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Football Outsiders: Devin McCourty-Palooza

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Wow, this is one of the most in depth articles you’ll find about a single player. These numbers just make it even more comical that so many fans and pundits were outraged the Pats passed on a passrusher for McCourty.

The reality that we now know is that none of the pass rushers who were drafted in the low first round would’ve made the same impact that McCourty has made. When you have a chance to take a potential shut down corner you take him, no matter what your needs are.

I try not to look to far ahead but the thought of Leigh Bodden and McCourty in 2011 has me salivating.

Blueprint to Beat the Patriots?

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Usually it takes until after a good team that looks unbeatable gets beaten that we hear the “blueprint” song and dance, but this week NFL Network busts it out on the Patriots. Not that anyone actually believes there is a blueprint that the Packers minus Aaron Rodgers are capable of executing since they don’t have Peyton Hillis.

I’m going to let everyone in on a little secret. As someone who follows the Patriots as closely as anyone the blueprint to beating them is actually quite simple.

  1. Don’t Turn The Ball Over
  2. Force Turnovers

It’s really that simple. Of course it’s easier said than done, but the Patriots do not have a suffocating defense by any stretch of the imagination. They probably will in 2011, and definitely should by 2012, but right now in 2010 you can move the ball on them.

If/when the Patriots lose again you’ll see it coming because Brady will throw an interception, somebody will fumble, and the Pats defense won’t get any turnovers of their own.

Yes, as with any team, the key is running the ball on them like the Browns did. I chalk that performance by the Pats D up to just being a really bad day. Anyone who’s played sports knows that some days you just don’t have it. And that day in early November the Pats just didn’t have it. But generally the Patriots run defense has been solid despite what the statistics say.

But let’s remember that this weekend the Patriots starting down lineman in the 3-4 base defense, the one they use to stop the run, will likely feature Vince Wilfork with two rookies, Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick. There’s a chance we see Gerard Warren out there, but Ron Brace was concussed against the Bears and we haven’t seen Mike Wright or Myron Pryor in weeks.

The presence or absence of Warren could really be a huge factor in the game. Especially if Brace is out.

They’ll also be without their 3-4 Strong Inside Linebacker (aka the “Mike”) Brandon Spikes. So if ever there was a time that the Patriots might be a little weakened in their run defense this could be the game.

Even with Matt Flynn at the helm the Packers scare me. How many times have we seen a backup quarterback tear it up against our defense? Just off the top of my head I can remember the Eagles and Ravens in 2007, the Seahawks in 2008, the Panthers in 2009, and the Bills, Browns and Lions in 2010. Of course the Pats were 6-1 in those games but it was scary every time!

I don’t know how good Flynn is, but I’ve seen enough know that even backups can elevate their games against New England. So don’t take Rodgers sitting out as a sign it’s going to be an automatic domination.

There is a blueprint to beating the Pats, but it’s the blueprint to beating any good team. Don’t make mistakes.

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Guess who was back at practice today? That’s right, McCourty. Just don’t ask who wasn’t… oh no big deal, just every impact defensive lineman we have except big Vince.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/guess-who-was-back-at-practice-today-thats/

Matt Light Appreciation Post

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Offensive lineman often go unnoticed until they have a bad game but today I’d like to take a second to throw some love at Matt Light. Since becoming the regular starter in 2001 Light has only missed 18 total games. That’s 13 in 2005 and 5 in 2009. Pretty impressive when you consider he’s often facing the other teams best pass rusher and he’s always right in the trenches.

You also have to love Light’s good nature off the field. He’s funny and has that hillbilly charm that makes him seem like the Patriot you’d most want to split a few pitchers with.

When you look around the rest of the league you can find many teams struggling to find that all-important left tackle piece. Some fans love to get on Light’s case if gives up a sack, or say that Sebastian Vollmer should take his job, but they ignore the fact that Light has been protecting Tom Brady’s blindside his entire career and has been a huge part of all the games won and touchdowns thrown. Show me a left tackle that plays ten seasons and never gives up a sack.

Not to mention how well he’s able to move in space and block on the screen passes that the Patriots love to run. He’s been an essential part of the Patriots success both on the field and off it, and never gets any of the credit he deserves.

So this post is for you, Matt Light. Thanks for the decade of work!