FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- When covering New England Patriots training camp, sometimes it's easy to lose sight of the big picture. With that in mind, I received an email from a family member over the weekend of "things I'm interested in with the team but haven't read much about."
I thought the answers might help fill in the blanks on a few blind spots over the first nine practices of camp.
"How is Jerod Mayo doing? Haven't seen much written on him." Mayo, recovering from a torn patellar tendon that ended his 2014 season in October, passed his physical to open training camp. That was significant, because he hadn't participated throughout the spring. He has been present at every practice of camp, and though his workload has seemingly been managed a bit, it looks like he's on track to be ready for the opener and he's getting his feel for the game back (e.g. anticipating a run play up the middle and filling the hole with authority). Mayo met with reporters once, and it was a quick exchange. He didn't want to look back at the past two seasons, which were cut short because of injury.
"Who are the candidates from the undrafted free-agent class who could break through and make the team?" Cornerback Jimmy Jean of Alabama-Birmingham has notable length (6-foot-3, 180) and his niche is special teams. Center David Andrews, of Georgia, also doesn't look out of place when his number is called. Receiver Chris Harper, of Cal, has flashed some burst in the return game to warrant consideration. Those are three strong candidates that come to mind.
"What's happening at guard? Why is Ryan Wendell being discussed as a possibility at left guard when he played right guard in 2014?" Fourth-round draft picks Shaq Mason (left) and Tre Jackson (right) have been fixtures next to returning starting center Bryan Stork through the first stretch of practices. Jackson is primarily a right guard, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he assumes that starting role. He looks the part. Mason, who comes from a triple-option offense at Georgia Tech, is green in pass protection and that's why there is talk in some circles (including here) that Wendell would be a top candidate to slide into the left guard spot when he comes off the PUP list. I'm not sure Mason is ready yet.
"What does the depth look like on the offensive line?" If we assume a starting five of left tackle Nate Solder, left guard Wendell, center Stork, right guard Jackson and right tackle Sebastian Vollmer, you're probably looking at four players as the top depth options: tackles Marcus Cannon and Cameron Fleming, guard/center Mason, and then perhaps third-year man Josh Kline or the undrafted Andrews. The bigger questions, based on the present picture, are on the interior.
"Anything about the players from the 2013 draft class stand out? This is a crucial year for them." Receiver Aaron Dobson was getting top reps with Brandon LaFell on the PUP list, but Dobson has missed the past few practices with a reported hamstring injury. That has been his biggest obstacle in 2013 and 2014 -- health -- and he had some momentum going before this latest "setback." Not ideal. Fellow receiver Josh Boyce knows the system and has made some flash plays; he'll be in the mix for a No. 5 type spot at the position. He's on the bubble. Cornerback Logan Ryan is a candidate to start at Brandon Browner's spot on the right side, with his flexibility to move into the slot adding to his value. Safety Duron Harmon has a niche role in sub packages and is a depth option behind Devin McCourty. And then there's linebacker Jamie Collins. No surprise there; he looks like a stud.