An Independent Patriots Blog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DyFz
Here’s Devin McCourty talking in the locker room today. The more I hear and see of McCourty the more I love him. He’s humble, hard working and has really seemed to improve every week (and he was pretty good to begin with).
I think this kid has a long bright future ahead of him, hopefully with a Lombardi Trophy or five.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/heres-devin-mccourty-talking-in-the-locker-room/
Check out the Patriots throwback helmets! White facemasks this time around…
https://www.patspropaganda.com/check-out-the-patriots-throwback-helmets-white/
Nike Pro Combat New England Patriots Uniforms
In case you missed it Nike will be taking over the NFL uniforms in 2012 and they are planning dramatic changes. Above is a fan mock up of a Patriots uniform using the Nike Pro Combat style that many college teams have gone to.
Personally I think the Patriots are one team that will resist changing their uniforms too drastically. They’ve established an excellent brand identity with the current uniform style. Perhaps they’ll incorporate the Pro Combat fit to their uniforms but I’d expect the styling to remain largely the same.
Still I kinda like these. What do you think?
Update: Here’s another sample I found.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/nike-pro-combat-new-england-patriots-uniforms-in/
While most of the pundits seem to be picking the New England Patriots to beat the Minnesota Vikings this weekend, I’m finding myself quite nervous about this game.
Not because it’s necessarily a must-win, but because I have a feeling the Vikings are going to turn it around at some point, and I’d prefer it not come at our expense. You can never count out a team with Adrian Peterson, Randy Moss, Percy Harvin, and their defensive front seven.
If the Patriots want to be considered an elite team, they’ll need to knock off Minnesota this weekend. I’m as big of a Patriots fan as they come, and even I am not quite sure they’re “elite” just yet.
Yes, they have five wins, but all of them could’ve easily gone either way.
The offense is still looking for it’s exact identity. The defense seems to be improving every week, but they are still giving up a lot of third down conversions.
As always the goal is to be peaking at the end of the season, not in late October. But it’s games like these, home games against teams that are banged up and vulnerable, that elite teams win.
With so much focus going to whether or not Brett Favre will play, there’s very little talk about just how good the Patriots really are. Clearly they can compete with anyone. But are they the kind of team that will win twelve or more games? We’ll have a much better sense by Monday.
‘TIS NOT A MAN! ‘TIS AN INT MACHINE!
I can’t decide what’s better for the Pats, if Favre plays hurt or Tavaris Jackson plays. Just don’t know what is better for the Patriots.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/tis-not-a-man-tis-an-int-machine/
ProFootballFocus.com: Patriots ReFocused
Here are the stats from ProFootballFocus.com’s refocused segment this week. I used to love this site when it was free, now they just throw you these little bones. I like it, but not ‘willing to pay $60’ like it.
Check out Guyton’s coverage numbers. Evidence is building, could Dane Fletcher cut into Guyton’s playing time even more this week?
Patriots: Three performances of note
The Patriots were blessed by great pass protection from Sebastian Vollmer at left tackle last season and with Vollmer finding his feet at right tackle after the bye week (two pressures yielded in two games), the pressure will surely fall on Matt Light (-2.5) to improve after this performance. Light was terrorized by Antwan Barnes, playing in only his second game for the Chargers. Barnes was only in for 11 pass rushes but on those plays he was responsible for the sack and three pressures that Light surrendered. Light was left chasing Barnes on most of those plays, seemingly lacking the ability to contact Barnes early to neutralize the former Ravens and Eagles player.
Jerod Mayo has put a slow start in run defense to rest with three straight good games (+4.4 in run defense in that time frame) as he finally shows an ability and an intent to come downhill and take the game to the opposing run game. Mayo has registered 26 stops this season, one of the best numbers among LBs. Rookie Brandon Spikes brought this downhill physicality to the inside of the Patriots’ linebacker corps first, but Mayo now seems to be responding in kind.
For a nickel linebacker Gary Guyton (-4.4) was little short of atrocious in coverage in this game, found wanting both physically and in terms of awareness to cover the Chargers’ receiving threats between the numbers. Guyton allowed nine catches on the 11 passes into his coverage, yielding 97 yards and a touchdown on a tough day covering a multitude of receivers.
Rookie report
Aaron Hernandez (-1.7) was a contributor in the passing game again for New England (eight targets, five catches, 54 yards) but struggled as a run-blocker (-1.2). … Rob Gronkowski (-0.3) played 30 snaps to Hernandez’s 50 and struggled similarly in the run game (-1.2). … Brandon Deaderick (+0.1) made his second straight start and was much improved in his run defense this week (+0.5in comparison to -2.2 against Baltimore). … Jermaine Cunningham (+1.5) isn’t setting the world alight as a pass-rusher, but his consistency in run defense is refreshing (graded +0.4 or above in run D in every start). … Dane Fletcher (+0.1) saw more snaps than in his prior two games combined and impressed in coverage, snagging Darren Sproles for gains of only 5 and 2 yards on two receptions into his coverage. … Spikes (+0.4) had a quiet game in run defense after his outstanding display last week against Baltimore: only 22 snaps and a solitary tackle as the Chargers were passing most of the games. … Safety Sergio Brown (+2.0) saw his first defensive snaps of the season and impressed in coverage. He allowed catches on all four of his targets but allowed a long of 8 yards and a total of 16 yards. … Devin McCourty (+0.8) recorded his first career interception covering Patrick Crayton on a deep route and allowed only one catch on six targets. … Zoltan Mesko (-0.7) saw only one of his four punts returned.
NFLN Playbook: Patriots Better Without Moss
It’s interesting how they point out part of getting rid of Moss was a reflection of how they’re changing to beat the Jets. Never thought you could tell me we’d be without Moss for the rematch and I’d actually feel better about our chances.
Game Day!
