PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Mike Dussault

Dane Fletcher Bandwagon Now Boarding

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I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself but I have high hopes for Dane Fletcher after seeing his role to continue increase over the course of the season.

Early on we saw him as just a spy, his only responsibility to stay with the running back in pass coverage. But lately he’s been employed differently. As part of a 3-3-5 nickel package where he was used both as a blitzer (see below) and in coverage.

We even saw Fletcher get some time at outside linebacker in the 34 base defense in the Jets game. Now with Jermaine Cunningham out against the Bills will we see more of Fletcher today? We’ll see.

But what is clear is that Fletcher has demonstrated he’s a quick reactor, he can cover, he can blitz. Now if he can learn to set the edge, and be stout against the run, he could turn into a three down linebacker for the Patriots.

Of course setting the edge is not something that many rookies have the strength or technique to do, Jermaine Cunningham being an exception.

But with Fletcher coming from a small school, as a hand-down defensive end, his progress has already been impressive.

Give him an offseason with a professional training and coaching staff and it should be interesting to see what Fletcher can do in 2011.

Check out this article from the Boston Globe today for a little more on Fletcher. Great story!

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Merry Christmas! Go Pats!

https://www.patspropaganda.com/merry-christmas-go-pats/

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https://www.patspropaganda.com/27783/

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I think when you sign a player like that, I don’t know if you know what their role’s going to be,” Belichick said. “When you haven’t had him before, and even if you have, you wait to see how their performance relates to everybody else that you have, put it all together and see how it works out.

BB on Gerard Warren.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/i-think-when-you-sign-a-player-like-that-i-dont/

Crafting the New England Patriots perfect playoff plate

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I have to admit it, I’m overlooking the Bills. I hope the Patriots aren’t, but I’ve got my sights set on the playoffs. Imagining certain matchups, which of the AFC contenders I think we can beat again, and what road would be the most competitive and most entertaining.

Assuming no meltdowns the AFC seeding is going to probably look like this:

  1. Patriots
  2. Steelers
  3. Chiefs
  4. Colts
  5. Ravens
  6. Jets

So they Patriots would be looking at the winner of Ravens @ Colts, unless the Jets upset the Chiefs which I don’t think they would.

We’ve see the Patriots-Colts playoff match up three times so far and to be honest I’m kind of over the Brady-Manning storyline. Plus I don’t really want to give Peyton Manning another crack at our secondary.

So that leaves both my head and my heart to hope that the Baltimore Ravens will be first in our musket’s firing line. A lot of people still think the Ravens are the best team in the AFC, and a lot of Patriots fans want to avoid them.

But I say if you want to win a championship you have to go through the best teams and prove how good you are when it matters most. We all know the Patriots would have extra motivation going into a playoff re-match with the Ravens. Terrell Suggs is still talking about us. If the Patriots want to win the Super Bowl they should first have to end the season of the team who last ended theirs.

For the AFC Championship I am left to choose between the Chiefs and the Steelers. We’ve already beaten Pittsburgh twice in AFC Championships. Borrrr-ing.

Imagine the storylines that would exist for a Patriots – Chiefs AFC Championship. Matt Cassel, Scott Pioli, Mike Vrabel, Romeo & Charlie. Even I would watch the pregame for that.

It also helps that I think the Chiefs just couldn’t slow down the Patriots offense and BB would own Cassel but even the nostalgic part of me would love to see this game.

That would lead us to the Super Bowl, which on the NFC’s side of things seems like it will be a crap shoot. Whoever’s defense and offense start to click and make plays will be on their way to Dallas.

So if I had to pick one team from the NFC field that would be the most poetic, the choice is obvious. The New York Football Giants.