PatsPropaganda

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The Patriots did not play with a true fullback in 2011, and it remains unclear if they will do so in 2012. Regardless of whether they do or not, short-yardage situations will remain an area of focus, as the team often turned to throwing the football in such a situation last season. Short-yardage situations help an offense establish grit and a hard-nosed mentality. On Friday night, the Patriots did failed to do so on three straight plays.

New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-patriots-did-not-play-with-a-true-fullback-in/

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A very solid outing for DT Ron Brace, who showed off top-notch strength early in the third quarter, and then may have single-handedly got the ball back for the Patriots on the Bucs’ final offensive drive, with back-to-back run-stuffs.

On the flip side, not a whole lot to write home about from DT Brandon Deaderick. If the Patriots keep 4 defensive tackles, it will likely be Brace as the third option, and Deaderick as the fourth option/gameday inactive.

New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

Brace’s sheer size makes him an interesting option inside. It seems like he could possibly be a very good fit for what they’re trying to do on defense now in the Double Nose.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/a-very-solid-outing-for-dt-ron-brace-who-showed/

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https://www.patspropaganda.com/16706/

Picked-up pieces from 2nd quarter review – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

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Picked-up pieces from 2nd quarter review – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

Defensive end Jermaine Cunningham earned playing time in a sub defense package as an interior rusher, aligning alongside Vince Wilfork. It’s an opportunity for Cunningham to continue to increase his role within this defense, and for the Patriots’ sake, it’s an opportunity to insert a unique skill into their sub package, and a move that could especially pay off against mobile quarterbacks. With Jake Locker slated as the first opposing starting quarterback, the Patriots will face a task of an athletic player who can break the pocket and do damage. Having Cunningham on the field adds a player who can pursue the quarterback not only as he stands in the pocket, but also if he scrambles out of it.


This is one of the more interesting personnel developments this year. Does Cunningham really have potential inside? Or is it a move of necessity given the absence of Myron Pryor and how Fanene didn’t work out? We’ll see how Cunningham produces inside, but the lack of a “get-up-the-field” d-tackle at the top end of the depth chart is noticeable.

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They will have no problem defending the run. That bodes well in the AFC East, where the quarterbacks may be lacking but the teams want to establish the run first to keep their passers out of long yardage. Good luck doing any of that against the Patriots. Belichick’s teams always have been tough against the run, but the Patriots appear to be even better this year. Vince Wilfork and Kyle Love are formidable in the middle. Ends Rob Ninkovich and Chandler Jones are much better at holding the edge than projected. And then there are the linebackers. In terms of stopping the run, it may be hard to find a unit better than Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, and Dont’a Hightower — save the 49ers and Texans. It’s promising that the Patriots are so good against the run, but this isn’t 2002. Teams now live and die by the pass. At least we know the Patriots will be forcing them to convert long yardages. That’s where you start.

All pieces are in place – Patriots – Boston.com

Good recap here from Bedard, and really the benefit of having such good linebackers is that they can keep athletes on the field to defend the pass and worry less about having “heavy” personnel out there.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/they-will-have-no-problem-defending-the-run-that/