PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Mike Dussault

Patriots hit their needs in NFL draft

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Most of the NFL draft grades are in, and as always the Patriots ran the gamut from A+ (Jamie Dukes/NFLN) all the way down to a C- (Adam Schein/FoxSports). Of course as anyone who reads this blog knows, I tend to side with Dukes, but allow me to explain why blind homerism isn’t just the reason why.

This is possibly the first draft in Bill Belichick’s run that’s he’s actually hit on every major need that the team had, they just might not have been in the exact order of what they needed most. But the fact is that value rarely ever matches up exactly with need so you have to take what the board gives you.

While outside linebacker was the biggest need in a lot of people’s minds the fact is that the offensive line is on the verge of a nearly complete transformation. Failure to restock a left tackle of the future, a guard to replace Stephen Neal, and eventually a center to take over for Koppen had to be the highest priority, especially when you consider Tom Brady is hitting the twilight of his career.

You are not beating anyone if your quarterback is not protected, and the Light-Mankins-Koppen-Neal-Kaczur group that won a lot of games from 2005-2010 (discounting injuries of course) should be almost completely overhauled by 2012.

Now with Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Dan Connolly, Marcus Cannon, as well as the slew of developmental guys like Ryan Wendell and Rich Ohrnberger, the Patriots look like they have some major pieces of the next O-line in place.

Another need that many were ignorant to was at the Free Safety position. Now while Mike Reiss said on our podcast that he thinks BB likes Brandon Meriweather more than the fans do, there’s no assurance that the Pats will be able to re-sign him after this season even if they want to.

While pass rush is of course a huge part of getting off the field on third down, you can’t discount the effect that a dominant ball hawking free safety could have as well.

While Ras-I Dowling will start off as a cornerback, I don’t think it’s outside the realm of possibility that he could be an eventual free safety candidate. Many draft publications thought that position might be his best fit, and we’ve seen a similar transition before with Eugene Wilson who moved from corner in college to a starting FS for the Pats in his rookie year.

Like the tight ends last year, this year’s draft class was extremely strong in running backs in the second-to-third round range, so the Patriots took advantage and snapped up two of them. Now the Patriots have one of the deepest, most diverse and formidable backfields in the NFL.

Better late than never the Pats finally added an outside linebacker prospect in the late rounds. While Markell Carter wasn’t one of the flashy names, his skill set and demeanor seem to match exactly what BB looks for. There will be a long road before we know if Carter is anything more than a special teams guy in the Pierre Woods mold, but if he’s getting time early on as a designated pass rusher his future could look very bright indeed.

While those five picks hit on the biggest needs, the other three were simply cases of too great of value to pass up, or the kind of unsung grinders that all teams need. Ryan Mallett, Lee Smith, and Malcolm Williams all could end up being significant contributors down the line, but if they’re not it won’t be a big deal. That’s the advantage of having a boatload of picks every year, you’re not beholden to your needs, you can take the best value where the talent is deepest in the draft.

Overall I’m having a hard time this year more than any other with draft grades like Schein’s C-. What needs were not hit on? The only possible one might be wide receiver, but even there they have three young players who deserve more time to improve and show what they’ve got.

Some might say defensive end as well, but there’s almost a surplus of players at that position when you count Ty Warren, Marcus Stroud, Brandon Deaderick, Ron Brace and Kade Weston among other guys who have been behind the scenes. Could they use a talent upgrade there? Probably. But it doesn’t appear they thought any of the available defensive ends in this draft were an actual upgrade.

I believe the one and only reason the pundits will criticize the Patriots 2011 draft class was that they did not address their perceived #1 need with their highest pick. Meanwhile I’m just shocked that they actually did address all their needs.

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New England Patriots Charitable Foundation for David’s House.

Take a minute to check out this great video from the Patriots charitable foundation promoting David’s House, which provides families with a sick or injured child with a place to stay near one of New England’s premiere children’s hospitals.

The Patriots do an amazing job off the field with all kinds of charities, and it’s a testament to the kind of culture that the Krafts have created. Not only is it a well-oiled football machine, but the players all give back to the community.

We’re trying to follow their lead here on the blog…

Click below if you’d like to make a donation to this great cause!

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/new-england-patriots-charitable-foundation-for/

Patriots players work out quietly, carry big stick

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There’s been a lot of my fellow Patriots die hards out there who were concerned that it appeared that the Jets were the only team that was making an effort to organize workouts during the lockout.

Yes, Mark Sanchez has put together a highly-publicized Jets West camp in California, complete with full media attendance, water balloon toss contests, Ipad giveaways and even a snazzy logo…

Well news comes today from Mike Reiss, who apparently had to press Rob Gronkowski pretty hard, that the Patriots are doing some team activities of their own, they’re just not making a public spectacle out of it.

“We’ve been doing everything, but we’re on the down-low,” second-year tight end Rob Gronkowski said Tuesday night. “[Others teams] may go to the media, acting like they’re some of the only teams doing it, but we’re working hard out here too. We’re just keeping it low.”

“We are intense. The workouts are insane,” he relayed. “We’ve been getting after it hard. I feel great right now, ready to go.”

Now we hit on the differences between the standard operating procedures between the Patriots and Jets plenty of times, especially last year when we got a glimpse inside Rexy’s domain via Hard Knocks.

There’s no secret that the Jets like to keep things a little more loosey-goosey than the Pats do, and who knows maybe that played a part in why they were able to put 45-3 behind them and defeat the Pats in the playoffs.

But the fact is that the Patriots aren’t just sitting around eating bon bons,  watching the Jets all become BFFs with matching Ipads while waiting for the lockout to end. They’re getting after it and will be ready to go whenever the season starts.

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OLB Matt Roth – Browns to Patriots

The Patriots are most effective on defense when they can set the edge with big outside backers who have the ability to rush the passer in a physical style. Roth has been a good addition for the Browns since he left Miami and has been able to accumulate 7.5 sacks in the last 22 games and over 100 tackles. Roth is not an ideal coverage outside backer, but his size, toughness and power would fit in perfectly with the Patriots.

Michael Lombardi

Makes me wonder if the Pats put in a waiver claim on Roth in November after the Dolphins released him.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/olb-matt-roth-browns-to-patriots-the-patriots/

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Pretty cool video of Markell Carter being honored at an Little Rock Touchdown Club Awards Banquet. You might want to fast forward through a the ads at the start but it’s worth it. There are some highlights and you can hear Markell’s acceptance speech which shows what a true Patriot he really is.

I don’t know if Carter will be the pass rusher we’re all hoping for, but I’m happy for him to get a shot in the NFL. Seems like he’s the kind of person with the kind of character that will take advantage of it.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/pretty-cool-video-of-markell-carter-being-honored/

Patriots Fan Weekly: Markell Carter’s positional coach raves about him

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Patriots Fan Weekly: Markell Carter’s positional coach raves about him

Keeping the Markell posts coming… best nugget from the article:

“He was our drop end. So any time we zone blitzed, we never brought him on a zone blitz. He always dropped. And we zone blitzed a good bit. And I think that’s one of the things that made it easier for New England when they were watching on film to say that this was a guy they could transition to that position, because they saw him dropping.

“Hey, he’s got some of the best hands on our team. He goes over there and catches Jugs with our receivers and talks trash with the receivers. He’s a good enough receiver catching the ball to play receiver. He’s not going to go out there and run a 4.5 like those guys do, but he can catch the ball. He’s got hands to play receiver. But I’m going to say athletically it’ll be no problem. He was an all-state basketball player. He’s an athlete.”

Augustine actually thinks that getting after the quarterback is Carter’s primary natural strength.

“I think what got him to the position he is right now is his ability to rush the passer,” Augustine said. “Natural way of getting off the ball and then closing his shoulders around the edge of the offensive linemen and getting their hands off him. He can flip his hips, and do all that stuff. But he doesn’t excel at that. He excels at keeping the hands off and dipping and leaning the corner.”