PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

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Q: What will be some of your biggest challenges and how will you overcome them given that you are missing some of your familiar security blankets?

TB: Well there are always challenges to determine really what kind of team you are going to be. Like I said, the mental toughness, the work ethic, the core principles and fundamentals of the game have not been tested under game conditions. They’ve been tested in preseason, in practice and workouts, but nothing is like the games. Especially when there are 70,000 people in the stands, they’re televised and there are millions of people watching on TV. That’s where you see the best of the best. That’s what it is all about. We all are excited to see where we are at. There is obviously a lot of room for improvement, and hopefully we’ll try to improve throughout the course of the season. That’s what it takes to be a successful team in the NFL.

Tom Brady Conference Call Transcript

https://www.patspropaganda.com/q-what-will-be-some-of-your-biggest-challenges/

Amendola was limited in practice because of a groin injury. Should we be concerned because he was already held out of practice and some off he preseason because of an undisclosed injury and now this?

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Well they’re likely the same thing, but I’m not worried. By this point just about everybody has some kind of bump or bruise and they’re just trying to manage him, and protect him. If it was a hamstring I might be a little concerned, those can tend to linger, but for a groin I expect he’ll be fine and it shouldn’t be an issue within a couple weeks.

Bill Belichick Press Conference Transcript

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Bill Belichick Press Conference Transcript

Here’s an interesting bit from today. I always think development and experience in the system is underrated when judging how much a player, or unit, can improve in an offseason.

Q: From last season to this season, what have you seen from Steve Gregory that you feel has improved?

BB: Steve has been a pretty solid guy for us, all the way through on defense and in the kicking game. Smart, very well-prepared, instinctive player. I think the biggest thing for him is it’s another year in the system, another year of working with his teammates – linebackers, communication, with the safeties, that communication, corners. I think he understands everything we do and he has a great handle on it. A lot of things he’s done before in his career. I think it’s just the communication, the timing, the execution, disguises, reads, all those things with his teammates. I think the improvement is more with the group. I think individually he has a good handle on things.

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The big matchup for me is the Patriots secondary against a new quarterback in EJ Manuel. Can they mix up enough looks to confuse a young QB? Can they contain him defensively and not let him out of pocket? The Bills offensive line vs. the Patriots defensive line will be a big matchup. Buffalo has to protect their young quarterback when he has to throw because speed of the game changes from preseason to regular season. They need make the kid see ghosts and be uncomfortable.

patriots – One Scout’s Breakdown of Patriots-Bills: New England faces challenge of unknown – WEEI | Christopher Price

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-big-matchup-for-me-is-the-patriots-secondary/

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There are a lot of things I’ve done this year that I’ve never done in the past, so it’s been new for me, in terms of the learning, the meetings, the extra time spent,” Brady relayed, adding that it’s been good for him. “It’s a different situation that we’ve been in here, so there’s a ‘new-ness’ to that. There is a ‘new-ness’ in the teaching and the learning and the work we’ve done over the course of the years.” Brady then explained how he’ll hold the video clicker as he goes through plays with the team’s receivers in the meeting room. “You’re going over play after play after play, you can go through 70-80 plays, and when you’re holding the clicker, you just keep teaching,” he said. “It’s good to see it from the other side, from the coaching … I’m not a coach, I’m a player, but there’s teaching of things I see and we’re trying to get on the same page.

Tom Brady adjusting to new role as teacher – ESPN Boston

Had a feeling the young new WRs might invigorate Brady…

https://www.patspropaganda.com/there-are-a-lot-of-things-ive-done-this-year/

What the Patriots need to do to make the Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium

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In case you haven’t heard, Super Bowl 48 will be at MetLife Stadium in New York this year. That’s right, New York. In February.

Some may complain about how bad the weather might possibly be, but the frigid temperatures really do favor a team used to playing in those conditions like the Patriots.

What will the Pats need to do to get on the Road to MetLife Stadium and stay on it until the confetti falls? Here are three simple things that will need to happen this season.

1. Protect Tom Brady – It’s really quite simple, when Brady has time, he’s going to find the open receiver. Over the past decade, the Pats’ offensive line has been among the best in the NFL, but there is always a game or two per season that they’re off and the offense struggles to move the ball. The most unfortunate incidence of this was against the Jets in the 2010 AFC Divisional game. Brady was getting hit, began “seeing ghosts” and the Pats season came to an abrupt halt. WIth their full o-line returning intact, it should be a team strength, and Brady and the offense should reap the rewards.

2. Pass Rush. Pass Rush. Pass Rush. – No matter what problems your defense has, they can all be solved, or at least hidden, by a solid pass rush. The three main focal points for the Pats will be Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich and Tommy Kelly, who will all be three-down players in the Pats defense. Pass rush isn’t just a third-and-long thing, it’s an every down thing, and that’s where that threesome can make their biggest impact. No matter what happens in the secondary, the pass rush must bring the heat this season.

3. Get (and stay) Healthy – The ultimate unknown every season is health. You look at the Pats’ teams in year’s past that have made it to the Super Bowl and they’ve stayed pretty healthy for the most part. Of course, you’ll always have to overcome injuries like Ty Law (2004), Rosevelt Colvin (2007) and Andre Carter (2011), but the less the better. It’s impossible to know what the football gods have in store for the Pats as far as who gets dinged, but if they can get enter the playoffs with Rob Gronkowski fully healthy and maybe add Armond Armstead along the way, they should be primed for a run to MetLife Stadium.

Disclaimer – I am currently a member of the Road to MetLife Stadium Preferred Blogger Program and this post is part of my involvement. While MetLife provides me material and necessary resources to complete various activities, all statements and sentiment on PatsPropaganda are my own. And don’t worry, they’ll be giving me some Pats swag to give away!