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--Fumble (1961-2009), RIPYoung linebackers get in a lot of work. Belichick was asked about the performance of the team's rookie linebackers. "Some good things, some need to be better," he said. "I think Shawn [Crable] and Jerod [Mayo] both competed well. They played hard. Same thing with [Gary] Guyton and [Vince] Redd. I thought the play Guyton made on the punt was a real good effort play, showed his speed down there at the 2-yard line. Redd made a tackle on a kickoff and rushed the passer. Crable showed up in a couple different area -- special teams, against the run, rushing and had the interception. Jerod, the same thing. There were some positives, some good bright spots. ... I'm encouraged and glad that they had the opportunity to play as much as they did. I think it was a good experience for all those young linebackers."
Went to the game, and bummed by the disastrous parking situation (getting in/getting ripped off for $40/getting out), and more so by the OL, which has just deteriorated since the first half of last season. Some quick hits...
2) The OTHER 'new" big LB, #47, Vincent Redd, looked strong on teams and at OLB. A free agent steal!
Posted by Ron August 8, 08 03:18 PM
I would also like to put it out there that top-tier undrafted linebackers Vince Redd and Gary Guyton made the most of the time they got. Plus, both played on special teams, Redd was often one of the first three down in coverage with Slater and Meriweather, showing some of his freakish athletic ability. I am thinking one makes the roster and - hopefully - the other makes it to our practice squad. They are part of the new transition to long/lean/athletic defensive players we are going to. Agree?
Posted by Ryan August 8, 08 03:01 AM
troyywr wrote:I just saw Vince on SportsCenter today guys it was a quick clip of him coming around the end wearing number 47...he beats the block and bats down pass of Ravens QB Joe Flacco..here's the story I found..check out how Flacco describes Vince LOL.
The Ravens' first-round pick in April had a debut to forget, failing to complete a pass on three attempts and fumbling on his second play.
"That's how it is for a rookie quarterback in this league," Harbaugh said. "Joe has to learn very fast. He's a smart guy. He works his tail off. And it won't be long before he's not making those kind of mistakes and making a lot of great plays for us."
Flacco's last throw came on fourth-and-one from the New England 9-yard line. It seemed as if he could have his first touchdown pass, but instead his throw to the right flat was emphatically batted down by leaping linebacker Vince Redd.
"I thought I had one there," Flacco said. "I was getting ready to hit him, and then all of a sudden, a guy came up that seemed like he was 13 feet tall."
Defenders had a few tipped passes at the line of scrimmage, with rookie outside linebacker Vince Redd getting onehttp://www.boston.com/sports/football/p ... fr_12.html
"You've always got to be ready if you can't get to the quarterback to get your hands up," said Vince Redd, a 6-foot-6 inch, 260-pound rookie linebacker.http://www.boston.com/sports/football/p ... _be_ready/
Redd tipped a pass in the fourth quarter of the exhibition opener, with the Ravens on the Patriots' 9-yard line on fourth and 1.
Joe Flacco, the Ravens' first-round draft pick, tried to throw a short pass to running back Justin Green. Redd raced in off the left edge to end the drive with a swat of his hand.
"He threw the ball into my hand, really," Redd said. "I just put my hands up. I didn't have to do too much."
Redd tipped another ball in practice yesterday, and said he participated in drills during junior high and high school in which defenders tried to get their hands up at the last second.
"This is the NFL. We don't work on too much little stuff like that," he said, "but in junior high you work on things like that."
The former Tennessee Volunteer is also benefiting from working closely with fellow rookie linebackers Gary Guyton, Vince Redd and Shawn Crable, who all drew praise from Belichick for their performance against the Ravens.
“We came in together and we’re trying to stay here together,” Mayo said. “We definitely discussed all the bad – not the good, because we’re trying to get better each and every day.”
So far, Mayo’s following the rookie protocol – work hard, be humble and let your play do the talking.
What did you [John Lynch] have to do to get jersey No. 47? Vince Redd, a rookie, previously had that number.
“I didn’t even know someone else was in it, and they were giving the other guy a hard time. Seeing that he’s a rookie, I don’t think I have to do a whole lot. They took care of the dirty business. But I’ll take care of him – I’ll take him out to dinner or something.”
FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots have taken the field for their afternoon practice (noon) and John Lynch has joined his teammates for the workout.
He is wearing No. 47.
Rookie free agent Vince Redd was previously No. 47. He is now wearing No. 49.
Hair-raising experience
The annual tradition of rookie hazing took place Friday as the Patriots wrapped up their final public practice of training camp. The first-year players walked onto the field sporting brand-new haircuts, with the term “haircut” used loosely.
The design shaved into the side of linebacker Shawn Crable’s head slightly resembled the insignia from the helmet worn by his alma mater, the Michigan Wolverines, while third-string quarterback Kevin O’Connell took snaps boasting a fresh Mohawk.
Others had far less intricate patterns woven into their scalps.
Bo Ruud avoided the stares from on-lookers since the veterans shaved his head completely bald, and Vincent Redd managed to keep his dreadlocks, though the same can’t be said for his eyebrows.
“For some of them, it’s an improvement,” joked Belichick.
Rookies had bizarre haircuts, the result of some friendly barber work from the team’s veterans, an annual camp-ending tradition in New England.
Mike Reiss's three things to watch:
1. The offensive line: This unit paralyzed the offense in the first exhibition game against the Ravens and Tampa Bay will provide another tough test.
2. Kevin O'Connell: After a solid showing against the Ravens, in which the rookie kept plays alive with his feet, can O'Connell continue to impress against the Bucs?
3. The rookie linebackers: All four rookies -- Jerod Mayo, Shawn Crable, Gary Guyton, and Vince Redd -- did good things against the Ravens.
Vincent Redd managed to keep his dreadlocks, though the same can’t be said for his eyebrows.Can't really picture Vince using an eyebrow pencil.
--Fumble (1961-2009), RIPFOXBORO — The 2008 Patriots training camp has seen a lot of veterans brining a lot of young players up to speed. On Thursday, however, the Pats had a cram session with a 16-year vet.
Safety John Lynch, 36, was studying like a freshman in finals week, staying up into the wee hours of Friday morning to learn New England's playbook after signing with the team on Thursday.
One thing Lynch hasn't learned is the name Vince Redd. Redd is the rookie linebacker who had to give up No. 47 when Lynch arrived.
The vet was happy to have his old digits, but didn't know he had taken them off another player's back until teammates teased Redd in practice Friday.
"I didn't even know someone else was in it," Lynch said. "They were giving the other guy (Redd) a hard time."
Typically when a player wants a teammate's jersey number, he has to bribe the other player. Giants punter Jeff Feagles, for example, sold his No. 10 to quarterback Eli Manning for a family vacation in 2003, and donned a No. 17 jersey instead. A year later, Plaxico Burress joined the team and paid to install an outdoor BBQ set-up on Feagles' house in exchange for 17.
What did Redd get?
"Just another number," the rookie said, while wearing his new No. 49. "I'm still on the team, though, so it's all good."
Lynch said Redd's first-year status didn't give him much bargaining room.
"Seeing that he is rookie, I don't think I have to do a whole lot," Lynch said. "They took care of the dirty business, but I will take care of him. I will take him out to dinner or something."
Redd liked that idea.
"That's nice," Redd said. "If he said that, I'm down for it."
Lynch may not have time for dinner yet, given that he has a lot of homework to do.
"I studied hard last night and I am picking it up," Lynch said after making his debut in practice. Lynch played in nickel situations and filled the safety/hybrid role that belong to Tank Williams before Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Ravens last week.
"I think that I functioned well on such little sleep," Lynch said. "I was out here early in the week and then I went home and discussed it with my family. I felt good about the decision (to sign with the Pats). I came back and learned the playbook in one night. I got through it pretty good and it was a good first day."
Lynch was released by the Broncos on Aug. 1, a transaction he requested after the team said it planned to reduce his role. Although the Pats don't seem to have plans for him as an every-down player, New England has had trouble keeping its safeties healthy in recent seasons and something could emerge.
"I think if you produce, things like that happen," Lynch said of expanding his playing time. "That is what I will do. I will just try and come out here and be the best that I can be and see where that leads us."
For now, he still to has to ace his playbook.
"If you have played football long enough, it is all very similar concepts just different names for it," Lynch said. "That can be hard, because old habits die hard. You go through a translation and see the defenses and say 'OK this is that.' They did a great job of getting up to speed."
HAIR TODAY,
GONE TOMORROW
Redd may not have fared too well in keeping his jersey number, but he successfully negotiated the safety of his dreadlocks.
Most rookies had their hair shaved to oblivion this week. Linebacker Shawn Crable, for example, had what appeared to be a Michigan "M" carved into his dome, and special-teamer Matthew Slater looked like a man who'd visited Mister T's barber during an earthquake.
"For some of them it is an improvement," head coach Bill Belichick said.
But Redd and fellow linebacker Jerod Mayo managed to keep most of their hair intact. Redd's dreadlocks remained uncut and, from a distance, it seemed that Mayo's cornrows hadn't been touched.
Redd said he sacrificed his beard to keep his dreads.
"If you got a give a little and take a little, that's how it works," Redd said. "Some people really don't care. (But) some people, they've been growing their hair for a really long time. It's something that they would rather keep than cut."
One bright spot in the loss to Tampa Bay was the play of rookie linebackers Shawn Crable and Vince Redd, each of whom came up with a sack.
Hi Mike. I was wondering if you had a feeling on how many of the rookies will make the team. Do you see all the drafted players making it -- Kevin O'Connell, Jonathan Wilhite, Matthew Slater, and Bo Ruud? Do you see any of the undrafted free agents making the team -- Gary Guyton, Benjarvis Green-Ellis, Jonathan Stupar, or Vince Redd? Also, how would you feel if Billy Yates and Wesley Britt ended up starting for the Patriots much of the season? Do you see them able to fill the line spots in that situation?
Nathan, Andover
A: Nathan, if I had to make a prediction right now, I’d say all the draft picks, minus Bo Ruud, will make the 53-man roster. I think Ruud will probably be on the practice squad. As for the undrafted free agents, I’d tentatively give both Gary Guyton and Vince Redd roster spots
