The 18th session of training camp was a full pads session held inside the practice bubble due to the rainy conditions outside. That meant the open public practice session was cancelled, as was the Patriots Experience. You can hopefully try again tomorrow or on Wednesday.
WR Wes Welker met with the media and he says he feels really good more than a year removed from his ACL injury. “This is the best I’ve felt in my career. I think just (in) the knowledge of the game and being able to be (100%) healthy.”
Asked if he really meant it’s the best he’s felt in his entire career, he again answered yes.
Director of Player Development Nick Caserio also spoke about Welker and he is just amazed at how well Wes has come back from the injury.
Caserio also touched on the workout players and the amount of players they’ve had into to camp for a look. He said that going back into his notes from last year they have seen the same amount of players. It just seems like a lot more due to the compressed time period of training camp due to the lockout. He said the team is just doing its due diligence, doing their homework and staying prepared as they gather information on players. You never know when an injury will pop up and one of these workouts will help the team make a decision on whether or not to sign a player.
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Among the players missing the bubble session were DT Albert Haynesworth, LB/DE Jermaine Cunningham, LB Brandon Spikes, WR Julian Edelman, WR Brandon Tate, WR Taylor Price and DE Mike Wright. Several others missed the session but watched from sidelines and worked on their rehab.
T Matt Light was more involved today as he works toward starting in Miami Week 1 on Monday Night football. OL Zach Roth also returned after being hurt a couple days ago.
Some notes on players from the session include DL Mark Anderson who looks really good. The former Bear has been playing well and was singled out post game last week by Bill Belichick.
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis looked exceptionally quick on the turf. Probably safe to say “The Lawfirm” is raring to go.
Rookie QB Ryan Mallett continued to get a lot of reps today after starter Tom Brady was done with his. QB Brian Hoyer also saw a bunch of reps as well. Rumors are Mallett takes on Tampa Bay and Hoyer gets Detroit. I don’t know if they’ll split the games in half or if they are going to play the entire game. So where does that leave Brady? Waiting to blow the doors off the Dolphins defense on September 12.
Brady and WR Chad Ochocinco were seen talking to each other between plays and reps as they seem to be working on the nuances of the Patriots passing game. WR Deion Branch and TE Aaron Hernandez both made a nice catch during drills.
The opinion of observers on free agent signee DL Andre Carter is that he is a hard core, go all the time practice player. He’s a lot for the offensive line to handle and he plays the run as well as the pass. In football parlance…he’s a beast. Looks like the Mad Genius of Foxboro has found another potential gem in a scrap heap.
Defensively, S Sergio Brown has been gaining more snaps in practice over Brandon Meriweather. It’s been looking like Meriweather might get bumped down the depth chart or possibly released as the team looks to get stronger at safety. Today they brought in Darren Sharper and Renaldo Hill for workouts.
The defensive backs as a whole had a lot of pass deflections today, and while the corners are on lockdown mode the middle of the field has been susceptible to being open and Welker has been picking it apart.
S Patrick Chung had the hit of the day when he absolutely plastered Hernandez after a catch. As Hernandez got out into the flat Chung was waiting for him and promptly introduced the Connecticut-born tight end to the turf.
On every play during team drills, Belichick would call out down and distance and then the offensive unit would have to run a play for it. Just more situational football.
The teams practice schedule for the next few days is as follows:
Tuesday
Practice will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Patriots Experience will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday
Walkthrough will be held from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
The Patriots Experience will be open from Noon to 3 p.m.
For all the latest training camp information including updated practice times go to patriots.com/trainingcamp or call 508.549.0041.
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