PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Mike Dussault

who are you rooting for on offense and defense (besides collins)? i like thompkins and I think he has raw talent and he just needs to get the skills down. plus his background makes for a great story and he just seems like he would give football everything he’s got. on defense, I’m rooting for Jones and Siliga in the middle. tighter coverage on the outside should give them a chance to make some more plays.

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Not to avoid the question but I’m really rooting for everyone. These guys put in so much work, I am disappointed for anyone that it doesn’t work out for, for whatever the reasons.

The guys I think it’s critical for them to have a big season for the Pats to get to the Super Bowl are Collins, Dobson, Harmon, and really Gronkowski. Those guys have to be key contributors this year and if they’re not, then someone has to rise to the occasion and contribute in their projected role. 

Nothing against Thompkins, Boyce, Logan Ryan or anyone else. If those under-the-radar guys can make a leap then it will be great for the team. I’m sure they realize the pressure is on. Nothing is assured to anyone. If they don’t perform, they could be out of a job. 

2014 NFL preseason schedule – NFL.com

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2014 NFL preseason schedule – NFL.com

Here it is, in all it’s anticlimactic glory:

Week 1: at Washington Redskins
Week 2: Philadelphia Eagles
Week 3: Carolina Panthers
Aug. 28: at New York Giants

I do like that they’ll face the Eagles. That will likely mean joint practices and a chance to face a unique and troublesome offense. Always good to stress your defense in the preseason like that.

The Week 3 game is often one where the starters play their most significant snaps. The Pats had a great game last year against the Panthers, so this should also be another good test.

And of course, the finale with the Giants in NY. I always just love seeing Elijah and friends.

How much do you think how a draft prospect fits into a teams scheme matter when evaluating and drafting

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It’s everything. I can’t speak to every other team in the NFL, but the Patriots system for evaluating draft prospects is about specifically telling how the player would fit into the current team, how they compare to the players already on the roster, and whether they’d be a starter, backup or roster bubble type.

It’s hard for everyone, including the NFL teams themselves, to truly know how an athlete will develop as a professional. I think that’s true of any profession. There are certain things you can test and they have their physical dimensions and measurables, but after those things there’s really no way to know.

Now in the case of players like Jamie Collins, who can do a lot of things, there’s probably a little more wait-and-see to the approach. You can’t say definitively what he will do but you know he has all the boxes checked but you need to get him into the program to see what he excels at most.

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https://www.patspropaganda.com/6739/

Finding Sammy Morris: Who Can Be the Big Back? – Pats Pulpit

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Finding Sammy Morris: Who Can Be the Big Back? – Pats Pulpit

Good stuff from Rich Hill at PatsPulpit, illustrating the Pats decline in short yardage situations. Like most anyone, including Rich, I’m surprised at Sammy Morris’ numbers in those situations, but as Rich points out, much of this is attributed to the quality of the interior linemen.

The decline must be directly linked to the transition from Mankins-Koppen-Neal to our current Mankins-Wendell-Connolly. This is obviously a point I’ve hit on a lot this offseason – the need to upgrade the interior OL for the long term. I think they need to spend at least one high-round pick at G or C.

From what you have seen and scouted, to your opinion is this one of the deeper drafts as the pundits have been saying

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I’d agree with that, at least as far as the Patriots needs are concerned. There are some good defensive tackles and interior OL that fit the Pats needs and enough depth that they’ll be available into the second and third rounds.

Also see some interesting safety prospects as well that could be good Patriot fits. 

I don’t love the running backs or cornerbacks in this class and feel like the defensive ends and linebackers are somewhat hit or miss. There’s some intriguing guys in certain pockets but not strong top-to-bottom.

Overall I think the Pats should be able to really round out their depth, especially at some of the positions where they need it most. Still most curious to see what they do at defensive end because that’s a need and not an area where the prospects that are available stand out to me.