Notes from New England Patriots Training Camp, 7/25/08
Be careful what you wish for. The time between OTAs and Training Camp is a relative deadzone for information, a blackout period that I can't stand for 2 reasons, a) not much to talk about or report on and b) syndicated columnists writing stupid articles about power rankings, best receivers, who IS and who IS NOT going to win the super bowl - shutup people!! Noone's thrown a regular season pass yet.
At any rate, come Training Camp it's like drinking from a firehose. The media, like sharks circling a bloody carcass, are certainly pounding the keyboards. I've been cruising around and thought I'd summarize some interesting tidbits for you.
As usual, Mike Reiss is doing an awesome job of reporting on Training Camp. A few interesting quotes and some observations:
Training camp is both a physical and mental grind and Bill Belichick had the team in full pads in both practices today, putting his club to the test right off the bat.
18-1? Record breaking season? Get your butt on the field and put the pads on. Belichick doesn't appear to be letting up starting from the first day. They need to earn every no-pad minute or cancelled session BB sends their way.
Brady tried three long passes to Randy Moss – one of which was completed down the left sideline for a touchdown. But the play looked to be a blown coverage, with safety Antwain Spann late in getting over to help rookie cornerback Terrence Wheatley, who had lined up across from Moss.
No worries here. 50 TD passes for Brady and 23 TD receptions for Moss in 2007 ease my mind. Plus, it's the first day. If I can read anything into Brady and Moss missing those passes, I'm more encouraged that Spann and Wheatley seem to be doing well.
In a passing drill against eight defenders, Tom Brady attempted a long pass to Randy Moss down the right sideline, but Moss was well covered by cornerback Fernando Bryant in the end zone and the ball fell incomplete. The play seemed to be a good indication that Bryant still runs well, as he was stride for stride with Moss – in full pads.
It was projected Bryant may end up with the departed Asante Samuel's spot and this may be a good indication. Granted, it's very early, but if Fernando is keeping pace with Moss, one of the best receivers in the NFL, I'm encouraged. And happy he's on OUR team!
The Tom Brady/Chad Jackson connection was off on successive throws, which led Brady to share a few thoughts with Jackson. It appeared the two were not on the same page.
Uh oh. It's early in the season...It's early in the season. 10..9..8..7... Deep breaths. Ok, a bit over dramatic, but "The Chad" is Stallworth's heir apparent; we need this to work. My impression, given Jackson has route trouble, is that he's a tremendous physical talent with playbook issues. Or, quite simply, Brady and Jackson haven't had that much time to work together given Jackson's 2 years of almost no play. Time will tell, but I'm hoping for the latter.
And finally, Jerod Mayo is signed and on the field (props to bartHML for tracking this down). Jerod, meet Tedy. Tedy, meet Jerod. Bond. Play frisbee together. BB, move their lockers side-by-side.
FOOTBALL!! FOOTBALL!! FOOTBALL!! Relax man, it's only training camp.
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Hanging Chad
I’m not optimistic about this guy—but willing to be proved wrong. Yes, young receivers need time to learn the playbook. But CJ hasn’t shown me much in the way of improvement. Granted, he’s been hurt (a message in itself), but I just get the impression that he’s not a detail-oriented guy. More like a “I run, he throws it to me” kind of guy.
As far as Bryant keeping pace w/Moss—hard to draw any conclusions about that. Randy doesn’t love practice. Plus, he’s a year older and slower. The regular season will tell, but even by the SB, he was having trouble getting open. We really need Chad to become the threat his physical talents promise this year.
by JohnHannahRules on Jul 25, 2008 1:43 PM EDT 0 recs
Same here
Especially after two injury plagued years, when the only things Jackson could really do to help the team were memorizing the playbook and watching film, he ought to know all the plays inside out by now.
by RSNexile on
Jul 25, 2008 9:30 PM EDT
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man...
I had such high hopes for him when we drafted him. You know BB and Urban talked before the draft, and obviously the UF coach had good things to say about this kid. Its way too early in the pre-season to figure out if he is going to make it or not. He had some really decent flashes of brilliance and talent in his first year, and some really nice catches, but was injured. His second year it really didn’t matter much if he was injured or not. He wasn’t going to break into that lineup last year. I mean who would you sit for him? Moss? Welker? Stallworth? Gafney?
This is his year to prove the pick wasn’t a bust, and I for one an pulling for him. He has the speed and athletic talent to do well. Plus he has 2 years of studying under his belt, and it was rumored he went to Moss for advice and mentorship. If he ends up being the guy we thought we were getting, it could be another record setting season.
by Ogor on Jul 29, 2008 1:54 PM EDT 0 recs















