Open OTA #2: Patriots practice observations – Extra Points – Boston.com
Too much good stuff here to pull any specific nuggets. Just click it and read it.
Junior Seau’s last days before suicide – USATODAY.com
Junior Seau’s last days before suicide – USATODAY.com
Sad stuff, but a worthwhile read.
Please have a healthy year. Please have a healthy year…
(via Patriots Organized Team Activities – May 31, 2012)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/please-have-a-healthy-year-please-have-a-healthy/
In 7-on-7′s, there were several different combinations utilized in the secondary, but it is worth noting that for the second consecutive week, McCourty appeared to take the bulk of the reps at cornerback. (It looked like McCourty and Ras-I Dowling were paired as the starting corners.) There were several different pairings at safety, including Nate Ebner and Pat Chung, Ebner and Ross Ventrone and Josh Barrett and Sergio Brown. Steve Gregory rotated into the mix as well. Ebner made a nice pass breakup on a pass from Brian Hoyer that was intended for Brandon Lloyd.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/in-7-on-7s-there-were-several-different/
Brandon Lloyd is continuing to stick out at practice, as the Patriots’ new wideout displayed a nice ability to extend to make the catch and reel in passes that don’t hit him right in the chest.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/brandon-lloyd-is-continuing-to-stick-out-at/
Welker bringin’ the guns to OTAs today.
(via Patriots Organized Team Activities – May 31, 2012)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/welker-bringin-the-guns-to-otas-today-via/
Examining what’s out there at returner – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston
Examining what’s out there at returner – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston
One of the bigger surprises from the draft to me was that the Pats didn’t take a returner, nor did they pick one up in free agency. The value of kickoffs was lessened by last year’s rule changes, but still, you never want to be at the bottom of the league in anything (including defense, heyoo!).
Using Woodhead and Edelman last year illustrated that the Pats felt going with agile guys was the better choice with the kickoff returns being on a shorter field, and it was surprising that it didn’t work to better effect. I really thought Edelman would be better than he was.
So it’s hard to say what the approach will be this year and should be interesting to see what they do, but it has to be an area they want to see improved.
Overall, while keeping in mind that kickoff returns are a team effort, the Patriots ranked 29th in the NFL in kick return average, at 21.4 yards. Only the Chiefs (21.3), Eagles (20.9), and Colts (18.6) were worse.