Hoyer sends Defense Running

Hoyer sends defense running
EmailLinkComments (0) Posted by Chris Forsberg, Boston.com Staff August 4, 2009 12:45 PM

It's the little things that break up the monotony of training camp and rookie quarterback Brian Hoyer provided the offense with a jolt of enthusiasm Tuesday when his 2-point conversion pass to Joey Galloway capped the morning session and sent the defense on a lap around the practice field.

It was Hoyer, the undrafted signal-caller out of Michigan State, thrust into the high-pressure role at the end of practice, but he gunned a pass to slot receiver Galloway, who corralled the ball going to the ground in the front of the end zone.

Galloway was mobbed by some jubilant offensive players, while defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, who had barely missed surging to Hoyer, endured some good-natured ribbing in the backfield. The defense then took their lap around the field before practice dismissed.

"Any time you're competing, it's fun," said Hoyer. "As an athlete, we're competitive, and you never want to lose. To do that, and send the defense running, it was fun.

"It's only one play though... we gotta come out in afternoon, it's a brand new practice. I just gotta keep getting better. In my opinion, [the play to end practice was] good for about five minutes, then you gotta move on. I'll be focused on this afternoon's practice."

The play did help cap what had previously been an uneven morning for Hoyer the day after the Patriots added Andrew Walter to the depth chart at quarterback (while releasing Matt Gutierrez).
"(Quarterbacks) coach (Bill) O'Brien usually tells me, you can't have a bad practice," said Hoyer.

"You might have a bad play here or there, but you gotta bounce back, and to come back, and be put in that situation -- the 2-point situation, with something on the line -- sometimes you lose sight of that in camp, where it's drill after drill, but you put something on the line, whoever loses is running, and to come out on top feels good."