Welker goes camping

BRAINTREE -- Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker held the first day of his inaugural Boston-area football camp today on the Thayer Academy south campus athletic fields. Teammates Shawn Springs and Matt Gutierrez showed up to support him and help teach the campers, ages 7-14.

Welker spoke briefly with the media. He backed away from the comments he made to Sports Illustrated's Peter King, saying that the Patriots' offense in 2009 could be better than its record-setting performance in 2007.

"I think it was definitely speaking out of turn and it kind of got turned out of context," said Welker. "But I mean basically we're really kind of focusing on the '09 season. '07 was '07. We're focusing on '09 and just trying to get better on a daily basis. We're definitely a long ways off from where we were in '07. We got a lot of work to do, but this is '09 and we're ready to put in the work and get ready for it."

Welker, who caught 111 passes last season and a club-record 112 in '07, did say that he feels more comfortable in the offense than he did in '07, which was his first year with the team. It's almost like second nature for him.

"It's becoming that way a little bit," he said. "The more time you can spend on offense the better you're going to be. The terminology is coming a lot easier and things like that. I'm definitely excited about being able to expand my role and still learn some new things and continue on with the old things I've been able to do."

The team's primary punt returner, Welker sounded excited about being reunited with new Patriots special teams coach Scott O'Brien, who was in Miami as coordinator of football operations for Nick Saban during two of Welker's three seasons as a Dolphin.

"Scott is a great coach," said Welker. "He's an aggressive-type style guy, and I think it's going to bring a lot of good things for us. As a team, as a whole as far as our special teams, we have to continue to improve and you know there have been some rules changes with the wedge and different things like that. We just got to adjust to all those and make sure we're continuing to put the work in and listening to him. We're excited to have him on the team and looking to see what he can bring for us."

But the thing Welker was most excited about was his camp, which continues today. The Oklahoma native has run a similar camp in Oklahoma City for the past three years and will do so again this year. He said he jumped at the chance to do a camp in the Boston-area this year.

So, is Welker similar to Patriots coach Bill Belichick when it comes to being an instructor?

"[Laughing,] I'm a little calmer," said Welker. "I'm a little more the fun going type, as far as with the kids and just trying to encourage them and show them little things that can hopefully make them a little bit better and just some of the basics about football."