August 4 Morning practice

Day 6, first Patriots practice
EmailLinkComments (0) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff August 4, 2009 12:44 PM

FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots held their morning practice in full pads (9:30-11:15), with the session getting off to a different type of start as Mike Shanahan briefly addressed the players.
Here are a few observations from the practice:

1) Eyes on Andrew Walter. This was the first practice for newly signed quarterback Andrew Walter and the first thing that stands out is his size. At 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, he looks like a basketball player. Walter rotated in for some reps behind Tom Brady.

From my view, I thought he had the third-most reps of practice, behind Tom Brady and Brian Hoyer.
Second-stringer Kevin O’Connell has had reduced reps of late.

In one drill early in practice, receivers worked one-on-one against defensive backs on routes into the end zone, and Walter connected with former Raiders teammate Randy Moss in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.
Yet on the next rep, Walter was picked off by Terrence Wheatley on a delivery under the goal posts. Walter, who seemed to develop some early chemistry with tight end David Thomas, did not speak to reporters after practice.

2) Offense is fired up at end of practice.
The practice ended with a lot of energy, as Bill Belichick gave the offense and defense some added motivation.
With the ball at what looked like the 5 yard line, the offense had one chance to punch it in. If the offense scored, the defense had to run a lap.

If the defense stopped them, the offense had to run a lap.

With rookie quarterback Brian Hoyer at the controls, he found Joey Galloway at the goal-line, after Galloway ran at Jerod Mayo and then cut to his right where the throw was delivered on time.

Hoyer sprinted up to Galloway to celebrate and the offense was really ribbing the defense, led by Tom Brady.