With one week of training camp in the books, Foxboro is starting to get a feel for what the New England Patriots will bring to the field in 2014.
Gillette Stadium has seen fans pack in daily around the practice facility and as the team inches towards their preseason kickoff at the Redskins on Thursday, the fans are at fever pitch.
Head coach Bill Belichick echoed the fans sentiment, tone of voice aside, saying, “It’s always an exciting time of year – the start of training camp. I thought we had a real productive spring with a lot of our players, a couple new coaching staff members. We’re kind of putting it all together.”
Of course the big news is spearheaded by the arrival of free agent signees Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. Another big jolt to the Patriots kickoff of training camp was the news that both Rob Gronkowski and Vince Wilfork were medically cleared to play after both suffered devastating injuries last season (an ACL for Gronk and Achilles for Wilfork).
With a week in the books it is clear that one word describes the summer so far in New England: competitive. Every position, every player is competing with a serious chip on their shoulder after coming up one game shy of the Super Bowl.
Lets look at the top stories surrounding Patriots training camp.
Health
Aside from the return of Gronk and Wilfork, the Patriots have also seen linebacker Jerod Mayo (torn pectoral), Alfonzo Dennard (shoulder surgery), Tommy Kelly (ACL), Will Smith (ACL), Matthew Slater (undisclosed) have all made their way back from injury or come off the Physically-Unable-to-Perform list.
All have produced comfort for both teammates and coaches alike.
Gronkowski completely changes the offense when healthy. Mayo and Wilfork man the middle of their defense and are so technically sound in their assignments that it allows teammates to open up their level of play. Slater is the special teams captain. Dennard highlights the immense depth at the cornerback position. Kelly and Smith are out to prove they still have something left in the tank, as both are north of 30.
But then there is the opposite side of the coin.
Wide receiver Aaron Dobson and first-round pick Dominique Easley have still yet to hit the field. Dobson, on the PUP, and Easley, on the non-football injury list), were in line to provide some impact in 2014, especially Dobson.
Swagger
The defense has been lackluster the past few seasons in New England, to say the least. And after the team lost top cornerback Aqib Talib to the rival-Denver Broncos, fans from Maine to Connecticut groaned. Then something big happened — Revis and Browner.
The Patriots uncharacteristically spent big and landed the duo, instantly transforming the backfield into one of the best even despite Browner not being able to participate in the first four games due to suspension.
As if their arrival didn’t already make the most noise at the first week of training camp, Revis’ neon cleats certainly did.
The tandem’s presence has already had an impact on the team as a whole.
Quarterback Tom Brady has thrown multiple interceptions to Revis. Not too mentions a few brush ups with receiver Julian Edelman. Browner has brought some of his “Legion of Boom” swagger from Seattle getting tangled with wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins.
“He’s competing, we’re competing, and those things happen. At the end of the day we all go into the locker room,” Thompkins said after a practice, which included a scrum between he and Browner. “We have another six hours together, so hopefully we can crack a couple of jokes.”
Thin Depth
While the Patriots have a stellar secondary, they are lacking in other areas. Chiefly, among tight ends and linebackers.
Gronkowski is back but after him there is a void. Versatile Michael Hoomanawanui is next in line and he has missed a few practices. After “Hooman”, it is a quick drop off. Four year vet, D.J. Williams has seen some quality snaps in training camp and has the ability to produce but still hasn’t remained consistent. A duo of undrafted rookies is also on the roster in Asa Watson and Justin Jones. Jones, stands at 6’8″ but is a very raw prospect.
The starting linebacking corps is stellar with Mayo, Dont’a Hightower, and (breakout candidate) Jamie Collins. The team did sign veteran James Anderson, who led the Chicago Bears in tackles last season. After Anderson the most experienced ‘backer is Chris White. Who? You may be asking yourself. Our point exactly.
