PatsBlog: A Patriots Blog

With training camp opening today, I thought I’d give a quick preview of the major position battles that should take place.  I’ll do about one per week, starting with this general overview:

Back-up/2nd String  Quarterback:

Kevin O’Connell is a virtual lock to be the third quarterback.  However, there will be a battle for second quarterback between Matt Cassel and Matt Gutierrez.  In the end, one of them will more than likely be cut or traded.  In my opinion, the most likely event would be Cassel and Gutierrez playing pretty neck and neck, while Cassel, who has shown some flashes, will end up being traded for a third or fourth round pick.  However, if Gutierrez doesn’t hold up his end of the bargain, anything can happen. 

Wide Receiver:

Only two spots are set in stone for the wide receiver position. Randy Moss will be #1, and Wes Welker will be #3, in the slot. The number 2, 4, and 5 are completely up for grabs, the competitors being Jabar Gaffney, Chad Jackson, and Kelley Washington.  In my opinion, Gaffney has the early edge, considering his success in the Patriots system, as well as his overall experience and consistency.  He’s the safe pick.  Then there’s Chad Jackson.  We all hope Jackson could step up and be the other starting receiver, and if he does, that means he’s finally getting everything right.  Chad Jackson is the hopeful pick.  Lastly, there’s Kelley Washington.  Washington has height and strength, but we have yet to see what he can really do in the Patriots system.  Washington is the underdog, just as Jabar Gaffney was last year.

Right Tackle:

Nick Kaczur vs. Ryan O’Callaghan vs. Oliver Ross vs. Wesley Britt vs. Anthony Clement.  With Kaczur’s legal issues up in the air, there might be an opening at right tackle.  Ryan O’Callaghan is a guy who is big, smart, and has experience starting in the Patriots system… he’s a guy that I really like, but I think he might be a little soft.  Oliver Ross has yet to be spotted in a Patriots uniform and is now on PUP.  His chances are dwindling by the day.  Wesley Britt is an underdog, but I think there’s a chance he could get that spot due to his hard work and experience in the system.  Then the wildcard is Anthony Clement.  He’s started the past two years for the Jets, and looked impressive on day one of training camp.  Maybe he could be the answer.

Inside Linebacker:

One of the two positions on the inside, next to Tedy Bruschi is up for grabs. It will be between Jerod Mayo and Victor Hobson. Obviously, Mayo will start down the road and get significant playing time as a rookie, but I think Hobson is going to surprise some people.  He looks faster than described, has 3-4 experience, is a hard hitter, and I really think he can start and be good this year.

Back-up Outside Linebacker:

This will be between Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable, and even Vince Redd (a guy who I really like).  If Junior Seau was back, I’d say him, but it looks less and less likely that he will be returning.  All three of these guys are really tall, athletic linebackers.  I think they could all see time at some point during the season.  Woods and Crable will really be fighting for time, and should both see some, while I see Redd turning a lot of heads.

Cornerback:

One of the biggest questions heading into training camp is; who is going to start next to Ellis Hobbs? This position might showcase the tightest battle, as the likes of Fernando Bryant (my pick), Jason Webster, Lewis Sanders, Terrence Wheatley, and possibly Jonathan Wilhite will be competing for that position.  Fernando Bryant has adequate size, is a workhorse, is experienced, fast, and is really good in run support.  Webster is undersized, but is also experienced and has great cover abilities.  Lewis Sanders is the biggest cornerback on the roster, and will compete because of that alone, although he is very unproven.  Terrence Wheatley probably won’t start as a rookie, but looked really good in mini-camp, and might have a chance to garner the starting job later in the season, and a solid training camp would certainly help.  Wilhite is kind of in the same boat, he had a strong showing during mini-camp, but is very unlikely to start this year.  However, he could be a nickel or dime back.

With training camp beginning at 8:45 this morning, the Patriots have agreed to a contract with rookie inside linebacker Jerod Mayo, according to a league source.  Although Mayo will miss the first practice, it is really fortunate that the Patriots could avoid a holdout with the 10th overall pick.  Mayo was the last Patriots draft choice unsigned, as the Patriots locked up cornerback Terrence Wheatley on Tuesday.

Over the past few days, the Patriots also made some final signings to fill out their roster.  Over the last week, they signed Anthony Clement, Chris Dunlap, Lavdrim Bauta, and Titus Adams.  Anthony Clement is probably the most well-known, and has the best chance to make the roster.  The massive 6′8″ right tackle has started every game the last two years for the Jets.  Overall, he seems to be a solid body who is slightly above average in pass protection.  We’ll see if he can earn a roster spot, and possibly a significant role on the team.  The Patriots also signed former Georgia Tech wideout Chris Dunlap.  If you remember, Dunlap was on the team last year during training camp, and made it to the final cuts.  He has good speed, and showed the ability to be a solid return guy and even make some catches during preseason 2007.  He will be competing with C.J. Jones and Robert Ortiz for practice squad spots.  As for the Lavdrim Bauta signing…  I’m not going to pretend I know a lot about the former Duke and Villanova right tackle who went undrafted following the 2007 draft.  Titus Adams is a big run-stuffing defense tackle drafted in the 7th round of the 2006 draft by the Jets.  However, he has questionable durability, and very limited pass rush abilities.  Adams could compete for a spot as a reserve nose tackle, but he is a longer shot to make the final roster.

Because training camp starts today, the Patriots also announced their physically unable to perform list.  During the preseason, players can be activated from this list at any time.  This years list includes: With training camp beginning at 8:45 this morning, the Patriots have agreed to a contract with rookie inside linebacker Jerod Mayo, according to a league source.  Although Mayo will miss the first practice, it is really fortunate that the Patriots could avoid a holdout with the 10th overall pick.  Mayo was the last Patriots draft choice unsigned, as the Patriots locked up cornerback Terrence Wheatley on Tuesday.

Over the past few days, the Patriots also made some final signings to fill out their roster.  Over the last week, they signed Anthony Clement, Chris Dunlap, Lavdrim Bauta, and Titus Adams.  Anthony Clement is probably the most well-known, and has the best chance to make the roster.  The massive 6′8″ right tackle has started every game the last two years for the Jets.  Overall, he seems to be a solid body who is slightly above average in pass protection.  We’ll see if he can earn a roster spot, and possibly a significant role on the team.  The Patriots also signed former Georgia Tech wideout Chris Dunlap.  If you remember, Dunlap was on the team last year during training camp, and made it to the final cuts.  He has good speed, and showed the ability to be a solid return guy and even make some catches during preseason 2007.  He will be competing with C.J. Jones and Robert Ortiz for practice squad spots.  As for the Lavdrim Bauta signing…  I’m not going to pretend I know a lot about the former Duke and Villanova right tackle who went undrafted following the 2007 draft.  Titus Adams is a big run-stuffing defense tackle drafted in the 7th round of the 2006 draft by the Jets.  However, he has questionable durability, and very limited pass rush abilities.  Adams could compete for a spot as a reserve nose tackle, but he is a longer shot to make the final roster.

Because training camp starts today, the Patriots also announced their physically unable to perform list.  During the preseason, players can be activated from this list at any time.  This years list includes:  Jarvis Green, Mike Vrabel, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Ellis Hobbs, Stephen Neal, Nick Kaczur, Oliver Ross, Bo Ruud, Mike Wright, Ryan Wendell, and Wes Welker.  While I’m sure some player will come off within the next few days, this list has to be a little concerning.  Are Hobbs, Neal, and Wright on the list because they are all still recovering from surgery?  Is Oliver Ross ever going to be healthy?  Is Kaczur on the list because of his legal troubles (which were reportedly solved as he pleaded guilty to a traffic violation as he helped the government with the prescription pill investigation)?  Why are Mike Vrabel and Wes Welker, two vital pieces to any championship aspirations, on this list?

Finally, with training camp set to begin today, check back here for practice notes everyday, as I’ll keep you updated with all training camp happenings.

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

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

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).

The Patriots will open up their 2007 preseason against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tonight at 7:30 in Tampa.  After a busy and crazy offseason, football is already here, and I’m excited.  But before the regular season, is of course, the preseason.  I personally really enjoy the preseason, because as I passionate fan, it is my only chance to see some of the younger players, or longer shots to make the team in action.  Through the preseason, I find new favorite players like Bam Childress or Patrick Pass, guys you wouldn’t necessarily expect to impress you coming out of college.  If you’re someone who doesn’t like the preseason, possibly because you don’t see Brady or Bruschi out there, maybe you can take a step back and look at the players that get the bulk of the playing time, who are working their tails off to win or secure a roster spot.  Maybe Mike Richardson steps up at corner, secures a roster spot through a strong preseason, and makes an impact in Asante Samuel’s absence; like Randall Gay in 2004.  Maybe an undersized, unknown defensive lineman comes up huge, and shines, and will be an impact player on the team for years to come; ala Mike Wright.  If you’re not a bandwagon fan, if you’re not a casual fan, the preseason should really be something special to you.

For those looking forward to the game tonight (as well as the rest of the preseason), here are some thing that you can watch for:

- Which wide receivers will distinguish themselves in game situations?  With Randy Moss out, can Jabar Gaffney secure a roster spot with a strong performance?  Can Kelley Washington get out of his slump?

-Which runningback (Kevin Faulk or Sammy Morris) will step up as the number two guy?  Maroney is likely out, as he was wearing a red non-contact jersey all of camp, and one of those two will have to step up.

-Who can fill the void left by Asante Samuel’s holdout and Chad Scott’s injury?  Right now, Randall Gay is starting opposite Ellis Hobbs.  But, could Meriweather be versatile enough to start at corner?  Or will someone else step up?

-Who will start at right tackle, Ryan O’Callaghan or Nick Kazcur?  Both are going to get playing time, and right now, neither of them have distingiushed themselves from the other.  The preseason will change that.

All of these things I have stated are questions.   And what’s great about the preseason, is that all of these questions need to be answered.  The performance of individuals in this preseason will lead to the success or failure of the New England Patriots in 2007.

- The team was back in full pads after being in shorts and helmets in the morning.  With that being said, this was one of the more energized practices yet.

- Randy Moss was not on the field for the second straight practice.  For his sake, the the team’s sake, for his reputations sake, he needs to get on the field.  However, I aknowledge his injury, and I don’t want to downplay it.

- Ellis Hobbs was stepping up throughout practice, on several occasions breaking up accurate passes.

- Bam Childress was on fire, catching everything in sight.  He faces tremendous odds to make the roster, but good days like this and continued versatility may give him a chance.  GO BAM!

- Sammy Morris was really struggling to haul in passes.  However, he has played so well thus far, I’m not going to take anything into it.

- Kevin Faulk on the other hand, was doing really well.  He had a couple of nice runs, and a couple of nice one-handed catches (if full speed, would have been closelined by Eugene Wilson)

- All 3 units got practice reps, so all players could try to make their impressions on the coaching staff.

Yesterday, Patriots cornerback Chad Scott was placed on injured reserve.  Scott, who injured his left knee the first day of practice, was going to help fill the void left by Asante’s holdout.  So his injury is a bigger blow than it seems.  Now, the Patriots need Asante Samuel, which helps to fill his side of the argument.

The Patriots have actually moved Meriweather down to cornerback, where he has been playing very well, seemingly knocking away anything that comes in his direction.

From Christopher L. Gasper at Reiss’ Pieces:

A source close to Patriots first round pick Brandon Meriweather has confirmed that the sides have completed a five-year deal. The source said that Meriweather would be at Patriots’ practice tomorrow. We’ll try to track down terms of the deal.

Although Meriweather was not present for the Patriots first practice this morning, he and his agent, Joby Branion of Athletes First, had essentially agreed to terms with the Patriots. The sides were just ironing out a few details, which prevented Meriweather from participating.

The source close to Meriweather said there was never any threat of a holdout as the defensive back was eager to get in on time. He’s a little tardy, but I’m sure the Patriots will take it.

It’s good to hear there will be no holdout, as there likely will be with Brady Quinn of the Browns.  We haven’t seen much of Meriweather yet, and I’m eager to see him play.

Overview:

For the last five or six years, tight ends have been a very esssential piece of the Patriots offense.  The Patriots generally don’t start a full back and start two tight ends instead (or an h-back).  However, this year the Patriots acquired more than a handfull of potentially star receivers.  Will this take away from the tight ends productivity in the Patriots offense?  Whether or not, the Patriots have a nice core of tight ends.  It starts with fourth year tight end Ben Watson.  Watson has pro bowl talent, but something always seems to be stopping him.  Last year, he was off to a great start the first half of the year, but slowed down tremendously.  The Patriot’s usual other starting tight end, Daniel Graham, left for the Broncos this offseason.  But the Patriots have a new weapon ready.  His name is David Thomas.  In limited playing time in ‘06 as a rookie, Thomas excelled, and showed some of the softest hands on the team.  I expect he’ll have at least 25-30 grabs this year.  Thomas however, is not a blocking tight end (which Graham was).  So they went out and signed the best blocking tight end on the market, Kyle Brady.  Although Brady never lived up to his hype coming out of college, he is a great blocker and a decent receiver (looked very good in minicamp).  Garrett Mills is also an interesting player.  He was very good last year in the preseason, before going on IR.  He is also quite versatile, which is a plus (plays h-back and fullback, as well as tight end).  Matt Kranchick is a big body, he won’t make the roster, but can still make the practice squad.

Roster

Garrett Mills

Matt Kranchick

Kyle Brady

Ben Watson

David Thomas

Predicted Depth Chart

1. Ben Watson. Rating: 91

2. David Thomas.  Rating: 79

3. Kyle Brady.  Rating: 76

4. Garrett Mills.  Rating: 71

CUTS: Matt Kranchick

Training Camp Battles:

Garrett Mills vs. Himself

Can Mills stay healthy?  Can he play well enough and be versatile enough to make it to the roster.  If he gets cut, he probably won’t make it to the practice squad, because he will be taken off waivers.

Tight End Grade: B+