SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Here are five observations from Patriots' camp.

1. There is obviously a lot riding on the performance of quarterback Tom Brady this season and he should have an improved receiving corps with which to work. Free-agent acquisition Donald Hayes, who had 118 catches for the Carolina Panthers over the last two seasons, is an angular wide receiver who brings the Pats a unique dimension. He could challenge David Patten for the starting job opposite Troy Brown but, even if he plays as the No. 3 wideout, he figures to make a big contribution. Second-round pick Deion Branch is another speedy addition who impressed coaches in minicamp. But the biggest upgrade in the passing game is at tight end. Christian Fauria, a former starter in Seattle, is a solid player. First-round draft choice Daniel Graham, a willing blocker, had one drop in Friday's practice but caught everything else thrown anywhere close to him. One caveat on Graham: It was only one practice, a first impression, but he didn't really display much quickness. Separation from the linebackers and safeties is a little more difficult at this level and Graham may have to work harder and be more precise in his routes to get consistently open. Another free agent tight end, Cam Cleeland, continues to rehabilitate from his latest Achilles injury. Given his history, one had to wonder if he is a guy who will ever fulfill the promise he showed his rookie year in New Orleans. Brady, by the way, was very sharp in Friday's session. He did what he does best, demonstrating good accuracy on intermediate-range passes, and connecting with receivers in stride. He doesn't have the strongest arm, and won't put a lot of RPMs on the ball, but corners don't seem to be able to break on his passes.

	Antowain Smith rushed for 1,157 yards in his first season with the Patriots.

2. Fifth-year free safety Tebucky Jones, who is in the final year of his original rookie contract and eligible for unrestricted free agency next spring, could make himself a ton of money if he continues to play the way he practiced Friday afternoon. A hybrid player with linebacker-type hitting ability and emerging coverage skills, Jones finished the '01 season strong, with excellent performances late in the year. The team's 1998 first-round choice was flying all over the field on Friday, making plays against the pass and the run. He has clearly moved his game to the next level and, as a guy who has struggled in the past with some of the cerebral elements, Jones seems to be maturing a bit mentally as well. Jones isn't the textbook free safety, because he is still markedly better playing close to the line of scrimmage, and forcing the run. But if he continues to improve, New England coaches are going to have to give him some more freedom. Some observers have suggested that former New York Jets starter Victor Green, recently signed as a free agent, will supplant Jones in the lineup. Not based on Jones' performance of Friday, he won't.

3. Veteran tailback Antowain Smith, who rescued the New England rushing game in 2001 after being signed in late summer as a free agent, didn't exactly get off to a positive start to camp Friday morning. For the second year in a row, Smith failed the conditioning test that coach Bill Belichick administers to all players, and he won't be able to practice until he meets prescribed guidelines. The benchmarks vary by position but, for running backs, the test consists of running 20 required 60-yard dashes in under eight seconds each, and with less than 30 seconds between sprints. Smith wasn't the only player to fail the test, with fellow running back Patrick Pass and cornerback Ben Kelly among the others who did not meet the guidelines, but he was the most notable. The six-year veteran, who ran for 1,157 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2001 after being released by Buffalo and signed by the Pats, received a new contract this spring. Unlike most of his tenure with the Bills, he was on hand for much of the offseason conditioning program this summer, but obviously had a setback when it came to Friday's moment of truth. On the plus side, third-year veteran tailback J.R. Redmond seems to have matured, and could be a nice complement to Smith in '02. A third-round pick in the 2000 draft, Redmond has rushed for only 525 yards in two years, but seems more confident. That said, Smith remains the running game centerpiece, and New England might be in trouble if he suffered an injury that sidelined him for an extended period.

4. Standout center Damien Woody claims he is over his mental block on the shotgun snap -- in some circumstances last year the Patriots moved guard Mike Compton over to center to handle the chore -- but he still has a way to go. His purported confidence aside, he still doesn't look particularly smooth yet, but coaches want to give him more time because the staff doesn't want to go through another season of offensive line musical chairs. Woody has lost 20 pounds, he said, since a June minicamp. If he's looking for the tonnage, he might want to check with offensive left tackle Matt Light. The second-year pro looked a tad soft, and did not practice because of an injury.

5. Are the Pats the NFL's most talented team? Certainly not. But they continue to rate as one of the deepest rosters in the league, especially on defense overall and on the offensive line. The tandem of coach Bill Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli just seems to keep adding serviceable players, creating depth, forcing competition. By acquiring proven veterans, guys who still know how to play the game and are willing to play for mid-range salaries, New England seems to debunk the notion that you can't build depth in the era of the salary cap.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.