An Independent Patriots Blog
Resetting the roster and depth chart – Extra Points – Boston.com
Fantastic realistic depth chart here from Greg Bedard, this really does a great job of getting specific with the positions the Patriots run.
As Bedard notes:
Yes, I realize that have 12 positions on each sides of the ball. That’s what I see as far as positions with the Patriots – distinctive skill sets for each, but the personnel groupings are mixed and matched depending on the opponent and the injury situation at the moment.
A quick predraft check of the Super Bowl odds on one of the top sites out there per this sportsbook review, has the Patriots listed second only to the Packers as favorites to hoist the Lombardi in Super Bowl 47.
The top five:
Of course, I expect we’ll see an improvement for the Pats once they spend some more of the cap space and draft capital. Stay tuned for the early-May numbers.
But in the meantime it’s seems pretty clear that the power in the NFL has shifted from the mid-late 00’s, especially in the AFC. The Colts are back to square one. I don’t want to say the Steelers are in a make or break year but it’s clear the complexion of their team is shifting a bit. Now the question is whether or not Houston and Denver are legit. Or will the AFC North remain the strongest overall division in the AFC.
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Worst Cornerback Charting Stats 2011
McCourty comes in 6th worst in yards per pass. Is there a more pressing question on the 2012 Pats than whether or not McCourty can get his mojo back?
Devin McCourty had a huge sophomore slump for the Patriots; he was particularly victimized all year by tall receivers like Brandon Marshall and Vincent Jackson. On one hand, this looks like more evidence of the inconsistency of cornerback charting stats; on the other hand, it’s hard to argue that these stats weren’t doing a good job of measuring McCourty’s actual on-field performance in both 2010 and 2011. He actually wasn’t ranked that high in 2010 as a rookie (41st in Success Rate, 38th in Adjusted Yards per Pass) and his 2011 performance pretty much was as poor as those numbers show.
Brady has been the starter for 10 seasons (he was hurt after one game in 2008), and the Patriots went to the Super Bowl in five of those years. Follow the bread crumbs, people. The guy is one of the game’s best quarterbacks ever, and as long as he’s upright the Patriots have nothing to worry about.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/brady-has-been-the-starter-for-10-seasons-he-was/
Nike is set to unveil its new line of NFL uniforms Tuesday, and some speculation over the designs has ranged from frantic to completely out of control. Fear not, football fans. The changes will be minimal, primarily restricted to the technology of the design and the material. So, Patriots fans shouldn’t be worried about an uber-patriotic design in which the Flying Elvis is replaced by Uncle Sam and the jerseys are red, white and blue and loaded with American flags, bald eagles and apple pies.
designingsport: Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos vs. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
