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July 28, 2007
5 from practice
Here are five observations from today's practice:
1) Two-minute time. Both Tom Brady and Matt Cassel directed two-minute offenses, with the defenses getting the stop both times. Brady overthrew receiver Wes Welker on a route that Welker cut from the middle to the sideline, and Cassel lobbed an ill-advised pass to running back Heath Evans that linebacker Eric Alexander intercepted.
2) Kickoff return work. The Patriots had eight players deep while working on kickoff returns. The group included running backs Kevin Faulk, Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris; receivers Wes Welker and Bam Childress; and defensive backs Ellis Hobbs, Gemara Williams and Willie Andrews.
3) Gaffney's strong start. For the second day in a row, receiver Jabar Gaffney seemed to take advantage of an increased opportunity with Donte' Stallworth and Troy Brown on the physically unable to perform list. Gaffney was running routes alongside Randy Moss and Wes Welker, and looked sharp.
4) Cornerback follow-up. Chad Scott, who was taken off the field on a cart in Friday evening's practice, wasn't on the field today. Fourth-year veteran Randall Gay took his spot opposite of Ellis Hobbs, and intercepted a Tom Brady pass intended for tight end Benjamin Watson. The cornerback group -- which also includes Tory James, Gemara Williams and Mike Richardson -- received a boost with rookie Brandon Meriweather taking some snaps there.
5) A possible sleeper. With tight end David Thomas on the physically unable to perform list and tight end Garrett Mills missing today's practice, that opened up expanded opportunity for Matt Kranchick. The 6-foot-7, 265-pound Kranchick, a third-year player who spent time on the Patriots practice squad last December, took a lot of snaps in the workout. Any player wants to get himself on more videotape for coaches to dissect, and today was Kranchick's day. Toward the end of the workout, Kranchick walked off the field with the team's medical staff.
Posted By: mreiss | Time: 07:55:14 PM | E-mail | Link
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