|
USA Today Team Report - NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Inside Slant
The Patriots defense had a different look at last weekend's mandatory mini-camp than the one that took the field in Super Bowl XXXIX last February.
Tedy Bruschi was absent, as expected, while he continues to work his way back from a mid-February stroke. Richard Seymour blew off the camp in what Bill Belichick termed and "unexcused" absence. Ted Johnson stood on the sideline with an undisclosed injury.
On the other hand, defensive lineman Rodney Bailey was back on the field after missing all of last season with a torn Achilles, and defensive backs Tyrone Poole and Guss Scott also returned from injured reserve to battle in what will be a competitive secondary.
Newcomers Chad Brown and Monty Beisel worked at inside linebacker in the Patriots base 3-4 looks while Jarvis Green took over for Seymour beside Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren on the defensive line. Belichick cautioned, though, not to look too much into personnel groupings during the camp.
"We are working a number of different people in different positions," Belichick said. "We're moving guys around some. Again, that is always an attempt to try to give them the teaching early in the program rather than later on when we reach a crisis. We try to get them working on that now so that when those situations come up later on, the players have a foundation to build from. I wouldn't read too much into who is lining up where or who is lining up with who."
Beisel is facing a mental challenge after signing with the Patriots. He was a college defensive end who moved to linebacker while playing in Kansas City the last four years. Now he is learning to play the position in a 3-4 front. He said the position change he underwent as a Chief was more difficult than the scheme change he is currently enduring.
"It's definitely not as tough as moving from defensive end to linebacker, which is probably the toughest thing I ever did in football," he said. "Just moving from a 4-3 to a 3-4, it's subtle changes. I had the opportunity to watch some film of the guys playing it last year and see how they play different schemes."
Those players, including Bruschi, are in the meeting rooms helping Beisel with the transition. Bruschi has firsthand knowledge of the change from a college lineman to an inside linebacker having made a similar move.
"There is a trend here in New England of guys moving from defensive end to linebacker," Beisel said. "That was something that was interesting to me when I came here. You look at the veteran experience across the board on the linebacking corps here and you'd be silly not to use the knowledge that they have."
With Bruschi's future uncertain and Johnson's injury history, Beisel will need all the help he can get to build up to speed and feel comfortable at inside linebacker in the Pats flexible 3-4 front.
To do that physically, he has bulked up some, adding about five pounds to his frame and reporting at about 245 pounds, up from the 240 he played at in Kansas City.
NOTES, QUOTES
—There was nothing new to report about Tedy Bruschi's health and playing future following the Patriots mini-camp. Head coach Bill Belichick has consistently deflected questions on the matter to Bruschi, who has not addressed the media regarding his immediate or long-term playing prospects. Bruschi has been working out in Foxborough, but is not yet ready to resume playing football.
"I think if he has something to add, I'm sure he'll do it," Belichick said. "We all know Tedy. We know that he is a very honest and forthright person. If he has something to say, he'll say it. I don't think it's my place or anybody else's place to comment or speak for him so I wouldn't attempt to do that."
—The absence of Charlie Weis' booming voice was noticeable, but the organization of the offense during practice seemed to fall to assistant head coach/offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia and tight ends coach Pete Mangurian, who has offensive coordinator experience from his days under Dan Reeves. Wideout Deion Branch didn't seem to notice much difference in the way things were run.
"I think everything is flowing pretty much the same as if Charlie were here. His presence isn't here, but the flow is still the same," Branch said.
Quarterback Tom Brady withheld judgment. "I don't know yet," he said. "It's going to evolve. There's no question he'll be missed. Everyone else is picking up the responsibilities he had, and he took on full responsibility for things himself. So when a guy like that goes, a lot is lacking. I don't think it's one guy taking over. I think it's a group."
—The New England Patriots cheerleaders are performing several shows this week in the Central Command/Fifth Fleet area of operations. Their tour began June 9 and will continue through June 18. The entertainment tour made in support of U.S. military personnel is made possible through the Navy's Morale, Welfare and Recreation program. It is the sixth tour in which the Patriots cheerleaders have participated since the Sept. 11 attacks against America in 2001.
—The Patriots gathered at owner Robert Kraft's Brookline, Mass., home Sunday evening to receive their Super Bowl XXXIX championship rings. They then participated in the Patriots Charitable Foundation golf tournament Monday at Belmont Country Club.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We are so far away from that. I wouldn't even consider thinking about it. I just hope we can go out there on a consistent basis and get lined up and run the plays somewhat close to the way they are supposed to be executed as we've done in the past." - Bill Belichick when asked if he will the possibility of winning four Super Bowls in five years as motivation.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RB Rabih Abdullah; S Je'Rod Cherry.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED: OT Tom Ashworth; WR Troy Brown; LB Don Davis; WR David Givens; OT Brandon Gorin; DL Jarvis Green; DT Ethan Kelley; OL Gene Mruczkowski; OG Stephen Neal; FB Patrick Pass; CB Hank Poteat; S Guss Scott; PK Adam Vinatieri; TE Jed Weaver.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: LB Monty Beisel; LB Chad Brown; WR/KR Tim Dwight; S Antuan Edwards; QB Doug Flutie; LB Wes Mallard; CB Chad Scott; CB Duane Starks; WR David Terrell.
PLAYERS LOST: OG Joe Andruzzi; TE Zeron Flemister; WR Kevin Kasper; OT Adrian Klemm; CB Ty Law; QB Jim Miller; CB Earthwind Moreland; WR David Patten; LB Roman Phifer; DT Keith Traylor.
__________________
bigslick902
Union Number 4220
|
Why do people prefer purses?
Hybrid Mode
