Patriots must adjust to re-sodded Oakland field

By Danny Picard
CSNNE.com Staff ReporterFollow @dannypicard
FOXBORO --With baseball season over, the Oakland Raiders have patchedup the dirt infield with newly sodded grass. According to Patriots widereceiver Wes Welker, the Raiders re-sodded the entire field.

From my understanding, they re-sodded the whole field, not just the infield soit should be pretty consistent. Its just a matter of what it is.

I think its just different on each field, how well ittakes to the ground, said Welker on Friday. Its just different places. Youdon't know what to expect until you get out there and see where its at.

Either way, Welker will be sure to check his footing theminute he steps on the field this weekend in Oakland, in order to get a feelfor what hell be running routes on, prior to Sunday's game.

Thats the way it is every place I go whether its turf or anything else,said Welker. Some turfs are different and things like that. You definitely gocheck your footing, especially on a thicker kind of grass field like that.

As for how much of a concern it will be for the Patriots,wide receiver Deion Branch said that if its any disadvantage at all, it willbe the same disadvantage for both teams.

Well adjust, said Branch. Well adjust. Well get outthere and see the field and get to running around and see whats what. Seewhats soft, what part of the field is natural and stable, and go from there.