First look at Michael Buchanan, not bad…
(via Patriots OTAs – 5/29/2013)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/first-look-at-michael-buchanan-not-bad-via/
Archives for May 29, 2013
How the terminology of the Erhardt-Perkins system has helped maintain the dominance of Tom Brady and the Patriots – Grantland
In case you missed this in January, it’s a must-read…
BB and Ernie pics get “immediate post” status.
(via Patriots OTAs – 5/29/2013)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/bb-and-ernie-pics-get-immediate-post-status/
It’s another surgery for Gronk
Per source, Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski will need back surgery. Tentatively set for mid-June. He’ll likely miss at least part of camp.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 29, 2013
Seems pretty likely we won’t be seeing Gronk in early September, which will certainly make things interesting against the Bills and Jets. We’re looking at a starting Patriots offensive weapon cast of Hernandez, Amendola, Ballard, TBD (Dobson?) and Ridley.
Danny Amendola had another pretty impressive workout. He drew the vocal praise of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels early in practice during group work with the quarterbacks. Later, he made a nice diving catch as he fought for a deep ball down the field to beat Alfonzo Dennard.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/danny-amendola-had-another-pretty-impressive/
OTA observations: Pats change up on defense
OTA observations: Pats change up on defense
More interesting nuggets:
Adrian Wilson and Steve Gregory were again the top safeties, andTavon Wilson and Marquice Cole were the next pair. Cole played slot corner last season, but he had to shift due to the limitations of McCourty, Ebner and Harmon.
Marcus Cannon again worked at right guard in Connolly’s absence from team drills. It was telling that Cannon remained inside despite the absence of Vollmer and Svitek, who are the top-two right tackles on the depth chart.
The Patriots primarily used a 3-4 base in this session. Vince Wilfork was on the nose and flanked by Chandler Jones and Tommy Kelly, who is gigantic, by the way. Rob Ninkovich and Dont’a Hightower were the outside linebackers, and Jerod Mayo and Dane Fletcher were inside.
The Blitz with Jeff Howe & Karen Guregian | Boston Herald
While this is an interesting schematic note, it’s also important to understand that we’re in a teaching period at this time of year, and Belichick has historically used the 3-4 as what he teaches first, with the exceptions of 2011 and 2012, although 2012 featured more 3-4 twists on the 4-3 front with Ninkovich playing defensive end, but also having some coverage assignments.
Again, they will always be a multiple defense. Are we really going to see them go extensively to the old 3-4 base more than 40% of the snaps this season? Probably not, but it would be an interesting adjustment to address the problems they’ve had covering the middle of the field that last two years.
It’s really more semantics. Just because Ninkovich suddenly stood up pre-snap last year doesn’t suddenly mean it’s a 3-4 defense because there are only 3 defensive lineman with their hands in the dirt. What truly differentiates defensive schemes are the techniques being played by the lineman, whether they’re playing one-gap or two-gap.
The real 3-4 we saw back in the 00’s featured a 3-4 with all three lineman two-gapping. Now, regardless of what we’ve seen in OTAs or even camp, they’ll mix and match who’s playing which gaps, often playing a 3-4 look on one side of the defense, and a 4-3 on the other.
Here’s a must read article on the Pats defense for more on this if you missed it:
In the traditional 4-3, there are two basic fronts: over and under. In Belichick’s hybrid 4-3 “over,” Wilfork is responsible for controlling (that is, destroying) the center and thus the gaps to either side of him. To Wilfork’s left, the defense functions just like a regular 1-gap 4-3 scheme, with the other defensive tackle attacking the gap between guard and tackle and the defensive end covering the tight end. The strong-side linebacker aligns to this side, and there will often be further run support, either from a safety or a cornerback. To the other side, however, it’s all 3-4. The defensive end to Wilfork’s right is a 2-gap player, and there are two linebackers to that side as well, lined up as they would be in a traditional 3-4.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-patriots-primarily-used-a-3-4-base-in-this/