at H or something. If he can do that and give them something, the return will be him working behind the GOAT and correcting his flaws. He was the first one out on the field and worked his ass off, from what I could see, and everyone around him was patting him on the back and such - those things matter, but you've got to bring some value.

I'm actually hoping he finds a way to stick around. His followers make me crazy, too, but I'm finding that I can't root against the kid.

I just checked the crystal ball. Tebow will make the team.
He will be named the starter ... (Pause).... for the Jets game.... They will be so consumed with being afraid that Tebow will make them look bad they will totally loose focus on all elements of the game and prepare poorly. In fact poor Rex will get a severe case of gastric distention over the whole situtation.

 

[Rob0729]

Boyce could be a Victor Cruz type in the slot. From what I'm hearing, Boyce has shifty moves, great speed, and is an accomplished smart route runner already. Amendola is the quintessential slot receiver though. I would assume in this offense, with no established positions at WR (Hell even Dobson was practicing lining up in the slot), the receivers will line up all over the place. With Amendola in the slot a decent amount of the time, but also lining up outside, with possibly Edelman or Boyce in the slot. It's going to be interesting if everyone can stay healthy and keep progressing.

Boyce is getting a lot of comparisons to Cruz and Dobson are getting some comparisons to Larry Fitzgerald. It is great to hear those comparisons, but we do need to pump the breaks a little. It is still day four of training camp. Let's see them against real competition first.

 

[borg]

Not much being reported on Jamie Collins (missed setting the edge yesterday). Would love to get some impressions on the guy from all you training camp field reporters.
Her's a NESN fluff piece on JC to fill the void
Jamie Collins Receives Effusive Praise From Linebackers Coach Pepper Johnson for Football Smarts, Versatility | New England Patriots | NESN.com

 

[ivanvamp]

Boyce is getting a lot of comparisons to Cruz and Dobson are getting some comparisons to Larry Fitzgerald. It is great to hear those comparisons, but we do need to pump the breaks a little. It is still day four of training camp. Let's see them against real competition first.

Good point. There will be plenty of moments this season where these guys very much look like rookies.

But still, it's exciting that it appears the talent level of these two is substantial.

 

[PatsFan2]

Boyce is getting a lot of comparisons to Cruz and Dobson are getting some comparisons to Larry Fitzgerald. It is great to hear those comparisons, but we do need to pump the breaks a little. It is still day four of training camp. Let's see them against real competition first.

I would settle for a Sidney Rice camparison with Dobson...I am hearing that Josh Boyce is flashing Devery Henderson type vertical speed with route running ability to boot. We are also hearing great things about Kenbrell Thompkins who is a UDFA. If he's working with Brady and the one's that alone says something. Nice to see and hear of some young blood at our WR position...long overdue.

 

[Sicilian]

Boyce is getting a lot of comparisons to Cruz and Dobson are getting some comparisons to Larry Fitzgerald. It is great to hear those comparisons, but we do need to pump the breaks a little. It is still day four of training camp. Let's see them against real competition first.

Not only against real competition, but in sight read situations. There have been plenty of talented and athletic receivers that have come through here, drafted or otherwise. What separates them from someone like a Deion Branch is their ability or inability to get on the same page as Brady consistently. Until we see that, these are just nice reports that remind us of the physical talent these kids possess.

 

[Rob0729]

I would settle for a Sidney Rice camparison with Dobson...I am hearing that Josh Boyce is flashing Devery Henderson type vertical speed with route running ability to boot. We are also hearing great things about Kenbrell Thompkins who is a UDFA. If he's working with Brady and the one's that alone says something. Nice to see and hear of some young blood at our WR position...long overdue.

I wouldn't take the Sydney Rice comparisons. If Rice was just a receiver, he would be mediocre. Rice is considered good because of his versatility where he can line up in the backfield and run the ball as well as be a WR. I don't see Dobson lining up in the backfield.

 

[50-yard-line]

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



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

My friends and I noticed last night that you could tell who hit the ball, Mesko or Allen by how high it was. The new kid's hang time was pretty impressive.

Punting is such an art, though, particularly with a high-powered offense. Can you kill it inside the 10 is more important than the extra few yards on a punt.

There's a reason that Ryan Allen is still out there.

 

[RodThePat]

I wouldn't take the Sydney Rice comparisons. If Rice was just a receiver, he would be mediocre. Rice is considered good because of his versatility where he can line up in the backfield and run the ball as well as be a WR. I don't see Dobson lining up in the backfield.

That's Percy Harvin you're thinking of.

 

[50-yard-line]

I don't know who it was who floated the idea but I am really starting to warm up to the idea of Dobson/Amendola on the outside and Boyce in the slot, if these training camp reports are any indication about the quality of receiver we have in those 3.

That was me - but to be fair, when we were leaving, I was talking about Boyce and a couple of guys walking ahead of me (who looked like they could have walked onto the field and played, honestly), turned around and made that observation to me.

Given the battle between Talib and Amendola (to which Joker earlier referred), when Amendola simply tore the ball away for a great catch, I feel comfortable with Amendola wherever they use him. And yeah, I think this team has people ALL OVER THE PLACE, with multiple sets.

But it will take a while. Here's hoping Boyce, Amendola and Dobson have that football IQ thing going. In a year or two, maybe even the end of this year, the options available (throw in Vereen or Washington and of course Gronk) will cause a lot of sleepless nights for D coordinators.

 

[Kontradiction]

Not only against real competition, but in sight read situations. There have been plenty of talented and athletic receivers that have come through here, drafted or otherwise. What separates them from someone like a Deion Branch is their ability or inability to get on the same page as Brady consistently. Until we see that, these are just nice reports that remind us of the physical talent these kids possess.

The sicilian is correct. Temper your enthusiasm guys. This offense is the hardest offense in the NFL to get down. The reports are nice, and the kids seem to be learning fast. But they still have to go into a game against a defense that they are not used to seeing, make reads on the fly, be on the same page as the quarterback, and be in the place that Brady needs them to be at the exact moment he needs them to be there.

 

[ivanvamp]

I wouldn't take the Sydney Rice comparisons. If Rice was just a receiver, he would be mediocre. Rice is considered good because of his versatility where he can line up in the backfield and run the ball as well as be a WR. I don't see Dobson lining up in the backfield.

???? Sidney Rice has 4 carries in his entire NFL career (spanning 73 games). Dude is 6'4", 200 lbs. He doesn't even come close to having a RB body.

Since when does he line up and run out of the backfield?

 

[belichick010405]

Armstead has been treated for an infection..on the ride home the sports talk jocks mentioned sometime this training camp as an expected date of resuming play.Where are you getting 2014 from?

Hey Joker - Thanks to you and tunescribe again for going out to practice last night. Great reports....and I completely agree with your sentiment about the compilation of reports leading to a pretty good idea of what is going on down there at practice....

 

[dales804]

The sicilian is correct. Temper your enthusiasm guys. This offense is the hardest offense in the NFL to get down. The reports are nice, and the kids seem to be learning fast. But they still have to go into a game against a defense that they are not used to seeing, make reads on the fly, be on the same page as the quarterback, and be in the place that Brady needs them to be at the exact moment he needs them to be there.

Sicilian did put it very well. No doubt the draftees (even the UDFA, too) have the talent to succeed but it's the mental part they're going to have to grasp to really make an impact. I am really looking forward to seeing Dobson, Boyce and Thompkins in live competition against other teams.

 

[Tunescribe]

Boyce is getting a lot of comparisons to Cruz and Dobson are getting some comparisons to Larry Fitzgerald. It is great to hear those comparisons, but we do need to pump the breaks a little. It is still day four of training camp. Let's see them against real competition first.

Yup, lots of wishful thinking being projected onto those two. These guys are still learning their jobs, let alone apply what they've learned against real competition (including consistent work against the first-team defense). I hope the WR depth chart comes into focus soon because every rep with Brady in game situations will be important.

 

[Rob0729]

That's Percy Harvin you're thinking of.

Duh! My bad. I wasn't thinking. I was wondering why he would be comparing Dobson to a slot receiver in the first place.

 

[Rob0729]

???? Sidney Rice has 4 carries in his entire NFL career (spanning 73 games). Dude is 6'4", 200 lbs. He doesn't even come close to having a RB body.

Since when does he line up and run out of the backfield?

My bad. Got Rice confused with Percy Harvin for some reason. Considering both went from the Vikes to the Seahawks, I guess I was close.

BTW, other than one year, Rice has been crappy to average. I hope Dobson is far better than Rice.