PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Archives for April 2014

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Team Blitzing | ProFootballFocus.com

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Team Blitzing | ProFootballFocus.com

This is a critical article if you want more insight into the Patriots pass rush. The Pats are ranked 25th overall in blitz percentage, obviously meaning that they really don’t blitz very much at all compared to the rest of the NFL.

When the Pats do blitz, they were fairly effective, ranking 13th in the NFL for pass rush productivity when sending more than four guys. But again, it didn’t happen very often.

Finally comes the real measure, and that is measuring the ability to get pressure with just their front four. In this the Pats were ranked 23rd.

I think in Bill Belichick’s world this is the most telling stat. When the Pats had a dominant defense this ranking would’ve been much higher because they had the ability to get pressure with just four guys, which would be their front three in the 3-4 and whichever LB they felt like sending on that play.

If you’re a conservative defensive team and you don’t blitz a lot, getting pressure with just four is critical to your defense. It might be the single most important element. This is why, for all the excitement the signings of Revis and Browner bring, it’s all about the front seven as I see it if this defense is going to be truly elite.

Also, here’s MMQB’s last pressure points ranking which similarly has the Pats in the early-20s for pass rush. Just not good enough. If Wilfork/Kelly can re-enter the rotation they will definitely help, but how limited will they be. Hopefully Armstead helps too.

Do you see Brandon Browner being matched up with “move” tight ends given his length and size?

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That’s a very good question, but I would say probably not. I think we’ll see Browner and Revis either staying on sides or following specific receivers. And I don’t think it’s a lock that Revis just takes the opposing X every game. Browner could be a better matchup in certain situations given his size. 

Browner is not going to be at his best in the slot against a move tight end where he can’t use the sideline to his advantage and has to basically cover the entire field. Size-wise it might make sense, but agility-wise it doesn’t.

I believe the Jamie Collins will be the primary guy against the move tight ends with some Duron Harmon (or whomever at SS) filling in at times. Collins has the size and athleticism you take those tight ends on. 

How in today’s salary cap era do you think teams can pay their players but still stay under the cap, how often do you think teams have to make that decision that we want him back but we can’t pay him that much money. Also how would you handle paying your teams best players while still staying under the salary cap

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It’s difficult by design and given the Patriots’ unprecedented and unmatched level of success in the salary cap, they’re a pretty good model to look at.

The headline would probably be letting a player go a year too early rather than a year too late. That’s always the sweet spot of overpaying someone who is on the verge of decline. 

There are plenty of examples, like McGinest, Vrabel, Seymour, Welker – and in most cases those players haven’t had sustained success after leaving New England (we’ll see how Welker does this year, but his concussion history seemed to be catching up to him in 2013).

The other way the Pats have beat the system is allowing open competition for lower round and no-round draft picks. They always seem to have undrafted rookies make the team and often make big impacts. This is even more shocking given their continued ability to win with these players no one wanted.

They also maximize the value of draft picks as a way to mitigate risk. No teams really know what they’re doing in the draft. The only reasonable strategy is to get as many picks as you can. You’re going to miss on a lot of them, but the more picks you make, the more chances you have of finding a Julian Edelman or Alfonzo Dennard in the 7th round.

This was even more true before the rookie salary cap when a miss on a high first-rounder could be crippling.

The last element is getting guys to take market value deals and often re-structuring their contracts when needed. This is easier to sell when you can offer a chance to win a Super Bowl like the Pats can.

in your latest article, you said they should add in a hard hitting strong safety. can’t patrick chung be that guy??? i remember him tackling real hard in the 2011 run.

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I never had a problem with Chung’s hard hits, if anything he was flying around with too much reckless abandon. The problem is that his playing style and body type added up to a lot of injuries.

If injuries mount, and Chung is healthy and makes the team, I could see him playing the Cover 1 Robber role that Gregory played last year. When he wasn’t forced into coverage, and he spent significant time playing the slot corner role in his earlier stint, he was exposed. 

He also didn’t have great range to be a back end safety. But coming downhill against the run or to tackle the receivers he’d be okay.

However, I think Chung’s either special teams or bust this year unless there are major injury issues in camp in the secondary.

Which positions would you be surprised that the patriots drafted

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I wouldn’t really be surprised at any particular position, just how high they took specific positions. If they took a cornerback or offensive tackle in the first two-three rounds I’d be surprised. Outside that, and kicker/punter, anything is on the table.

As I’ve written before, I follow this team as closely as anyone and they shock me multiple times every offseason. I fully expect to be shocked at least once or twice before the season starts. Really, that’s what makes it so enjoyable (on top of the winning of course).