Uh-oh...

[WilliamPitt]

...it's time...

1.

Observations from 23rd practice
Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff
August 14, 2008 07:21 PM

FOXBOROUGH – Five observations from the Patriots’ 23rd training camp practice, which was held in full pads today on the upper practice fields behind Gillette Stadium (2:30 p.m.):

Tom Brady and intensity in the two-minute drill. Once again, the Patriots worked on their hurry-up, two-minute offense at the end of practice, and one could clearly see the intensity with which Tom Brady was practicing.

With coach Bill Belichick calling out each situation, and the players reacting quickly by rushing to the line of scrimmage, Brady marched the team down the field. Facing fourth down at the 6-yard line – with two seconds left on the clock – Brady went for a hard snap count that drew left defensive end Ty Warren into the neutral zone. That gave the offense the ball at the 3, with a first down.

Brady then went for another hard snap count, once again drawing Warren into the neutral zone. Belichick flagged Warren once again, sending him on two penalty laps. With the ball at the 1 1/2 yard line, Brady dropped back and found Randy Moss for a quick-strike touchdown.

Brady sprinted up to Moss, banging his helmet as if it were a regular season game. The overall energy was high, with Brady the main catalyst.

More: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/08/observations_fr_14.html

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2.

Randy Moss breaks silence
Posted by Christopher L. Gasper, Globe Staff
August 15, 2008 02:50 PM

(snip)

Tom said you were ahead of last year going into the point at last year. He said from Day One you've been ahead because you have a year in the system. Did you feel that comfort level coming into Day One?

"The good thing that I can really say about our offense, and I'm speaking for myself, is that you had guys that came in late, Gaffney, myself, Chad Jackson was hurt last year, and Welker coming in last year, so for us to have a whole off-season, a training camp to really understand the offense and the concept is really scary. That's why I say I'm nervous man because there is really no telling what we're going to do. So, like I said, the bar is set high and we'll see what happens."

More: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

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3.

Lynch on field at practice; wearing No. 47
Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff
August 15, 2008 12:03 PM

FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots have taken the field for their afternoon practice (noon) and John Lynch has joined his teammates for the workout.

He is wearing No. 47.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/08/lynch_on_field.html

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1. If Tom Brady enters the regular season with the kind of energy and determination (never mind accuracy and preparedness) he's been showing at camp, the Patriots offense is going to be tough to be tough to contain once again this year.

Add that to what appears to be a serious focus by the Pats on utilizing the running game to a much greater degree than has been seen in the past, a la Steelers-style football. Two primary reasons for this:

a) Uncertainty about the stoutness of the offensive line (which is dotted with lots of injured and aging players) means Brady will probably see more pressure than he did most of last year, so focus on the running game will spare him some pounding, and will spread the defense/secondary and open up pass opportunities;

b) The Pats have a shitload of backs currently on the roster: Kyle Eckel, Heath Evans, Kevin Faulk, LaMont Jordan, Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris, two of the latter three being proven yard-getters while the third (Jordan) has been having a spectacular camp and was an unstoppable beast during the first pre-season game. That kind of depth and versatility in the ground game will save wear-and-tear on all of them, and the fact they have (and will likely keep) all six on the roster means the run will be a big part of the offense.

2. Ditto #1. An increased focus on the run will spread defenses and open him up for receptions.

3. Lynch and Harrison set up in a two-safety dime package, or some permutation thereof, will turn the middle of the field into a killing zone for any recievers trying to catch passes in the flat.

The sheer intimidation factor of having those two out there patrolling like sharks will likely casue more than a few balls to be dropped, because recievers will have their heads on a swivel trying to see where the crushing hit by one of these two legendary bruisers is coming from, and will thus take their eyes off the ball. A much-improved Brandon Meriweather is a third safety the Pats expect good/destructive play from this year.

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Unknowns:

1. The secondary is pretty much brand new, and nobody really knows how they will perform. But the Pats currently have ten cornerbacks on the roster, a large number to pick the best players from, and will hopefully have assembled a competent crew by the beginning of the season. Still, it's a question mark.

2. The combined age of the Pats linebacker corps is 2,554,092. Had the Pats won the Super Bowl last year, at least three of these guys would have retired right there on the trophy-presentation platform. But the tough (but excellent) beat they suffered last February compelled them to stay one more season...and they're all at least one step too slow for prime time, especially against teams with solid O-lines. If these guys don't get pressure on the quarterbacks, the new secondary is going to have it's hands full.

3. The AFC East is going to be a lot tougher this year, and going forward. The Bills have a sharp new quarterback entering his second year, a fast, scrappy and potent defense that can get to QBs in a hurry, and their running back Marshawn Lynch is an absolute beast. Watch for him to have a big year...and given the Pats' pooir run-defense last year, which didn't really get improved this year, you're going to see him have huge games against us. The Jets...well, Favre is Favre, and the rest of the offense has been revamped via draft picks and free-agent signings. It's a whole new team, with improvements across the board.

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Prediction:

The Pats have the softest schedule in the history of the NFL:

KC (terrible) week 1;
Miami (who will be worse this year than last year, but will be formidable in three years) week 2;
Niners (improved but no match) week 4;
Denver (no match) week 7
St. Louis (godawful) week 8;
Miami (see above) week 12;
Seattle (no match) week 14
Oakland (*snerk* week 15;

That's seven near-guaranteed wins, plus probable wins against Arizona, one win against the Jets and Bills at home, good chances against the Chargers and Steelers, and the usual deathmatch against Indy.

I like our chances...but then again, I said that hast year.

11-5 at worst (lose to Bills and Jets once each, lose to Colts, Steelers and Chargers) 13-3 most likely, with a decent shot at 16-0 again.

I hope they lose one early, in truth, just to kill the talk.

Thoughts?

[rinsd]

1. Bellichick has also installed his new video surveillance system that he considers to be legal.

18 wins 1 GIANT LOSS

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Seattle (no match) week 14 ???

It's in Seattle. It's Holmgren's swan song. Yet Arizona is only probable? Bills and Jets win?

I'd rip the Pats for having the division full of the most patsies but the NFC West is even patsier.

Bolts, Colts, Steelers and Seahawks are the only possible losses. They'll split 'em.

14-2.

[underpants]

3. I wouldn't put to much stock in Lynch

he was a cheap shot artist when he lost his first step (once in Denver) and now all he does is show up in the camera shot after someone else makes a tackle.