PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

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Gronkowski was seen doing agility drills with a trainer for the first time all training camp, and looked smooth and relatively healthy as he returns from back surgery. Gronkowski, wearing shorts and a T-shirt, ran short sprints forward, backward, and sideways inside a group of cones, and also caught and threw passes with his trainer. Gronkowski had surgery June 18 to repair a herniated disk, and it is unclear when he will be ready to play in the regular season. The rehab for his surgery is generally about 12 weeks, which puts a potential return date right around the season opener. Gronkowski reportedly is unlikely to play early in the season — after facing the Bills, the Patriots’ second game is against the Jets on a short week — but he could potentially be ready to play in Week 3 against the Buccaneers on Sept. 22.

Danny Amendola returns to practice; Rob Gronkowski looks good in workout – Sports – The Boston Globe

https://www.patspropaganda.com/gronkowski-was-seen-doing-agility-drills-with-a/

10 Pats Things I Think…

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I realize I’m no Peter King, but I’ve got about 10 Pats things to share so I’m stealing his format. It won’t be the first time, nor will it be the last.

  1. Still don’t think Tebow makes the team. They need him for Thursday night, but this team is all about value and I don’t see much value in Tebow at this point.
  2. I see Leon Washington as a lock given Vereen’s injury history and his explosiveness in the return game. Reliable veteran insurance at RB/KR/PR? Yes please.
  3. Wondering if the lack of offensive line depth factors into James Develin having a shot as a FB to make the roster. Do you really want to use an OL at FB on the goalline if he’s backing up three different positions?
  4. I do think Adrian Wilson could get cut, I really do. The question is how Harmon and Tavon have looked in practice in the money role. Even if Adrian makes it I am not sure he plays anything but dime linebacker.
  5. I am now obligated by the rules of this blog established over the last three-plus years to mention my crush on Tommy Kelly. Unlike past player crushes like Patchung!, this one should work out. I hope.
  6. Joe Vellano has played well in preseason, holding up surprisingly well against double teams and getting some push, but I still think he’s a Rudy-type and will likely end up on the practice squad.
  7. I really liked what I saw out of Brandon Bolden before he fumbled against the Lions, and remain a fan of his. Just love how he runs and if Ridley were to go down, Bolden would still be my next option in line.
  8. My starting weapons vs. Bills/Jets: Amendola-Thompkins-Ballard-Sudfeld-Ridley, with Dobson and Edelman rotating in. If Fells gets healthy I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in there over Sudfeld.
  9. My starting secondary: Talib-Arrington, McCourty-Gregory. Ryan comes on in nickel, Arrington slides inside. Adrian Wilson comes on in dime, playing linebacker with Mayo.
  10. This might surprise people, given the Patriots uber-blogger that I am, but I get far more enjoyment out of football when the Jets and Bills are good. All these injuries and disfunction going on now is not that enjoyable for me.

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That’s one thing I feel like that sets me apart from other guys,” Hightower said about his versatility. “Aside from being my size and me being able to move as well as I do, versatility — being able to play outside, playing the defensive end or playing the mike backer. Being able to cover some of the other guys I wouldn’t be expected to. I try to use all of that to my advantage.

Dont’a Hightower Says He Knows Patriots Playbook ‘About 20 Times Better’ This Year As He Takes on More Responsibiliy | New England Patriots | NESN.com

https://www.patspropaganda.com/thats-one-thing-i-feel-like-that-sets-me-apart/

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Opening day is always a hard game to prepare for, no matter who it is because you either don’t have any history or you have a lot of history, more than you need. You have to try to figure out what that balance is. I think that most teams that go to training camp and spend the weeks in training camp, the weeks in the preseason games, you’re certainly going to see some of that on opening day. A team isn’t going to come in there and not do anything they worked on all year on opening day and have a whole new scheme. But I’m sure everybody has some wrinkles, has some things that they’re holding back, has some changes that they haven’t shown that you have to be ready for and that’s part of opening day. We’ll have them, I’m sure Buffalo will have them and we’ll see how it all turns out and then things will start to settle in a little after that but that’s part of opening day.

Bill Belichick Press Conference Transcript

https://www.patspropaganda.com/opening-day-is-always-a-hard-game-to-prepare-for/

All hands on deck for Pats’ final week of prep

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Good news this morning as everyone (left on the roster) was at practice today and in uniform, except for Gronk, who was working out hard on the field next to practice.

So the headline guys have to Amendola (we were never worred), Cunningham (first time he’s been seen in weeks) and of course our old friend Ras-I Dowling who has seemingly gotten healthy just in time to get hurt in the final preseason game. I kid. Kinda.

Most projections still have Cunningham and Dowling making the team given the lack of experienced depth at defensive end and cornerback. But we all know that Belichick might just be ready to blow them both up at this point. Both will need to have good games on Thursday to cement their place, no easy task after being hurt for most of August.

Things are starting to come together. Can anyone else smell fall football weather in the air? It’s coming…

Patriots make a series of roster moves

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Patriots make a series of roster moves

And so it begins… The next six days will obviously be fascinating, and really the game might be one of the least interesting parts. This is prime Patriots bombshell time, so hold on to your seats, who knows what the team will look like one week from today.

[T]he Patriots released first-year WR Kamar Aiken, rookie CB Brandon Jones, nine-year veteran LB Niko Koutouvides, second-year CB LeQuan Lewis and rookie LS Mike Zupancic. The Patriots also placed rookie DL Cory Grissom and second-year T Markus Zusevics on injured reserve, and placed first-year DL Armond Armstead and rookie WR Mark Harrison on the reserve/non-football injury list.

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The youngster again ran sharp, precise routes executing flawlessly on designed sideline outs, streaks and posts across the middle. Most impressively, he humiliated corners Chris Houston and Darius Slay off the line, hitting the juke button to beat press coverage. It can’t be overstated, the kid has not only locked down the ‘X’ role in an explosive offense, he possibly could emerge as the most coveted rookie, regardless of position, this season.

Preseason Week 3 Flames/Lames: Meet Kenbrell Thompkins, the reason you will win your league | Roto Arcade – Yahoo! Sports

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-youngster-again-ran-sharp-precise-routes/