{"id":7144,"date":"2016-07-30T19:01:40","date_gmt":"2016-07-30T23:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=7144"},"modified":"2016-07-30T19:17:15","modified_gmt":"2016-07-30T23:17:15","slug":"patriots-training-camp-day-3-observations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2016\/07\/30\/patriots-training-camp-day-3-observations\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots Training Camp Day 3 Observations"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Pads come on and the hitting gets real on Saturday morning<\/h2>\n

The Patriots first padded practice session is in the books. The team had a spirited if slightly slower paced workout on Saturday morning under sunny skies.<\/p>\n

The intensity ratcheted up a notch and for the first time we were able to see the \u201cbig heavies\u201d, the offensive and defensive linemen take part in 1-on-1 drills, as well as full 11-on-11 scenarios, short-yardage running game action, and goal line.<\/p>\n

The bad news is the injuries are already beginning. Both offensive lineman Jonathan Cooper and defensive lineman Anthony Johnson were carted off during the session. Cooper could be seen grabbing at his lower right leg. NFL.com\u2019s Ian Rapopport later announced on Twitter that Cooper has been suffering from plantar fasciitis and this latest injury could be related to that.<\/p>\n

Johnson went down at the end of practice and word at the time was that it was a heat related issue. Also RB D.J. Foster and Bryan Stork didn\u2019t finish the session.<\/p>\n

Not Practicing<\/strong>: Here\u2019s a list of players that were not seen on the practice field with pads on. Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman, Nate Washington, Malcolm Mitchell, Brandon Bolden, Vincent Valentine, Alan Branch (NFI), Tre\u2019 Jackson, Sebastian Vollmer, Dion Lewis and Clay Harbor.<\/p>\n

Amendola, Edelman and Washington were in attendance and helped cheer on the receivers and aided in coaching them up. Kevin Faulk who will be inducted in the team\u2019s Hall of Fame on Monday was on the field and looking like he could still play.<\/p>\n

Speaking of attendance\u2026the Patriots announced that 21,783 fans attended the session. A look around at the crowd there says that there may have even been more. I\u2019ve never seen a practice session without another team in for joint practices that well attended.\u00a0 Well done Patriots Nation!<\/p>\n

Dobson, Derby Have Nice Days:<\/strong> Aaron Dobson continues to have a nice spring\/summer. Not only did he have another good day in catching the football, including a nice rainbow from Brady during receiver drills, but during the blocking drills, Dobson stood out as one of the better WRs. That is an encouraging sign for the 4th<\/sup> year WR who needs to have a strong camp.<\/p>\n

He was also included in the side session with Brady, Gronk and Bennett while the rest of the team was conducting a special teams\u2019 drill. At one point the coaches had Dobson stand on the goal line and Brady and Jimmy G were taking turns throwing the arcing deep ball from the 35-yard line, akin to the garbage pail drill from a few years ago. Brady bested Jimmy G by a wide margin.<\/p>\n

After one throw by Garoppolo sailed well out of the end zone, Dobson chased the ball down right to the rope where a young fan was agog at being that close and yelled some encouragement. Dobson flashed the young fan a big grin and made that young man\u2019s day.<\/p>\n

\"Dobson-with-a-grin-for-the-\"<\/p>\n

Derby is taking advantage of Gronkowski and Bennett getting a lighter workload by becoming a nice target in the passing game. He runs well and is displaying some sure hands. With the third tight end position wide open, he\u2019s not hurting himself with his play thus far.<\/p>\n

Play of the Day:<\/strong> With an 11-on-11 period ongoing, Tom Brady threw a beautiful arc into the right corner of the end zone to Rob Gronkowski for a touchdown. Pat Chung had coverage as good as anyone can get but is so often the case, Gronk is at times unstoppable. He made a nice catch rolling onto the ground and out of the back of the end zone after the catch.<\/p>\n

He and Chris Harper celebrated and were joined in short order by Brady. Brady not only made a terrific throw but recognized the single coverage and immediately went to Gronk. It was a good thing too. Dont\u2019a Hightower came on a blitz up the \u201cA\u201d gap and absolutely destroyed David Andrews, arriving a half-second too late.<\/p>\n