An Independent Patriots Blog
There’s not much that Deontae Skinner doesn’t do well in this defense by now,” MSU freshman linebacker Richie Brown said. “Whether he is blitzing or backpedalling or even switching up on the fly his pursuit, it’s not an accident why he’s always around the ball.
Skinner blossoms into dominant linebacker for Bulldogs – The Dispatch
Interesting stuff on the undrafted linebacker who will be wearing Brandon Spikes’ old number 55.
[H]is genius for replacing missing pieces and adapting game plans week by week to expose opponents’ shortcomings instills respect, and a bit of dread, in coaches who face him. (via History of the NFL in 95 Objects: Bill Belichick’s SB XXV Game Plan | The MMQB with Peter King)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/his-genius-for-replacing-missing-pieces-and/
Willie Mcginest -Remain Raw- Mix (by xmuscularghandix)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/willie-mcginest-remain-raw-mix-by/
Well here’s the thing, having a “deep threat”, for lack of a better term, is desirable simply because of physics. The best offenses are those that will stress a defense on all levels.
But as the bread-and-butter of the offense – protection, quick reads and quick throws are tough to stop because every defensive call has a weakness. A quarterback who can identify the defense and make the correct throw is far more dangerous than one who can throw it 60 yards on a rope to a streaking speed demon.
The 2007 offense was special unto itself, but outside of that one season, the Pats offense has really been one of efficiency – spreading the ball around to the open receiver.
We’re getting into “Brady is a system quarterback” here, but as I’ve written before, the ideal is to have a system and quarterback that perfectly compliment each other.
Two things I will say is that I don’t think Belichick thinks a quarterback who can run really well is the future of the game, nor is the Drew Bledsoe/Ryan Mallett model.
While I never thought the Pats would select a quarterback as high as they did this year, I did think that the time to start throwing any and all quarterbacks they could get their hands on at the wall now.
My biggest question was what kind of quarterback might they target? Would it be one of the more mobile kind in the Cam Newton/Colin Kaepernick mold? Or would it be a more traditional pocket passer?
Belichick is known to stay well ahead of the curve on all aspects of football, so I assumed any quarterback acquired would tell us a lot about the direction that BB thought offensive football was going.
With Mallett on the roster, it seemed to point the Belichick still favoring pocket passers, especially one with a big arm. But with the selection of Garropolo, especially in the second round tells us something a little different I believe.
Garoppolo’s strengths? Quick reads and a quick release. Essentially what Brady does best. For all the criticism that the “dink-and-dunk” has gotten over the years, leaving fans crying for a “deeeeep threat” it would seem that Belichick thinks that’s a style of offense that can be effective going forward.
This is also reflective in the Pats’ penchant for traditional slot receivers who are extremely quick and can get open right away off the line.
They all go together with a quarterback like Garoppolo.
Will Garoppolo be Brady’s heir apparent? We’ll see in a couple seasons, but for now it appears Belichick and the Patriots will try to maintain the kind of offense that has worked with Brady.
Reggie Williams and Andre Tippett on Linebackers (by Ian Ward)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/reggie-williams-and-andre-tippett-on-linebackers/
