An Independent Patriots Blog
In their biggest game, the Patriots failed to measure up – Patriots – Boston.com
This one is loaded with the unfortunate truth, too much interesting stuff to pull any nuggets but let’s just sum it up with this one:
The Patriots played their worst game of the season on offense and defense, weren’t exactly helped out by the coaches, still had multiple chances to be in the game at the end, and failed to take advantage.
PatsPropaganda & Frenz Podcast Today 11am EST: 1/23 Patriots Season Wrap
Join me and Frenz as we try to put together the pieces of another disappointing end to a Patriots season. There might be some tears…
Snaps: Spikes & the sub defense – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston
This is one of the most interesting things to monitor for next season. Pats were able to go lighter up front on the defensive line because of the physicality of their linebackers. Our biggest question in regards to this shift was could they still stop the run. Well, they had their best run stopping year in recent memory, but it was rather the short passes to the middle of the field that killed them.
The 4-3 base needs to be re-evaluated I think, and I’ll be doing so in my Friday B/R column.
Brandon Spikes mostly stayed on over Dont’a Hightower as the second sub linebacker alongside Jerod Mayo, and the Ravens attacked him with success with tight end Dennis Pitta. It’s one game, but this could raise questions this offseason if Spikes will continue to play in the sub going forward or if he’ll return to more of a base-defense only type of role.
At about the same time Shannon Sharpe was tearing Belichick a new one for not performing for the cameras, Ravens coach John Harbaugh was processing a postgame conversation with Belichick he said he’ll “treasure” forever. “So classy, so gracious,” is how Harbaugh described Belichick to Peter King of NBC and Sports Illustrated. “Complimentary about how we played, about our game plan, about how tough it is to play us.”
https://www.patspropaganda.com/at-about-the-same-time-shannon-sharpe-was-tearing/
What Does Wes Welker Mean to the Patriots, and What Does the Future Hold? | Bleacher Report
Good stuff from Erik Frenz…
ReFo: Ravens @ Patriots, AFC Championship | ProFootballFocus.com
One of the more underrated parts of the Brady and Patriot legacy has been how good the offensive line has always been, as it’s rarely an issue and usually protecting their man extremely well. Brady felt pressure on 17 snaps, but only 10 of those came from the O-line, and the pressure was almost always a long time in coming. On one occasion late in the game Haloti Ngata badly beat Logan Mankins ( 3.8) to the inside to notch a hit but that was about as bad as it got. Sadly for Patriots fans though the excellent work from the line went unrewarded. The starting five combined for a PFF grade of 15.4 and only Dan Connolly let the side down with a -0.3 grade from some disastrous run blocking, but he had a perfect day in pass protection.
In the 6-foot-5, 300-pound Armstead, an NFL team will be getting the equivalent of a high draft pick months before the April draft. The 22-year-old former USC standout went to Canada to prove he was healthy enough to play football again after suffering a heart attack, the subject of a lawsuit against the school in which Armstead alleges the attack was brought on by painkillers.
Armond Armstead, formerly of Toronto Argonauts, on NFL teams’ radar – sources – ESPN
Patriots just signed him. Hey look, a little offseason good news to help turn the page. He’s just what the Patriots needed this oddseason and they’ve already got one piece in place.
Can confirm via a source that the Patriots have signed Armond Armstead. Product of USC that played in the CFL last year.
— Nick Underhill (@Nick_Underhill) January 22, 2013
https://www.patspropaganda.com/in-the-6-foot-5-300-pound-armstead-an-nfl-team/