NOTES, QUOTES
- --LB Rosevelt Colvin and the rest of the injured Patriots are expected to
return to practice during training camp and not expected to remain on the
PUP list. Colvin fractured his hip in Week Two last season and is still rehabbing.
"I think all the players will participate," coach Bill Belichick
said. "I don't see anybody that is in a situation like (guard) Stephen Neal was last year when I thought it would be a long shot for him to be able
to make it back and ultimately, he didn't. I don't think anyone's in that
category."
- --Belichick rewarded his club's exceptional work in the offseason program
with a light, no pads walkthrough practice to open training camp. Most of
the players didn't even wear their helmets during the opening session. "There
were a lot of guys in various states of dress or undress as the case would
be. Some guys aren't ready physically, and other guys, because of their participation
and performance in the offseason program, were not dressed as a reward for
their offseason performance."
- With some of those players out, younger guys like Tully Banta-Cain and Dan Klecko, who are both making the transition from down lineman to linebacker
are getting needed extra reps.
- --DL Vince Wilfork, the first of the team's two first round draft picks,
would not set expectations at the start of his first training camp because
he knows he's being overloaded with information.
- "It's a lot thrown at us with the plays and knowing the offensive formation
and why we're in a certain defense," Wilfork said. "That's a huge
difference between college and the pros. In college, the linebacker just called
everything, while here I have to know what the guy next to me is doing and
know different positions. I'm just learning. The one thing I can do is come
out and practice hard and be effective in practice and do what the coaches
ask me to. I don't have control over who plays and I don't care because we
can all play. I just want to win."
- --OL Wilbert Brown was excused for the start of training camp for personal
reasons.
QUOTE TO NOTE:
"I don't focus on them, but I feed off them." - CB Ty Law on negative
statements made or written about him.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
EXPECTED BATTLES:
The left guard spot will be hotly contested between veteran Bob Hallen and
young Russ Hochstein. The team was in pads for the first time on Friday and
the two both took reps with the first group. Hochstein looked solid in one-on-one
pass rushing drills.
The nose tackle spot is one to watch. On the first day of full contact work,
Keith Traylor took reps with the first unit with rookie Vince Wilfork working
with the twos. But Vince Wilfork looked solid in his first NFL contact work
and could emerge if he grasps the defensive schemes.
At quarterback, Rohan Davey looks to be the frontrunner for the No. 2 job although
Bill Belichick likes what Kurt Kittner brings. Also, Kliff Kingsbury was off
to solid start to camp, making this a battle to watch closely.
The wide receiver group will have the toughest time earning roster spots. With
Troy Brown, David Givens, Deion Branch and Bethel Johnson all but locks to make
the team, P.K. Sam, J.J. Stokes, David Patten, Chas Gessner and speed demon
Michael Jennings appear to be battling for one spot.
INJURY REPORT: Eight players began camp sidelined with pre-existing injuries
with seven on active-PUP and one, quarterback Jim Miller, on NFI. The seven
on the physically unable to perform list included Rosevelt Colvin, Matt Light,
Matt Chatham, Lonie Paxton, DeVonte Peterson, Eric Alexander and Christian Fauria.
Kevin Faulk also was sidelined early along with Willie McGinest. Belichick does
not set timetables for injured players but said he expects all of them on the
field before long.