Training camp 2009 is now in its fifth day, and things are rolling along pretty smoothly.  Yeah, there’s been some bumps and bruises and the rust isn’t completely worn off, but things are steadily improving.

Some players that have stood out to me early are Jonathan Wilhite, Greg Lewis, Sebastian Vollmer, Tully Banta-Cain, Brandon Meriweather, Leigh Bodden, David Thomas, and Jerod Mayo.

Wilhite stepped it up early in camp with Shawn Springs missing the first day of camp. Starting opposite Leigh Bodden, Wilhite has shown increased physicality, ball awareness and cover skills, all to go with his blazing speed.  At this point, I’d expect him to be starting opening day, as I think the Patriots really found a gem with this 2008 fourth round pick.

Speaking of gems, how about Jerod Mayo?  The way he’s played in training camp thus far, I couldn’t not mention them.  Jerod Mayo is mature well beyond his years, and his play on the field reflects that as well.  Mayo is growing as a leader on the defense, and admitted himself that he put on several pounds of muscle over the offseason (he looks huge).  I would be shocked if Mayo wasn’t in the Pro Bowl this year, and I think he will be the face of the New England defense for the next decade.

Courtesy Patriots.com

The Patriots first round selection from the year before, Brandon Meriweather, has also stood out to me thus far in camp.  He stepped it up big last year, making some big plays (including the game sealing strip-sack in Seattle), and showing improved ball skills in the secondary.  Some people have been down on him, but I think Meriweather is turning into a young star, and I’d expect him to make a lot of big plays in 2009.

A few of the Patriots new additions, Tully Banta-Cain, Leigh Bodden, and rookie Sebastian Vollmer have all looked solid thus far in camp.  Vollmer has switched between left tackle and right tackle, and even got some good grace from Bill Belichick:

“From a talent standpoint, it’s rare that you have guys who are big enough and physical enough to play on the right side, that are then athletic enough and can handle some of the pass rushers that are over there on the left side. That eliminates a lot of players, guys who are either one or the other based on their physical assets. Then you have another group of players who might conceptually be able to play both, but maybe their mentality or comfort level of playing one or the other eliminates [them]…  To have a true swing tackle, that’s a tough position to find. … Sebastian seems very good at that to this point. As we go on and keep adding more stuff, we’ll see how it goes.”

Leigh Bodden has looked like a true number one corner thus far.  He has shown great physicality, adequate athleticism, and has been pretty consistent throughout camp.  If this guy plays as well as he has looked thus far in training camp, Robert Kraft better pull out his check book, because the Patriots are going to want to keep Leigh Bodden around.

CB Leigh Bodden in Coverage; Courtesy Patriots.com

Tully Banta-Cain has also impressed me, and apparently the coaches, as one of my favorites, outside linebacker Vince Redd, was released yesterday.  And I wouldn’t be surprised if TBC returned to his 2006 role as he has shown some good pass rush skills, and has even put his hand down in some four man fronts.

Speaking of four man fronts, the Patriots have run a lot of them thus far in camp.  I wonder if the Patriots will do a lot of switching between the 34 and the 43, much like they did during the 2001 season.  The Patriots have a lot of options in the 4-3 as well.  The can run a four man line of Wright-Warren-Brace-Seymour or Wright-Seymour-Wilfork-Smith or TBC-Brace-Wilfork-Seymour… and it goes on and on.  The Pats could even play Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable, or Adalius Thomas at defensive end.  Also, at linebackers, the Pats could run Guyton-Bruschi-Mayo, or Guyton-Mayo-Lenon, or Thomas-Mayo-Guyton, or Alexander-Mayo-Crable… and the list goes on and on.  Ultimately, the point is that the Patriots have personnel versatile enough to line up in the 3-4 or the 4-3, and most players can play multiple positions within those formations.

I’d consider this a positive look at the team thus far.  But there’s been some things troubling me as well.  Lets get to those.

First, the backup quarterback position doesn’t appear to be settled to me.  Multiple news sources reported that the Patriots were expected to sign free agent Cleo Lemon, but nothing has been made official yet.  At times, I like what I’ve seen from all three backups.  Brian Hoyer doesn’t have great arm strength, but has poise and accuracy.  Matt Gutierrez still can put that great zip on the ball, and Kevin O’Connell has shown arm strength and athleticism, but hasn’t put much together consistently, although he is improving day by day.  I just don’t think I could trust any of these guys to lead the team anywhere close to the level Matt Cassel did last season.

The most troubling position by far is outside linebacker.  No one has really stepped it up.  Shawn Crable has unfortunately been injured. Vince Redd is gone.  Pierre Woods is about average.  And Tully Banta-Cain has played well, but nowhere close to an elite level.

However, I do think the Patriots will make a trade.  And I do think the Patriots will acquire Derrick Burgess.  Last night, Adam Schefter reported on his Twitter page that Derrick Burgess could be had for a third and a fourth round pick in 2010.  That’s too much, but I think he could be had for less considering he is refusing to play for the Raiders.  He also isn’t satisfied with his contract, so a trade for Burgess essentially becomes a one year rental.  Ultimately, I believe the teams will complete a trade, and it will be for a fourth round pick.

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