PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Mike Dussault

One More Week! Patriots Catchup on Stickergate, 53-Man and more

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We’re just one week away from the start of the Patriots 2016 season, making today the last football-free Sunday until February. It’s hard to believe another offseason has gone by and here we stand, ready for one more run at this thing with Belichick and, eventually, Brady.

With all the focus on the 53-man roster over the last two days, it’s a good time to catch up on some things we might’ve missed and some of the more interesting news around the web today.

Here’s some of their stuff, along with some leftover thoughts as we turn all of our focus to the Arizona Cardinals.

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Patriots 53-Man Roster Set (for now)

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The Patriots made all their necessary cuts today, getting their roster down to the required 53 players. Of course, things are still very fluid and there could be plenty of more movement over the next day or so. But for now, we get to overreact.

They cut a draft pick! But I loved that undrafted rookie! What happens if that guy gets hurt!

Yes, I’m sure you’re already as sick of those people as I am. Who cares. The Pats are stacked again.

Overall there were a few surprises, as there always are, but no true shockers. There are certainly some spots of concern, but those could still be addressed in the next day or so as there are now plenty of available players on the open market, many of whom could potentially help in the Pats’ trouble spots: wide receiver, running back and offensive tackle.

Here’s how things shook out on the depth chart:

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A Closer Look at Barkevious Mingo’s Patriots Debut

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Barkevious Mingo Patriots

Barkevious Mingo’s Patriots debut in the final preseason game of 2016 was an exciting one. Mingo has always had potential, that’s why he was the sixth-overall pick in 2013’s draft, but could never find a role on Cleveland’s defense and was playing more special teams than defense by 2015.

But now Mingo is in New England, where he’s surrounded by a loaded defense and under perhaps the best defensive coach of all time. While there were certainly a fair share of bright spots against the Giants, what is Mingo’s ceiling in New England and how might they employ his superlative quickness within their defense?

Let’s take a closer look with some GIFs courtesy of PatsProp contributor Pete Smith.

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Final Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection

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It’s time for the final 53-man roster projection and to be honest I didn’t find it overly difficult. This team has come together pretty well and yes, I have TWO undrafted rookies making it, as is tradition with the Pats.

Here’s where I’m at, and it’s important to remember there will likely be a shocking cut that no one saw coming, or a free agency signing that’s impossible to predict. But if we stick with the guys who are currently on the roster, here’s who I would keep.

Friday PM Update – Mike Reiss reported Rob Ninkovich as been suspended four games for taking a banned substance, so that opens up a new spot. Geneo Grissom now get on in his place. It’s funny how suspensions can actually really help things at cutdown time.

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Pats Posits: Time to Get the Jimmy Thing Over With

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2016, here we go.

That’s my biggest takeaway from Thursday night’s win/loss (?) over/to the Giants. Yes, there were some injuries to talk about, because those can affect the regular season and there were some interesting performances to consider, but otherwise let’s put a nice little bow on the 2016 preseason and get the Jimmy Garoppolo 2016 Four-Game Tour over with.

On paper, I’m not sure I can remember being more excited about a squad headed into a season. What 2007’s offensive promise was, 2016’s defensive promise is.

I’d put this defense up man-for-man against the hallowed 2003 and 2004 defenses. All are deep, versatile and talented all over.

Now injuries can quickly change things, but going in they have mostly players in their prime, most of them homegrown. And that’s at every position. There’s a sprinkle of hungry and/or misused veterans, who bring just a little of that outside hunger that staves off complacency.

Put it all together and oh boy.

The starting offense is almost as talented on the frontlines, but have their holes and a frightening lack of depth along the offensive line.

So will this be one of those years where the defense has win ’em? Well, unless you’ve been asleep for the Patriots’ last four Super Bowls, it almost always comes down to the defense having to get a stop.

We just hope that Tom Brady comes back in October looking like Tom Brady and Dante Scarnecchia can work his magic one more time and nobody on offense, especially Nate Solder, goes down along the way. Dion Lewis comes back and peaks as we hit the playoffs and number five here we come.

But let’s face it, despite whatever holes we think the Pats have, I promise you every other team has holes that are just as significant, if not bigger. And they don’t have Tom Brady starting Week 5.

All things considered, the Pats are locked and loaded to kick some ass in 2016 so strap in.

Here are the Posits on the preseason finale.

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Free Survivor Pool Contests for Upcoming NFL Season

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Some exciting news today to pass along to you all. A friend of the site, Niko de Jonge, is running a couple Survivor Pool contests through two of his websites for the upcoming season. The contests are completely free to enter and you can win cash prizes.

Which Surivivor Pool contest you are eligible to enter is broken down based on where you live. This is because one of the sites is focused solely on Canadians. But don’t worry if you’re not from Canada, the other contest actually has a bigger prize pool.

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Random Pats Musings on the Final Preseason Game of 2016 (and more)

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Tonight the Patriots will play their fourth and final game of the 2016 preseason, and if they can just get through this one without an injury they’ll have escaped an entire summer without a season-ender. That’s pretty impressive and of course, the injury risks are somewhat lessened because most of the big names will see limited, if any, action.

But let’s not get too excited yet, because who knows what Belichick’s plans are for Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo. Both players could play and anytime the (two) starting quarterback(s) play in the preseason, I’m holding my breath.

Julian Edelman travelled with the team as well and if he enters the game that’s one to hold your breath for as well. Otherwise it should be a scrubfest and there’s not a ton we can take from anything we see.

Still, for all the debate that rages in Patriots nation right now, all that really matters are injuries. Tell me in January how many guys are on Injured Reserve and I’ll tell you exactly how the Patriots season went and what their Super Bowl chances are. I know this is the boring take, but it’s the truth.

That’s where the Patriots are now. They’re a hand-picked, finely-tuned football team that is better coached than any one else. The only way they don’t make it within a play or two of their fifth Super Bowl is if the wrong guys get hurt.

While people invent talking points like Brady hating Garoppolo (or whatever it is they’re saying because I don’t really listen to it) or Marcus Cannon being little more than a turnstile in a Patriots jersey, it’s all just noise. And as I love to say here on the blog, Ignore the Noise.

So let’s just try to enjoy one last mostly-stress-free football games before things get intense.

Here are some things to keep an eye on and some ramblings on what’s about to go down over the next four days.

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