Training Camp Central: P.M. practice wrap
By Danny Picard
CSNNE.com
FOXBORO -- After canceling their morning practice, the Patriots got back to work at 3 p.m. for a complete two-hour training camp session, which included some nice catches from rookie receiver Buddy Farnham, another lackluster showing from running back Laurence Maroney, and a head-hunting throw that nearly took out Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
First things first.
Farnham made the most impressive catch of the afternoon, leaping up to make a cross-body, one-handed leaping grab that was thrown off-target and behind him by quarterback Zac Robinson in the 7-on-7 drills.
The rookie receiver out of Brown made another one-handed grab in the right corner of the end zone just moments later, after receiving a pass down the right sideline from running back Fred Taylor, after Taylor received a toss to the backfield. Farnham couldn't get his foot in-bounds, so the catch technically wouldn't have counted in a game. But c'mon, it's training camp, and the rookie is showing he has a pair of hands on him. We'll let it slide.
Now to Maroney. During the first 11-on-11 set, the running back dropped a 10-yard pass over the middle from Tom Brady that would have resulted in a touchdown, as Maroney was wide open coming from the left post. The dropped pass ended the offensive possession for that unit, and Brady walked to the sideline with his head down. Ball should have been caught.
Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Torry Holt each made an impressive touchdown receptions in the 11-on-11 red zone drills. Moss beat double-coverage from Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung to make a catch down the right sideline that he took into the end zone from the two-yard line.
Several plays later, Welker caught a touchdown pass over the middle after Brady fooled the defense with a fake spike on a play from the goal line.
Holt's was the most celebrated out of the three. Hoyer made a nice pass down the right sideline to the right corner of the end zone, and Holt made a leaping grab with corner back Kyle Arrington right in his face.
After Holt threw the ball in celebration, Hoyer ran down and the two gave a celebratory body bump in mid-air.
Rookie Brandon Tate was, at times, being used as the No. 2 receiver on Wednesday with the top offensive unit during 11-on-11 drills, lining up on the opposite side of Moss.
Newly signed offensive lineman Eric Ghiaciuc was present for Wednesday's afternoon session, and was sporting John Wise's old No. 71. Bill Belichick announced on Wednesday morning that the Patriots had released Wise, and signed Ghiaciuc. Belichick had also stated that the signing of Ghiaciuc was "unrelated" to Nick Kaczur missing some practice time.
Dan Connolly was playing left guard for the top offensive unit on Wednesday.
Kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed his first field goal on Wednesday, from 40-yards out, but hit his final six kicks to finish the afternoon 6-for-7.
And don't worry, the Patriots' owner is OK. He was able to duck out of the way of a Nick Caserio 40-yard throw that was labeled for Kraft's coconut. Caserio made the last throw in a game that Brady and backup quarterback Brian Hoyer were playing, as they switched off trying to sink 40-yard tosses into a blue garbage barrel that was placed on the goal line.
While Hoyer continued to come up short, Brady hit the barrel three times. He hit the front of the barrel twice, and had one that just rimmed out.
It was Caserio's accuracy, however, that was most impressive. When Brady and Hoyer were done throwing at the barrel on the side field, Kraft was walking through the end zone, behind the barrel and towards the main field's sideline. That's when the Patriots' director of player personnel threw a low liner in Kraft's direction, forcing Kraft to duck out of the way.
Afterwards, Brady gave a long point in at Kraft. It should go without saying that everyone involved was joking around.
And finally, rookie linebacker Brandon Spikes played on the top defensive unit during the entire afternoon session on Wednesday. With Gary Guyton not present, Spikes was playing inside linebacker with Jerod Mayo.
Danny Picard is on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DannyPicard
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