PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

ReFo: Ravens @ Patriots, AFC Championship | ProFootballFocus.com

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ReFo: Ravens @ Patriots, AFC Championship | ProFootballFocus.com

One of the more underrated parts of the Brady and Patriot legacy has been how good the offensive line has always been, as it’s rarely an issue and usually protecting their man extremely well. Brady felt pressure on 17 snaps, but only 10 of those came from the O-line, and the pressure was almost always a long time in coming. On one occasion late in the game Haloti Ngata badly beat Logan Mankins ( 3.8) to the inside to notch a hit but that was about as bad as it got. Sadly for Patriots fans though the excellent work from the line went unrewarded. The starting five combined for a PFF grade of 15.4 and only Dan Connolly let the side down with a -0.3 grade from some disastrous run blocking, but he had a perfect day in pass protection.

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In the 6-foot-5, 300-pound Armstead, an NFL team will be getting the equivalent of a high draft pick months before the April draft. The 22-year-old former USC standout went to Canada to prove he was healthy enough to play football again after suffering a heart attack, the subject of a lawsuit against the school in which Armstead alleges the attack was brought on by painkillers.

Armond Armstead, formerly of Toronto Argonauts, on NFL teams’ radar – sources – ESPN

Patriots just signed him. Hey look, a little offseason good news to help turn the page. He’s just what the Patriots needed this oddseason and they’ve already got one piece in place.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/in-the-6-foot-5-300-pound-armstead-an-nfl-team/

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As long as the Patriots are fixing their pass defense, they could stand to patch up their pass offense as well. New England scored the most points in the league this year, but they did it with efficiency, not explosiveness. The Patriots simply didn’t have any receivers who could reliably make plays downfield. Counting defensive pass interfence calls as completions, Tom Brady was only successful on 35 percent of his deep passes (balls that traveled more than 15 yards in the air past the line of scrimmage) in 2012. There were 32 quarterbacks with at least 50 deep passes this season, and only two (Cleveland’s Brandon Weeden and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger) were less accurate with the long ball. Wes Welker (assuming he re-signs), Brandon Lloyd and Deion Branch will be a combined 98 years old next season. It’s time for the Patriots to find some fresh legs and stretch the field.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Conf. Championship Quick Reads

https://www.patspropaganda.com/as-long-as-the-patriots-are-fixing-their-pass/

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Conf. Championship Quick Reads

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FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Conf. Championship Quick Reads

The Patriots, realizing that Talib would not be returning, and cognizant of the way Baltimore’s Torrey Smith had torched Denver’s Champ Bailey one week prior, switched to a very conservative zone scheme that left the middle of the field wide-open. The Ravens, meanwhile, were well aware that Talib was out of the picture, and they opened the playbook and put the game in Flacco’s hands. In the first half, the Ravens had more runs (14) than passing plays (13), but they opened the second half with 25 passes and eight runs before adding 11 runs (and no passes) on their last two clock-killing drives. New England’s strategy slowed Flacco down, but they couldn’t keep him out of the end zone. He only averaged 10.6 yards per completion after halftime, but he also threw touchdowns on three straight drives. The first step for the Patriots is re-signing Talib in free agency, but even if they get that done, it’s not enough. As more and more teams use three wide receivers in their base offense, it’s going to be critical that teams have at least three starting-caliber cornerbacks on their roster.

Hard to see a scenario where Aqib Talib sticks around – WEEI | Christopher Price

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Hard to see a scenario where Aqib Talib sticks around – WEEI | Christopher Price

After Welker, Talib will be the second major piece of free agency.

Regardless of the long-term ramifications of the injury, Talib certainly has bargaining power, particularly when it comes to the Patriots. He was able to shore up a sagging secondary, and provide a competitive presence at corner, one New England has been lacking for the better part of the last couple of years. Talib just wrapped up the final year of a five-year, $14 million contract he signed as a rookie, and traditionally, players consider themselves lucky to sign three deals over the course of their careers: Their rookie contract, where they make their name; their second one, where they make their money; and third; where they make their legacy. And with the list of available free-agent corners, frankly, this is as good a time as any for Talib to cash in.

It Is What It Is » Four forgotten players who could have a sizable role in 2013 for Patriots

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It Is What It Is » Four forgotten players who could have a sizable role in 2013 for Patriots

All four of the guys mentioned could have a big impact next year. Fletcher could really help out in coverage, while Demps could bring some explosiveness to the kick return game again. We’ll all be holding our breath for Ras-I to stay healthy again as well.

But perhaps most impactful, especially against physical teams like the Ravens and 49ers that the Pats couldn’t beat this year is:

Tight end Jake Ballard: Hey, another tight end. Why not? The 25-year-old Ballard, who suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in Super Bowl XLVI against the Patriots while playing for New York, was acquired this past summer by the Patriots (he was signed off waivers from the Giants, much to the consternation of New York coach Tom Coughlin). Undrafted out of Ohio State in 2010, he turned himself into a effective downfield threat in 2011 with the Giants (38 receptions for 604 yards and four touchdowns), and could provide the same sort of presence in 2013 with the Patriots. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound Ballard compares with Rob Gronkowski in his bulk and his overall playing style, and the idea of deploying a three-tight end set with Ballard, Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez would be an intriguing matchup problem for opposing defensive coordinators. Figures to weigh heavily in the Patriots’ plans for 2013.

2013 NFL playoffs — New England Patriots show common threads in playoff losses – ESPN Boston

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2013 NFL playoffs — New England Patriots show common threads in playoff losses – ESPN Boston

Common threads, anyone? The three that stand out are not meeting the physical match, poor clutch play and a defense that might keep the game close, but doesn’t deliver the plays to win it. When it comes to physicality, it showed up most Sunday inside the red zone, where the Patriots scored one touchdown in four trips and the Ravens scored four touchdowns in four trips, which Belichick cited as a key to the game. When the space gets tight, it makes sense that the more powerful team often wins. And the Bernard Pollard hit that knocked out running back Stevan Ridley, dislodging the ball from his grasp, highlighted which team was playing with more force.