PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Mike Dussault

how does the presence of Vellano, Jones, and Siliga change Patriots needs at DT assuming Armstead also becomes a contributor?

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I think so, primarily Chris Jones and Siliga, who are different tackle types and good compliments to Wilfork/Kelly/Armstead, if they’re all able to return to form.

That’s a big “if’ though so it’s hard to really project. But if they do all come back healthy, I don’t think defensive tackle is the huge need a lot think it will be.

If a defensive tackle they love falls to them they should definitely take him, but the Pats built up some good young depth and experience after all the injuries this year and Jones/Siliga and somewhat Vellano showed a lot of promise.

If 100%, I’d roll into the 2014 season with Wilfork/Kelly/Siliga/Armstead/Jones and be excited about it. Still, a game-changer inside is always on the need list.

With talib showing that he is a tad bit injury prone, what do you think belichick will do

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I think the injuries should ensure the Pats can get him at a reasonable price. Even if it’s at the high end of reasonable I think it’s worth it. For two years we’ve seen how different the secondary is without Talib. He’s a solid player by himself, but it’s the trickle-down effect of having him be able to man-up any wide receiver that is most important.

Once he left the game against the Broncos the Pats were dead in the water. They went to zone coverage and were shredded as they usually are.

Corners like Talib are either high-round picks or expensive free agents. They’re hard to find and neither method matches up with the Pats’ spending or draft position. The Pats need to keep him instead of starting all over trying to find an #1 cover corner.

Think they let Wendell go, move Connolly to center and cannon to right guard next to a returning vollmer

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I think you bring back Connolly on a new backup-money contract and make him the swing guy. I’d even take Wendell back on a team-friendly option-filled deal as well. But I think at least one of them has to be upgraded. This is a passing league and they are limited in pass protection. 

Wendell is solid enough I’d like to keep him around, and Connolly is a good swing guy for inside, but if both are starting again in 2014 I won’t feel great about it.

Do you think Brady can get back to throwing the deep ball with accuracy next year or do you think he is what he is at this point? He has not often played well in Denver, so there is something to be said for the environment there making it a bit harder, but I feel like it’s been declining since 2009. It was a common complaint from 2001-2003, he seemed to be great at it from 2004-2007 and he seems to still have great arm strength.

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I don’t think deep accuracy has ever been Brady’s strongest point. Certainly with Randy Moss he had some nice bombs, but that’s a little easier when Moss could outrun everyone and Brady had total trust in that.

They need Gronk or someone else to stretch the seam before the need a burner on the outside. Dobson/Boyce/Thompkins now get a real offseason to develop with Brady a bit more. The Pats NEED at least one of them to make the year two jump, and even still, they’ll need to focus on WRs in the draft too.

Nothing is off the table this year as I see it at WR and TE.

Play to Brady’s strengths. Find smart guys who can get open quick like Edelman has developed into. (I find the Edelman free agency story so much more interesting than Welker’s was last year.)

Also think the offensive line can be upgraded in the middle to help give Brady a little more time, I was disappointed in the interior protection this year and that kind of thing will take any offense out of their groove.