PatsBlog: A Patriots Blog

Heading into 2008, tight end looks to be one of the most questionable positions on the Patriots’ roster.  The Patriots have a lot of skill at the position, but don’t have a big blocker and there are lots of durability questions that could be a problem as well.  A player-by-player look:

Ben Watson

Ben Watson is number one on the depth chart heading into 2008.  Watson has an excellent combination of speed, strength, and size.  He is an adequate blocker for a tight end, although that certainly isn’t his strength.  With Donte Stallworth out of the picture in 2008, it will be interesting to see if Watson is used more in the offense in 2008.  If he works on his hands and blocking a little, and is able to stay healthy, he could still develop into that star player we all envisioned him to be when we drafted him in 2004.

David Thomas

Like Watson, Thomas is an adequate blocker, but he certainly is no Kyle Brady (he works hard but just doesn’t have the strength to push a lot of linebackers off the ball)… his strength is his receiving ability.  He has incredibly soft hands, and he uses his body to shield defenders off the ball, as he uses his athleticism to make great catches.  His biggest question however, much like Watson, is his health.  Thomas missed all but 2 games in 2007 due to a broken foot, it will be interesting to see if he is past those injuries.

Marcus Pollard

Marcus Pollard was the Patriots’ veteran pickup at the tight end position for 2008.  Three years ago, this might have been a great signing… but today, you have to wonder.  During mini-camp, Pollard looked like a big stiff (not unlike another Pollard in Boston… Scott Pollard of the Celtics).  He looked lost and seemed to have a case of stone hands.  Still, he is a decent blocker who has been a reliable pass catcher in the past.  If he performs well during the preseason, he’ll have a very good chance to earn a roster spot.

Jonathan Stupar

Stupar, a rookie free agent signing following the 2008 draft, just needs to come in and compete his best.  He wasn’t too utilized in college, but displayed the ability to catch the ball in traffic over the middle, and the footwork and drive to become an adequate blocker on the second level.  He could surprise a lot of people in training camp, and may be able to steal a roster spot.

Stephen Spach

Considering Spach was able to have a roster spot during the playoffs for an undefeated team, there must be something the Patriots like about him.  He seemed to be a good blocker, and an OK pass catching threat (in mini-camp), although I admit I don’t know much about him.  However, I think there is a good chance he beats out Pollard and Stupar for the final tight end spot.

The Skinny

The Patriots have very solid players at the tight end position.  Watson and Thomas are too athletic tight ends who could both be stars in this league… if they can remain healthy.  Watson is a good blocker who is freakishly athletic, and has shown improvement as a receiver, although he has been inconsistent at times.  Thomas is a hard working guy who has shown excellent pass catching ability, and good footwork on his blocking.  Behind Watson and Thomas, the Patriots have three guys who will all try to compete for a roster spot.

Position Grade: B

ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson lists the Patriots as a potential suitor for the services of Oakland running back Lamont Jordan.

One of the more interesting player situations in the league is LaMont Jordan’s in Oakland. The team held him out of its minicamp in early June and he has been expected to be released because of a high salary and a surplus of running backs in the Oakland backfield.

Despite being held out of the minicamp, Jordan remains Oakland property a month later. Oakland wants to trade Jordan but the market may be small with Chicago, New Orleans and New England as potential suitors.

If the Raiders can’t swing a trade for Jordan before training camp starts it will be interesting to see if he is allowed to practice during training camp. Jordan, who has been very professional during this time, will likely urge the team for his release if the situation isn’t resolved by late this month.

I could see why Jordan makes sense.  He is a bruising runner with good agility,  Sammy Morris is questionable coming off injury, and he would hypothetically make a good change-of-pace to Maroney.  However, he has slowed down the past few years in Oakland, injuries being the main factor.  You have to wonder if the Patriots would pursue someone who’s struggled so much recently.

With training camp set to begin July 24th, I will begin my training camp preview series.  In each segment I will analyze the position, and each player at it.

Tom Brady

Do I really need to say anything about Brady?  Laser, rocket arm.  Terrific pocket awareness.  Great lockerroom leadership.  Clutch player.  In fact, I don’t have to go through his strengths and weaknesses.  Tom is Tom, and 50 touchdowns should explain the rest.

Matt Cassel

2008 Training Camp is going to be very critical for fourth year quarterback Matt Cassel.  Cassel is in a contract year, and is therefore playing for his second contract.  Heres to hoping Cassel can get it together, have a terrific preseason, and have good trade value.  Personally, although I like Cassel a lot, I can’t envision a scenario where he is with the team past 2008.  With a decent arm, good speed, and the ability to manage an offense, Cassel could one day be a starter for an NFL franchise.  On the other hand, with the keen ability to make erratic decisions on the field, and two younger quarterbacks pushing, Cassel could find himself on waivers before the end of the preseason.

Matt Gutierrez

Gutierrez is as intriguing as they come.  Gutierrez was a Michigan product before transferring to Idaho State after losing his starting job to a shoulder injury.  The thing about Gutierrez is that his potential is sky high.  Once a highly touted quarterback, Gutierrez puts zip on the ball that rivals Tom Brady.  He has good pocket prescence, great work ethic, and tremendous size.  If Gutierrez beats out Cassel this training camp, he could be with the team as a backup for a long time.

Kevin O’Connell

Back in late April, the Patriots surprised everyone by selecting San Diego State quarterback Kevin O’Connell.  O’Connell has the size, speed, and throwing ability to become an excellent starting quarterback.  He needs to work on mechanics and he can be inconsistent at times (his inconsistency was more than evident during mini-camps).  Some people have labeled him as Tom Brady’s eventual successor.  While that is unforeseeable at this time, O’Connell will be on the team in 2008, and will have several years to develop in the Patriots system.

The Skinny

Quarterback is by no stretch of the imagination a need for the Patriots.  They have one of the greatest all-time quarterbacks at the helm, with three young guys developing underneath.  The only downside of this unit is experience behind Tom Brady.  Otherwise, this unit is golden as can be.

Team Grade: A

With things really slow, we finally got a couple of nuggets, both of which seem to be good news.

First, ESPN’s John Clayton is reporting that he expects Junior Seau to resign with the Patriots before training camp:

There was one name I forgot the other day in trying to figure out the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2013. Brett Favre, Warren Sapp, Michael Strahan and Jonathan Ogden are possible first-ballot Hall of Famers. I forgot Larry Allen, who has yet to announce his retirement, but most people believe he will retire. Allen has been the league’s most dominating guard for more than a decade. Then there’s Bryant Young of the 49ers and Steve McNair of the Titans and Ravens. Someone also brought up Junior Seau, who is perhaps the most dominating linebacker over the past two decades. Fortunately, Seau will probably re-sign with the Patriots before camp begins. As a Hall of Fame voter, I would like to see Seau stay in football another year. We can only vote in five modern-day players in 2013. Our cup runneth over.

Also, free agent tackle Barry Simms visited with the Patriots last this week.  He’s visited three other teams, including the Ravens, and he expects to make a decision on where to sign later any day now.  Any Patriots fan should welcome a Barry Simms signing, as I think he could compete for starting right tackle.

When the Patriots take the field for mini-camp today, they will be joined by one new face.  His name is Oliver Ross.

The Patriots signed the 33 year old swing tackle to a one-year contract Monday, bolstering depth at the tackle spot.  Ross, who has spent time with the Cowboys, Eagles, Steelers, and Cardinals, missed all of 2007 with a torn left tricep.

The 6′4″ 330 lb tackle has spent time at both the right and left tackle spots during his career.  However, he is a more natural fit at right tackle.  He could go anywhere from being cut to be a key reserve or even a starter next year.  He will compete with Wesley Britt, Ryan O’Callaghan, and returning starter Nick Kazcur for playing time.

Colvin Weighing His Options

This week, former Patriots linebacker Rosevelt Colvin visited with the Houston Texans.  Although he left without a contract, the Texans seemed to be quite interested.  The Colts, Browns, and Jets also seem to have some level of interest as well.

All in all, it seems that a Rosevelt Colvin return is becoming more and more unlikely.

Dragosavich Released

Patriots’ rookie punter Mike Dragosavich has been realeased.  Dragosavich, a North Dakota State product, was widely considered the best available punter in April’s draft.  Although I was looking forwards to seeing Dragosavich play, it was rediculous to think that the Patriots would bring three punters to camp, considering the new roster limit of 80.

It wasn’t the most eventful or exciting day of mini-camp, but it was certainly a chance for some of the new guys to get their chance.

The biggest story of the day was the presence of tight end David Thomas.  Thomas is going into his third season in 2008, after making only catch in 2007, a season that limited him to two games due to a foot injury.  He certainly didn’t look spectacular, as he was just getting the rust off, but it was good to see him out there nonetheless.  If the Patriots have a healthy David Thomas, the passing game becomes that much more potent, because he has a nice combination of hands and speed for a tight end.

Also making a slightly unexpected appearance was cornerback Mike Richardson.  I was really high on Richardson during 2007 training camp, as I thought he was a more physical presence at cornerback who could make good breaks on the ball.  And although it was really nice to see him get out there, he really seemed to struggle.  He looked slow, shaky, and wasn’t making good breaks on the ball.  Although, we can’t write a verdict yet, as this is his first time back on the field, so the rust is obviously there.

Also making an appearance were two of the young quarterbacks, Matt Gutierrez and Kevin O’Connell.  Gutierrez continued to put zip on the ball, and looks more consistent than ever.  O’Connell continued his inconsistencies, but seems to be getting more comfortable under center, and shows the ability to make every NFL throw.

The receiving group at the camp was really interesting.  C.J. Jones was there, and he looked like the best of the group.  Sam Aiken, signed earlier this offseason, was also there, but he looked a little shaky on the offensive side.  At one point, he dropped an O’Connell pass that landed smack in the center of his chest.  Robert Ortiz looked okay, from what I can gather.  Ray Ventrone and Matt Slater, two hybrid offensive/defensive guys, got some time at receiver.  Ventrone played all offense, and really seemed to struggle.  He’s got some speed and agility, but it’s clear he’s never played receiver at a high level.  Slater continued to look decent at receiver, as well as on the defensive side of the ball, and certainly looked to be the better of the two.

Defensively, Jerod Mayo and Tank Williams stood out to me.  Mayo looked very fluid in the hips, and was doing well in drop-back coverage drills.  Tank Williams lined up some at linebacker, and could get a look there in sub-packages (similar to how Rodney Harrison sometimes lines up).

Jerod Mayo, ILB, Tennessee

Round 1, Pick 10

The Patriots traded down from the number seven spot to select Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo.  While many questioned the pick, I was enthralled with it from the get-go.

At 6-1, 242 lbs, Mayo has a very thick, well-built frame (look at some of the photos from when he was introduced to the Patriots).  Excluding size, the first thing that stands out to me about Mayo is his smarts.  Mayo is just a knowledgable player.  He works extra hard in the film room, and he reads and reacts to plays very well, all important traits for a 3-4 inside linebacker.  When defending the run, Mayo isn’t the best bull-tackler, but is a very good open-field tackler.  He can read plays well, and has great acceleration to get to the ball carrier.  He is also very good in pass protection.  Mayo posseses fluid hips, speed, and acceleration.  His insane speed allows him to stick with any tight end and most receivers.

Although Mayo has a lot of strengths, there are some parts of his game that he needs to polish in order to excel at the next level.  These concerns include bull-rushing, taking double teams, and shedding blockers, the latter of the two have to do with his hand usage.  If Mayo can perfect his hand usage (an area where he has improved), then he will be able to rush up the middle better, take and shed hits, as well as double teams. 

Overall, Jerod Mayo seems like a great fit for the Patriots.  I would expect him to come in and compete with Junior Seau / Victor Hobson for a starting job on the inside immediately.  Regardless of that outcome, Mayo will certainly get playing time on third downs.  Some people argue that Mayo was a reach at 10.  In fact, a lot of people argue that point.  However, I believe that if Mayo returned for his senior year, he would have become a top five pick.  And whether or not Mayo comes in and starts immediately, Mayo will be a starter in this system as well as an eventual Pro Bowler for years to come. 

According to Adam Schefter, the Patriots hosted free agent running back Kevin Jones on a visit last week:

Last week, New England very quietly hosted a visit -– and no team can do things as quietly as the Patriots — with former Lions running back Kevin Jones, whom Detroit released in March.

Jones appears to be a couple of months away from recovering from the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered late last season, but he is far enough along that the Patriots brought him in for a look.

I think it would be a great decision to sign Jones.  Yes, he is coming off injury.  However, he still has great potential, and at 5′11″, 225 lbs, could be the perfect compliment to Laurence Maroney.

Earlier this week, I was fortunate enough to be able to interview Patriots’ rookie defensive lineman Casey Tyler.  It’s my first player interview (in fact, I think I’m one of the first blogs to get one), and I thought I’d share it with everyone.

Congrats!  You’re in the NFL.  What were your initial thoughts when the Patriots gave you that call?

The Patriots certainly didn’t pick up any big name guys in rounds 4-7, but they picked up some guys who can contribute on special teams and sometimes in offensive/defensive situations.

In round four, they picked up Jonathan Wilhite.  He’s a 5′ 9 1/2″ inch cornerback from Colorado.  He’s very fast, instinctive, has fluid hips, can play in zone, has good footwork, is a decent tackler for a cornerback, and is versatile in that he can play the slot or the outside.  Still, he is very undersized and doesn’t have ball skills, plus he has had some injuries.  Still, he could eventually have a role as a nickel guy (especially if Wheatley is able to step up into a starting position).

The Patriots traded up in round 5, hoping to get Nebraska cornerback Zackary Bowman.  That didn’t work out too well, as Bowman got selected one pick prior.  With Bowman off the board, the Patriots went with Matt Slater.  He is the jack of all trades, as he plays safety, corner, and receiver (for which he was drafted).  But he was really drafted for special teams.  He had three return scores last year, but is also great in return coverage.

In the sixth round, the Patriots selected inside linebacker Bo Ruud.  Ruud played multiple positions at Nebraska, but projects well as a 3-4 inside linebacker with the Patriots.  He was a guy that I liked a lot, I’ve had him go in some of my mock drafts.  I think he could turn out to be a good rotational guy for the Patriots at linebacker.  He’s got good instincts, strength, and size, so I think he might be a good late-round find.