Patriots: All’s well doesn’t mean stand Pat

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

John Rooke, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

The current Patriot roster stands at the limit of 90 players, which means that over the course of the next 2 ½ weeks, 37 of those players will be looking for work elsewhere.

And yet, the Patriots keep bringing in players for workouts.

It seems like it’s almost every day, but in reality, once or twice a week the Patriots have brought in free agent players for workouts…ostensibly to see how they might fit into the current team plans, but also for future reference in case roster depth is affected through injuries during the season. For example, according to several published reports, the team brought in safeties Renaldo Hill and Darren Sharper over the past weekend for workouts. Yes, there might be a need at that position at present – but it’s also good to have an idea of who fits, when there’s a need later on. The evaluation process is on-going.

“Really it’s no different other than the time period being a little bit shorter,” said Nick Caserio, the Patriots’ Director of Player Personnel. “You still can evaluate their performance on a day-to-day basis whether it’s individual drills, in a team setting, blitz period, in meetings. You sort of have to get a gauge as to where they are at this point in time because really that’s all you have to go off of. The evaluation process hasn’t changed.

“We’ll still continue that process of not only evaluating our team but now there are 16 preseason games (15, the Jets played Houston Monday night) so we’re starting that process of evaluating the rest of the league,” Caserio added. Other than the time frame being a little more condensed, there’s no difference.”

Throw into the mix veteran players who may be new to the team – like Albert Haynesworth and Shaun Ellis – that haven’t yet really been able to practice, and the evaluation process becomes even more crucial. You think you know what you have, but until a player can actually play…what do you really know?

“I think until a player is actually in your program and in your system, you really don’t know until they actually start practicing,” Caserio said. “It’s really no different than kind of what we went through with, let’s say Randy (Moss), a few years ago. He came in, didn’t really have an offseason and then we went to training camp. So until a player is actually in the program and in your system, with all due respect to how they’ve played and how they’ve performed with their other team (and the) rest of the league, it doesn’t matter until they’re in your system. The most important thing is what they do when they’re here and that’s what we go off of.”

But until players can get out on the field…whether they’ve been brought in with great expectations, or no expectations at all…you just never know for sure what you might get. “I think the clock is ticking on everybody,” Caserio pointed out. “Everybody has the same opportunity, so the people out on the field have more opportunity. The people who aren’t on the field haven’t had as much opportunity, so when they actually get out there, we’ll see how they do.”

Expect the locker room door to keep revolving, at least for the short term, in Foxboro.

Training Camp Notes

A bit of a “safety shuffle” at practice on Monday, as the rains moved the players inside the Dana Farber Fieldhouse and cancelled public practice…Sergio Brown took first team snaps in place of Brandon Meriweather, which comes on the heels of the reported try-outs over the weekend of Renaldo Hill and Darren Sharper...WR Wes Welker had some good news to report at the end of practice on Monday – “This is the best I've felt in my career," Welker said. “I think my knowledge of the game and being able to be healthy, I think it's really helped.”

Players who seem to be getting reps in practice, and getting attention from the coaches as well: LB Dane Fletcher (replacing an injured Brandon Spikes), DE Andre Carter and LB Rob Ninkovich (over Gary Guyton). TE Aaron Hernandez also continues to impress with catches in tough, tight spots…Darius Butler is also returning kickoffs, in the absence of injured Julian Edelman and Brandon Tate for the time being…

Accolades for the Patriots’ offensive line in 2010 - The New England Patriots were selected as the NFL’s best offensive line during the 2010 regular season. The Madden Protectors Award Presented by Prilosec OTC recognizes the accomplishments of the highest performing offensive line unit and their best in class ability to provide consistent, powerful protection for their teammates. The winning O-Line was determined by a combination of fan voting and the expert analysis of Hall of Fame Coach John Madden. The Madden Protectors Award Trophy will be on display throughout the 2011 season at the hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon…

Training Camp Schedule
Tuesday
10:30 am – 1:00 pm Practice open to the public
11:00 am – 3:00 pm Patriots Experience open to the public

Wednesday
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Patriots Experience open to the public
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm Players’ walkthrough open to the public before departing for Tampa

Thursday
7:30 pm Game @ Tampa Bay