PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Archives for August 2011

by

Patriots release CB Jonathan Wilhite

Well I wrote earlier today we might not see Wilhite in a Patriots uniform again and it looks like that’s the case as they just released him. Looks like D-But’s odds of making the team just got a little better, but the health of Leigh Bodden and Ras-I Dowling comes more to the forefront now.

It’s clear that there’s still a need for a slot corner on this team, and right now it looks like Bodden outside in base defense, moving into the slot in nickel packages.

I really thought Wilhite could make a jump this year if he stayed healthy, but it looked like he already sustained a significant injury against the Lions. That might’ve sealed his fate.

Another Patriots whipping boy bites the dust…

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-wilhite/

by

Patriots cut veteran safety James Sanders

For the second time this preseason the Patriots cut an old guard veteran at a position where their depth was already questionable. Both Sanders and Ty Warren had their injury issues this preseason, but where Warren no longer seemed a schematic fit, Sanders was credited just last week by Patrick Chung as being a calm, veteran presence who knew all the right calls and adjustments.

Hard to speculate why the Pats would drop him. Clearly letting him go early was to give him a chance to catch on elsewhere. But this now shines even more of a spotlight on Brandon Meriweather.

Could this open a door for James Ihedigbo? He didn’t exactly look like an All Pro against the Lions, missing a couple tackles while losing contain. And this move has to be at least a minor vote of confidence for Sergio Brown.

More than anything I think the signs are pointing to a safety acquisition in the next week, and given the cap considerations of Sanders’ contract it could be a significant player with a significant contract.

Stay tuned as always, there are sure to be lots more changes over the next 8 days. Meanwhile, thanks for the memories James Sanders, none bigger than last year’s game sealing interception of Peyton Manning.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-james-sanders-2/

by

Guess who hasn’t looked so great this preseason, bruh…

I really wonder if the lack of a veteran leader like Alge Crumpler is going to retard Gronk’s growth. Seems like he’s had more than his share of mental errors this preseason, despite reports that he was uncoverable early in camp.

Here’s some mention of his play from Bedard in the Globe.

On a big third-and-1 play at the Detroit 14 on the final play of the first quarter, either Vollmer or Gronkowski blocked the wrong player because they both allowed Tulloch to get in free and take Green-Ellis down for no gain. …. When Woodhead was taken down for a 3-yard loss, it was just a completely blown play by someone. Best guess is Gronkowski. Looks like he was running the wrong play. If he hit Williams on a wham block, Woodhead has a nice gainer.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/guess-who-hasnt-looked-so-great-this-preseason/

Monday Morning Patriots Thoughts…

by

Some quick hit stuff, things we wanted to touch more upon after the podcast….

– Arrington’s poor showing at slot corner was a wake up call for me. In theory it seemed like he would be a great fit there and assured to slide inside to make way for Bodden. But it’s clearly not his strength. Covering the slot can be even more difficult because the cornerback does not have the sideline to work with. So if/when Bodden gets back do we see him as the base RCB who then shifts inside to nickel? Or does Bodden just become the straight nickel back? 

– DBut finally showed a little something to me against the Lions. Maybe it’s because he’s no longer using the clear face shield?

– I don’t think we’re seeing Wilhite again for a while, if at all. Just a gut feeling.

– I’m worried about the right guard spot, even when Connolly is healthy. I know I’m not the only one hoping Marcus Cannon is able to get on the field this year. Might be a long shot to expect anything out of him this year. At the very least I expect he’ll be PUP’d.

– I just don’t see Nate Solder or Matt Light moving to right guard.

– Agree very much with Mike Reiss’ take on how someone else besides Brady needs to step up on the Patriots offense. Looked to me like Hernando came pretty close. Perhaps the potential game breaking ability of RIdley and Vereen could help that too.

– I’m not worried too much about Ochocinco just yet. They could get by on Branch and Welker for the first quarter of the season. Assuming Welker is not injured.

– My excitement is really starting to build over seeing Wilfork and Haynesworth* side by side in a real game. It should really open things up for everyone else.

– Still really wish Gary Guyton was just the nickel linebacker. He’s always healthy and filled in at various spots when needed, but I still think he’s easily defeated by run blockers.

– If Brandon Spikes came back this week it would erase the bad memory of Detroit instantly. Though it’s already pretty close now.

– Brandon Tate needs to have a huge week. He’s starting to get that deer in the headlights look about him. His fate could be one of the toughest for BB to determine.

– Is it possible Meriweather is not a Patriots a week from right now? Stranger things have happened on past Labor Day weekends, that’s for sure.

– Seemed clear to me the Pats wanted to get a better look at Mark Anderson versus the Lions, and he didn’t do much that I made note of other than whiffing on a sack and watching the QB scramble for a first down. He’s one of those tough bubble guys, and you don’t want to cut a pass rush guy when the biggest issue you’re trying to fix is third down defense.

Boston Globe/Bedard: Patriots-Lions Breakdown

by

Boston Globe/Bedard: Patriots-Lions Breakdown

I really enjoy Greg Bedard’s breakdowns of the games, he always finds some interesting nuggets. Here he timed how long the respective QBs had before pressure got to them. Some telling stuff throughout the article, but here’s one interesting nugget…

Why did the Patriots’ defense have zero pressure against Stafford and the other quarterbacks? For one, they didn’t bring much pressure. The Patriots blitzed the Buccaneers on 48.6 percent of dropbacks. Against the Lions, the Patriots blitzed 27.5 percent of time total (11 times on 40 dropbacks). Against Stafford, the percentage was even less (18.8 percent, 3 of 16).

Latest 53-man Patriots Roster (updated 8/29 4pm EST)

by

With the release of James Sanders, Matt Katula and Jonathan Wilhite we’ve updated our projected 53 man roster. We still reserve spots for a safety and a long snapper to be acquired, but the Wilhite cut opens up a spot for Gerard Warren. It’s that defensive lineman/linebacker crew that’s going to be tough to cut from.

QB (3) Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett

RB (4) BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen

WR (6) Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Chad Ochocinco, Julian Edelman, Taylor Price, Matthew Slater

TE (2) Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez : Can they get Smith and Yeatman to the practice squad to give them some flexibility?

C  (2) Dan Koppen, Ryan Wendell

G  (3) Logan Mankins, Dan Connolly, Rich Ohrnberger

T  (4) Matt Light, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Steve Maneri

DE (6) Mike Wright, Mark Anderson, Shaun Ellis, Andre Carter, Gerard Warren, Eric Moore: really happy to keep Gerard Warren in this projection, though I think he could make it over Mark Anderson.

DT (4) Vince Wilfork, Albert Haynesworth, Kyle Love, Myron Pryor

LB (7) Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Gary Guyton, Jermaine Cunningham, Rob Ninkovich, Dane Fletcher, Tracy White

CB (5) Devin McCourty, Leigh Bodden, Kyle Arrington, Darius Butler, Ras-I Dowling

FS (2) Brandon Meriweather, Sergio Brown

SS (2) Patrick Chung, Safety To Be Acquired Via Trade

ST (3) Stephen Gostkowski,  Zoltan Mesko, Long Snapper to be Acquired

PUP(4) Kevin Faulk, Marcus Cannon, Ron Brace, Brandon Deaderick

Total Players: 53
From PatsPicker: http://www.stubstub.co/picker