Patriots: We’re Getting to Know You
Monday, August 15, 2011
Do you remember your first few days at a new school, having to wear a name tag so the teacher would learn your name?
Welcome to New England Patriot Junior High.
“I didn’t really have any problems with the defensive guys, but a few of the offensive guys are still a little misty to me right now,” said Patriots’ defensive line coach Pepper Johnson on Sunday. “There are a lot of faces coming in and out.”
Such is life in the present day NFL, with roster sizes currently at an inflated 90 players. Normally, at this stage of the pre-season team rosters are maxed out at 80 players…but the extra 10 spots certainly provide more job opportunities for the players.
And maybe a little extra work keeping up with all of the new names and faces.
“I know that we still got started at the same time (as last year) but it’s just a big difference going the whole offseason without the players, so to have the guys in camp and being able to coach and get out there live — I’m excited about it all,” Johnson explained. “Getting that first game up under our belt — that just really set things on pace now.”
“We’ve looked through and brought in some workout guys and all that,” Bill Belichick added on Sunday, in response to a question about different players coming and going. “We’ve tried to take what we feel like are the guys who would have the best opportunity.”
Now, the real work begins this week…especially with one pre-season game under their belts. The evaluation process steps into overdrive. “I just think we gave some people an opportunity to play,” Belichick said. “And we can evaluate what they’ve done. They’ll get another chance to play and we’ll see how they improve on that. A lot of the players that didn’t play have played a lot of football before, whether it’s here, or in a couple cases, somewhere else. That will all start coming together a little bit more this week, and then in the succeeding preseason games.
“I think we learned a lot about the players who played (against Jacksonville),” Belichick added. “There were 30-some that didn’t play, and we’ll continue to evaluate them on the practice field and in other preseason games.”
In all probability, out of the 53 players who will eventually comprise the 2011 Patriots roster, 48-50 of those slots are already determined. Do the math – this leaves little room for marginal players, for those that may be injured, and for those that have their own “style,” or way of doing things. Now’s the time to fall in line, or quickly fall out of favor.
“I think this is a big week for us coming up here,” Belichick said. “We’ve got some things we can build on from training camp and the preseason game against Jacksonville. Now we have to start stacking some things on top of that in terms of situations and a little bit of an expansion in our system, so (there are) a lot of things we need to cover. We have competition at a lot of spots that we’re going to have to evaluate and keep looking at that and try to put those guys in situations where we can give them an opportunity and so we can see enough to make a good decision. That’s what’s ahead and (it) could be a big week.”
That’s because it’s not the first day of school – or camp – any longer.
Training Camp Notes
The Patriots signed veteran free agent LB Niko Koutouvides on Sunday. Terms of the contract were not announced. Koutouvides (6-2, 238 pounds) is a veteran of seven NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks (2004-07), Denver Broncos (2008) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2010)...on Saturday, the team added rookie free agent OL Zach Roth (6-6, 319) from TCU, and released OL Chris Morris and DL Steve Williams...the weekend roster moves puts the Patriots’ roster at the maximum of 90 players...
Two of the veteran leaders of the team met with the media following weekend practices. Matt Light returned to active status after beginning on the PUP list following his signing, and thinks a few little things have changed since the end of last season. “We switch things up a little bit here and there. Obviously, our concepts are pretty much the same, but we game plan a lot. I think you guys know that we don’t stick with one thing and one thing only, so there’s always change you have to go through. There’re different guys, different positions, guys you’ve got to work with, guys you’ve got to get comfortable with, so that’s what this time is all about - just trying to get used to all of it.”
Logan Mankins also had the chance to speak with reporters after Sunday’s practice, and said he’s very happy to have the new contract to stay with the team for at least the next six years. “One of the things I told my wife now I’ve got to make sure I earn it. I don’t want to be one of those guys that shows up to collect his check, or one of those guys that gets hurt every year. So, hopefully I can stay healthy and give my best effort."
Does he now consider himself a team leader? "I think guys follow me already by my work ethic — how hard I work, and they see the hours that I’m here. I think that part takes care of itself. I don’t know, maybe someday I’ll have to speak up a little bit more. I don’t know. When that time comes, we’ll find out."
Training Camp Schedule
Monday
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm Patriots Experience open to the public
1:30 pm – 4:00 pm Practice open to the public
Tuesday, Wednesday
Practice times To Be Determined
Thursday
Pre-season game @ Tampa Bay
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