FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Looking to address a weakness from last season, the New England Patriots are auditioning a few different players as kickoff returners.

Only three teams averaged fewer than the Patriots’ 21.4 yards per return last year. Only two had their longest return of the year cover fewer yards than the 37 that was the Patriots’ best. So New England is giving players other than primary kickoff returners Danny Woodhead and Julian Edelman a chance to handle the ball during training camp.

“Obviously, last year was an area of still inexperience for us,” special teams coach Scott O’Brien said Sunday. “It’s like any phase after a season. You’re always looking to improve it, no matter how good you are or how poor you are. You’re evaluating the schemes, personnel, what you have, what you can go forward with.”

Returning kickoffs requires sharp vision, cutting ability, coordination with blockers and toughness in charging at bigger players trying to make tackles.

There’s also an element of uncertainty.

“It’s like having to run through a door and you don’t know what’s at the other end,” O’Brien said.

Edelman tries to learn what to expect by studying his team’s blocking schemes and the opponent’s coverage plans. Still, he can’t plan for everything.

“There’s always going to be a (defensive) guy there,” he said. “It’s like NASCAR. You see smoke, you put the pedal to the metal and you find a lane and go.”

Woodhead, who didn’t handle kickoffs in 2010, returned 20 for an average of 21.9 yards in 2011. Edelman, the primary punt returner, brought back 12 kickoffs for a 23.7-yard average.

This summer, the Patriots have used running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen and wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth as kickoff returners.

“I’m comfortable doing anything that they ask me to do,” said Vereen, limited by injury to five games and no kickoff returns as a rookie last season. “I did it in college a little bit. I did it in high school as well, but this is a whole other level. So it’s going to take more concentration. It’s going to take more practice.”

In 2010, Brandon Tate handled the job very well. He averaged 25.8 yards on 41 kickoff returns with two touchdowns, one covering 103 yards. But the Patriots waived him before last season.

Woodhead could remain the top kickoff returner. Edelman may play a larger role. Or someone else may take over.

“I’m just going to go out there and do what I have to do to get myself better to try to help this team win ballgames, and I’m sure there’s other guys doing the same thing. Competition makes you better,” Edelman said. “If you’re afraid to compete, you’re in the wrong field.”

Now, in his fourth pro season, Edelman is more comfortable as a punt returner.

“It’s like he plays everything (in his mind) before the play even happens,” O’Brien said, “and that’s what you’re looking for.”

Now O’Brien hopes to find someone with the same instincts on kickoffs.

RAMS: Defensive end Chris Long agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2016 season before the first practice of training camp.

Long, 27, was seventh in the NFL with 13 sacks last year. He was entering the final year of a six-year, $56.5 million contract he signed after the Rams drafted him No. 2 overall in 2008 out of Virginia.

COLTS: Andrew Luck drew praise from his new coach, his new team owner and the usually reserved Tony Dungy after his first full-speed workout.

Indianapolis’ new franchise quarterback completed 27 of 32 attempts Sunday, and made it look easy, too.

“I think that’s what impressed me the most, to see the decision-making and the lack of any indecisiveness,” said Dungy, the former Colts coach. “He looked like a third or fourth-year guy in this first practice.”

TEXANS: Receiver Andre Johnson says he’ll miss “a week or so” after a minor groin injury in the team’s second morning practice.