Randy Moss has been tossing around advice to the younger and marginal wide receivers during the Patriots' training camp - and they're grateful.
(Michael Dwyer/Associated Press)
Patriots notebook
Moss keeps eye on pupils in WR corps
Randy Moss has been tossing around advice to the younger and marginal wide receivers during the Patriots' training camp - and they're grateful.
(Michael Dwyer/Associated Press)
FOXBOROUGH - Randy Moss has been called many things during his career, but teacher is usually not one of them.
However, Patriots reserve C.J. Jones said Moss has taken to educating his fellow wide receivers on some of the finer points of the position and the offense. That means that whether Moss plays or not tonight in the team's exhibition opener at Gillette Stadium against the Ravens, his fingerprints will be on the game.
"He's a good teacher. He's a real good teacher," said Jones, who is fighting an uphill battle for a roster spot. "He shows us a lot - in the meeting room, on the [white] boards. He knows his plays. We have these little games we play with the routes, and if you don't know it, he makes sure you know it."
Jones said Moss pulled him aside one day and advised him to come off the ball faster on his routes and to run them at a faster pace. Since then, Jones said he's been able to gain more separation from defensive backs.
Jones said that when Moss talks, players listen because there are few better receiver role models.
"Man, this dude is ridiculous. I mean, every day it's something different," said Jones. "He's a big playmaker, and I just try to do everything he does so I can be a playmaker, too."
The idea that Moss would take an interest in Jones, who spent time in the Canadian Football League and NFL Europa and has been a fringe NFL player, shows there is more to Moss than meets the eye.
Jones said it's "mind-boggling" to play with and learn from Moss, one of the all-time greats at the position.
"We don't really look at him like that, but when we're all done playing football and look back and we played with Randy Moss, were in the locker room with Randy Moss, could crack on Randy Moss and he cracks on us, it's mind-boggling," said Jones. "But he's a cool person to be around."
New chapter
Few players on the roster are likely to be as excited for tonight's game as Chad Jackson.
The third-year receiver was on the physically unable to perform list last year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament at this time, and he saw action in just two regular-season games, playing on special teams. Jackson is eager to rediscover his receiving skills in a game setting.
"It's a big opportunity for me," said Jackson. "I haven't played in a long time, so I should get a lot of playing time and a lot of experience. It's been since my rookie year that I've really played like a game game. I'm looking forward to it."
The 2006 second-round pick said he considers tonight the start of a new chapter in his career, which has been a disappointment.
"I look at this as a different year, a start-all-over year for me, a new beginning for me," said Jackson. "And I just hope to make the plays to contribute to the team."
Open auditions
Tonight also figures to be important for No. 2 quarterback Matt Cassel, who is trying to fend off Matt Gutierrez.
One thing to keep in mind when watching Cassel is that there is a much lower level of game-planning that goes into exhibitions. The primary focus is on the Patriots executing their plays, not scheming the opposition.
"You really execute your offense because it's not a very elaborate week of game-planning," said Cassel. "You just try to go out there and execute your plays. You watch a little bit of film, but we're building to get ready for [the season opener against] Kansas City.
"It's a give-and-take, so when you get ready for these games, you just go out and you try to get ready as much as you can for your opponent and try to go out and execute your plays against the defense. It might not always look good, but at the same time, that's what they want to see. They just want to see you go out there and compete and run the offense."
Coach Bill Belichick said the level of game-planning is taken into consideration when evaluating a player's preseason performance.
Calm in the storm
Adalius Thomas had some sage advice for rookies such as linebacker Jerod Mayo and cornerback Terrence Wheatley, who will be seeing their first NFL action tonight - take a deep breath and calm down.
Thomas was so excited for his first exhibition game in 2000 that he doesn't even remember the opponent.
"I remember I was nervous and the game was so much faster than [college]," said Thomas. "You can't really imagine the tempo. For the rookies and guys that it's their first preseason game, I can only imagine what they're going through because there is so much you're trying to keep in your head and remember.
"You've been going against the same guys for the last two weeks and now you get a chance to go against somebody else, under the lights, your family is here, your first NFL game. There will be a lot of nervous energy, so if they calm down and just play and let the game come to them, everything will be good."
Park place
Because of the 7:30 start time and the fact that it is a weekday night, the Patriots are encouraging fans who drive to Gillette Stadium to leave extra time for their arrival. With changes in parking because of the Patriot Place complex, fans are encouraged to park in lots P10 and P11. The parking lots open at 3:30 p.m. Gates to the stadium open at 5:30.
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
