PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Archives for June 2013

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Aaron Hernandez gave the Patriots exactly what they wanted — the flexibility to use 12 personnel and have Hernandez considered more often than not as a wide receiver. Trying to cover someone of that size in the slot though presents difficulties, as does having to also cope with the run with one less linebacker. The combination with Rob Gronkowski, given Gronk’s ability as a blocker (one of the few receiving tight ends still able to in-line block effectively), gave the defense a dilemma — play with an extra LB and watch your third man up struggle to stay with either Gronkowski or Hernandez, or go nickel and allow the Patriots to run while also having your slot corner one-on-one with a freak athlete.

Neil’s NFL Daily: June 27, 2013 | ProFootballFocus.com

https://www.patspropaganda.com/aaron-hernandez-gave-the-patriots-exactly-what/

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If Tom Brady can pull this off and come anywhere close to that level of productivity, they aught to at the end of the season just slam dunk him into the Hall of Fame,” NFL Network analyst Brian Billick said Wednesday on “NFL Total Access.” “Forget five years after he retires. Just do it at the end of the season.

Billick: Instant enshrinement for Brady if Patriots thrive – NFL.com

I’ve been saying this even before Hernando went off the reservation. Now that he’s gone, it’s even more true.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/if-tom-brady-can-pull-this-off-and-come-anywhere/

I respect the way you handled the Hernandez situation, but now that things are more clearly defined, have you given any thought to how Hernandez’s roster spot and projected snaps will be filled? Will the pats seek to sign a tight end or receiver such as David Thomas to replace the lost production, or will they look to fill the void from within? Is there a chance the Pats will trade for a receiver during the course of the season, similar to last year’s Talib trade?

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Touched on some of the points earlier, but I think essentially the Patriots offense will be a bit more traditional, in that you have Gronk or Ballard as the Y tight end and then you mix and match around them, whether it’s 11 or 21 personnel. Maybe down the line you use some 12 with Gronk AND Ballard, but that’s probably more a goalline package.

You just don’t have the Hernandez “joker” player who can be moved around the formation for matchup issues. That’s what made them so hard to match up against last year. Maybe they use Vereen a bit in that role, motioning him out from the backfield in 21 personnel.

That said, there are options. There are plenty of new wide receivers and from that group you should see some interesting new weapons emerge. Whether it’s the outside presence of Dobson, a versatile receiver like Boyce, or even gadget plays involving Edelman. There are certainly new twists coming, but it will depend on who can do what and who earns Brady’s trust. So there’s an element of fluidity to it.

Ultimately I think the Pats were taking a throw it all at the wall approach at receiver and that has given them some insurance against the loss of Hernandez. But how it will all play out is for competition and injuries to determine.

So hard to project trades in the NFL, especially at a position like receiver that takes time to pick up. I’d think it more likely to see Deion Branch back than anything else if all of these receivers struggle. I’d actually be for a Branch return now to help them pick the system and Brady’s preferences now.