PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Mike Dussault

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These Patriots believe in fiscal discipline with the salary cap, which often means tough decisions with beloved fan favorites (e.g. Wes Welker). They attempt to build a strong middle class on the roster, which is easier to do when players such as Blount ($680,000) and Collins ($683,000) are in starring roles but accounting for so little cap space. It also helps when your star player, quarterback Tom Brady, is on board with the plan.

New England Patriots’ roster philosophy in full bloom – ESPN Boston

https://www.patspropaganda.com/these-patriots-believe-in-fiscal-discipline-with/

Meet the New England Patriots Biggest X-Factor: Jamie Collins | Bleacher Report

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Meet the New England Patriots Biggest X-Factor: Jamie Collins | Bleacher Report

Fantastic breakdown from Frenz here. Honestly, if the Pats have a chance to win this weekend and in the Super Bowl, I think Collins needs to play two more games just as well as he did against the Colts. 

Coverage like this against Julius Thomas this weekend is so vital. Love how Collins gets his head around and almost makes a play on the ball. Textbook, and not something we’re used to seeing from a Pats linebacker.

WHERE IS TOM BRADY

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Probably sick. Wouldn’t worry, he dropped a 40 bomb on the Steelers in the 2004 AFCCG after having the flu bad the night before. It’s just Wednesday. Ain’t no thang.

Has Blount become the lead back, do you think there is a chance that the patriots let connolly and Wendell go and go after Alex Mack and move josh Kline to RG or draft a RG

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I think that “lead back” is somewhat just semantics. At the end of the season Ridley and Blount had almost equal amounts of carries. What this year proved is that you need a diverse and deep backfield in today’s NFL. Injuries and inconsistent play are just too big a part of the position. 

Everyone gets concerned with who’s out there first and who the “starter” is, but it’s not that cut and dry. Few would argue that Blount isn’t running the best of the backs right now, but that doesn’t mean if Ridley starts having success they won’t keep feeding him.

I expect Blount to be out there first, but expect to see Ridley get in there on the third possession or so and then we’ll see how the game unfolds. If the Pats get in a hole we might see only Shane Vereen.

Either way, the Pats have options and all three backs have come through and sparked the team at various times despite who is on the field for the first possession.

As for the interior offensive line that figures to be one of the most interesting storylines of the offseason. Wendell is a free agent, Connolly is in the final year of his deal and due to make a whopping $4 million.

My early guess is that they re-sign Wendell to a team-friendly deal and plan on bringing in competition. As for Connolly, I think they try to cut-and-re-sign him at a more manageable number. Maybe even plan to move him back to center where he played in 2011, or the interior swing position. 

I think they could definitely use some young interior talent to at least compete. I’ll be closely researching the draft at those spots.

Both have upside, especially in the run game, but have we seen both of their ceilings? It’s possible.