PatsPropaganda

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Mike Dussault

My question is about the RB position for next year. Ridley and Vareen should be locks. I know that BB seems to like what Bolden offers. But with Demps coming off IR, could we possibly see Danny Woodhead get cut? I would hate to see this, but I dont see us carrying 5 backs. The only other option I can see is cutting Slater and letting Demps be our Special Teams guy. Your thoughts?

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I think there’s room for everyone at least going into camp. Runningback is one of those positions where you’ll often have injuries so there’s no need to try and over-engineer things this off-season.

With the Pats likely to lose Wes Welker their offense will go through another evolution and who knows how all these versatile running backs will come together in that new attack.

Obviously it will be one of the more interesting areas to watch next summer with so many talented guys, but I’d suspect that all have a chance to make the team. And I don’t think Slater is in any way influenced by the running back personnel.

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The biggest thing is [Hightower] knows the defense, and we expect him to,” safety Devin McCourty said. “I don’t even look at him like a rookie anymore. When he’s on the field, you talk to him just like he’s a veteran linebacker out there. He really has, I think, turned into a veteran on this defense.

Dont’a Hightower fits in on defense – BostonHerald.com

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-donta-hightower/

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I think it’s going to be New England and Denver,” Lombardi said. “I think Houston’s problems defensively will creep up on them. I think Denver and New England are the two better teams because of the quarterback. And the team that I would be worried about, and I know this is going to sound completely ridiculous … the team is Pittsburgh. When [Ben] Roethlisberger comes back and if he’s healthy, and if he can come back, and they can get in … their defense is playing well enough that they’re going to cause some trouble for some people.

It Is What It Is » Mike Lombardi on D&C: ‘I think it’s going to be New England and Denver’ in AFC

I’m in  agreement with Mike here, I think it comes down to the Pats and Denver. Where the game is played will be huge, the Pats must keep pace over the Broncos.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-broncos/

Down 2 DEs, do you think the Pats employ more of a 3-4, with Ninko and Hightower as outside backers, or stick with 4-3? – @MattMorrison

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Good question, and I think you’re right, especially against a team like the Dolphins where shutting down Reggie Bush will be a big key.

However I think a lot of people tend to get confused about the 3-4 and 4-3. Just because one of the defense stands up doesn’t necessarily mean they’re suddenly in a 3-4. The real 3-4 basically features a 0-technique nose tackle, and two 5-technique over the tackles. We’ve seen a little bit of this in 2012, but more often you’ll see them in a 4-3 and the strong side defensive end might stand up to give him better leverage for setting the edge.

So yes, we’ll see a combination of both this weekend, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see some more of the traditional 3-4 featuring Deaderick/Wilfork/Love or Brace up front and Nink/Hightower at the OLB slots.

I also wonder if we might see Hightower as an interior rusher in place of Cunningham in the sub package.

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