Cleaning out the notebook from the Patriots’ fourth practice of training camp.
Before taking a day off on Sunday, the New England Patriots held what might have been their most competitive session of training camp so far. While its intensity will pale in comparison to what lies ahead starting on Monday — the introduction of full pads —it still was an entertaining affair on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium.
To recap the session, please make sure to check out Pats Pulpit beat writer Brian Hines’ Training Camp Notebook. Before we turn our attention to Day 5, however, let’s clean out that notebook to put an official wrap on the weekend.
Practice recap | Performances of note | Will Campbell on veteran defenders | Kyle Williams on Stefon Diggs | Jared Wilson on O-line competition | Pats Pulpit Training Camp Guide
Rookies follow ‘man of words and wisdom’ Morgan Moses: When the Patriots signed veteran offensive tackle Morgan Moses to a three-year, $24 million free agency deal in March, they did so with two plans in mind.
First, they wanted him to take over and help stabilize the vacant right tackle spot. Then, they wanted him to take the team’s young offensive linemen — a group that was about to grow significantly in size during and after the NFL Draft — under his wing. He did just that.
“Whenever you’re a rookie, you just hope to go into an organization with a veteran you can lean on, who has played so much or has so much knowledge and can teach you so much,” said first-round rookie Will Campbell.
“Morgan is a man of words and wisdom. He gives so many little points that can take you as far as you want. He’s been very good to me on the field and off the field. One day I hope that I can be like that.”
Campbell and Moses have been joined at the hip since the former was selected fourth overall in the draft. However, the latter has also helped guide the other rookies through their early experience at the pro level.
“He just knows a lot about the game,” said third-round interior lineman Jared Wilson. “I ask him a lot, and even though I ask him the day before and I ask him again, I’m like, ‘How are you here? 12 years.’ And I was like, ‘How long do you plan on keep on going?’ And he’s like, ‘I want to do three more.’ And I’m like, ‘Wow.’ I ask him what he does in recovery, when he goes home. He sleeps a lot, he has a red-light sauna. ... He’s a great teacher. He’s just a great guy overall, great veteran.”
Chemistry is developing among first-year players: The Patriots actively wanted to rebuild their team culture in the first offseason under head coach Mike Vrabel, and they managed to do just that. A big part of it is that rookie class, and...