PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Archives for June 1, 2012

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The 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 portions of practice continued to see a heavy emphasis on sub packages. Most lineups saw Jonathan Fanene and Brandon Deaderick as interior rushers. First-round pick Chandler Jones was also part of a unit where he lined up alongside Vince Wilfork. For the second straight week, third-year defensive end Jermaine Cunningham appeared to receive a heavy workload for 11-on-11 work, more than Trevor Scott, Ninkovich, or Jake Bequette.

Myron Pryor would probably bump Deaderick down the depth chart for interior rushers. The Cunningham observation is a little surprising, but if it really is a make or break year for him they’re giving him plenty of chances to show what he can do.

Follow-up thoughts from practice – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-7-on-7-and-11-on-11-portions-of-practice/

Putting the Patriots defense in any kind of box is futile

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As Pats bloggers and pundits try to pull water from the rock that is the draft-training camp void you’ll find a lot of tire spinning over the Patriots defense.

Will Devin McCourty be at cornerback or safety? Is Steve Gregory the answer at starting safety? Will the Patriots run a 3-4 or 4-3 base defense?

Well we’ve hit the point where trying speculate anything about the Patriots defense is pointless, not only now in the dog days of the off-season, but even once we get to season itself.

Why? Because this is a Patriots defense that was built to do any and everything. McCourty will likely see time at cornerback AND safety. Gregory will be part of a safety rotation regardless.

And the 3-4 or 4-3 debate is now completely moot in terms of base defense. Nickel is the new base. The four defensive back packages  are now used when the Pats want to stop the run first and foremost. Those games will be in the minority, and if the Pats jump out to a lead it’s likely the opponent will abandon the run anyway.

The things that do matter are who wins the position battles and makes the roster. After that it’s pointless to speculate who will be playing where. It will not only change game to game, but play to play.

This is not by accident. In the modern NFL the offense has so many advantages that a defense can take some of that away by constantly morphing where their personnel line up and what their responsibilities are.

Take this video of Mangini talking about what they tried to do with Brady by not giving him pre-snap information. This is now what the Patriots are trying to do to every QB they face.