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FOXBORO - The Ray Ventrone Experiment continued Wednesday at the Patriots' latest passing camp.

The former Villanova safety, who has bounced on and off of the Patriots' roster since 2005, is undergoing a conversion to wide receiver in this offseason with hopes of adding to his versatility, or possible uncovering a hidden skill that has been resting just below the surface.

It's an interesting roll of the dice, in that Ventrone, at 5-10 and a stocky 200 pounds, is not built like a wide receiver. You wouldn't confuse him and Wes Welker if both were standing next to each other without the benefit of uniform numbers or shoulder pads.

In fact, Ventrone said, not since he was a sophomore at Chartiers Valley High School in Pittsburgh has he played wide receiver.

"I played receiver in high school my sophomore year, and I've been playing it on scout team, sparingly, the last couple of years. But that's about it," he said. But he got the word early in the offseason that the conversion would be attempted, and while he's still officially listed on the roster as a safety, he's wearing a white practice jersey with his No. 41 on it, signifying his allegiance to the offensive unit.

"I've been working at it," he said. "I'm just trying to learn the position and just get better every day, because I really have not had any exposure to the position. I'm just learning everything I can."

At the same time, Ventrone is continuing to participate in just about all of the special-teams drills. His best chance of hanging on to a roster spot in the fall is to prove himself on special teams, and he knows it.

"We've always stressed special teams here," he said. "It's a third of the game, so it can't be overlooked. Big plays happen on special teams and not just for special-teams play itself, but in terms of field position. It's never been overlooked, and it looks like we're putting even more of an emphasis on it this year.

"That's what my role is. I'm going to try to better myself every day," he said.

Third-string quarterback Matt Gutierrez said he's gotten a kick out of throwing the ball to Ventrone in practice because when the former safety catches it, it's not being intercepted.

"I think he's got a lot of athletic ability," Gutierrez said, "and he's working at it. Like everyone else, he's out here working hard, trying to improve and help the team out."

"I'm trying to make myself as well-rounded a player as I can," Ventrone said.

Quick kicks

In all, there were 36 players in uniform for the passing camp, which precedes the full-squad minicamp by a little more than a week Ventrone, technically in his third NFL season, was not the only veteran on hand. Also present was ex-Jet linebacker Victor Hobson (sixth season), cornerback Willie Andrews (third), safety Tank Williams (seventh), cornerback Antwain Spann (third), tight end Stephen Spach (third) defensive tackle Le Kevin Smith (third), wide receiver/special-teamer Sam Aiken (sixth) and tight end David Thomas (third) Rookie wideout Matt Slater also continued to work on both offense and defense (at safety) as well as special teams Punter Mike Dragosavich was booming the ball, but he was being aided on a few of his kicks by a substantial west-to-east breeze.