Running it like clockwork

On a day like last Tuesday, when the Patriots held an organized team activity open to media members, a continuous flow of blue (defense) and white (offense) jerseys could be seen scaling those steps.

For the players, it is a time to collect thoughts before entering their outdoor office.

"Once you step on that field, it's all business," fourth-year linebacker Pierre Woods explained. "That field is your domain, like the paint is for Shaq or Dwight Howard - if you're under there, they're going to dunk on you. So when that horn sounds for practice, it's on."

The Patriots scheduled 12 organized team activities this offseason - the final session is Tuesday - but what exactly takes place during an OTA?

Fire up the horn and recap the Patriots' session from last Tuesday:

11 a.m. - As media members arrive on the field, players are stretching. The defensive players are on one side of the 50-yard line, the offensive players on the other. Strength and conditioning coaches Mike Woicik and Harold Nash pace through the lines, blowing whistles when it's time to switch up the stretch. The players aren't in pads - that is prohibited - so there will be no contact in the session.

11:15 a.m. - The stretching period ends and the offense stays on the near practice field, the defense hustles to the far field. The offensive skill-position players do agility work such as lifting their legs over blue bags on the field, while the offensive linemen - all 16 of them - work with coach Dante Scarnecchia. The defense stays together as a unit, as they appear to be working on a specific package.

11:18 a.m. - All players break down into their specific positions for more individualized instruction, although quarterbacks and running backs stay together. For special teams, the finer points of blocking and defending a gunner on punt returns are stressed.

11:23 a.m. - All skill-position players on offense come together again, with Tom Brady working with pass catchers on specific routes. Quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien tutors No. 2 quarterback Kevin O'Connell on the far corner of the field, with O'Connell throwing to developmental receiver Terrence Nunn while working on a three-step drop. The defense is still working on the opposite field - the defensive backs/linebackers on one side, the defensive linemen on the other.

11:28 a.m. - The offensive linemen join the skill-position players on one field and the defensive linemen join defensive backs/linebackers on the other. The full-unit focus now seems to be on the running game, and the blocking schemes up front for the offensive linemen, tight ends, and even the receivers. In turn, the defense works on run fits (filling the proper gaps) and technique.

11:43 a.m. - A horn signals the start of a special teams session, which means first-year coach Scott O'Brien takes center stage to direct the punt-return team. While it's easy for reporters to spot returners Joey Galloway, Wes Welker, and Kevin Faulk standing deep on the field, O'Brien seems to be more focused on the blocking in front of those returners. Brady and receiver Randy Moss get in one-on-one work on the other field.

11:49 a.m. - The special teams session ends and the offense and defense split up again. The offense looks to be working on passing in the red zone, while the defense appears to be defending the pass in the red zone. The linemen stay off to the side with their position coaches, as the red-zone work is seven-on-seven.

11:55 a.m. - The offense and defense come to the same field for seven-on-seven work in the red zone. Long snappers Nathan Hodel and Jake Ingram work on the other field.

12:04 p.m. - More special teams work. Punt returners attempt to catch punts with a football already tucked away in their grasp.

12:09 p.m. - Another breakdown, with the offense going to one field, the defense to the other. Stephen Gostkowski is attempting field goals on the far side of the field, kicking toward narrower-than-normal goalposts.

12:15 p.m. - The offense and defense come back together for more seven-on-seven work, to practice what they previously worked on against competition. The defense is focusing on substitution packages as the ball is placed on the 18-yard line. Chains and a down marker on the sideline are used for the drill. Brady makes a bullet of a throw to Moss, while on the run, that turns out to be one of the highlight plays of the session. On the other field, O'Brien, the special teams coach, is clocking the snap-hold-kick field-goal operation with a stopwatch.

12:25 p.m. - The Patriots finish the practice with 11-on-11 work, the offense and defense coming together to piece together the parts of what they worked on throughout the practice. The 11-on-11 work ends with field goals.

12:40 p.m. - Players jog on the near field, signaling the end of their practice. The lesser-experienced players who didn't receive as many repetitions stay behind for some reps.

For a newcomer like linebacker Paris Lenon, who spent the last three seasons with the Lions and four years before that with the Packers, the crispness and decisiveness was expected.

"There is not a lot of talking here," he said. "They're all about business."

Safety measures: Does he fit in Hall?

John Clayton (ESPN): "For whatever reason, it's hard for safeties to generate a lot of votes in the Hall of Fame, and that might hurt Harrison's chance. First off, his hard-hitting style probably cost him Pro Bowl votes from opposing offensive players. It's going to be hard to generate a majority of votes when Harrison was only voted to two Pro Bowls. Plus, John Lynch will be eligible at the same time and each will take votes away from the other."

Dave Goldberg (Associated Press): "The pluses are that he was the leader of a defense that won two championships. A lot will depend on the presentation. Harrison was one of the smartest defensive backs of this decade and a guy who made big plays at key times. Just ask Peyton [ Manning]. The minuses are that it's hard to get safeties in for some reason, and the first part of Rodney's career - the San Diego chapter - was known more for what was considered dirty play than ability. Two Pro Bowls aren't a lot, although I discount that stat. My perception is 'Hall of Very Good,' although he's the kind of player who can be talked in."

Peter King (Sports Illustrated): "I'll preface it by saying that I always think it's dangerous 10 minutes after a guy retires to say, 'Five years from now, here is how I will feel about a guy for the Hall of Fame.' I think he deserves a strong, legitimate public airing, but I think it's going to be very hard for him. I just think there are so many people, so many good-to-great safeties who have played this game in the last 20-30 years who aren't in the Hall of Fame and who seem to me to have nearly the same credentials as he does. For better or for worse, we as a committee have not a done good job putting safeties in the Hall of Fame, period. There hasn't been a pure safety come in the Hall of Fame who played recently. It's probably the most underrepresented position in the Pro Football Hall of Fame."

Newest arena for UMass-Boston alum is Kansas City

Sperduto reunites with first-year Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli nearly 20 years after they were on the same coaching staff at Murray State.

At the time, Sperduto was just a few years removed his playing career at UMass-Boston, where the football team was club status before being elevated to varsity in 1988. Sperduto's career bridged both club and varsity, as he was a top player in 1988 and 1989, playing fullback and linebacker.

Sperduto's résumé reflects his passion for football, as he's held a variety of roles at different levels.

He played for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League and Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League.

In addition to Murray State, he had coaching stints with the Storm, Connecticut Coyotes, and Nashville Kats of the Arena League, and he also served as a director of player personnel for the Kats.

When the Kats were sold in 2001, Sperduto joined the Tennessee Titans and served as a member of the coaching/scouting staff until 2008.

Charlie Titus, UMass-Boston's vice chancellor of athletics, said, "Because of the way that Pat participated here, with total dedication and outstanding focus, I am not at all surprised by his subsequent success in the football world."

Etc.

Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com.