New England Patriots: What We've Learned Through Week 1 of Training Camp

Now that the New England Patriots are one week into training camp, we are finally starting to get a picture of what their team will look like in 2015.

There are still plenty of unanswered questions, and there's still plenty of time between now and the regular season for them to find those answers (and even for some of the answers to change). 

There's some danger in making day-to-day and minute-to-minute observations. Jumping to conclusions each day leads to an inevitable roller coaster of highs and lows. Instead of focusing on each individual development as a sign of one thing or another, it's better to look at the big picture over a period of time that would allow for observations of a bigger body of work.

Here's a look at some of the things (we think) we have learned through the first week of Patriots practice.

The Cornerback Battle Is Beginning to Take Shape

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We've known for a long time that Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan would be the top two cornerbacks in the secondary. That's not based on any kind of report or rumor, just common sense. They are the incumbents, and they have the most experience in the Patriots defense.

The rest of the cornerback depth chart has been a question mark, but it appears we are finally getting closer to our answers. Tarell Brown, Robert McClain, Bradley Fletcher and Daxton Swanson (mostly in that order) have been the other cornerbacks earning opportunities to play this summer.

Make no mistake, this year's secondary will not look much like last year's group that pulverized opposing receivers and suffocated them with tight man coverage. That being said, there's no reason this year's group can't be effective in its own way, capitalizing on what should be an improved pass rush that will force more errant throws than it has in years past.

The Patriots Are Closing In on a Starting Offensive Line

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The Patriots offensive line has been in a state of flux for the past two summers, but it appears they are finally finding some answers. 

There's no doubt that Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer (if healthy) and Bryan Stork comprise three of the Patriots' starting five up front. The only doubt has been at the guard spots. But so far, rookies Tre' Jackson and Shaq Mason have earned the majority of the snaps in those spots next to Stork and Solder.

The Patriots are still waiting for Ryan Wendell to return to full health after beginning training camp on the active/non-football injury list. When he returns, the complexion of this battle could change once again.

For now, though, the Patriots appear to be kickstarting a youth movement on the offensive front. 

There Is a Wide-Open Battle at the Bottom of the WR Depth Chart

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Brandon LaFell, Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola are locked in as the top three wide receivers on the Patriots depth chart. But there are two spots at the bottom of the depth chart that are being hotly contested in training camp this summer.

At least four wide receivers are involved in a battle for those fourth and fifth spots: Aaron Dobson, Brian Tyms, Josh Boyce and Brandon Gibson.

Of course, with three receivers already entrenched at the top of the pecking order, there just aren't a whole lot of opportunities to go around for the other two receivers. Thus, the players who exhibit the most special teams value are the ones who will be in the driver's seat for those two spots. In that respect, we've seen a lot of Tyms (gunner) and Boyce (returner) on special teams, but not much of the other two.

That being said, Tyms was carted off the field on Tuesday, and we haven't seen him since. His absence could open the door for one of the other three to step up make their case. 

Malcolm Butler Is Not Getting Complacent

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The spotlight has not shined brighter on any other Patriots player this offseason (with the exception of Tom Brady) than it has on cornerback Malcolm Butler. Butler has risen to the challenge, though, and he is using the departures of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner as an opportunity to highlight his skills for the second straight summer.

Butler's journey to Super Bowl hero status began last year in training camp, with one strong performance after another that gave the coaches the confidence in him to put him on the field in regular-season games and meaningful situations. He showed the man-coverage ability, ball skills and toughness that made him worth a flier on the roster.

But expectations have risen dramatically. With Revis and Browner gone, and with Butler's newfound fame as a game-saving icon, the second-year cornerback is being viewed as a leader of the secondary. That being said, there's no reason he can't fit into such a role.

Butler leads by example on the football field and has logged at least one pass breakup in almost each practice, plus two in a few of them. He was even the first to pick off Tom Brady in training camp. 

If he can remain consistent (and he has up to this point), the Patriots can be confident that they have found at least one of their two starting cornerbacks. 

The Patriots Are Behaving as If Tom Brady Will Play Week 1

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Considering all the uncertainty about Tom Brady's Week 1 availability, you would think that the Patriots would be anxious to get Jimmy Garoppolo some opportunities to throw to the likes of wide receiver Julian Edelman, tight end Rob Gronkowski and other first-team offensive skill-position players. Garoppolo has had a few such chances, but most of those opportunities have gone to Brady up to this point.

Perhaps the Patriots are confident that Garoppolo can quickly get on the same page with those receivers, or that those receivers can raise Garoppolo's level of play if the second-year quarterback has to contribute in meaningful situations.

For now, though, Garoppolo's reps are mainly coming with the likes of wide receiver Aaron Dobson, tight end Scott Chandler and other backups. 

Depending on what happens with Brady's court hearing on August 12, that plan may change.

Unless otherwise noted, all practice notes and quotes obtained firsthand.