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Archives for July 2014

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Tight End

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With Rob Gronkowski ending the 2013 season on IR once again, most prognosticators figured the Pats would make a move on a tight end, either in free agency, the draft, or both this offseason.

The Pats re-signed Michael Hoomanawanui, but didn’t spend a single draft pick at the position, when most mocks gave them one of Jace Amaro, Troy Niklas, CJ Fiedorowicz or Austin Seferian Jenkins.

The Pats did kick the tires on a few of the injured free agent tight ends but never made a move. What can we expect to see from a lighter-than-expected tight end group this season?

Here’s our preview of a sparse tight end group.

First, the good news. Rob Gronkowski seems on track to be ready to go week one. If Gronk can stay healthy this year (granted a big if given his size and the hits/tackles he takes) the Pats’ need for another impact tight end is significantly less.

You can throw Michael Hoomanawanui out there for your two-tight set, or even James Develin who saw time at tight end in OTAs and you’ll be fine. Or maybe DJ Williams lives up to the potential he demonstrated when he won the 2010 John Mackey Award as the best tight end in college football.

Will it be the Gronk/Hernando show of 2011? No, but that was rare and not the kind of offense you can easily manufacture.

But if Dustin Keller is healthy, he’d make a lot of sense to shore up the F-receiver spot and with Gronk they’d be a potent pairing.

However, there is a lot of pressure on Gronk this year, especially given that he’s coming off an ACL surgery and usually it takes a full season to get back to normal. 

If Gronk once again ends the year on IR, it might make sense for the Pats to not pick up his contract option, as hard as that is to believe. Would anyone object to putting that money toward Darrelle Revis?

But if Gronk does go down again this year, the Pats are right back where they ended last season, without a true threat or blocking force at tight end. Not even Keller would fully fix that problem.

Perhaps one of the two undrafted rookies – Asa Watson or Justin Jones could emerge. Watson is more of an F-tight end who is coming off heart surgery (never a great thing), while Jones has monstrous size at 6’8", 274 pounds, but looked extremely slow in OTAs. 

It’s hard to think either will have an impact as rookies, especially after we were burned so badly by Zach Sudfeld last preseason.

Projection:

No secret here, it’s all about Gronk. If he starts week one and is standing on the field as the final gun sounds for the Pats last playoff game, there’s a very good chance the Pats will be playing in the Super Bowl. If Gronk sustains another major injury, or one of the previous major injuries to his back, arm or knee return, the Pats offense will struggle to replace him and take a big step backwards.

This is a feast-or-famine way to enter a season. There’s a ton on the line for both the player and the team. It will be one of, if not the biggest, storyline to monitor this season.

But with three roster spots open as of this posting, the Pats might still have another move or two to make at the position.

Previously:

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Offensive Line

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Revis’s pride will be fully engaged this season in Foxboro, and that could turn out to be a very good thing indeed for a New England team that knows it must tighten things down defensively if a fourth Super Bowl ring is to ever be secured by quarterback Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, the team’s 15th-year head coach.

Don Banks: 2014 NFL training camps: Storylines to follow – NFL – SI.com

Nothing readers of this blog didn’t already know here, but always nice to be reminded that the Pats did in fact sign Revis this offseason. It wasn’t a dream…

https://www.patspropaganda.com/reviss-pride-will-be-fully-engaged-this-season-in/

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Patriots have three open roster spots now with the release of Jeremy Johnson and Reese Wiggins, along with yesterday’s retirement of Armond Armstead. Expect some additions before camp opens next week. Maybe a tight end?

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-have-three-open-roster-spots-now-with-the/

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We tend to look for big-ticket items to mark offseason improvement. It would be much easier to draw conclusions about the Patriots’ Plan B if they had committed a major asset to acquire a No. 1 receiver or maneuvered to draft an instant-impact tight end. Generally speaking, I think we all know the Patriots don’t operate in such dramatic fashion. There are no easily identifiable signs that tell you they have put together a more balanced offense, and in truth, no team can expect an equal performance without one of its best players on the field. If you look close enough, however, you can see that the Patriots seem to have planted the seeds of nuanced possibility.

Inside Slant: Patriots without Gronkowski – NFL Nation Blog – ESPN

Nodding… I’ve said it many times before, little-to-no credit is ever given to development of internal players. This should be a big year for that on offense for the Pats’ offense.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/we-tend-to-look-for-big-ticket-items-to-mark/

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Offensive Line

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The offensive line has long been a point of pride for the New England Patriots. But recent years have brought transition, and they will be further put to the test with this offseason’s departure of legendary offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia.

The Pats were able to reinforce their line in the draft this year, and with the return of Sebastian Vollmer, the Pats should once again be able to give Tom Brady top-notch protection.

Here’s our preview of the offensive line.

Heading into the draft, I felt it was critical that the Patriots used multiple picks to solidify the interior of their offensive line. Center Ryan Wendell and right guard Dan Connolly had inconsistent years in 2013, casting doubt on whether either of them are long-term solutions at their respective positions.

Wendell was re-signed for a low money deal, further reinforcing that he’ll have to win his starting spot in 2014. Connolly was thought to be a potential cap casualty, with a cap hit in excess of $4 million this season, but so far he’s remained on the roster. 

But he shouldn’t get too comfortable, especially with rookie Jon Halapio in the mix. Bryan Stork is another rookie who should compete directly with Wendell for immediate playing time, though he had his fair share of botched snap penalty laps in OTAs.

Stork (6’4", 313) and Halapio (6’3", 323) have better size than Wendell (6’2", 300) and Connolly (6’4", 305). If they don’t see significant time early in the season, they should figure in to the long-term plans of the team.

Of course, the tone-setter of the line is Logan Mankins, who, despite a reputation of being the premiere mauler in the NFL, still had his fair share of bad plays in 2013. He’s due for an $11 million cap hit in 2015, and if he’s not back on top of his game in 2014, he could be a cap casualty next offseason. A restructure might be in his future regardless.

At tackle, the Pats will return bookends Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer, one of the best starting duos in the NFL. Solder battled some inconsistency in his second full year as the starting left tackle, but his size and athleticism are second to none and he should continue to develop.

Marcus Cannon did an admirable job filling in at right tackle after Vollmer, was lost for the 2013 with a broken leg. He also has some versatility to play guard and that helps his roster chances. While there was a time when many thought Cannon’s best fit was at guard, it’s our view that he can simply fill in there if necessary, but he’s best served as a tackle.

Rookie tackle Cameron Fleming adds depth at the position, though the scouting reports felt he was primarily a right tackle. This could be good insurance for Vollmer, who has battled injuries and will account for a $6 million cap hit in 2015. Cannon also is in the last year of his rookie deal, so the selection of Fleming seems very much focused on protecting the Pats for this coming offseason more than it’s about 2014.

Josh Kline is a guard who showed some promise last season in spot duty. Braxton Cave, Chris Barker, Chris Martin and Jordan Devey round out the training camp roster, and will likely need injuries to make the squad.

Projection: Wendell is only a center, while Connolly’s cap hit is certainly not in his favor. Would the Pats be willing to cut loose two of their veteran interior offensive linemen in a move to save money and go with a youth movement? They’d likely take some lumps early if they do.

Perhaps keeping Connolly around, because he started 2011 at center as well, is the safest play while Stork and Halapio develop. 

The Pats are well-stocked at tackle and prepared for the future. An extension for Solder would make sense this season, as he’d likely be a hot commodity if he hits free agency next spring.

If Mankins returns to form and Stork/Halapio are able to solidify the interior problems, the Pats could be on track to restore the level of protection Tom Brady was used to for most of the last decade. 

And as Brady enters his late-30’s he’ll certainly need it.

Previously:

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

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It has been a pleasure being around Armond, as he gave everything he could to play for us,” Belichick said. “Armond worked extremely hard since joining us last February. He’s had a lot of adversity personally that he’s had to deal with – unusual compared to most other players – but he’s always had a great attitude, worked hard and really did everything we asked him to do. While it is unfortunate he will not be able to play football, Armond is an outstanding young man who has a very bright future in whatever path he chooses.

Armond Armstead announces his retirement | Sports – Patriots | providencejournal.com | The Providence Journa

Bummer, was really looking forward to see what Armstead brought, especially last year when he was possibly going to be our interior pass rush problems. Now, with Easley in the fold, there was less of a make-or-break feeling around Armstead. Unfortunate that his career has ended like this.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/it-has-been-a-pleasure-being-around-armond-as-he/