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**Professor** · 08-16-2007, 01:48 AM

SportingNews.com - NFL - Patriots Team Report

excerpt:

Expect the Patriots to employ more zone-blocking schemes this season to take advantage of RB Laurence Maroney's cutback ability. The Pats have all the pieces in place to be a good zone-blocking team. Their athletic linemen are experienced as a unit, meaning they've got down the coordination and communication required to make the two blocks necessary in good zone plays, first on a lineman, then disengaging onto a linebacker. Maroney is familiar with the scheme from his days at Minnesota. The key will be hole recognition, something Maroney struggled with at times last season. When the cutback lane opens, he must hit it immediately instead of dancing, as he did as a rookie. The Patriots' offense could end up resembling that of the Indianapolis Colts, with zone plays opening up the threat of play-action passing for Tom Brady. ...

Randall Gay's still got it. A Super Bowl starter as an undrafted free agent in 2004, Gay has missed most of the last two years with injury. But he's looked like his old self in training camp, earning the inside track on the starting right corner spot opposite Ellis Hobbs. Always lauded for his football IQ, Gay has also demonstrated impressive closing speed and ball skills in camp, where he's been matched up with everyone from Randy Moss to Wes Welker and stayed with each stride for stride.

NEWCOMER REPORT: If WR Randy Moss's hamstring proves to be a recurring issue during the season, the player who could be affected most is Wes Welker. While the Pats opened up the offense with a number of three-wideout sets at training camp, their bread-and-butter remained the underneath stuff, where Welker excels. A plan of attack appeared to be emerging: keep opposing safeties downfield with the threat of Randy Moss and Donte' Stallworth, but predominantly pound the ball to Welker in the slot. Welker is outstanding in tight spaces and already appears to be on the same page as QB Tom Brady, running with the first team right out of the chutes and making the proper reads.

SCOUTING REPORT: Junior Seau appeared to be waving goodbye to the game when he left the field following a gruesome broken arm last season. But the 38-year-old 12-time Pro Bowler is back for another go-round as a situational linebacker who can back up all four spots. The Patriots have added a wrinkle in training camp by working out Seau some at safety. They've needed to play linebackers like Don Davis there in the past, and it gives Seau yet more versatility in a defense that requires it. Seau proved last year that as complicated as the Patriots defense is often portrayed, middle linebacker could be played as much on athleticism and instincts as anything else. With his snaps limited by the presence of Adalius Thomas, he should be able to stay fresh.