Valentine’s day looms
2nd-year pro works to make impact on ‘D’
FOXBORO — Patriots defensive tackle Vincent
Valentine clearly put his offseason to good use because he looks a lot stronger in training camp.
That’s the expected outcome for second-year players. Rather than worrying about the draft process, they get their first chance to dedicate themselves to an NFL weight-training program, and Valentine appears to have benefited.
“I just worked,” he said simply. “It doesn’t really matter where I’m at, whether I’m going through the draft or I’m not. I felt like I was just working and trying to get better.”
Valentine has had some impressive one-on-one reps in the five padded practices, and he acknowledged he is more powerful in anticipation for his second season.
“Yeah definitely, I’ve just been trying to work and get better,” Valentine said. “It’s showing up, but it’s a long season. I’ve got a lot of work to do. I’m not trying to be happy with where I’m at now.”
Valentine didn’t get a ton of playing time as a rookie. The third-round pick out of Nebraska participated in 27.6 percent of the defensive snaps in the regular season, which was the 16th most on the team, and he recorded one sack, one pressure, forced two holding penalties and had four run stuffs (tackles for no gain or a loss). Alan Branch and Malcom Brown are expected to be the Patriots’ top two interior linemen on run downs, but Valentine and Lawrence Guy should get plenty of opportunities. Those chances will expand even further if the Patriots use a 3-4 base, which appears like a real possibility.
Valentine has worked to be ready for those chances if they arise.
“I feel like I’m getting more comfortable with the playbook and everything,” Valentine said. “Now I’m learning different techniques that the offensive linemen are doing, using my eyes better, using my hands better. I think everything is going well so far. Just got to keep working.”
Friendly sparring
Cornerback Stephon
Gilmore affirmed yesterday that his wrestling match with wide receiver Julian
Edelman was typical training camp stuff, and there’s nothing more to it than that.
Gilmore and Edelman wrestled in the end zone Tuesday before they were ejected from practice. Neither had been permitted to speak to the media Wednesday, and Gilmore said yesterday it was no big deal.
“Yeah it’s just football,” Gilmore said. “It happened two days ago. Just football, coming out and competing with all the receivers. We’re all trying to make each other better.”
Rex effect
Running back Rex Burkhead has been steady throughout training camp, and he has been effective as a pass catcher with the starting offense. But yesterday, he made a
Dion Lewis- type of move in a one-on-one drill against linebacker Elandon Roberts that served as Burkhead’s first wow moment in camp. Burkhead’s nifty footwork over the middle crossed up Roberts before he shook out to the right flat to easily catch a pass. If that’s a glimpse of his true potential, it’ll be fair to wonder why the Bengals buried him for four seasons.
With the running back logjam, though, Burkhead has to fulfill his value as a special teamer to distinguish himself from Lewis,
James White and Mike Gillislee. So Burkhead has been busy every night studying his array of assignments. Burkhead isn’t at Brandon
Bolden’s level on special teams, but he has to continue to be as serviceable as he’s been in the NFL.
“Study your butt off the best you can,” Burkhead said. “It’s something as a professional you’re asked to do, and me being in my fifth year, it’s something that’s expected of me to know what I’m doing when I’m out there, and to make sure I’m ahead of my studies the night before, so when I get out there and step on the field I know what I’m doing.”