Various aspects of the passing game, including blitz pickups, seven-on-sevens and two-minute drills were covered Saturday afternoon.
The blitz pickups were as entertaining as they were loud, with several collisions between linebackers and running backs drawing cheers. Fullbacks Marc Edwards and Jeff Paulk each showed the ability to stuff a defender. Patrick Pass and J.R. Redmond also finished up strong with good blocks as the drill wound down.
Ted Johnson looked especially strong taking on the running backs. He would take on the block and shed whichever back he was facing just about every time he went.
While the pickups were going on, the linemen worked on blocking schemes. The offensive line went against defenders rushing from alternate sides. The drill never pitted the full lines against each other, instead focusing on individual areas of the rush.
When the full offensive line worked in drills, Greg Robinson-Randall was back with the first group at right tackle because rookie Matt Light did not practice. Light hurt his ankle in the morning session. Also, Damien Woody was back at center despite his bruised thumb on the right hand, and Adrian Klemm was the left tackle. Rookie Kenyatta Jones was with the first group in the morning, but he did not take part in the late workout because of a shoulder injury.
In the seven-on-seven drills, Tom Brady had an up-and-down series. Tedy Bruschi deflected his first pass. On his next attempt he hit wide receiver Shockmain Davis in stride on a bomb down the left sideline to beat Otis Smith. Brady's third pass appeared to float over his intended target and was intercepted by rookie Leonard Myers.
Michael Bishop didn't have any more success in his turn. His first throw short-hopped David Patten, who nearly made a scoop of the toss. The second try was a bomb intended for Tony Simmons. Simmons turned for the ball over his right shoulder, but Bishop's throw went out of bounds over the left shoulder.
Wide receivers Patten and Torrance Small continued to show consistent hands. Small has been making most of his catches on short passes over the middle, as his size makes it difficult for the defense to get in front of him. Patten has been getting open on a regular basis, especially when working with Damon Huard in the two-minute drill work.
On the defensive side of the ball, rookies Jace Sayler and T.J. Turner got some looks with the first-team on defense. Sayler was in the middle where Garrett Johnson has seen most of the snaps, and Turner played the end spot where Antico Dalton has been working. Willie McGinest will eventually be at the crash end spot, but Turner, New England's final seventh-round draft pick, appears to be progressing well thus far.
Wide receiver Terry Glenn did attend the workout, but he did not practice because of a knee injury. He rode the stationary bike for a bit and played some light catch with Dane Looker, who has yet to practice because of a hamstring practice. Others missing their first practice were Light , Jones and Walter Williams, who fumbled a ball on the final play of the morning practice. He was carrying a ball around during the afternoon, but he did not practice because of a sore leg.
REMINDERThis is just a quick reminder to all season ticket holders that the deadline to register for passes to the joint practices against the New York Giants on Aug. 7-8 will be Sunday, July 29 at 5:00 p.m.
