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Tight Endage Excitement and Expectation!

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(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

It’s so easy to make player comparisons especially on a team that has had some of the best that ever were but the signing of the two tight ends, Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, in free agency really ramped up the mentions of a Gronkowski and Hernandez duo, and it had already been whispered about when the Patriots drafted two tight ends back in 2020, Dalton Keene and Devin Asiasi.

Now it’s fair to say that Hunter Henry is not Rob Gronkowski. He is a sizeable and talented traditional tight end but there will only ever be one Gronk. That’s not to say Henry isn’t good, as most of you know, he’s my favourite going into this season!

The versatility of Jonnu Smith is already shining through in training camp within the different formations in which he is being placed, and the comparison with the athleticism of Aaron Hernandez is difficult to ignore.

The 2011 AFC Divisional game against the Broncos saw a slew of two tight end sets, and at one point Hernandez, and Gronk lined up on the same side, next to one another, Hernandez with his hand in the dirt and Gronk in a more H-back like position. On the snap, Gronk provided pass protection Hernandez ran out and became the pass catcher for a touchdown.

And that’s just spotlighting one single play. The Patriots utilised Hernandez in several other positions such as running back, a traditional ‘I’ formation fullback, a blocker as well as a receiver. And the exciting thing is Jonnu Smith may be able to tick all these boxes. 

Okay so that’s putting a lot on the shoulders of this 25 year old but the Patriots team was phenomenal with this kind of tight end set up and there may be hints that it can happen again. 

I know I know, I’m a tight endage enthusiast, but I bet there are plenty of fans out there who are excited to see this kind of dynamic tight endage sparkle in Foxborough!

Whats more, there is depth at tight end at the moment. It appears that Matt LaCosse and Troy Fumagalli are working hard at securing their own spots. LaCosse had a pretty rough start proving himself in New England after a year (2019) plagued with injury and then a covid-19 opt out year. Fumagalli, whilst experienced in the NFL, has always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and not had much chance to shine, but is definitely a name I’ve been hearing dropped around training camp this past week.

Further depth, but with a little less sparkle is David Wells who has been utilised mostly as a blocker. Devin Asiasi is (at the time of writing this) currently on the covid list following a positive test, and Dalton Keene who too is on a list, PUP to be precise. Whilst dropping a third round draft pick is highly unlikely, neither Asiasi nor Keene have had a full training camp or preseason since their drafting due to covid restrictions and now injuries.  Whilst Keene may see the wrong side of the PUP list for a while, Asiasi could return soon. The greatest concern may be the after effects of suffering from covid, stacked upon a large chunk of time missed from yet another years training camp. 

With just a week until the first preseason game against the Washington Football Team, tight end expectation and excitement is peaking!

Go Pats!

Succession Planning: Who takes over as coach after Bill Belichick?

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Source: sgbonline.com

In an ideal world Bill Belichick would continue to coach forever. The man is in my humble opinion the greatest to ever roam the sideline in any professional sport. Not only does he hold an incredible career as a head coach, but he also doubles as a Hall of Fame caliber General Manager. Some things only live as dreams and with Bill Belichick now being 69 years young he is at the tail end of his career. Including this season, I think he has 3 to 5 years left in him to chase Don Shula’s all time win record of 328. Bill currently sits at 280 wins and if he averages 10 or so wins per season this should get him there. I believe that he cares about breaking the record before hanging them up and will stick around to do so. It is the last remaining accomplishment to cap off a historic career.

There is also another aspect of continuing to coach into his early 70s that is not talked about enough. Not only does he get to do what he loves and is great at every single day, but also he gets to do it with his two sons. Brian and Stephen both serve on the Patriots coaching staff as the Safeties Coach and Outside Linebackers Coach respectively. This has turned into a family business of which is located in the area that all of his family lives. Even more reason for him to stick around.

With that being said, succeeding Bill Belichick as Head Coach of the New England Patriots is an impossible task. Similarly to following up Brady at Quarterback there is just no one that can ever live up to what they accomplished. Being the second person to succeed him after the first one is relieved of their duties, sure. However, being the first is a death sentence from the start.

Let us take a look at some potential suitors:

Josh McDaniels

This is probably the second most likely scenario but I truly do not think Josh sticks around long enough to see this play out. Every year his name is tossed around as a potential head coaching candidate. He still has some stank to him from the whole Indianapolis Colts debacle, but his resume speaks for himself and every passing season is another mile between his prior blunders (Broncos HC and Colts Houdini). When Josh wants another chance at the driver’s seat then he will have options to choose from. I suspect Josh hangs around for 1-3 more years (this season included). If for some reason the Patriots job becomes available during that frame then that is a different story.

A less likely possibility, but one still worth mentioning is that Bill steps aside as either Coach or GM to focus solely on the other role. Josh picks up whatever one Bill steps away from.

Matt Patricia

I truly have no confidence for Matt Patricia being a head coach. Some people are just made to be coordinators and are very good at it. There is no shame with that. Nothing that I have read from players, coaches, or management regarding Patricia in Detroit is good.

I foresee Patricia sticking in New England as an Ernie Adams type assassin. The man knows New England’s system very well and is a game planner. He will use his rocket science collegiate studies to dissect film of offensive and defensive game plans of future opponents. This will parlay nicely into finding NFL draft picks that fit what the Patriots do. Pencil in Patricia as the new Ernie. It seems as though Bill and Matt have a friendship off the field as well and genuinely enjoy working together. This should help Matt’s case to sticking around for at least the next 2-4 years (this season included) and potentially beyond.

Jerod Mayo

Jerod Mayo is the next Brian Flores. The man is a stud and a hot name as far as future head coaches go in the NFL. All of the Patriots players have rave reviews of Mayo. I think Jerod gets head coaching interviews at the conclusion of this season. He could opt to stick around if nothing tickles his fancy, but I think we only see Mayo on the New England sideline for one additional season after this year at most before he gets his shot.

Bill O’Brien / Brian Flores / Joe Judge / Mike Vrabel / Another former assistant from the Patriots system

It is likely that one of the former Patriots assistants is looking for work when Bill is thinking of stepping down. I do not necessarily think that any of them made a drastic impact or were here long enough to be considered a top-level candidate for the future opening. It all depends how their coaching careers develop between now and then but I would not expect any of these names to be the successor.

Other former assistants left off this list for obvious reasons:

Saban – He dies in Tuscaloosa

Romeo Crennel – Too old

Eric Mangini – No chance

Jim Schwartz – No chance

Outside candidates not listed

Always a possibility, but the New England Patriots is a tight knit family from top to bottom. I think for this important of a role they stay within the circle of trust.

Brian Belichick / Steve Belichick

This is where the future lies and is my pick as the most likely succession plan to Bill Belichick. As I stated earlier, the Patriots is a family business. The most likely succession plan with family businesses is to pass them down to the next generation. This will also motivate Bill to keep the franchise in pristine condition before he hands over the keys. Also, this will hinder either son from leaving the Patriots until their Father retires. I believe that Bill wishes he could have coached alongside his own father, also named Steve Belichick, but is now getting to live out a different side of that dream by coaching alongside both of his sons.

Steve will be the head coach due to his experience and high praise from Patriots defenders. The oldest son will get the reigns while Brian transitions to a co-head coaching role or coordinator position. The two will work in tandem in an attempt to create the next Patriots dynasty.

Bill does not strike me as the type to sit on the beaches of Florida for 10 months out of the year sipping daiquiris and enjoying retirement. The man quite literally eats and breathes football. He needs football just as much as football needs him. I fully expect him to be around the Patriots for 3 to 5 more years before he retires.

Patriots Roster: So Many Questions, So Few Answers!

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(Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

As we count down the days to training camp we wait to see who, what and maybe. 

At the moment, we know only a little, really just who was signed and who has formally requested to be traded – I think that’s a new one. 

There are just so many questions to be answered, and many might not be answered until the end of August. 

There are lots of “good chances”. There’s a good chance Cam Newton is the starting quarterback, there’s a good chance Stephon Gilmore reworks his contract. I hope! 

But who makes that 53 man roster? 

How many running backs do they take with them? Will the drafted rookie be used or will he end up as a common Patriot running back with a redshirt year? Who will be the wide receivers? And with the two tight end sets they have might it even matter? Do they bring in another wide receiver, do they even trade N’Keal Harry, or will he play, or even be benched?

What does the o-line look like, just how strong is that defense? On paper both look pretty darn great. 

Will the Patriots have two kickers? (Okay, this last one is mildly crazy, but have you seen the kid’s leg? Boom!) And I find this fascinating, is it feasible to have two kickers on a 53 man roster? 

Common answer would be no. 

The most logical answer is no.

And that’s fair, but I kind of think kickers are underrated. 

The Patriots were spoilt. For 20 years they had a great quarterback. They also had a damn fine kicker for a lot of the time too. 

Then when Stephen Gostkowski took a turn for the worse fans were critical. That’s fair enough, but they say you don’t know how good you’ve got it until it’s gone. (No sh** Sherlock!)

Fortunately, Nick Folk has been solid and consistent. But can he keep it up? He moves into his 14th season in the NFL, and he’s on his 4th team with the Patriots. 

Do they roll the dice on the new kid? The one who can bomb it from 60+ yards… but can he keep it between the sticks? 

There’s just so much, and it’s crazy how the Patriots are into year two ATB (after Tom Brady) and there’s so much more we do not know than year one ATB. 

How great is that though? The fact that the Patriots have depth. I find myself in conversations of who might make the roster and there’s really good players that I just can’t make fit! 

In a few mere weeks we will see some of these kids in action (as such), and then in seven weeks (at the time of writing this) we will know. WE WILL KNOW! 

Ain’t being a football fan fabulous? 

Go Pats! 

A quick dip into the tight endage pool

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(AP Photo/Stew Milne)

Now, I know that you all know I’m a fan of the tight end position. There are even t-shirts to say so (check out our prop shop folks!), and so I wanted to take you all on a bit of a dive into the current Patriots tight end core.

There may not be much going on at the moment but the tight end position is one that has already seen plenty of ‘action’ in free agency and because of that, it is pretty darn stacked right now.

The Patriots are currently holding five tight ends: Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Devin Asiasi, Matt LaCosse, and Troy Fumagalli. One tight end/fullback in Dalton Keene, one defensive end/tight end in Rashod Berry and there is also the fullback Jakob Johnson. Thats more stacked than the shelves of candy corn at halloween, and for me, much sweeter!

But what does it really mean?

When September 12th rolls into town, bringing with it the Miami Dolphins for Thursday night football, will there be many tight ends on the roster?

Firstly, Rashod Berry suited up on the defensive side of the ball in the three games that he played and although he can play tight end, that isn’t really what he is required for in New England.

Jakob Johnson, whilst not a tight end, is under that umbrella and works out with the tight ends. He currently has a ‘roster exemption spot’ and the only true fullback on the Patriots team at the moment. Pretty safe bet that if the Patriots stick with tradition and keep one fullback, Jakob is probably the pick. Don’t get me wrong folks, this is just my opinion, not fact. There’s always the chance that once he has to take up one of the 53, Jakob is let go and the Patriots run with no fullback…

…or they may decide to tag in Dalton Keene. Mr ‘H-back, fullback, tight end’ himself is rather versatile. Unfortunately, the forces working against Dalton are that he sustained a neck injury stifling his progress and his first year within the team did not give him much opportunity to really sparkle. If his injury isn’t an issue, Keene may take up that fullback roster spot.

Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, well these two are the rather expensive shiny new toys that Coach Bill brought in for the team to play with, and at a combined $87.4 million, I reckon their places on the 53 are a rather sure thing, health permitting!

Skipping back to a rookie, and we take a peek at Devin Asiasi. Did he not sparkle in 2020 because he didn’t get chance? Probably. Would he have performed better had he not suffered a family tragedy? Possibly. The kid was targeted only 7 times for 2 receptions. Not exactly a large enough sample size to get a picture from huh? Is 2021 a year he should be out there proving him self? Positively. They do say that tight end is a position that takes years to really mould into but Asiasi was said to be good going into his rookie season and with the depth brought in at free agency on three and four year deals he could do with not taking his sweet time to really shine. Whilst I think it’s unlikely the Patriots cut a third round drafted rookie before he has had chance to prove his worth, it’s not impossible.

Now as a tight end enthusiast it takes some effort for me to discuss the cutting of said players. However, realistic-ness has to win out and whilst I’m guessing Troy Fumagalli; previously of the Denver Broncos, a young talent that may have been held back by missing out on his rookie season due to sports hernia surgery and a stacked positional depth chart, makes the practice squad, there’s still a good chance he is cut. Particularly after training camp.

And because of all of the above I just do not think there is a place left for veteran Matt LaCosse and I do not say that with any detriment or malice towards him. Situation has it that the Patriots hit free agency hard with the two top guys available, and drafted two young ‘uns just his second year with the team… which he then opted out of. It’s just unfortunate that all this works against Matt, and his roster spot looks the least sure of all.

Now this is just my mildly biased tight endage stand point. If my predictions shall we say, pan out, that’s at least three tights ends on the roster with one fullback type player and a tight end on the practice squad, pretty plentiful.

And so as we await the approach of the season, I will be keeping my eye on those tight ends… hey, it is kinda my job after all. Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it…

Go Pats!

Draft value verses draft weight – an Offense Perspective

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Tony Dejak/AP

Okay, so the draft may be long gone, but the weight of that draft may be sitting heavy on some younger players shoulders, and not just from this year.

The expectations on a high draft pick are, as expected, high.

With the way that the draft turned out in 2021 (and I’m pretty sure plenty of years prior) is this really a fair perspective?

I am not knocking Mac Jones, no sir I am not. I’m ready to get behind this guy, and that isn’t because he was drafted 15th overall… although that doesn’t hurt! But my point on this one is he was originally pegged as second round talent. Then the quarterback frenzy began and within mere weeks, he was rocketed to possibly the third overall selection.

Wowzers!

Now okay, he didn’t GO third overall, he went 15th, but he was the fourth quarterback chosen in the top, well… 15!

What about N’Keal Harry?

I think this guy has nations divided! Patriots Nation that is. He was a first round selection… at 32, so like the last one in round one… But I don’t think that the issue at hand here was his actual draft position selection more so the fact that players taken after him have proven to be so very much better.

Now not so little N’Keal hasn’t had the greatest of success what with being 115th overall on the PFF stats for wide receivers in 2020. Eep. Especially when undrafted Jakobi Meyers ranked 25th!

How heavy does that round 1 shirt weigh on Harry’s shoulders? To be honest, there are plenty of other factors, but I want to look at the flip side for minute.

This years New England Patriots final pick in the seventh round was Tre Nixon, also a wide receiver. So has this guy got less to worry about?

Well, put it in perspective, last year a player picked even later than Nixon, chosen 250th overall in the seventh round, this particular tight end was expected by many to fill the HUGE shoes of Rob Gronkowski and be a TE1. A role he wasn’t really skilled enough to fill, but worked as hard as he could to produce.

So don’t get resting on those laurels, Mr 242 Tre Nixon.

Now I’m not just singling out N’Keal here, but the Patriots draft history has been really rather light on high round draft picks, let alone high offensive player choices.

Does their sum of previous parts weigh heavy on the kid’s shoulders too?

Or is this guy just not quite what they thought he was going to be?

Sony Michel was drafted in 2018 at the number 31 spot and I don’t think I would be remiss in saying people were quick to judge too, but he managed to perform really well, mostly. You could add how his college team mate Nick Chubb was picked at number 35 and well, we’ve all seen what that guy can do!

The pondering will be is Harry good, great, in the wrong system, or just a bust? Is this kid being crushed by the weight of the draft? And if so, how heavy is the weight of that number ONE on Mac Jones?

Like everything, time will tell, but as always, it’s fun to find out! Go Pats!

Opponent Crushing Patriots for 2021?

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Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

It’s no secret that the Patriots stocked up in free agency and the draft on some big guys who may be making their way to Foxborough this season.

There’s some talk around town of a bit of bully ball maybe being the Patriots way this season and heck I love it.

Sure the league maybe getting quicker, leaner, but you know what they always say, Bill Belichick plays chess whilst everyone else is playing chequers, or something along those lines.

For starters, fullback is rather an under used position in the NFL now. It doesn’t even exist in some teams, only approximately 14 of the 32 squads regularly line up a fullback, but the Patriots sure do! Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see Dan Vitale play in 2020 with a Covid opt out season, but this guy is a bit of a beast, and I’m pretty sure he could make a couple of holes in a defence to get a running back through, not to mention taking hold of the ball and making himself a bit of space! Fancy a spot of Dan Vitale in 2021? Yes please!

Then, there’s the fact Coach brought back the, well, rather huge Trent Brown. Can you imagine trying to rush the passer and hitting that brick wall of 6 feet 8 inches and 380 pounds!?

So offences may be speedier, how about they go up against some of the newest signings onto the Patriots roster? 6 feet 6 inches, 300 pounds of Henry Anderson as well as 6 feet 3 inches, 311 pounds of Devon Godchaux and thats only naming a few of the defence guys!

I mean heck it doesn’t matter how fast you can run if you’ve got 6 feet 4 inches and 310 pounds of Christian Barmore clinging to you right?

Even the running back the Patriots selected in the draft, Rhamondre Stevenson is 6 feet and 244 pounds, a little bit of Blount force trauma style coming back? Big and solid? Yep, box checked, thank you very much.

I don’t know about you lot but I’m ready to watch my team crush the opponent, literally, figuratively… both? Bring it on… LFG baby!

Fandom – A love affair with passion

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(Staff Photo By Faith Ninivaggi/ Boston Herald/ Media News Group)

Patriots fans are passionate, opinionated, smart and a multitude of things mixed together. Whoever they may be, we are all one, we are all Patriots. 

Free agency is really only a few days of action and we are whipped up into a frenzy of excitement, of what ifs and trepidation, of musings, of mock line ups of who will fit the Patriots way… 

Temperatures rise, minds race and tears flow… and as fans we have a love affair with our team. We agonise, we desire, we hate… the torrent of emotions that we have to go through is crazy, so why do we do it to ourselves?

PASSION

We get attached to a player, only for them to leave or get traded and we holler, we get angry, we shed tears. And the sheer variety of fans opinions of players makes it even worse sometimes.

You adore a guy, he’s your favourite… another fan thinks he’s trash.. HOW DARE THEY?! 

PASSION

We spend hours tolling over lists of college kids, mock draft after mock draft of who we think our team should chose, who we want our team to pick. 

Taking on board piles and piles of information, of statistics, opinion pieces, podcasts, columns, social media posts, we drink it all in unable to quench the flames of curiosity that burn.

PASSION

At the end of the day we all want the same thing; we want our team to win. The team we love.

They suit up in the colours we wear, the jerseys we buy and they take to that field and they fight for us with passion.

It binds us together as a community, we argue with each other, we disagree but we support and we are together, as one, as Patriots fans. We believe, we insist and most of all we never, ever give up.

Stay Passionate Patriots Nation!