New England Patriots links 7/30/18 - Defense dominates, offense has its highlights through Day 4

TEAM TALK

• Patriots 2018 Training Camp: Additional dates/times announced. July 30-31 closed to the public.
• Erik Scalavino shares some news and notes from Sunday’s camp: Learning continues for Sony Michel.
• Paul Perillo posts his Day 4 Blogservations: Gilmore continues to impress.
• Andy Hart’s Day 3 Blogservations: Harmon, defense shine in pads.
• Andy Hart says that if the first couple days of padded practice are any indication, the Patriots’ additions on defense – as well as the growth of some returning players -- could really pay off.
• Andy Hart helps us get to know new Patriot Jeremy Hill, who is by far the biggest back on the roster this summer in Foxborough.

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss posts some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Bret Bielema, popular among former Razorbacks and Badgers, now with Patriots.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Sunday Patriots news, AFC East notes: Deatrich Wise had the hit of the summer so far, Jason McCourty also had a nice day on Friday; Phillip Dorsett making the most of his opportunity; More.
• Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) 10 Things we’ve learned about the 2018 Patriots. 1. Trent Brown can play left tackle. Plus a few training camp videos/breakdowns.
• Karen Guregian provides a list of how the Patriots have fared over its first five games of each season under Bill Belichick, and the end result. /Interesting.
• Nick O’Malley makes 10 way-too-early predictions for which players in camp are setting up to have big years.
• Ryan Hannable chalks up the emotional ‘slow start’ to training camp as a ‘trickle-down effect of having no joint practices’.
• Ryan Hannable hears from Tom Brady on the offensive line playing at ‘graduate level of football’.
• Kevin Duffy spotlights the big strides Trent Brown has made in the race for left tackle.
• Ryan Hannable tells why Tom Brady feels optimistic about his new group of wide receivers.
• Phil Perry notes Cordarrelle Patterson set the record straight on his earlier jab at the Raiders about Belichick going to make him into the player he should be.
• Kevin Duffy says Sony Michel clearly possesses the most big-play potential of anyone in the backfield.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Sony Michel comes exactly as advertised, with the good and the bad.
• Zack Cox talks about how Sony Michel is learning from James White.
• Ryan Hannable searches for who is the potential No. 1 back in the offense and finds it hard to ignore Rex Burkhead.
• Karen Guregian is very much liking Stephon Gilmore’s ‘Superman quality’ he has in his arsenal. /Me too.
• Rich Thompson notes Deatrich Wise is all about disrupting the quarterback.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Deatrich Wise intent on making a big year 2 jump in play.
• Zack Cox reports Trey Flowers left the field during the second half of Saturday’s training camp practice with an apparent head/facial injury.
• Ian Logue (PatsFans) ‘Even-keeled’ Gostkowski has Belichick feeling ‘fortunate’ heading into 2018.
• Kevin Duffy details the Day 4 rundown from camp: Run defense delivers.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Sunday practice observations: Plays of the day - Defense stopped the offense three straight times from the goal line; Cordarrelle Patterson made a fantastic catch with Eric Rowe draped all over him.
• Ryan Hannable’s Sunday training camp report: Defense has step up on offense.
• Doug Kyed’s Training Camp Observations: Stephon Gilmore continues to excel.
• Kevin Duffy Patriots Notebook: Defense wins early goal-line challenge.
• Kevin Duffy Patriots Notebook: Julian Edelman takes blame for suspension, hopes to move forward.
• CBS Boston reports WR Jordan Matthews is expected to miss a few days after tweaking his hamstring.
• Phil Perry highlights intriguing roster long-shots TE Will Tye and WR Paul Turner.
• Karen Guregian NFL Notes: Hot start would serve Patriots well; Strife could resurface with early struggles.
• Mike Giardi is all over the place in his conclusions when he says the pressure is on Josh McDaniels to deliver this season. /First of all, pressure is always on to deliver.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Staff (Religion of Sports) Exclusive Q&A: Tom Brady discusses his 19th training camp.
• Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) 2018 NFL Preview: Will the Patriots get Tom Brady another ring before he’s done?
• Mike Jones (USA Today) Tom Brady, moving to Jay-Z, young as ever in his 19th New England Patriots training camp.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady heads into the season as the MVP favorite.
• Kevin Clark (The Ringer) Two seconds or less: Pass rushers are faster, stronger, and better than ever before, while QBs are getting rid of the ball quicker than in any previous era. Inside the high-speed battle that defines the modern NFL.
• Danny Kelly (The Ringer) The NFL training camp battles worth watching.
• Brent Sobleski (Bleacher Report) Who’s the talk of every NFL team’s offseason so far? Patriots: Isaiah Wynn.
• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Morning QB: Aaron Rodgers and the quest to be like Brady.
• Peter King (ProFootballTalk) Football Morning in America: Carson Wentz, clues and Philly’s hunger for another Super Bowl run.
• Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports) Tom Brady responds to ‘ridiculous’ question about Alex Guerrero and Julian Edelman’s suspension.
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Report: NFL’s independent investigations far from thorough. /You might even think they’re slanted in the league’s favor.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL, NFLPA conclude “constructive meeting” on anthem policy.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL tells Jerry Jones to zip it regarding the anthem policy.