Postcards from Camp: Day 5

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Day 5 of Patriots Training Camp. After an off day Monday, the team was back at it, once again in full pads. Because of the massive crowds that have been filling the hill overlooking the practice field, the media tent was moved about 40 yards to the left to open up greater spectator room. We're getting into the drudgery days of camp this week. The Saints don't come in until next Tuesday, no games on the horizon until Thursday and bones are sore.

WEATHER
Overcast and cool, in the low 70s.

WHAT THEY WORE
Full pads. And James Ihedigbo and Matt Slater still cruising around in red "Leave Me ALONE!!" jerseys.

WHAT THEY DID
The same routine of pre-practice warmup, dynamic stretching, individual position group stretching and drills led things off.

Position groups broke up for 1-on-1 work. The receivers and defensive backs had some excellent matchups we detail a bit further down.

The safeties and linebackers worked on zone drops in the goal line.

The quarterbacks worked on throwing to secondary receivers by the goal line with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels signaling where he wanted the ball thrown, to the goalpost at the back of the end zone short at the goal line or on a fade to the corner.

Free kicks were worked on as were kickoff returns.

WHO'S HOT
Jermaine Cunningham. The third-year player, who really needs to have a camp and then a preseason that ignites some of the promise of his rookie season, continues to play well off the left edge in the 4-3, especially against the run.

Aaron Hernandez. Watching him operate in a practice setting rep after rep allows you to see what his gift is. The ability to shake a defender to set him up and then cut quickly and with long steps to get massive separation. Hernandez' speed isn't awesome. His quickness and explosion are.

Devin McCourty. Aside from a few plays early in camp when he got twisted up but good by Brandon Lloyd, McCourty has been worthy of mention because he hasn't been on the scene for many plays of mention. In other words, all's quiet. And that's good.

WHO'S NOT
Visanthe Shiancoe. The tight end was down on Tuesday. No obvious injury was seen as he left the field in shorts and a t-shirt at the end of practice.

Dan Koppen. The veteran center seems to spend an awful lot of time either on the ground or reaching as opposed to being able to stay on blocks and drive. He bears close watch.

Brandon Bolden. The rookie who's gained praise had a fumble and - this is nitpicking - didn't seem to find as much daylight as he has on other days. That's also a by-product of the Patriots defense being ahead of the offense.

WHAT WE SAW
Great action in 1-on-1s opportunity. Hernandez owned them. Wes Welker and Julian Edelman were also tough covers.

Defensive end Alex Silvestro took some extra reps on offense because Shiancoe was out. He's a big ball of danger out there at tight end, nearly crushing Julian Edelman on a goal line play when the players ran their routes at the same depth and collided.

Tom Brady and Julian Edelman's agent, Steve Dubin, was at practice.

So was former Giant Carl Banks who was in a Patriots t-shirt and shorts. When I tweeted out that info, Giants fans weren't happy.

Jermaine Cunningham and Gerard Warren combined on a tackle-for-loss of Stevan Ridley. Ridley got blasted on a number of plays. It seemed a better day for running back Shane Vereen.

Brandon Lloyd had a couple of drops in drills and 11-on-11. Bolden and Edelman had fumbles.

Josh Barrett came up with a pick off a deflection. The pass was thrown by Ryan Mallett.

Elsewhere...Mike Florio at PFT mentions that the prescription drug Adderall, which helps against the symptoms of ADD, has been cited by a number of players as a reason for positive tests for performance enhancers. Brandon Spikes blamed the same thing after his positive test in 2010.

Spikes was on the field for his most extended work since camp began. Same intense, downhill, playmaking self. With Dont'a Hightower at the strong side linebacker spot, Spikes in the middle and Jerod Mayo at the weak side, there was a formidable looking group on the field for a spell.

WHAT THEY SAID
"The fourth quarter was who, Brady and the other rookie, Tim Rattay?" - Bill Belichick, recalling the first preseason game he coached for New England, the Hall of Fame Game in 2000 against the 49ers. Tesday was anniversary of that clash

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