PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

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Today marks the fifth anniversary of PatsPropaganda.com. Technically I started blogging about the Pats in December of 2007 and the PatsPropaganda twitter handle was born in April of 2009 before everything became consolidating in this Tumblr blog on April 20, 2010.

Obviously it was a great year for the blog and not just because the Pats won the Super Bowl. Our partnerships with NRG and Verizon Wireless were a huge highlight, along with seeing two great Pats games live – Denver and San Diego.

I also finally made a pilgrimage to Patriots training camp. Not sure I’ve ever seen the Pats three times in one season before this.

There’s no slowdown in sight as we get ready for the 2015 schedule to be released tomorrow and then next week’s NFL draft. Soon training camp will be upon us!

Thanks to all the readers for the awesome support. I truly appreciate the kind messages that come in quite often from Pats fans around the world who enjoy the type of Pats coverage I try to provide here. Above everything else, connecting with all those fans is what makes this so enjoyable.

Here’s one of my favorite pictures from the season, combining Pats forces with a legendary trio of Jerry Thornton, Nick Stevens (aka Fitzy) and George Kipppenham (aka the other guy from the Shit Pats Fans Say videos).

https://www.patspropaganda.com/today-marks-the-fifth-anniversary-of/

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Why are the Patriots so bad at drafting? They aren’t.

The Patriots have had the toughest roster to crack in the NFL for 14 years. They have picked at the end of the draft or have been forced to sacrifice picks to move up every year for the last 14 years. The Patriots are one of the best franchises in the league at recycling cheap veterans in free agency, and they rank with the Packers and Giants at finding and grooming rookie “street” free agents. Therefore, their “high” draft picks are not very high, and they enter an environment where the starter might be All-Pro, the backup just got plucked off the waiver wire from Tampa for a custom-fitted role and the undrafted rookie at the same position is a top athlete who will be given a serious chance to compete. Under the circumstances, it is inevitable that some high-round picks wash out.

It’s OK for Patriots fans to keep thinking that the Patriots stink in the draft, though, because it is the only time they ever admit that the Patriots might be imperfect mortals.

Mike Tanier, 

Every Draft Question You Have Ever Asked, Answered Once and for All

(via wordsspokenofwise)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/why-are-the-patriots-so-bad-at-drafting-they/

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I talked to Bill (Belichick) at the combine, and I asked him how Jimmy was doing,” recalled Christensen in a recent phone call. “He said ‘(Jimmy) looks like a linebacker. He works out like a linebacker. He acts like a linebacker. I really like him a lot, coach. You did a great job with him. Thank you.’

It Is What It Is » Sunday NFL Notes: Patriots backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo ‘looks like a linebacker’ as he preps for second season

https://www.patspropaganda.com/i-talked-to-bill-belichick-at-the-combine-and/

Quick-hit thoughts around the New England Patriots, NFL – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN

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Quick-hit thoughts around the New England Patriots, NFL – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN

Patriots second-year offensive tackle Cameron Fleming (6-foot-6, 325 pounds) has devoted more time in his offseason training to the guard position…

Very interesting on Fleming working more at guard this offseason, but it still doesn’t solve the LG opening as I’d guess Fleming is probably a RG. He certainly provides a much-needed level of depth, but is he really a potential starter there long-term? Or just another tackle who can play inside in a pinch?

What would you like to see done defensively?

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I think they still need additions at linebacker, defensive tackle and cornerback with a high-round cornerback being most likely to immediately contribute the most.  That doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily take one early, but the opportunity is there if they do.

Linebacker is a strange one because you don’t really know how big of a need it will be this year. No question they need depth – ideally a versatile guy who can run, but if Mayo/Hightower come back and are okay, it’s not necessarily a starter need for the entire season.

Any defensive tackle they draft (Eddie Goldman) or sign (Red Bryant) is going to be part of a rotation. Not sure they’ll be able to acquire anyone who’s going to come in and play 75 percent of the snaps right off the bat. That’s okay though, Siliga, Chris Jones, Easley and even Antonio Johnson deserve a chance to contribute.

In starting to put together my mock draft it’s a tough three-way battle in the first two rounds between these positions. They can’t address all three (and guard) immediately. As always, it will depend on how they see the value at their draft spots.

I like the Chandler addition. How do you foresee the Patriots using him and maximizing his skills? What do you think it affects Tim Wright? What’s your opinion on making Wright more of a WR? Thank you.

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I think it gives the Pats just a very well-rounded tight end group that can be mixed-and-matched to give defenses a lot of problems. Obviously Chandler has great size, though he seems to get knocked for his blocking. I have to take a closer look at that to really be able to comment on it.

Wright is fascinating to me because he showed some great flashes last year after getting thrown into the fire. If he takes a big step forward could he influence the offense back toward more 12 personnel? That could directly affect Danny Amendola.

The red zone is the easiest place to start with all these big targets.  Imagine a Gronk-Chandler-Wright-Blount-Cannon package. That’s a lot of beef that can throw or run with equal devastation.

How it all plays out will depend somewhat on injuries, but on paper it’s an imposing group that covers the spectrum.