Yes, New England Patriots fans, preseason game number two is upon us.  For your viewing pleasure, tune in to The NFL Network or WCVB / Channel 4 @ 8:00 PM.  I'll have the game thread opened up around 6'ish as well.

After preseason game number one against the Ravens, I have a few things I'll be looking for, so here's a breakdown:

Quarterbacks - Matt Cassel did not have a good game.  Communication with wide receivers was off, despite a lot of reps in training camp.  Hopefully Belichick and the coaching staff worked on that aspect of Cassel's game and he comes out with a little more polish than we witnessed.  Matt Gutierrez wasn't much better, but he's backup to the backup; I'm less concerned about him.  Kevin O'Connell was a welcomed surprise and I hope to see more of the same.  Tom Brady did not make the trip to Tampa Bay due to a sore foot.  Which foot it is has not been revealed.  Happy place...happy place...ohhhhmmmm.  Seriously, relax.  Preseason is not the time to push an injury, especially with your star quarterback.

Wide Receivers - After Welker got off the PUP a few weeks back, he commented how it'll take some time to get back in the swing of things, that he was working to get his timing back with the QB's, specifically Brady.  Apparently, it didn't take long.  Mike Reiss has reported that the triumvirate is looking as sharp as ever.  Look for more playing time from Moss, Welker and Gaffney.  C.J. Jones is fighting for his job.  He did not have a good showing and will need to step up.  "The Chad" is another that needs to amp it up a bit.  I really hope he succeeds; we could really use the skills he projects to have.

Running Backs - LaMont Jordan was killer against the Ravens.  At this point, I really feel like he could own the redzone/goal line RB job.  I think Maroney and Morris will see more playing time as well as Faulk.  I'd like to see a few successful options to Kevin before a feel better.

Offensive Line - JHR is the guru, but overall the O-line struggled against the Ravens and has been hampered by injuries.  Barry Stokes has been IR'd and the boys are getting older.  A younger OL is a necessity, IMO but we needed to fix linebacker first.  Let's just hope we don't need Kevin O'Connell scrambling skills all around.

Linebackers - An area focused on so heavily, the linebacker corps appear to be shaping up nicely.  OLB draftee Shawn Crable is really looking good while ILB Jerod Mayo is turning into a stud and Pierre Woods was an animal against the Ravens.  OLBs Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas will see more reps as will ILB Tedy Bruschi.  I think if this lineup proves successful, fan favorite ILB Junior Seau will retire.  I'd like to see ILB Victor Hobson do well.  He's been struggling after moving from OLB for the Jets.  Rookie ILB Gary Guyton continues to impress.

Cornerbacks - Hobbs and Bryant continue to be the starters in my mind and rookie Terrence Wheatley has really gotten himself noticed in a field of 10.  Why so many?  Belichick's looking for something, some secret sauce that'll spell disaster for opposing teams.  With that many cornerbacks on the roster, this says to me he thinks this will be a key position for 2008.

Safeties - The Denver Broncos released veteran John Lynch and Belichick promptly snatched him up.  Lynch is known for being a super hard hitter and has signed a one year deal with the Patriots.  This appears to be a direct response to the loss of Tank Williams, the hybrid safety/linebacker guy who was such a good fit for the nickelback position.  I'll be watching John.

Defensive Lineman - Jarvis Green is back and Richard Seymour is feeling pretty good.  An interesting note: Belichick had the guys practice switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3.  A 4-3 is a good overall defense, but is very effective against the run so look for it during an obvious running situation.

A bunch has happened in the last few days, so let me see if I can break it down:

• Recent signings of veterans Jeff Shoate and Ade Jimoh have swelled the cornerback ranks to 10.  In addition, the Patriots have been talking to veteran safety John Lynch and have put him through a physical.  I can only assume our team from Foxboro is carrying so many defensive secondary players so they can find that elusive combination, that pot of gold that will prove to be unstoppable.  In particular, the loss of safety Tank Williams to a knee injury in our preseason opener with the Ravens leads me to believe Belichick and Pioli are looking for that hybrid cornerback/safety player who can fill the nickelback role.
• Ellis Hobbs and Fernando Bryant project to be the starting CBs with rookie Terrence Wheatley as third.  I'm psyched for Wheatley.  With a crowded field of cornerbacks, this draftee is getting noticed.  Can you imagine how good he'll be with more NFL experience?
• ILB Jerod Mayo is the standout of the rookies.  He was supposed to be eased into the rotation, but it appears he's going to see more snaps than originally expected.  Given we were hammered in 2007 for an aging linebacker corp, I'm really stoked about this one.  This will be the first undergarment put on by opposing running backs:

• Trio of Brady-Moss-Welker looks really sharp (See Ogor?  It wasn't just about Wes. ;-))  I think this is the most dangerous QB/WR combination in football.  They literally carpet bombed opposing teams in 2007 and I see more of that in 2008.
• When asked about Belichick's history with the penalty lap, he was quoted as saying, "Maybe the guy who made the mistake gets some advice from some of the guys who are running – but don’t feel like running,” Belichick said, which yielded some laughter from media members.
• Brady will see some time in this Sunday's preseason game @ Tampa Bay.  The game is on NFL Network / WCVB Channel 4 at 8:00PM.
• Finally, public training camp practices have been extended by one day.  Friday's practice, starting at noon, is open to the public.

Yes!! Yes!! Yes!!  Finally there's lots to scribe about.  I LOVE this time of year because something is happening all the time.  Players are being acquired or let go; backups are getting a shot at drills.  It's drinking from the firehose, but who cares!  With that said, here's a few more notes to chew on.

When the Patriots were working in the red zone, there were two times in which passes did not get past the line of scrimmage because they were batted down up front. On one play, it was rookie linebacker Shawn Crable getting his hands up and disrupting the passing lane. The Patriots were in a base 3-4 alignment and Crable was rushing off the defensive right side from the outside linebacker before swatting down quarterback Matt Cassel’s delivery. At 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, Crable brings noticeable length to the field and with plays like that, he could be a factor in the team’s pass rush this season. Linebacker Jerod Mayo had the other deflection.

I always thought Shawn's long arms would be an asset during pass rushing schemes and this is a good sign.  Yes, it's very early, but it's cool anyway.

Belichick went 1-on-1 with rookie first-round pick Jerod Mayo. At one point, Belichick could be seen putting his hands on Mayo’s left shoulder pad, directing him in his movements. It was a snapshot of how hands-on the coaching can be in New England.

I can't imagine how that would feel.  A 22 year old draftee working 1-on-1 with one of the greatest coaches in the NFL today.  I have a feeling after he's run the gang into the ground, none of the players hold BB on a pedestal; he's simply "Coach" and the guy who is there to whip them into the championship team they're going to be.

With cornerback Jason Webster not at practice, that elevated second-round pick Terrence Wheatley to the first-unit defense opposite of fellow cornerback Fernando Bryant. Jonathan Wilhite then moved into the slot role. Wheatley seems to be competitive, as one can’t see a noticeable drop-off when he’s on the field.

I've liked Wheatley since we drafted him.  There was something about this kid that caught my eye.  Talented, young, smart and hungry, he appeared be the classic Patriot.  The fact that he can jump in without a noticeable drop-off is a very good thing considering the CB position was one that pundits claimed would be a huge weakness for the Patriots.

Although he was on the field for Saturday afternoon’s walkthrough, today’s morning session marked the first chance to watch newly acquired running back LaMont Jordan in a full-pads practice. As advertised, the 5-foot-10, 230-pound Jordan runs with a low center of gravity and with power. Such a style seemed to fit the work the Patriots were doing in the red zone. After the practice, Jordan – who joked that he went back to his high school look of a bald head and sideburns – said he hoped to have a Randy Moss-like season. “Randy came from Oakland and had a big year [in 2007]. I’m hoping for the same thing.” Like Moss, Jordan joins the Patriots from the Raiders.

As I stated earlier, at 5-10 and 230 lbs, LaMont runs with a low center of gravity and will be a powerful force.  This move will add a lot of depth to the RB position creating many problems for defenses around the NFL.  Classic Belichick, he's not one to rely on a few stars to carry the load; he wants depth in key positions.  It's early, but this projects to be an interesting year on the ground.

Be careful what you wish for.  The time between OTAs and Training Camp is a relative deadzone for information, a blackout period that I can't stand for 2 reasons, a) not much to talk about or report on and b) syndicated columnists writing stupid articles about power rankings, best receivers, who IS and who IS NOT going to win the super bowl - shutup people!!  Noone's thrown a regular season pass yet.

At any rate, come Training Camp it's like drinking from a firehose.  The media, like sharks circling a bloody carcass, are certainly pounding the keyboards.  I've been cruising around and thought I'd summarize some interesting tidbits for you.

As usual, Mike Reiss is doing an awesome job of reporting on Training Camp.  A few interesting quotes and some observations:

Training camp is both a physical and mental grind and Bill Belichick had the team in full pads in both practices today, putting his club to the test right off the bat.

18-1?  Record breaking season?  Get your butt on the field and put the pads on.  Belichick doesn't appear to be letting up starting from the first day.  They need to earn every no-pad minute or cancelled session BB sends their way.

Brady tried three long passes to Randy Moss – one of which was completed down the left sideline for a touchdown. But the play looked to be a blown coverage, with safety Antwain Spann late in getting over to help rookie cornerback Terrence Wheatley, who had lined up across from Moss.

No worries here.  50 TD passes for Brady and 23 TD receptions for Moss in 2007 ease my mind.  Plus, it's the first day.  If I can read anything into Brady and Moss missing those passes, I'm more encouraged that Spann and Wheatley seem to be doing well.

In a passing drill against eight defenders, Tom Brady attempted a long pass to Randy Moss down the right sideline, but Moss was well covered by cornerback Fernando Bryant in the end zone and the ball fell incomplete. The play seemed to be a good indication that Bryant still runs well, as he was stride for stride with Moss – in full pads.

It was projected Bryant may end up with the departed Asante Samuel's spot and this may be a good indication.  Granted, it's very early, but if Fernando is keeping pace with Moss, one of the best receivers in the NFL, I'm encouraged.  And happy he's on OUR team!

The Tom Brady/Chad Jackson connection was off on successive throws, which led Brady to share a few thoughts with Jackson. It appeared the two were not on the same page.

Uh oh.  It's early in the season...It's early in the season.  10..9..8..7...  Deep breaths.  Ok, a bit over dramatic, but "The Chad" is Stallworth's heir apparent; we need this to work.  My impression, given Jackson has route trouble, is that he's a tremendous physical talent with playbook issues.  Or, quite simply, Brady and Jackson haven't had that much time to work together given Jackson's 2 years of almost no play.  Time will tell, but I'm hoping for the latter.

And finally, Jerod Mayo is signed and on the field (props to bartHML for tracking this down).  Jerod, meet Tedy.  Tedy, meet Jerod.   Bond.  Play frisbee together.  BB, move their lockers side-by-side.

FOOTBALL!! FOOTBALL!! FOOTBALL!!  Relax man, it's only training camp.

www.83foundation.org

You knew this was coming. I've gone at least a month without writing an article about, or with, Wes in it. And now it's time.

One of the most productive receiving corps of the 2007 season, the real question is, "Can they do it again?"  Longevity and consistency is the hallmark of a great offense and this is true of this group of receivers.  For 2008, all eyes will be watching.  Will they dominate like 2007?  Can they continue the incredible success they had last year?  The answer is a definitive, homeristic yes.  Why?  Because with this group of guys we seem to have all the bases covered.  Seam - Moss; underneath/slot - Welker; power receiver - Jackson; speciality - Gaffney, Washington.  Let's not forget Aiken, Jones, Ortiz, and Slater.  And, for the stars of 2007 (Moss and Welker) it was their first year in a Patriots uniform.  THEIR...FIRST...YEAR!!  It can only get better.  Let's get to it.

Randy Moss - Breaking the regular season TD record by pulling down 23 touchdown passes, Randy is the gazelle of the group.  There's nothing sweeter than watching Moss "lope" down the sidelines, pull down a pass only he can catch, and then turn on the afterburners.  DBs, who were already struggling to keep up with him, give up as the legs attached to his 6-4 frame extend even further to totally embarrass that back.  While not catching those impossible passes, he draws mucho coverage away from other receivers; a HUGE benefit, if you ask me.  I'm glad he's signed.

Wes Welker - In my opinion, one of the most impactful acquisitions of 2007, Wes owns the slot.  Belichick, always watching other teams, picked him up from the Dolphins because he gave Patriots DBs fits - they just couldn't cover him.  Wes's footwork and quickness make him very slippery and difficult to manage.  He was absent from all OTAs which led to many questions about his health.  A theory which I agree with: he was worn out.  One of Brady's favorite targets as the chain mover of the group, he pulled down 112 catches for a 10.5 yard average.  When Moss wasn't open, Wes was the look of choice; I see that changing a bit as there's just too much film from 2007 showing that exact scenario over and over.  Defenses are preparing for it, I guarantee you.  The little engine that can, he'll succeed no matter what the defense tries.  Where's Wes?  Oh, he's behind you...with the ball...running for the endzone.

Jabar Gaffney - The ultimate speciality receiver, Jabar is brought in to make those impossible "keep both feet in bounds" catches.  Time and time again, I've seen Brady throw the ball at his fingertips and outside the plane of the in bounds line, only for Gaffney to somehow pull it down, keeping both feet in the green.  He's not used a lot and will never have stellar numbers, but he's the guy when you need to make possible the impossible.  The most memorable, however, is the Brady-to-Moss-to-Brady fleaflicker against the Steelers.  Brady ends up launching it to Jabar, burning Anthony Smith yet again.  This year, however, I have a feeling Jabar will take on a more active role with the departure of Stallworth.

Chad Jackson - A lot has been written about this man.  The heir apparent to Stallworth's position, much attention will be focused on "The Chad".  His role is Welker with a few more pounds and some muscle.  He's the chainsaw to Wes's scalpel.  Jackson will be relied upon to produce like an RB post catch; his job is breaking tackles and gaining yardage after the catch, a running back with great hands.  There's a few question marks, though.  Having spent his first 2 seasons injured for the most part, he's considered fragile.  In addition, it's been reported he has trouble with the playbook.  Coaches have been working with him non-stop, so I think we'll see improvement and productivity from Jackson.  He's definitely a guy to watch during TC.

Sam Aiken - A recent acquisition from the Bills and first year Patriot, Sam will be a strong addition to the special teams corp, but I don't see him getting much time on the field as a WR with the group of guys above.

C.J. Jones - Previously with the Browns and Seahawks, CJ has spent much of his career moving back and forth between active roster, practice squad and NFL Europa.  If things get tight and the front office needs to tighten its belt, I believe CJ is in jeapordy.

Robert Ortiz - 2007 saw him spend some time with the Seahawks after playing in Europe for awhile.  Robert, like CJ, may be in jeapordy if things get tight.

Matt Slater - Matt, a 2008 draftee, has been looking solid during OTAs.  Lining up at both WR and Safety, it'll be interesting to see where he ends up.  Belichick likes multi-role players and I see Matt initially adding value as a kick returner; he's got good hands and, with WR and Safety loaded up, he's an investment in youth, in my opinion.

Kelley Washington - One of the best special teams tacklers on the Patriots, I see more of the same for Kelley.  WR is a crowded position and unless he gets a chance to step in and make a big play, he will most likely become one of the Patriots best special teams guys again.  I hope he gets a shot; I really like Washington.

weblogs.cltv.com

 I typically don't cruise betting sites.  In fact, I work hard to avoid them.  If I get another stupid popup to some salacious site in the Ukraine, I'm going to throw my computer against the wall, so I don't need to tempt fate by visiting "popup heaven".  Yes, I stay away, but this particular site, capperspicks.com is not bad.  Let me offer this disclaimer: I am, in no way, affiliated with this site nor am I suggesting you should run off and type in your credit card number on this site and launch your internet betting hobby.  No Sir.  I DO suggest that you use all the information you can find about your team and others to stay informed.  Especially when they say the New England Patriots are the best team out there:

BetUS NFL Futures Odds

To Win AFC East

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS -1000
Buffalo Bills +800
New York Jets +1000
Miami Dolphins +1200

To win the AFC Championship

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS +175
San Diego Chargers +450
Indianapolis Colts +500
Jacksonville Jaguars +900
Pittsburgh Steelers +1200
Cleveland Browns +1600
Tennessee Titans +2000
Denver Broncos +2000
Cincinnati Bengals +2200
Baltimore Ravens +2500

The smaller the number, the better.  As you can see, the AFC East will be a stomping (-1000) with the AFC Championship being a bit closer.

The odds for AFC Teams to win the Superbowl are interesting, to say the least:

BetUS NFL Futures Odds - To Win Super Bowl XLIII

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS +1400
New England Patriots +325
New York Jets +10000
Buffalo Bills +8000
Miami Dolphins +10000
Baltimore Ravens +6000
Cincinnati Bengals +4500
Pittsburgh Steelers +1750
Cleveland Browns +3000
Indianapolis Colts +700
Tennessee Titans +3500
Houston Texans +6500
San Diego Chargers +700
Denver Broncos +4000
Kansas City Chiefs +10000

Over at the NFC, Dallas is favored to win the Championship - I'm not too surprised with that pick (it's hard for a Superbowl champ to repeat).  So based on this site, Brady will be squaring off against Romo; that'd be a good game.  Oh, it almost slipped my mind: T.O. and Moss.  Can you say, "Media Circus?"  I knew you could.

What does this tell us?  Absolutely nothing.  I do, however, place more credence on betting sites than I do "what if's" from ESPN and sportsonline.com (make sure you read the good with the bad, too).  Why?  These guys are putting real dollars and cents on the line; some writer in a cubicle is just pulling crap off of Google, chatting it up with his buddies at the local watering hole, and writing an article.  Ok, that was a little harsh (and it sounds an awful lot like me!).  Some might actually be TALKING to players, coaches and league officials.  These numbers will certainly change as the season moves on.  My point is, gather information from everywhere you can, but try to cultivate as many reasonable sources as you can - both friendly and not-so-friendly viewpoints.  Happy reading.

I'm sorry, I'm apologizing up front.  This story is, on the surface, about Moss, but I'm being sneaky.  Most of the PatsPulpit faithful know I have a ridiculous man crush on Wes Welker.  Against all odds, the little engine that can has become one of the most talented receivers in the NFL.  Don't believe me?  112 catches.  1,175 yards.  10.5 yard average.

We're all very much aware of Wes's ridiculous footwork.  He can make 90 degree jukes like noone I've ever seen, leaving DBs stunned.  Welker credits this ability to his love of soccer.  Requiring incredible footwork, extensive practice with a soccer ball generates heightened awareness of your feet and the ability to change direction rapidly:

Moss agrees. So impressed was he with what he saw from Welker last season, he's added his own soccer-specific drills to his training this offseason in Florida.

Welker had this to add:

We've kicked the ball around a little bit and I showed him some of the drills I've gone through," Welker said. "It's pretty impressive how he's gotten it in a short amount of time. He juggles it really well now, moves it around.

Moss's role is significantly different than Wes's role.  A great deal of Welker's routes are in the slot and underneath; fast footwork to get through razor thin seams is required and Wes is the best at it due to his footwork.  Moss, on the other hand, is typically running like a gazelle down the sidelines.  His body may not be built for the fast changes in direction Welker can pull off, but you never know - it could help him tremendously.

I predict many NFL receiver coaches will be adding drills like this after witnessing the success Welker has had.  They'd be idiots not to.  The Wes Welker Method.  And yet, somehow I still think Wes will remain humble:

I was talking to my parents about it and I told them, 'This is crazy - Randy is asking me about soccer so he can use it to make him better. We're talking about one of the best receivers in the NFL, and he's asking me?

The little engine that can.  You're not too bad yourself, Wes.  Not too bad at all.

This voluntary (yeah right) first practice is a chance for everyone to dust off the cobwebs and for the rookies to get their first taste of BB's system.  Speaking of Belichick, he views this an important part of the preparation:

"It's a teaching camp," said Belichick. "We try to install a good part of our system and give them a chance to execute it and get familiar with it and hear it called and try to run it, just getting a chance to go through it on the field in a team setting.

Injury riddled for the last couple of years, WR Chad Jackson is ready to hit the field and prove his worth.  The departure of Donte Stallworth certainly created an opportunity for him, but he's gotta deliver.

via cachemediasrv.patriots.com

Rookies and recent acquisitions traded catches from Brady with the likes of Mistah Buttah himself, Randy Moss:

He looked as smooth as ever. He makes catching the ball look so easy. It’s funny to watch guys like C.J. Jones, Matthew Slater or even Kelley Washington take one rep and Moss the next. The guy is one of the truly natural wonders of the football world. He’s special.

Rookie Matthew Slater lined up on offense as a WR.  You may recall he did double duty as a WR and S during rookie camp.  Belichick loves guys like this; he will most likely spend a lot of time on special teams, but it's good to know the kid is versatile.

Sammy Morris is back and looking strong despite missing the last half of the 2007 season with a chest injury.  Considered fragile, I hope he can stay healthy; I've always liked him because he seems like a sure and decisive RB.  He finds the holes and goes for it rather than bouncing around.

With the departure of Asante Samuel, the CB position is begging for someone to come and take it.  The field is crowded with FAs Fernando Bryant, Jason Webster and Lewis Sanders vying for a spot with rookies Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite.  It remains to be seen if Asante's shoes can be filled.

Terrence Wheatley
via multimedia.heraldinteractive.com