PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Mike Dussault

We saw through the first six weeks before injuries started piling up the defense looked really good, what do you think it will take for the defense to take that last step

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They have to continue to build on their press man defense and not be quite so reliant on Talib (assuming he returns). That means staying healthy mostly. Ryan should make some strides. Dennard and Arrington are scrappy and good pieces.

They also can’t remain so reliant on Ninkovich and Chandler or they’ll run them into the ground like they did to Wilfork.

A third defensive end, healthy/versatile defensive tackle rotation and Mayo back will do wonders.

I’m excited to see what Jamie Collins might blossom into. It’s possible Hightower could see a lot less playing time next year if he’s reduced to Mike-only snaps. That actually might not be a bad thing, it would allow the Pats to play more base because they have a middle linebacker in Hightower who’s got more quickness than Spikes had.

When the pats drafted solder, what did you think at the time, did you see him become the player he is now

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I actually had him in the only mock draft I did that season – only I had him 33rd overall, not at 17. I really liked him, they must’ve loved him.

Here’s what I wrote about him in that:

33. Nate Solder (T): Solder would greatly benefit from a year with Dante Scarnecchia, and if he could have the kind of rookie year Sebastian Vollmer did where he’s eased in a bit, he’d be well prepared to be an eventual starter on whichever side he’s more comfortable. With him and Vollmer as the bookends of the future the Patriots offensive line would be intimidatingly huge. As a former tight end he has the foot skills necessary to get out and block the slip screens that the Patriots love to run. There might be greater needs but being able to take a talented player like Solder before the true need for a tackle has arrived is a huge luxury.

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Amendola signed a five-year, $28.5 million contract last offseason that was only guaranteed for two years. If the Patriots cut Amendola before March 11 at 4 p.m., they could free up $2.88 million in salary cap room by making him a June 2 designation. If the Patriots trade Amendola, it would cost them $645,000 in cap room.

Report: New England Patriots Could Trade Or Release Danny Amendola | New England Patriots | NESN.com

I’ve spent most of the offseason thinking that Amendola could not be cut without the Pats taking a cap hit for it, but with this June 1 designation it changes things up for me a bit.

2013 was an audition year for both Edelman and Amendola in a sense. Edelman won. He brings more value, has a clear chemistry with Brady and is a very good punt returner. If the Pats can dump Amendola and keep Edelman in a cap-friendly way, I’m in.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/amendola-signed-a-five-year-285-million/

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For New England, paying Revis a $1.5 million roster bonus, a $1.5 million workout bonus, and a $13 million base salary could be a much more desirable alternative than giving a big-money, multi-year deal to Aqib Talib.

Pats, Broncos could be trying to shake Revis free from Tampa | ProFootballTalk

I love the offseason! If you don’t know by now, the Pats are always attached to just about every juicy rumor. Most of the time I think it’s just agents trying to scare the rest of the league into getting in on the player to at least prevent Belichick from getting him.

Is there any truth to this one? Maybe. At the very least it might send a small message to Talib that they’re not married to him.

Ultimately, I’d be surprised if the Pats got Revis, but I’ve been surprised many times by BB before and I’m looking forward to it happening again.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/revis-trade-patriots/

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Kraft also dispelled a theory that Belichick always looks for “yes men” in the front office. Kraft said Belichck likes to keep a small inner circle to prevent leaks to the media. He likes to hire young executives because he likes training them to run a football team, and they bring a different technological approach.

Jonathan Kraft: Bill Belichick’s Analytical Intellect Gives Patriots Advantage | New England Patriots | NESN.com

Never bought the “Belichick doesn’t have enough people willing to go against him” storyline. One of the big parts of Education of Coach was mentioning how much he wanted people to have different ideas and to challenge him.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/kraft-also-dispelled-a-theory-that-belichick/

With the pats constantly picking in the bottom of the draft, how do you think belichick handles that

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As I mentioned last week, he’s made only four selections higher than 20th overall in his time with New England so he’s certainly used to it.

It makes things a little easier since you cancel your hopes of landing 10-15 prospects for sure heading into it, but you’re stuck waiting to see what falls to you.

Whenever a run on a certain position happens, it pushes down the value at another position. So the Pats are left with what they can get and often those late first-round picks are really good trade bait. 

The Pats made their entire draft last year by trading out of the first round and picking up multiple picks from Minnesota. The difference between the late-first and second round isn’t much.

The bonus before the rookie salary cap was that they weren’t often forced to take a pick that came with a bloated and potentially cap-harmful contract.