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Roche: Patriots Training Camp Observations

FOXBORO (CBS) -- After a day off Saturday, the Patriots returned to the fields of Gillette Stadium for practice number-9 of Training Camp. Once again, the Pats had an intra-squad scrimmage. Here's some thoughts and observations:

  • Julian Edelman, Clay Harbor, and Donald Brown were out on the fields for practice in full pads. Edelman and Harbor were both activated off the PUP list (physically unable to perform) while Brown returned from injury (hamstring?). None of the three participated in the scrimmage.
  • In an unusual move, Bill Belichick walked down a back hill to the field where some injured players were working out. He spent a good deal of time down there too.
  • Brown, DJ Foster, Keshawn Martin, DJ Foster, Jonathan Cooper, and Jonathan Freeny all did work in the lower field -- usually a sign of progress towards getting back to full practice.
  • Defensive line coach Brendan Daly caught my eye early during positional drills. Daly was fill of energy barking instructions at his lineman as he went from group to group. Got me thinking about all the time and energy these guys put in. Love of the game has to be off the charts for these guys who grind it out every day.
  • My color analyst for Thursday's preseason opener, Christian Fauria, said he watched as Brady worked a drill with the second team offensive lineman. Christian said Brady broke the huddle and started to line his group up, but didn't like the way they came out of the huddle so he made them come back, huddle, and break again. Just one if those little things that add up to make Brady the special player he is.
  • Unlike Friday, Sunday's scrimmage was much quieter with a lot less energy. Lots of run game work which maybe led to that feeling, plus there was more situational work. At one point, Belichick called for a safety-free kick-off. Much more controlled.
  • It took Tom Brady 2 passes in to surpass his incompletions from Friday. Brady didn't have the same type of day nor did he seem to have the same burning passion/fire that he had in the first scrimmage. He did lead his team to victory though with a final two-plus-minute execution drive. Bill Belichick yelled after the first three plays of the drive, "2nd and 5, Down by 8, Two minute warning". From there, Brady hit 6 of his final 9 passes (which included a bobble/drop from Brandon Bolden) including a TD pass to DeAndre Carter. Brady then capped it off by hitting AJ Derby on the two-point conversion, although we never saw a confirmation it was good from Bill Belichick.
  • Tyler Gaffney, LeGarrette Blount and James White received the majority of the carries. On one drive, Gaffney carried the ball six straight times.
  • Rookie wideout Malcolm Mitchell and rookie CB Cyrus Jones got into a shoving match after one particular play. On the next play Mitchell beat Jones on a route, but juggled the ball and eventually dropped it. One thing you do notice in practice is the ability to get open that Mitchell displays. Should be fun to watch in preseason.
  • Jimmy Garoppolo tossed a TD pass to Martellus Bennett. Garoppolo didn't have the best two days during the scrimmages do I'll be curious to see how he fares in the upcoming joint practices and preseason game. I think when he gets inside the stadium his play may puck up.
  • Tight end AJ Derby had a nice day with the two-point conversion catch and another nice reception on that final drive.
  • On defense, among those that I noticed with plays made: Alan Branch(run stop), Devin McCourty, Malcolm Butler, Jamie Collins(near Int), Shea McClellin(QB pressure), Chris Long(QB pressure), Cedric Thompson(Int of Brady), and Kamu Grugier-Hill(pass coverage).

 

Big week for the Pats and a fun one for fans if you can get to Gillette Stadium. Tuesday and Wednesday are joint practice days with New Orleans and then the preseason opener vs the Saints is Thursday at 7:30pm. You can watch that game in WBZ-TV Ch 4 beginning at 7pm with Patriots Gameday.

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