From Hart: It’s all over (clap, clap…clappy, clap)
Written by Andy Hart on August 18, 2009 – 6:17 pm -The Patriots just left the field following the 27th and final public training camp practice of 2009. The workout took place in shells, jerseys and helmets under hot, sunny conditions on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium. The session was a spirited one, despite the lack of full pads.
–Those not seen on the practice fields included: Sammy Morris, Paris Lenon, George “Bus” Bussey, Sebastian “Sea Bass” Vollmer, Benjamin Watson, Tyson DeVree and Mike Wright. Brandon Tate remains on NFI, Mark LeVoir on PUP and rookie Tyrone McKenzie injured/unsigned.
Jonathan Wilhite wore his regular, blue No. 24 practice jersey. Wilhite had been wearing a red, non-contact jersey as he deals with a reported shoulder injury.
Those returning to practice action included Wes Welker, Rich Ohrnberger, Chris Hanson and Alex Smith.
Unofficially and by nothing other than my own memory this looks like the shortest list of missing players at this point this summer. That’s a good sign as training camp closes and the team starts to transition into a more regular practice/game preparation schedule.
–Another new face took part in the session. No. 43 in blue is defensive back Roderick Rogers. The 6-2, 187-pound former undrafted free agent spent parts of the last two years in Denver, including one start and plenty of time on the Broncos practice squad. He took part fully in the workout. Though he’s played safety in the past, Rogers lined up at cornerback Tuesday afternoon in practice. He even got some reps against Randy Moss. He broke up one deep ball and gave up a long touchdown on another.
–Bill Belichick called the team together before the start of practice. As it did for Tom Brady a few weeks back, the squad sang Happy Birthday. This time it was for Adalius Thomas, who turned 32 on Tuesday.
–Terrence Nunn got a little talking to from coaches after being in the wrong spot on one pass route in group work with the QBs. He seemed to be in the wrong place later on a pass from Andrew Walter as well. Nunn then made up for it with a nice catch on a deep ball from Kevin O’Connell later in the practice. The first-year player is clearly in a battle for his roster/practice squad life. He’s still a PFW favorite but bumbling kickoffs in preseason action and getting yelled at by coaches in non-contact drills isn’t the greatest sign in the world.
–In case you missed it, Julian Edelman’s punt return for a touchdown in Philly was the No. 1 play on NFL Network’s Total Access run down of the top 10 plays from the first week of preseason action. Edelman’s star is rising every minute. It’s only a matter of time before those No. 11 jerseys will once again be sold in the Patriots Pro Shop. Wonder if they actually have any Bledsoe’s left? Maybe they can just change the nameplate.
–The team worked on some situational punt work in a special teams segment with Chris Hanson working on angling the ball out of bounds.
–Brian Hoyer connected with Randy Moss on the previously mentioned deep ball, beating Rogers.
–Tom Brady, Moss, Welker and Joey Galloway worked by themselves on the far practice fields while not taking reps during the team segment late in practice. Brady worked on various routes with the three projected starters. Moss made a number of nice catches. Brady and Galloway struggled to connect on a few deep balls down the left sideline, despite going against air.
–Nathan Hodel took the first few snaps on the field goal work to close out the practice before Jake Ingram took his turn. Stephen Gostkowski hit on seven of nine attempts from various distances, including closing camp out with a bomb from what looked like 50-plus yards out. He missed one kick wide left on one end of the field near the media tent and one wide right on the far end, both misses coming on the up-wind side of the uprights.
–Though he hadn’t done it much in camp, linebacker Eric Alexander returned to his spot under the goal posts for the field goal work. As he’s done in the past Alexander acted out the full routine that an NFL official would on each attempt, including pointing to the other side as if to confer with another official before signaling whether the kick was good or not.
–The Patriots will hold a pregame walk-through on Wednesday in preparation for Thursday night’s second preseason game against the Bengals at Gillette Stadium. The walk-through is closed to the media and the public. New England’s media relations department has not yet released a media schedule moving forward in the preseason in terms of player availability, Belichick press conferences and any potential medial access to practice action. Be sure to check Patriots.com in the coming days and weeks for that information. As always PFW/Patriots.com will bring you all the latest news and notes coming out of Foxborough.
Posted in General |
August 18th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
seems like Training Camp flew by this year and so far no major injuries.
August 19th, 2009 at 10:09 am
should we be worried that Mackenzies injury might be so bad that there is some kind of injury settlement and release .
August 19th, 2009 at 10:11 am
I wouldn’t think so. It’s reportedly a typical blown out knee. Which means a year of rehab and back to work next spring/summer. My guess is that at some point he’ll simply sign his slotted rookie deal and then be placed on IR. I still think he has a future here.
August 19th, 2009 at 10:13 am
I agree with both thoughts. It did fly by. And I was just commenting the other day that we — knock on wood — made it through camp with no serious injuries to this point. Another good sign for this team, this season.
August 19th, 2009 at 11:21 am
andy is it true that mckenzie had injuried that knee in college ? its just weird they haven’t signed him . do the rules change as far as his ability to be with the team after he is signed and placed on IR .
August 19th, 2009 at 11:53 am
What is your evaluation of Galloway so far? I can’t say that I am impressed yet.
August 19th, 2009 at 11:54 am
what do you mean when you say players in the bubble? what’s the bubble?
August 19th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Hey Andy,
Any word as to why Wes Welker has missed such a large chunk of training camp? Should we be worried about him for the start of the season. It’s funny to hear all the analysts on NFL network calling Julian Edlemann a poor man’s Wes Welker, but at the same time I’m concerned a rookie might have to fill in for him for a short time. What do you think?
August 19th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I hope to see Nunn in tomorrow’s game for more than a few plays. From what you guys have been reporting, I hope the coaches yelling at Nunn is an indicator that they foresee him as having Edelman like potential.
I also look forward to Sea Bass pancaking a few Bengal’s…
August 19th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Thanks for all your coverage of the camp. What is your opinion on the progress of the rookies during camp? Who do you think will be in a good position to make an impact straight away?
August 19th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Hopefully this isn’t just fan Homer-ism talkin’ …but my gut is telling me we’ll in for another long W streak ( same feeling I had in 2007 ) . Bills / Jets to start ( 2 - 0 ) then home for 2 semi-tough ones: Falcons ( Pats O should be enough to prevail over Atl’s so-so D ) & Ravens ( Balt’s punchless O negates their power-punchin’ D )Then at Broncs ( poor pourous D should cough up 40 ) Home to Titans ( Well rounded unit should be BIG TEST )and finally BUCs in London ( pt spread might approach 20 pts for that one )
7 - 0 at the Bye looks more than do-able !
( Then again the SOX looked like Yankee killers just a few months ago )
I’d settle for another Pats 18 - 1 season
( As long as the L comes during the regular season )
ps - MY pre Preseason Prediction :
I got ‘em going 14 - 2
( L ’s at Saints on MNF and meaningless last game of the year at Hous. )
August 19th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
mckenzie isn’t the next Chad Jackson right?
August 19th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
I have a real interesting question for you. When do you think Tate should be able to at least try to practice? According to “http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3640760″ the injury was in Oct, and therefore having surgery by end Nov? If not by then is there a way for us the reader to know the estimated date. I know everyone returns from injury differently but it would be nice to know the time frame we are working with. Right now I see him going on PUP and sitting out at least 6 weeks. And if that is the case, I can’t see him catching up this year to play at all and winding up on IR.
Thanks a million if you try to answer this.
August 19th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I think your timeline is a likley one. Looks at this point — since he’s on NFI and hasn’t done a thing — that he’s a lock to start the year on a list. (Not sure exactly if it will be NFI or PUP.) Having not seen him do a single thing on the practice fields, I can’t really say what he looks like right now. But unless the team is hit with massive injuries in the first two months at WR/returner, I don’t really see Tate as a likely option for this year. Physically it’ possible. But since he’s a rookie and has done nothing, I doubt it. Some guys return from ACL injuries as quickly as five or six months. Others take well over a year to get back to speed. But for an uproven rookie — one who may not be needed — I don’t see him being rushed into a Patriots uniform.
August 19th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Why would you say that? Just because of the injury? No. By all accounts he’s a hard worker, very mature and a football nut. Not sure any of those things were true about Jackson. At this point the biggest issue for McKenzie will be getting back from the injury and getting comfortable in the defense. Maybe he’ll be able to put the year off to good use watching, learning and observing from the sidelines. Like a red-shirt year. Then he’ll be ready to slide into action for 2010. I still have high hopes for him as Mayo’s sidekick at inside linebacker.
August 19th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
No word on Welker’s injury. No surprise there. But I don’t think it will keep him from the field to open the regular season. He’s been back at practice and running around catching passes. Whatever it is, it seems minor. I’m not too worried at this point. Maybe we’ll even see him on the field Thursday night against the Bengals.
August 19th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I haven’t been impressed yet either. He’s done little to stand out. Maybe it’s taking him a while to get into the flow of the offense. He said he’s still adjusting, so I’ll take him at his word. At least he’s healthy and on the field. But so far he’s dropped too many passes. I also don’t think he’s looked as fast as his legend says he is. I remember watching Bethel Johnson — he was scary fast. So far I haven’t really seen that extra gear on the practice fields from Galloway. People who covered him in the past have told me he used to have really good hands. I haven’t seen that yet. But I’m keeping an open mind. It’s still early.
August 19th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
A guy who is on the bubble is guy who is right on the cusp of making the roster. He’s a guy who could be number 53 on the roster or the last guy cut.
August 19th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Andy my man,
I’m a firm believer that Ben Watson will be traded this year. Then again, I wasn’t high on Edelman last week and preferred Nunn and was truly shown a top-class show by #11. What percentage that Ben Watson will be traded? Or cut?
And if Watson is gone, what are the chances of keeping either Tyson De Vree as a 4th TE, or Benny as 5th RB. Or, is there a chance that they do that anyway.
August 19th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Hey Andy,
Any word on how Shawn Crable is doing? Is he a lock to make this team or is he now expendable with the addition of Burgess and solid play of Tully Banta-Cain? Also, what do you think the Pats’ record will be this year?
Thanks
August 19th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
My guess is Watson sticks around, although the trade theory is a fun one. Paul (the one from Peabody), thinks it could happen. Right now I’d say Baker is a lock. Thomas would be close to a lock in my mind thanks to the blocking he’s done in practice and the preseason opener, some coming as a true fullback. Then I think Watson will be next, filling out the team’s top three TE slots. DeVree had a really good start to camp, but has cooled a little. I also don’t think he’s a great option as a blocker. Smith has a lot experience being used as a versatile TE in Tampa. In the end, considering the injury history of Thomas and Watson, I say they keep four tight ends. DeVree is the most likely cut, but I wouldn’t be stunned if Smith were to go instead.
At RB, I do think they will keep 5 running backs. I think they’ve all looked good in camp. And the top three (Maroney, Morris and Taylor) all have injury issues from the past. I think they will run the ball a good deal at times this year. That means many extra tight end looks and the need for enough healthy backs to get it done. So 4 TEs and 5 RBs. Of course I haven’t really gone through a full, 53-man projection yet so I don’t know how those roster spots will play out in terms of numbers at other positions.
August 19th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Andy -
When you do your projection, I think you’ll find that keeping 5 RBs AND 4TE’s leaves us short at either WR, LB or O-Line depth. We DID have 5 backs last season, but one was the FB Evans. It seems to me that BB’s objective in having Thomas work as an H-back was to consolidate the FB and #3 TE positions in order to free up a roster spot elsewhere. Keeping 4 TEs would negate that savings.
August 19th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Andy…
i wrote McKenzie, meant Tate (the chad jackson reference). my bad. so much information, i was on overload this morning, and maybe a bit too much COFFEE!
Really excited about this team this year!
August 19th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
thanks for all your awesome insight and hard work! much obliged!
August 20th, 2009 at 7:50 am
If Moss & Welker are locks at 1&2 receiver…and we have to choose between Galloway, Lewis, Edelman, Nunn and Aiken to fill 3 more spots, who do you take?
My assumption is Aiken is good on special teams and you want to keep him. Edelman has shown explosiveness and versatility and you want to keep him on active roster. That leaves Galloway, Lewis and Nunn…WHo’s the odd man out?…If you have to go on performance to date, it’s Galloway, but I don’t see between Nunn and Lewis a #3 receiver. The #3 in NE is a starter essentially, so which of these 3 guys is prime for this spot?
August 20th, 2009 at 7:57 am
Defense…I think the article on patriots.com regarding playing the 4-3 this year is interesting. BB has the personnel to pull off almost any defensive configuration, except possibly the 3-4 which is interesting since this has been the team’s strength. Maybe Andy wants to comment here, but I don’t see great strength inside less Mayo of course to run the 3-4 a majority of the time?….
selfishly speaking, I would love to see 5 man fronts, or those fronts where players just stand at the line and keep the QB guessing. I like having Mayo in the middle by himself and an extra guy upfront. I think with the improvement in the secondary, adding another lineman upfront is actually going to be a good thing for us, rather than at LB. We have depth and strength at DL, so why not put more of these skilled players on the field at the same time.
Comments?
August 21st, 2009 at 12:22 am
FYI typo in the title. Left out “the” in From The Hart.
August 21st, 2009 at 5:50 am
I’d say they failed that mission
To MaineMan.
It is possible to have 6 or 7 WRs, 5 RB, 4 TE, 9 OL.
You steal spots from other spaces.
2 QBs, 5 RB, 7 WR, 4 TE, 9 OL, 6 DL, 8 LB, 5 CB, 4 S and the 3 Specialists.