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Bob Socci's Quick Hits From Day 1 Of Patriots Training Camp

BOSTON (CBS) - Thousands of fans poured in to the practice field stands Thursday morning as the team took the field for the first time in July for Patriots Training Camp.

Most of us couldn't be there because of work, but the voice of the Patriots Bob Socci saw the whole thing, as well as Andy Gresh and Scott Zolak who were broadcasting their show overlooking it all.

Here's some of the main takeaways they noticed after the first day of training camp:

Rob Gronkowski:

Socci: "He looked pretty good all things considered. In-and-out of his breaks moving pretty well, landing well. No signs of tentativeness that one could see."

Gresh: "Gronk didn't look hesitant at all."

(Note: Gronkowski didn't participate in the team drills but did put in extra time with Brady after practice was over)

Tavon Wilson

Socci: "One guy that maybe has been forgotten about that has put himself in the running as camp begins is Tavon Wilson. He's worked out very well the past few weeks, and he was out there today interchanging very well with the safeties."

Kenbrell Thompkins

Socci: "One guy on offense that stood out -- he had a drop here and there, but also made some spectacular catches -- was Kenbrell Thompkins. It looks like he's poised to do his best to take advantage of the opportunity with Aaron Dobson on the sideline. He had a good spring in OTAs, a better minicamp and today just some sensational plays for Kenbrell. I'm excited for that receiver."

Brandon LaFell

Gresh: "The biggest thing for LaFell is catching the football, because that was his issue in Carolina. It's going to take him a little bit to get integrated into this offense."

Zolak: "He had a couple drops at the end of team drills."

Julian Edelman

Socci: "What strikes me with Julian is not only how quickly he moves and darts without really telegraphing where he's going, but when he catches the ball he plucks it out of the air with both hands."

Zolak: "His whole game is predicated on his feet. Julian is unusually quick. He's got a burst after he catches it. Edelman has the ability to make people miss and also kick it into that other gear. Troy [Brown] didn't have that. Playing the position of quarterback at one time helps Edelman out from a spacing standpoint. Edelman and Revis almost went at it today. There was almost fisticuffs down at the far corner. Revis has the ability to practice and compete and elevate a guy like Edelman."

Darrelle Revis

Socci: "He's intense in practice, almost as much so as he is in games. That's been his reputation, and we've seen it a bit in minicamp and now today."

Zolak: "Revis has got such a low center of gravity. He's not tall, he's not lanky. He's got that stocky build and everything with him is a knee-bend. He's in the squat position and it's just smooth, continuous flow. He doesn't get too straight up and down and you never see him slip. He has the most controlled feet up under him. Boy this guy is pretty good. You can see why he's separate from everybody else."

Brandon Browner

Socci: "The length of those arms. He broke up a pass in the back of the endzone intended for Julian Edelman. That was one thing that struck me. The Patriots didn't have that guy last year in the secondary, not only to tie people up at the line of scrimmage, but to also have those long arms and be able to knock passes away like he did."

Vince Wilfork

Socci: "It was encouraging to see Vince move the way he did."

Zolak: "There's no gimp. There's no limp there. He's got the lower legs -- not the upper legs -- of a running back, and that's probably helped the healing process."

Gresh: "I haven't seen him turn it loose yet. We will, but he's like a Gronkowski in that if he doesn't play a ton I don't think it's the worst thing in this preseason if he isn't in there."

Listen below for the full analysis from Day 1:

Socci's Quick Hits From Day 1 Of Patriots Camp

MORE PATRIOTS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON

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