Mike Dussault

Questions, Comments, Complaints, Compliments, Whatever

May 30, 2014 by Mike Dussault

Questions, Comments, Complaints, Compliments, Whatever

Should be a somewhat active day here on the blog with media access at OTAs. Mini-camp is next month and then we’ll start the long dark portion of the offseason when the NFL all takes their vacations and ramp up for the final push to the start of training camp.

Any and all questions are welcome today. I’ve got a few to kick things off…

What do you think the strength of the 2014 Pats will be?

What could the fatal flaw of the 2014 Pats be?

Who are your breakout players on both sides of the ball? And you can’t say Jamie Collins!

Can this Patriots team win the Super Bowl? I.E. beat Denver, Seattle, San Francisco and whoever else?

I’ll tally up all the answers I get and put them in one post to get the general feeling about this edition of the Pats from you the fans.

Who do you think is more worthly keeping Vereen or Ridley? I think Vereen is more valuable

May 30, 2014 by Mike Dussault

Yeah, I’d tend to agree, but I think both of them have their work cut out for them this season. Vereen needs to stay healthy, Ridley needs to prove he’s reliable. There are plenty of running backs, including James White, Stephen Houston and Roy Finch, who will be pushing them.

And let’s face it, running back has slowly become an afterthought position. I could see a scenario where Houston and White are the lead backs in 2015 and the beat will go on uninterrupted.

I like Ridley, but I’m sick of seeing run hard because he just fumbled. As Bruschi/Reiss say, he’s been an “error repeater” so far and those kind of guys don’t fly with BB, whether you agree or not.

As for Vereen, he’s shown incredible flashes, but last year’s wrist injury was a problem even after he came back. I just hope his performance at the end of 2012, his “coming out party”, won’t be the thing he’s remembered for. Stay healthy, catch the ball and I think Vereen could elevate to the lead back.

Who are your projected starters for the season

May 30, 2014 by Mike Dussault

An optimistic, everybody’s-back-healthy version:

Defense (Nickel)

Ninkovich-Wilfork-Easley-Chandler

Collins-Mayo

Revis-Harmon-McCourty-Arrington-Dennard (then Browner)

Offense

Solder-Mankins-Stork-Connolly-Vollmer

Dobson-Edelman-Amendola-Gronkowski-Ridley

TFB

Notes: This defense is obviously a little more pass preventative, I could see Tommy Kelly or even Sealver Siliga in there next to Wilfork for a little more run protection. Hightower could really see his snaps reduced this season outside of the 4-3. Still think there’s a rotational spot for him in the sub packages, but Collins-Mayo are my primary LBs.

Stork beats out Wendell, but Connolly holds onto his job. Not sure I still see Cannon as a possibility at starting RG, but I could see a scenario where Halapio sneaks in there.

Dobson will have LaFell breathing down his neck, he’ll need to get healthy and have a solid camp. Ridley is the “starter” but there will certainly be games where Vereen is in there first. Or even James White later in the season.