Projo Pats Blog

The Patriots' afternoon training session is completed, and here are a few notes from the two-hour practice, which was held in full pads:

** S James Sanders returned to the field for the first time since July 28. However, today there were 19 other players missing, including: QB Matt Gutierrez, WR Kelley Washington, CB Jason Webster, CB Jonathan Wilhite, CB Antwain Spann, CB Lewis Sanders, RB LaMont Jordan, CB Mike Richardson, S Rodney Harrison, FB Kyle Eckel, G Stephen Neal (PUP), T Ryan O'Callaghan, G/C Russ Hochstein, T Matt Light, T Oliver Ross (PUP), TE Stephen Spach, WR Sam Aiken, DL Le Kevin Smith, DL Mike Wright.

** In 7-on-7 work, Tom Brady threw deep for Chad Jackson, who had good separation on Ellis Hobbs. But the ball went off the hands of the struggling Jackson, who started camp well but has not maintained that level as the days have passed. Jeff Shoate broke up a pass intended for Jackson for Matt Cassel during this drill.

** In 11-on-11 work:
- C.J. Jones, who had some difficulties against the Ravens, caught a deep ball from Brady, beating Brandon Meriweather in the process;
- The Patriots continue to work on a couple of trick plays (we'd tell you what they were, but the phone would be ringing in no time -- it's a no-no);
- The entire defense, including d-line coach Pepper Johnson and linebackers coach Matt Patricia had to run a lap at one point, though it was unclear why; at the end of the lap, the unit was met by Bill Belichick;
- During two-minute work, the offense ran a play from the one-yard line, a handoff to Laurence Maroney that went nowhere; Belichick said to take it from the one again, and this time Brady sent a perfect touchdown ball to Wes Welker at the left sideline;
- Cassel was given a series during two-minute to get into the end zone: first down was a bad snap by Dan Connolly; then a member of the O-line (possibly Barry Stokes) was called offsides, pushing them back to second-and-15. That snap was ruled a would-be sack for Green. On third down, Cassel spiked the ball to stop the clock, and on fourth, he looked for Jackson in the end zone but Terrence Wheatley batted the pass away;
- Brady then took over, and took just a couple of plays: sideline pass to Wes Welker, sideline pass to Randy Moss, and a pretty touchdown pass for Benjamin Watson with Jerod Mayo in coverage. Mayo never turned to make a play on the ball, and a couple of his teammates took a moment to instruct him on that point after the play.

New England will be back on the field again tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.

 Tags  chad jackson ellis hobbs James Sanders Randy Moss Terrence Wheatley tom brady training camp Wes Welker

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