The sub-package pass rushing role will likely come down to Joe Vellano, A.J. Francis, Jake Bequette and Michael Buchanan. Vellano is the only player we’ve seen this summer playing at the three-technique defensive tackle spot, but for the past two years Bill Belichick has used a defensive end. Jermaine Cunningham, Marcus Benard and Justin Francis all played the position this summer. All three guys are gone.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-sub-package-pass-rushing-role-will-likely-come/
A.J. Francis Has Former Maryland Teammate Joe Vellano to Lean on, Answer Questions in Transition to Patriots | NESN.com
Good write-up from Doug Kyed on the Terp Twins. Going to very interesting to see how much they play this weekend and where.
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.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/q-what-will-be-some-of-your-biggest-challenges/
10 Bold Predictions for the New England Patriots 2013 Season | Erik Frenz
10 Bold Predictions for the New England Patriots 2013 Season | Erik Frenz
I LOVE these predictions from Frenz. Except 11-5, that’s so wrong, they’ll be 12-4. Probably.
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?
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
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.