Questions, Comments, Complaints, Compliments, Whatever
Can I get some questions up in here? Up in here? Up in here?
Chat: Chat with Mike Reiss – SportsNation – ESPN
Chat: Chat with Mike Reiss – SportsNation – ESPN
Good signs…
Bryan (Charlestown) What about Kenbrell Thompkins and Josh Boyce stood out to you today?
Mike (3:28 PM) Bryan, they caught everything thrown to them. And there were quite a few footballs thrown in their direction, by both Brady and Garoppolo. With Dobson and LaFell not practicing, Thompkins stepped in and ran quite a few routes alongside Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola as more of that outside presence. At one point, Tom Brady connected with him and was so fired after the play that he went up to him and butted his helmet with his own helmet. As for Boyce, I think I counted three touchdown catches for him. He looks to be playing faster, making good reads after the snap, and playing with more confidence. I would caution anyone from getting too excited about a June passing camp practice, but I will admit I had this thought afterwards, “Is this what it could look like when the light goes on in that first-to-second-year jump?”
‘Top 100 Players of 2014’: Rob Gronkowski – NFL Videos
‘Top 100 Players of 2014’: Rob Gronkowski – NFL Videos
Big year coming up for the Gronk, if he can just be healthy in January and February I think the Pats have a legit shot at winning the Super Bowl. Without him, they’d have to catch all the breaks, which isn’t out of the question, but it would obviously be a whole lot easier with #87 on the field.
I’m a little bit smaller than most of the other guys around here. So to make up for that, I have to be fast and be able to cover, so I take that as a strength, and I work on it.
At 6-foot-3, 282 pounds, Will Smith is more Wilforkian than Revish, but during a drop-back drill for defensive ends, the big man moved well and made one leaping grab that was particularly impressive. For a player of his size – coming off of ACL surgery, no less – Smith showed glimpses of what made him a hard-to-handle athlete in New Orleans.
Julian Edelman was one of the stars of Thursday’s practice. The wide receiver caught three passes against Darrelle Revis – two along the left side line and one in the middle of the field. Kenbrell Thompkins was another wideout who stuck out.
I’m liking the Garoppolo look, definitely takes over second place on the “look” depth chart over Mallett.