FOXBORO, Mass. — With the majority of the Patriots back at Gillette Stadium and practicing together outdoors, it's become easier for the team to look ahead at what's to come. As each page of the playbook turns, they're one more step removed from the embarrassing playoff loss to the Ravens.
New England began its voluntary organized team activities Monday, and the Pats' young returnees and newly-signed veterans have been back to work in the meeting rooms and practice fields. About 75 percent of the roster has reported to camp and the remainder of the players are expected to join at various times over the next two weeks.
"This is what I've been waiting for," second-year defensive lineman Ron Brace said. "I've just been waiting for this next time we can put the pads on, and start playing and start hitting."
Due to the heat and relatively laid back atmosphere at these offseason practices, the players were in shorts and t-shirts Wednesday and they left their helmets in the locker room. They broke off into positional drills for the early portion of the session, which lasted about one hour and 45 minutes, and then joined together for seven-on-seven passing drills.
"The main thing for this is you want to come out here, focus on communication, really just a lot of technique stuff," third-year cornerback Terrence Wheatley said. "You're not really trying to look forward more than that. Work on technique. Work on communication. Try to get a feel for the new guys, and just fine tune your game."
New England's big-name stars haven’t been asked to report yet, including guys such as quarterback Tom Brady, wide receiver Randy Moss, defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, cornerback Leigh Bodden and safety Brandon Meriweather.
These sessions are aimed at players who need to catch up to speed with terminology, order and procedure so ideally, they're not holding back practices for the long-tenured veterans. New faces such as wide receivers Torry Holt and David Patten, defensive linemen Damione Lewis and Gerard Warren, and tight end Alge Crumpler were at Wednesday's session.
All of New England's rookies were also in attendance, with the exception of wideout Taylor Price, who can't participate until Ohio's senior class graduates next month, per NFL rules. Others on the field included wide receivers Julian Edelman and Brandon Tate, safety Brandon McGowan, cornerbacks Jonathan Wilhite and Kyle Arrington, linebackers Tyrone McKenzie, Pierre Woods and Shawn Crable, running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis and quarterback Brian Hoyer, among many second- and third-year players.
"It's been good, a lot of good work, guys getting after it, guys really focusing in, trying to do it right and get it right, improve as a football team as a whole," Holt said. "It's been good. The people here have been great. The organization has been great, the welcome has been absolutely outstanding, so I'm happy and excited about being here."
