Not only do you get the most-asked questions about New England's upcoming season, but you also get all the answers, although not necessarily in that order.

09:03 AM EDT on Thursday, July 28, 2005

BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

Had enough of the always reliable "training camp questions?" You're supposed to bring the questions and we're supposed to give the answers, right? So, with Patriots training camp set to open for real tomorrow, let's shake it up. We'll do our part and give you three answers. And then four questions.

First, the answers.

Yes. No. Probably by midseason.

Joking. Here are three answers to topics of note.

Answer No. 1.

The offseason acquisition who'll have the most impact is going to be David Terrell. The former Bears wide receiver got the chance to go through his prima donna stage in Chicago. He's been terrifically diligent in working out since he's been in Foxboro and he brings something to the table the Patriots haven't had. Legitimate size on the outside. Terrell isn't going to knock David Givens or Deion Branch from the top of the depth chart. He's not as tough and reliable as Givens; he's not as quick, sure-handed or elusive as Branch. But he will be a tremendous complement to those two and will make an early impact.

Answer No. 2.

The most overwrought topic of this preseason will be Coordinatorgate. Were Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis terrific at what they did? Yes. Will they be missed? Probably to some degree. Is it the end of the Patriots as we've come to know them? No. The coaching staff remains largely intact, the team is comprised of veterans on both sides of the ball and the hub of the wheel -- Bill Belichick -- remains. Of course, this won't stop weepy hand-wringing if and when the Pats go three-and-out against Cincinnati in their first preseason game and continual updates and questions about who's wearing the headset, calling the plays and diagramming the O's to beat the X's.

Answer No. 3

The best competition in camp will be at cornerback. Four guys -- Randall Gay, Tyrone Poole, Asante Samuel and Duane Starks -- have started in Super Bowls and they all played on the side that finished the game happy. Add in Chad Scott and third-round pick Ellis Hobbs and you have a flotilla of players who can cover. It will be fun to watch these players battle it out for the next five weeks.

And for the questions the team faces?

Question No. 1

How will the Patriots deal with the absence of Tedy Bruschi? Mentally, they will simply go on as they always do and -- harsh as it may seem -- ignore his departure. Physically, Monty Beisel, acquired from Kansas City, figures to be the first in line to get a crack at replacing Bruschi. To count on Chad Brown too heavily, the former Pro Bowler also acquired in the offseason, after a string of injury-shortened seasons, probably isn't the first course of action. Not that Brown won't be deep in the mix, it's just that Beisel seems the first choice to fill inside linebacker at this point.

Question No. 2

Which player makes the predictable sophomore jump? It could be nose tackle Vince Wilfork, tight end Ben Watson (although he may not qualify since he was injured most of 2004), Dexter Reid or maybe Gay.

Wilfork seems poised to be a force, but the presence of Richard Seymour -- a possible holdout candidate -- will figure in to how much attention teams can devote to locking up Wilfork. Watson needs to prove he can stay healthy; Reid will have a tough time getting on the field behind Eugene Wilson and Rodney Harrison. Don't sleep on Gay, who may not give up his hard-earned playing time too easily.

Question No. 3.

What about Seymour? His agent, Eugene Parker, indicated yesterday that there are talks, and that due diligence is being done. Will Seymour do the prudent thing and come to camp on time? Unknown. But he'll buy a ton of goodwill if he does and -- let's be honest -- new contract or not, he's not going to sit the season.

Question No. 4

Who's the backup quarterback going to be? It's got to be Rohan Davey's job to lose. But if he spends another preseason as the Round Mound of Throw it All Around as he did in 2004, start the egg-timer because his time may be ticking. Doug Flutie, meanwhile, has to prove he's got the capability to run this offense as seamlessly as the starter. Not with the same results, but he has to make the right calls, get people in the right spots and make the right reads. The backup for the Patriots isn't here to beat out Tom Brady. He's merely got to be efficient in case the worst-case scenario occurs. Davey knows the offense better having spent three seasons in it. Flutie has a backlog of experience Davey doesn't.

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Digital Extra: See a complete guide to Patriots training camp, as told by Patriots' 2003 Fan of the Year Karen Cardoza to Journal sports writer Carolyn Thornton, at:

http://projo.com/patriots/trainingcamp101