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Snaps: Spikes & the sub defense – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

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Snaps: Spikes & the sub defense – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

This is one of the most interesting things to monitor for next season. Pats were able to go lighter up front on the defensive line because of the physicality of their linebackers. Our biggest question in regards to this shift was could they still stop the run. Well, they had their best run stopping year in recent memory, but it was rather the short passes to the middle of the field that killed them.

The 4-3 base needs to be re-evaluated I think, and I’ll be doing so in my Friday B/R column.

Brandon Spikes mostly stayed on over Dont’a Hightower as the second sub linebacker alongside Jerod Mayo, and the Ravens attacked him with success with tight end Dennis Pitta. It’s one game, but this could raise questions this offseason if Spikes will continue to play in the sub going forward or if he’ll return to more of a base-defense only type of role.

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At about the same time Shannon Sharpe was tearing Belichick a new one for not performing for the cameras, Ravens coach John Harbaugh was processing a postgame conversation with Belichick he said he’ll “treasure” forever. “So classy, so gracious,” is how Harbaugh described Belichick to Peter King of NBC and Sports Illustrated. “Complimentary about how we played, about our game plan, about how tough it is to play us.”

Curran: Belichick does things his way, like it or not

https://www.patspropaganda.com/at-about-the-same-time-shannon-sharpe-was-tearing/

ReFo: Ravens @ Patriots, AFC Championship | ProFootballFocus.com

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ReFo: Ravens @ Patriots, AFC Championship | ProFootballFocus.com

One of the more underrated parts of the Brady and Patriot legacy has been how good the offensive line has always been, as it’s rarely an issue and usually protecting their man extremely well. Brady felt pressure on 17 snaps, but only 10 of those came from the O-line, and the pressure was almost always a long time in coming. On one occasion late in the game Haloti Ngata badly beat Logan Mankins ( 3.8) to the inside to notch a hit but that was about as bad as it got. Sadly for Patriots fans though the excellent work from the line went unrewarded. The starting five combined for a PFF grade of 15.4 and only Dan Connolly let the side down with a -0.3 grade from some disastrous run blocking, but he had a perfect day in pass protection.

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In the 6-foot-5, 300-pound Armstead, an NFL team will be getting the equivalent of a high draft pick months before the April draft. The 22-year-old former USC standout went to Canada to prove he was healthy enough to play football again after suffering a heart attack, the subject of a lawsuit against the school in which Armstead alleges the attack was brought on by painkillers.

Armond Armstead, formerly of Toronto Argonauts, on NFL teams’ radar – sources – ESPN

Patriots just signed him. Hey look, a little offseason good news to help turn the page. He’s just what the Patriots needed this oddseason and they’ve already got one piece in place.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/in-the-6-foot-5-300-pound-armstead-an-nfl-team/

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As long as the Patriots are fixing their pass defense, they could stand to patch up their pass offense as well. New England scored the most points in the league this year, but they did it with efficiency, not explosiveness. The Patriots simply didn’t have any receivers who could reliably make plays downfield. Counting defensive pass interfence calls as completions, Tom Brady was only successful on 35 percent of his deep passes (balls that traveled more than 15 yards in the air past the line of scrimmage) in 2012. There were 32 quarterbacks with at least 50 deep passes this season, and only two (Cleveland’s Brandon Weeden and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger) were less accurate with the long ball. Wes Welker (assuming he re-signs), Brandon Lloyd and Deion Branch will be a combined 98 years old next season. It’s time for the Patriots to find some fresh legs and stretch the field.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Conf. Championship Quick Reads

https://www.patspropaganda.com/as-long-as-the-patriots-are-fixing-their-pass/

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Conf. Championship Quick Reads

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FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Conf. Championship Quick Reads

The Patriots, realizing that Talib would not be returning, and cognizant of the way Baltimore’s Torrey Smith had torched Denver’s Champ Bailey one week prior, switched to a very conservative zone scheme that left the middle of the field wide-open. The Ravens, meanwhile, were well aware that Talib was out of the picture, and they opened the playbook and put the game in Flacco’s hands. In the first half, the Ravens had more runs (14) than passing plays (13), but they opened the second half with 25 passes and eight runs before adding 11 runs (and no passes) on their last two clock-killing drives. New England’s strategy slowed Flacco down, but they couldn’t keep him out of the end zone. He only averaged 10.6 yards per completion after halftime, but he also threw touchdowns on three straight drives. The first step for the Patriots is re-signing Talib in free agency, but even if they get that done, it’s not enough. As more and more teams use three wide receivers in their base offense, it’s going to be critical that teams have at least three starting-caliber cornerbacks on their roster.