Our own New England Patriots wunderkind, Mr. 50 TD pass record holder for 2007, and the NFL's MVP Tom Brady is back on the practice field.  As reported by Mike Reiss:

The media-access portion included stretching, some light throwing for quarterbacks, and Brady handing off to running backs. Brady did not appear to be limited in his movements.

Read that last sentence again - did not appear to be limited in his movements.  Now it's not, as of yet, time to schedule the ticker tape parade in Foxboro center.  More importantly, noone has said whether or not Brady will see reps against the Eagles this weekend.  My opinion?  Unless he absolutely needs the reps, let him watch from the sidelines or the comfort of his living room.  He needs to be rested for the regular season and, more importantly, the long haul.  If I were to be a homer, I'd say, "No problem.  Tom's ok and we're all set."  But, I'm not feeling that way right now.  Given the pre-superbowl foot issues as well as this past week's escapade, I'd rather he let the darn thing heal.  Oh, and there's that issue of the QB backups not fairing so well, especially #2.

The bottom line, however – and most likely the primary source of all the criticism he’s received – is he’s yet to lead the team to a touchdown, which will be a major point of emphasis in his next appearance, presumably Friday night if Brady isn’t ready to return.

He needs to come out against the Eagles and make some plays.  Between 2 preseason games and countless hours in training camp and OTAs, Mr. Cassel has had enough time on the field and with these players to come up to speed.  Brady was only doing 1 practice session for a long time which left the field to the backups, and Cassel was the main guy.  Matty, for the sake of the team, I hope you do well.  I'll be rooting for you to do well.

When it comes to safeties, I'm still depressed about Tank Williams.  I was so looking forward to seeing him jump into nickelback or safety/linebacker hybrid roles when teams start fielding 3 or more wide outs.  That's when things get exciting on a defense, in my opinion.  But nooooooooo!  He's on IR.  Now I'm REALLY depressed.  Until, in walks John Lynch.  Rodney and John have become fast friends and have respected each other for many years:

"I’ve always had tremendous respect [for him]; our careers have kind of paralleled each other in that we’ve played the position of safety – he’s going into his 15th, I’m going into my 16th [year]," he responded.

In case you're wondering what kind of a hitter John Lynch is:

Ouch!!  Oh, and there's more.  Check out Youtube and you can get a plethora of "School's in session" hits from Mr. Lynch. 

On to shoaring up the O line, the Patriots worked out Center and Guard, Mike Flynn.  Mike has played his entire career, from 1997-2007, with the Baltimore Ravens.  A hometown boy hailing from Springfield, MA, Mike is excited about the prospect of coming to New England.  He will most likely see time as a backup to right guard Stephen Neal given that Neal and his backups Hochstein and Yates are banged up.  JHR, thoughts?

Yes, New England Patriots fans, preseason game number two is upon us.  For your viewing pleasure, tune in to The NFL Network or WCVB / Channel 4 @ 8:00 PM.  I'll have the game thread opened up around 6'ish as well.

After preseason game number one against the Ravens, I have a few things I'll be looking for, so here's a breakdown:

Quarterbacks - Matt Cassel did not have a good game.  Communication with wide receivers was off, despite a lot of reps in training camp.  Hopefully Belichick and the coaching staff worked on that aspect of Cassel's game and he comes out with a little more polish than we witnessed.  Matt Gutierrez wasn't much better, but he's backup to the backup; I'm less concerned about him.  Kevin O'Connell was a welcomed surprise and I hope to see more of the same.  Tom Brady did not make the trip to Tampa Bay due to a sore foot.  Which foot it is has not been revealed.  Happy place...happy place...ohhhhmmmm.  Seriously, relax.  Preseason is not the time to push an injury, especially with your star quarterback.

Wide Receivers - After Welker got off the PUP a few weeks back, he commented how it'll take some time to get back in the swing of things, that he was working to get his timing back with the QB's, specifically Brady.  Apparently, it didn't take long.  Mike Reiss has reported that the triumvirate is looking as sharp as ever.  Look for more playing time from Moss, Welker and Gaffney.  C.J. Jones is fighting for his job.  He did not have a good showing and will need to step up.  "The Chad" is another that needs to amp it up a bit.  I really hope he succeeds; we could really use the skills he projects to have.

Running Backs - LaMont Jordan was killer against the Ravens.  At this point, I really feel like he could own the redzone/goal line RB job.  I think Maroney and Morris will see more playing time as well as Faulk.  I'd like to see a few successful options to Kevin before a feel better.

Offensive Line - JHR is the guru, but overall the O-line struggled against the Ravens and has been hampered by injuries.  Barry Stokes has been IR'd and the boys are getting older.  A younger OL is a necessity, IMO but we needed to fix linebacker first.  Let's just hope we don't need Kevin O'Connell scrambling skills all around.

Linebackers - An area focused on so heavily, the linebacker corps appear to be shaping up nicely.  OLB draftee Shawn Crable is really looking good while ILB Jerod Mayo is turning into a stud and Pierre Woods was an animal against the Ravens.  OLBs Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas will see more reps as will ILB Tedy Bruschi.  I think if this lineup proves successful, fan favorite ILB Junior Seau will retire.  I'd like to see ILB Victor Hobson do well.  He's been struggling after moving from OLB for the Jets.  Rookie ILB Gary Guyton continues to impress.

Cornerbacks - Hobbs and Bryant continue to be the starters in my mind and rookie Terrence Wheatley has really gotten himself noticed in a field of 10.  Why so many?  Belichick's looking for something, some secret sauce that'll spell disaster for opposing teams.  With that many cornerbacks on the roster, this says to me he thinks this will be a key position for 2008.

Safeties - The Denver Broncos released veteran John Lynch and Belichick promptly snatched him up.  Lynch is known for being a super hard hitter and has signed a one year deal with the Patriots.  This appears to be a direct response to the loss of Tank Williams, the hybrid safety/linebacker guy who was such a good fit for the nickelback position.  I'll be watching John.

Defensive Lineman - Jarvis Green is back and Richard Seymour is feeling pretty good.  An interesting note: Belichick had the guys practice switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3.  A 4-3 is a good overall defense, but is very effective against the run so look for it during an obvious running situation.

A bunch has happened in the last few days, so let me see if I can break it down:

• Recent signings of veterans Jeff Shoate and Ade Jimoh have swelled the cornerback ranks to 10.  In addition, the Patriots have been talking to veteran safety John Lynch and have put him through a physical.  I can only assume our team from Foxboro is carrying so many defensive secondary players so they can find that elusive combination, that pot of gold that will prove to be unstoppable.  In particular, the loss of safety Tank Williams to a knee injury in our preseason opener with the Ravens leads me to believe Belichick and Pioli are looking for that hybrid cornerback/safety player who can fill the nickelback role.
• Ellis Hobbs and Fernando Bryant project to be the starting CBs with rookie Terrence Wheatley as third.  I'm psyched for Wheatley.  With a crowded field of cornerbacks, this draftee is getting noticed.  Can you imagine how good he'll be with more NFL experience?
• ILB Jerod Mayo is the standout of the rookies.  He was supposed to be eased into the rotation, but it appears he's going to see more snaps than originally expected.  Given we were hammered in 2007 for an aging linebacker corp, I'm really stoked about this one.  This will be the first undergarment put on by opposing running backs:

• Trio of Brady-Moss-Welker looks really sharp (See Ogor?  It wasn't just about Wes. ;-))  I think this is the most dangerous QB/WR combination in football.  They literally carpet bombed opposing teams in 2007 and I see more of that in 2008.
• When asked about Belichick's history with the penalty lap, he was quoted as saying, "Maybe the guy who made the mistake gets some advice from some of the guys who are running – but don’t feel like running,” Belichick said, which yielded some laughter from media members.
• Brady will see some time in this Sunday's preseason game @ Tampa Bay.  The game is on NFL Network / WCVB Channel 4 at 8:00PM.
• Finally, public training camp practices have been extended by one day.  Friday's practice, starting at noon, is open to the public.

Who am I to question Bill Belichick? In fact, who am I to question anyone, for that matter?  But, this one has me on the fence.  Had Tank been in the Patriots system for a few years, you may not have seen him on the field for more than a few plays.  However, a veteran of other squads, the coaching staff needed to see what he had and what happened?  Whammo!  Boff!  Boom!  He's on IR with a knee injury.  I'm really bummed about this one.  Tank was never projected to start at safety; those roles are owned by Meriweather and Harrison.  But, Tank could've filled that magical hybrid role of safety/cornerback.  He would've played that "in between" nickel spot during pass defenses so critical for backing up the corners and giving the safeties time to react.  He would've given offenses fits.  But NOOOOOOOO!!  Tank's season is effectively over.  I was looking forward to seeing him play.

The pickup of Jeff Shoate is a mystery to me.  Do we really need to carry 9 cornerbacks?  You read that right NINE!  Most assuredly, some number of them will be cut.  What did BB see last Thursday that caused him to pull in another corner?  What does he know that we don't know?  Tons probably, but I'm not seeing it right now.  Head...itch...scratching.

DE Richard Seymour seems to be back.  On Thursday, he drew a holding penalty that lead to Adalius Thomas' strip sack.  Richard had this to say recently:

I'm feeling stronger. I feel good, just ready to get the season rolling," he said. "At the same time, there is a lot of work we have to do, a lot of fine-tuning. We're excited about the season coming up, and we're looking forward to finishing the season.

Seymour is one of the best DEs in the league and it's good to see him having a productive preseason.  Big, smart and experienced, he'll be unstoppable if he stays healthy.

Junior Seau and the team have yet to decide if he'll be back:

"Yeah, we talked, but again there is nothing to report," Seau responded. "Obviously, I have to be healthy enough to get in there and perform at a high level and right now I'm not ready."

At the end of the interview, Seau also pointed out that even if he could return, the Patriots would have to have a need for his services.

I like Junior.  I like him a lot.  I just don't see where he fits at this point.  If Belichick brings him back, it would be a nostalgia move and not one based on logic, IMO.

Finally, there's 3 public training camp sessions left: tue-thu, 2:30-4:30.  Given the weather forecast for Foxboro, it looks like Wednesday will be the only day with a ray of hope.

Pat Kirwan's article at NFL.com is a well written and objective article in my mind.  Pat asks a number of burning questions and throw out some opinions based on his observations and interviews with Kraft, Pioli, Belichick and some of the players.  I won't cut & paste the entire text of that article, but I'll attempt to answer the same questions in my homeristic, blogger frame of mind.  If you're even remotely interested in comparing, bring up Kirwan's article and track side-by-side.

1. Can New England repeat its 16-0 2007 season?
No.  Now, before you unleash a blanket party on my sorry butt and drop my sad carcass in an alley behind the Bell In Hand, hear me out.  Most teams in the first half of the season were taken by surprise.  Before they knew what hit them, it was over.  Call it carpet bombing or call it a Blitzkrieg, the first 8 games were a massacre.  And then came the Colts.  As banged up as they were, it was a 4 point "Whew!!!".  It's my opinion that most teams are preparing for the carnage we unleashed last year.  I'm not saying we're gonna lose to Indy, but they're healthy and looking to prove it.  I also feel that 2 west coast swings with back-to-back games will take their toll; I think we can expect a loss from 1 of those games.

2. Is secondary a primary concern?
Maybe.  Rodney's aging, but he's still Rodney.  Tank Williams is showing some stuff like a good veteran should (besides, I like his name).  Terrence Wheatley appears to be challenging the vets for a spot.  That's what we need - talented young guys willing to throw themselves in harm's way.  I think the secondary will be underestimated.

3. Will problems that the Giants exposed be resolved?
The O line gets a bad wrap for the Superbowl.  Unable to stop the crushing pass attack unleashed by the Giants' defense, Brady spent a lot of time eating fertilizer.  But, let's not forget they protected him smashingly for most of the season.  My biggest gripe, however, was not with the O line; it's with OC Josh McDaniels.  The Patriots are known for adjusting in the second half and McDaniels didn't.  Brady was taking too much time in the pocket and should've gone to a Manning (Peyton, that is) style quick release.  I don't want to send too many props to the midwest, but Manning is one of the best in the league at this style of offense and I see the Patriots adopting some of that.

4. Is Seymour ready to return to his All-Pro form?
Seymour had a tough 2007, but supposedly he's healthy.  He hasn't been practicing a whole lot, but don't read too much into that.  Brady is only throwing one practice a day.  Belichick seems to be protecting his vets and stars so they don't get worn out.  Remember, the Patriots played a month more than most and need to rest their key players.

5. Where are the most critical position battles?
This is where I disagree with Kirwan.  3 out of 4 of his position battles are dead on except for Gaffney vs. Jackson.  Kirwan feels Gaffney is in the lead for a third receiver spot.  Gaffney has never struck me as a WR who lines up almost every play; in my mind, he's a speciality guy brought in to make sideline or corner grabs.  Jackson is supposed to be the bull of the WR group; a receiver with RB capabilities post catch.  I think that Gaffney and Jackson take on totally different roles.

As we progress through Training Camp, I will attempt to summarize the interesting points from the various news sources out there.  For more detailed information, I will always include links to the full stories at the bottom of these entries.

Nick Kaczur is practicing.  As you may recall, he appeared on the PUP at the beginning of TC.  OL was a thin position this summer with injuries, so it's encouraging to see some of the guys coming back.  You may recall, Nick was involved in the illegal use of Oxycontin and subsequently complied with a sting of the dealer.  Kaczur has plea bargained down to a speeding charge and must comply with any drug treatment programs the Patriots decide are necessary.  Think what you will - star athletes getting star treatment.  He's back.  We need him.

5 out of 6 TC practices have been full pads.  There's no easing into preparation for the gang; Belichick is making them earn every break they get and is pushing them from the start.  It's a fine line, though.  Coaches worry about wearing out their players or the injuries associated with full pad practices vs. getting them ready for the long hall of an NFL season.  That's why Belichick's the coach; I think he's got it down by now.

WR Robert Ortiz was released to make room for FA RB LaMont Jordan.  In my story Training Camp Shootout: Wide Reciever, I predicted this would happen given his limited roles with previous teams and mostly NFL Europa experience.  I'm a bit confused by the move to pickup LaMont given we already have 5 running backs (Morris, Faulk, Maroney, Evans, Green-Ellis) and 4 are vets.  It could indicate Belichick intends to strengthen the running game significantly and feels the need to have more RBs to rotate in and out.  At 5-10 230 lbs, LaMont is a bull, so he could also see action as a blocking back or in third down situations, similar to a Kevin Faulk role.

Here's an interesting tidbit from Reiss's blog regarding filling gaps by the defense:

This practice was especially physical for the front seven of the defense, specifically in how gaps are filled in the running game. Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork and Richard Seymour comprised the 3-man line, with Adalius Thomas and Pierre Woods at outside linebacker and Tedy Bruschi and Tank Williams at inside linebacker.

Hmm... I thought Tank was a safety.  I guess you never know with BB.  At 6-2 223 lbs, he's big, but not what I'd call a classic ILB size-wise.  Maybe it's an attempt to teach Tank all facets of the Patriots' defense.  Maybe Tank is a multi-faceted player and will be used all over the field.  I'm keeping an eye on this guy.  I was happy when they brought him on board and I'm liking the move more and more.

And, one final thought related to running backs: our OL was dominated in the SB, where it mattered most.  5 sacks and 9 hits on Brady had a significant impact on the outcome of that game.  The Giants correctly assumed we'd try an aerial assault and loaded up on pass rushers.  This year, however, I believe Belichick plans to run the ball down opponent's throats.  As soon as he sees defensive run stoppers replaced with pass rushers, the RB freight train will begin.  Yet another weapon in the arsenal - try to defend the run?  Loft it to Moss, Welker, or Gaffney.  Try to defend the pass - Morris, Faulk, Maroney, Jordan, Evans.  Make defenses worry about too many things and they're spread to thin.

I struggled mightily with which picture to put up here.  Was it Rodney, dualing like a warrior with NYG's Tyree, during the final minutes of XLII?  Was it any number of interceptions or hits against opposing receivers?  In the end, I chose this one because I think it's what it's all about.  Whatever you think of the guy, he means a great deal to New England and the fans.  A 5 year Patriot, 14 years in the league, HE...DAH...MAN.

Part of playing this position is a sense of swagger.  The final line of defense against all manner of offensive attacks, safeties need to play with an abandon not found with a lot of other players.  And they need to carry themselves with an attitude that says, "You want some?  Come and get it!  Try to get past me.  I'm gonna bust you up."  Often times they do.  They make receivers pay for their mistakes.  They make those acrobatic leaping gazelles remember they were in safety territory.  If a safety can't make an interception, he'll wait until you're stretched out, pulling down a pass, and then get him some.  Yeah, the good ones dare you to cross the line they've drawn on the turf.  The great ones want you to.

Rodney Harrison - Rodney owns this position for the Patriots.  He is the franchise safety and will be for the next few years.  With 14 years in the league, he's approaching that time when his body just won't be able to keep up with the position.  He's the mentor - teaching the younger dudes or passing on the system to the more experience free agents.  At any rate, starter is not even a question for this guy.  Someone will have to rip that position from his cold, dead fingers.

Brandon Meriweather - The heir apparent to Rodney's throne, Brandon will simply not see a lot of playing time until Rodney moves on.  There is, however, much talk of him playing a role at CB.  This could be an interesting one to watch.

Tank Williams - Tank's been around.  With 6 years in the league, he's still young enough to have an endless motor, but experienced enough to come up-to-speed very fast.  Plus, I like his name.  I see him starting along side Harrison in 2008.

Mark Dillard - There is almost no information on Mark.  What little there is, projects him to be to guy most likely to be cut.

James Sanders - James emerged as a player in 2007 and jumped in for Harrison when necessary.  In 2008, look for the 2 to split time to keep them both healthy.  They both play on the edge and, consequently, suffer because of it.

Raymond Ventrone - Raymond has had limited success with the Patriots and has been moved from active roster to practice squad a number of times.  That, in and of itself, does not bode well for him.  Look to see him cut if Belichick needs to make decisions about the roster.

To me, this is fairly obvious: Harrison with Sanders rotating in and out.  Brandon, and then Tank filling in when needed.  Dillard and Ventrone are either heading to the practice squad or chopping block.

Why is it that the New England Patriots have, what one could consider, one of the easiest schedules in the NFL?  7-9, 4-12, and 1-15.  That would be the 2007 records of our division rivals Buffalo, New York, and Miami.  In 2007, we handed our AFC East rivals a handy 0-6 with the closest game, believe it or not, being a paltry 10 point win over the Jets in Game 14.

2 AFC East teams have STILL not decided on a quarterback: the Jets and the Dolphins.  Can you imagine that kind of instability and hoping to make anything of your season?  I mean, an offensive line or special teams position, but quarterback?  Riddle me this, Batman: do Chad Henne, Josh McCown or John Beck (Dolphins) have the goods to step in like Brady did in 2000?  How about Chad Pennington or Kellen Clemens (Jets)?  PLEASE!!  And while Trent Edwards (Bills) has gotten the nod over J.P. Losman, he's got some things to learn.  Let's not forget that former quarterbacks coach Turk Schonert was newly minted as Offensive Coordinator.  Instability.

The Patriots, while losing playmakers like Donte Stallworth and Asante Samuel, have gone a long way to strengthen an aging linebacker corp and defensive secondary.  5 out of 7 draftees are defensive with Matt Slater lining up at Safety during some of the minicamps.  Will it take time for them to come up to speed?  Sure, that's been proven; a Belichick defense isn't one you just walk into.  That's why we've added veterans like S Tank Williams and CBs Fernando Bryant and Jason Webster.

The QB musical chairs being played by our division rivals means I don't see our fellow Easters being anything more than practice squads for tougher rivals from the AFC South like Indy the AFC North like Pitt.  Should I be worried?

 
via cache.boston.com 

As many of you know, Mike Reiss is a sports reporter for the Boston Globe and scribes about the goings on with our favorite team, the New England Patriots. Mike's fact-based writing style provides us Patriots nuts with great reference material; you will often see him quoted here, more so than any other reporter.

I knew Mike Reiss was prolific, but I realized just how crazy he was during the Goodell/Specter press conferences.  Reiss's Pieces , Mike's Patriots blog, was being updated constantly with the goings on.  I think it really connected us fans with what was happening at the time.

I've done enough jabbering.  Let's get to the Q&A.

A Colts blogger of ours did an excellent analysis suggesting it will take time for the Patriots's new acquisitions to add value to the defense.  Have Belichick and the front office done enough to fill the gaps between the old guard (Bruschi, Vrabel, Seau) and the new guard (Crable, Mayo) while our rookies come up-to-speed?

Reiss: Time will obviously tell, but I'm going to say a definitive "yes" right now. One area that stood out to me at recent organized team activities was the versatility among many of the defenders, and how the Patriots have a lot of different parts that will allow them to do different things. I could be way off on this, but I think this defense is going to be a lot more dynamic than we've seen in recent years. I sense they're going to try some new things -- a little 3-4, a little 4-3, different sub-package combinations -- and I wonder how much the influence of new secondary coach Dom Capers is playing into that. It might be stuff that we don't see for a few weeks and then all of a sudden it pops up. In terms of the new defenders, I think Fernando Bryant looks like he's a starter at one cornerback spot. I also envision Jerod Mayo and Victor Hobson teaming up with Tedy Bruschi to provide a 1-2-3 combo at inside linebacker. I wouldn't be surprised if Brandon Meriweather is in the starting lineup at safety and much improved, with Tank Williams a major factor in sub packages, bridging the gap between safety and linebacker. On paper, the Patriots might be a bit weaker on the back end of the defense (it hurts to lose Asante Samuel), but I think they'll be stronger in the front seven. Overall, this rates as one of my top storylines going forward -- how will this defense be re-shaped? I might be reading the tea leaves wrong, but it's one reason I particularly enjoy following a Bill Belichick-coached team. Good luck figuring out what's coming next.

The Red Sox won the World Series, The Patriots narrowly missed having a perfect season and the Celtics are inches away from a championship. Have we become spoiled?  Are our expectations now too high?

Reiss: Can I turn this question over to safety Rodney Harrison? Entering his 15th NFL season, Harrison was asked this exact question at the Patriots Charitable Foundation Golf Tournament on Monday. His answer: "No question, fans are spoiled. Having a baseball team, world champions. A football team. Now possibly with our basketball team. Just a great legacy and history of winning championships around here. Hopefully it continues." As for my own opinion, I think Harrison is probably right in some respects. I'd just add that it seems to me that many fans realize this is a great era of sports in town that we'll be reflecting upon fondly when we all look back. Given all the ups and downs of the Patriots since their inception -- not just wins and losses, but ownership instability and off-field incidents -- I don't think any long-time Patriots/football fan who lived through that can ever really be considered spoiled.

Tom Brady won't be around forever.  Do you think the Patriots see something in Kevin O'Connell indicating he's the future of this franchise?

Reiss: I don't know if I would word it that way. Obviously, a team wouldn't draft a player in the third round, specifically a quarterback, if it didn't think it had a chance to be a big part of the future of the franchise. But in this case, I think it's as much as being a No. 2 as it is the possibility of being a future starter. More than 60 quarterbacks started at least one game last year in the NFL. That's an astronomical number, and a reminder of the importance of the backup spot. Can Matt Cassel be that guy? I don't think anyone knows the answer, because it's a question that can only be answered if he's thrust into that role, and he hasn't been. So in that case, I like the idea of improving your odds by adding a highly touted player to the mix. I also like the idea that Cassel's contract expires after this season and the team gives itself built-in insurance. That's just smart long-range planning. I'd also point out that there have been positive signs from Matt Gutierrez, a rookie free agent who signed with the club in 2007. The Patriots have been fortunate that Tom Brady has been an ironman, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't prepare for the possibility of having to call on a backup.

There's been a lot written about Chad Jackson and his return to full time play. Do you think he could be the Donte Stallworth replacement we're looking for?

Reiss: Yes, but I don't have the highest confidence at this point. Maybe it's that I caught out of the corner of my eye Jackson running the wrong route in the weekend mini-camp, when there wasn't a defense on the field. I don't want to base my opinion solely on that -- it would be short-sighted to do so -- but I also know there needs to be a trust and bond that develops between quarterback and receiver and that doesn't seem to be there at this point with Tom Brady and Jackson. That's what training camp is for, and it's probably fair to say that's why Jackson will be one of this camp's most intriguing stories to follow.

It's early and there's been limited access to Patriots voluntary camps (ie: Passing Camp), but which new acquisition do you see as adding value quickly?

Reiss: Not including the obvious choice of first-round pick Jerod Mayo, cornerback Fernando Bryant would be at the top of my list. I also think Victor Hobson is going to help, and people will be looking back and saying 'How could there not have been more interest in the free agent market for him?' The third name I'd add to the list is Tank Williams; much of today's game is played with offenses calling on three- and four-receiver packages, and he adds value as an extra defensive back who has linebacker-like skills.

A big Thank You to Mike Reiss for his time and thoughtful answers.  Very cool, Mike.  Don't forget to check out Mike's articles as well as Reiss's Pieces at boston.com 
 

The New England Patriots are just wrapping up a partial team training camp and there appears to be some good news coming out of the media who were present.

Jerod Mayo - Jerod is showing some good stuff, the kind of stuff that makes you feel good about picking him in round 1.  Lining up at weakside linebacker, Mike Reiss thinks, "who seems to move effortlessly across the football field."

Tank Williams - Originally put on the roster as a safety, it looks like he can pull some linebacker duty as well.  Having that kind of movement will help defend against teams throwing those hard-to-defend-against intermediate passes (above the linebackers and below the safeties).

Victor Hobson - As the veteran in this mini camp, Victor was leading the defensive huddles.  Moving from OLB with the Jets's 3-4 to ILB in the Patriots's 3-4, Victor could turn out to be just what we need to bridge the age gap between the youngins and old guard.  Who knows, if he keeps it up, he might end up with a longer deal after his 2008 1year deal.

David Thomas - Injured last year, this TE is back in business.  With the departure of Kyle Brady, a TE slot opens up for this talented 2nd year player.  I'm really hoping the Patriots use this position (and this kid) WAY more than they did last year.  Granted, the passing attack with WRs Moss, Welker, Stallworth, and Gaffney was ridiculous, but it'll be good to see a 6'3", 248 lb TE steam rolling over DBs.

This passing camp was clearly about the rookies and new acquisitions.  With virtually no attendance from the starters, this group of talented players got all the attention and, by the all that I've read, looked pretty darn good.  Hears to adding a few more weapons.