PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Archives for June 2014

If you were a GM would you draft 1) most ready player or 2) most potential?

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Unless you’re drafting in the top 10 it’s unlikely that any player is fully ready to make the jump to the NFL. And potential is a tough term to quantify – some guys have the perfect size and speed but never amount to anything. Others are small and slow and become the greatest slot receivers in NFL history.

So I think you just have to find guys who fit the program. Specifically for the Patriots you need guys who are essentially football nerds.

But there’s also an element of it that is just the great unknown. Imagine if you were to look at all the college accounting majors across the country and asked to project who would be at the top of their field in five years. Sounds kind of ridiculous and impossible, doesn’t it? Well, I don’t think the NFL is all that different, we just have more information to analyze, but at the end of the day, projecting which guys will understand what being a professional means is very tough.

When I look at guys with Pats potential I ask myself is this the kind of player who could play at Navy? Not talent-wise obviously, but that’s where Bill Belichick was raised and I think those kind of players – disciplined, tough, able to push through adversity –  are usually the kind that together can form a great TEAM.

That’s what it’s all about ultimately. Making a great team. So whether you’re ready for the NFL right now or just seem to have a bunch of potential, you need to be the kind of teammate that everyone wants to play with, and one who will embrace their role, whatever it may be, and give everything they have.

When brady is calling an audible or making an adjustment during the game, to the best of your knowledge, is he just changing a route/ way the play goes(running ball) or is he calling completely different plays

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It can really be anything. Sometimes they’ll go to the line with a “check with me” call. Other times he might audible out of a run because the line is stacked or vice versa. Or sometimes you’ll just see him nod to a certain receiver to adjust that one route.

The days of offenses just coming to the line and running whatever play was called in the huddle are over. If you think about it, what makes the most sense is having an offense that can adjust instantaneously to what the defense is doing. While it’s hard to find a quarterback and set of weapons who can all get on the same page to execute this kind of offense, once you can do it there’s no going back.

MustketFire.com: Ranking the Tom Brady Era: 12 Years of #12

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MustketFire.com: Ranking the Tom Brady Era: 12 Years of #12

Fun read and hopefully there will be plenty more stuff like this to get us through the next month. I actually agree pretty much with these rankings, although I think you could re-classify some of the seasons.

The Turds: 2002, 2005, 2009: For whatever reason, these teams just fell flat. None were more frustrating than the 2009 team that really just didn’t have much heart. All three seasons were somewhat transition years as the teams the following year were much different looking. 2005’s team just couldn’t get the bounces in Denver, injuries to Rodney Harrison and Matt Light, as well as Bruschi’s stroke that caused him to miss much of season did them in early.

The Overcome Adversity: 2001, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013 – these teams always have a special place in my heart. 2013 might’ve been my favorite non-Super Bowl season of all time. These teams might not’ve been the most talented but they overcome the injuries and departures that hit them hard. 2001 is just an amazing season.

The Best Teams (SB or not): 2003, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011- these teams were lucky with injuries for the most part and were just firing on all cylinders for most of their seasons. The first two ended with Super Bowls, ‘07 and ’11 came up one stopped drive short and 2010 was the perfect storm where the Jets just thoroughly beat the Pats after getting toasted 45-3 a month before.

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Jon Halapio – The sixth-round draft choice from Florida has been working at both right and left guard. He participated in all 13 practices, and at one point, was aligned at left guard next to tackle Nate Solder and center Ryan Wendell, last year’s starters. So the Patriots are working Halapio into the mix quickly, seeing what he can handle and how he looks at both guard spots after he solely played on the right side at Florida. The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Halapio looks like he plays with a bit of a mean streak and is someone we’re interested in seeing in training camp.

Momentum builders in offseason camps – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

Could this spell the end for Dan Connolly?

https://www.patspropaganda.com/jon-halapio-the-sixth-round-draft-choice-from/

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Cornerback Daxton Swanson and running back Roy Finch might make a run at roster spots. Both players are long shots, but they no longer seem quit as long after the last few weeks. Swanson has shown up in several practices and recorded two interceptions Wednesday. And the small and shifty Finch has a way of catching the eye. He moves well and made some nice catches during minicamp working out of the slot.

New England Patriots minicamp: Kenbrell Thompkins shines, and other lasting impressions | masslive.com

An undrafted rookie or two always makes the squad, seems like these two might be the favorites, before the pads come on of course. Pads have a way of changing the conversation…

https://www.patspropaganda.com/daxton-swanson-patriots-2/

Patriots Post-OTA Depth Chart Reset and 53-Man Projection

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There is an open roster spot as of this posting, with some likely cuts coming in the next couple weeks it’s good to have the ability to add someone. I’d still love another tight end or defensive end.

I’ve shifted the starting three linebackers with Mayo in the middle, keeping Hightower and Collins on the outside. The more I think about it, the more this makes sense. It’s a better use of the personnel especially against the pass. We’ll see how it holds up against runs up the gut.

Lot of tough decisions to make right now on the 53-man roster, especially on the offensive line where I kept nine. Also not sure how the linebackers will play out, they need some core special teamers there. Running backs are an interesting spot too, I expect we’ll start talking about Stephen Houston more once the pads come on and less Roy Finch. Of course injuries will make things a little easier to project unfortunately.

QB (3) Brady, Mallett, Garoppolo
RB (4) Ridley, Vereen, Bolden, White, 
WR (7) Edelman, Dobson, Amendola, LaFell, Thompkins, Boyce, Slater
TE (3) Gronkowski, Hoomanawanui, Develin 
C (2) Wendell, Stork
G (3) Mankins, Halapio, Kline
T (4) Solder, Vollmer, Cannon, Fleming
DE (4) Jones, Ninkovich, Smith, Buchanan
DT (5) Wilfork, Kelly, Easley, Siliga, Jones
ILB(2) Mayo, Beauharnais
OLB(4) Hightower, Collins, Anderson, White
CB (4) Revis, Dennard, Ryan, Arrington
SS (3) Harmon, Chung, Ebner
FS (2) McCourty, Thomas
ST (3) Gostkowski, Allen, Aiken

Total players: 53
Created with Pats Picker: http://patspicker.patsfans.com

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James White impresses: The fourth-round pick caught the eye several times this week. White showed off good hands throughout minicamp, and appears poised to serve as Shane Vereen’s backup. It will be interesting to see how well he blocks once the pads come out in training camp.

New England Patriots minicamp: Kenbrell Thompkins shines, and other lasting impressions | masslive.com

Good recap of what’s stood out the last few weeks (and what hasn’t).

https://www.patspropaganda.com/james-white-patriots/