PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Will the Pats blitz more with Chandler out and when he comes back. Do you like the idea of Donta and Brandon coming through the middle or off the edges together more down the stretch.

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I don’t expect to see them blitz too much more this week at least. Next week against Houston might be a different story. But they must find ways to generate pressure up the middle in Cunningham’s absence so I’m all for using Hightower especially there. Spikes in general is a great run blitzer and they’re starting to move him around a bit more in part to make it harder to attack him in coverage, but also to prevent the run.

I think the Pats know Chandler Jones is a huge key to a Super Bowl run. They needed a lot of luck last year after losing Andre Carter, and they don’t want to be in the same position this year, so they’re taking it slow with him to make sure he’s not going to re-injure himself or make it worse.

If the PATS lose Welker in free agency, who will they target in free agency. What about Talib and his potential replacement. Who do you think will be the pats long term safety besides DMAC.

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I’ve seen some people throw around Danny Amendola’s name as a Welker replacement which seems a little on the nose to me, but I wouldn’t rule it out since McDaniels is familiar with him and he’d come pretty cheap.

I really have no idea on Talib, there’s so much left to see with him. If he flourishes in the coming weeks or seems invisible it will certainly influence how much the Pats will be willing to do to bring him back. We have to wait and see on him.

I like DMAC at safety but I think it still leaves a spot open for at strong safety and for that Tavon Wilson is most intriguing to me. Wilson has fallen down the depth chart a bit since Gregory and Chung have come back and Talib’s been added but I like his size and coverage ability in the slot. Still think we could see a strong safety type added in the off-season, seems like there’s quite a few good safety prospects in the draft that should be available at the bottom of the first round.

1. Let’s say Talib turns out to be the difference maker on defense, and they obviously like Dennard on the outside. Does McCourty become trade bait in the offseason?2. Who are some potential free agents/releases that you’d like to see the Patriots take a shot at in 2013?3. Who are some potential draft picks you’re looking at? – Mike Shea

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1. I think McCourty has solidified himself as a long term piece of the puzzle at safety so I don’t think he’s trade bait. But I also think it’s far from a lock that Talib re-signs with New England. We only have a small sample size on him now, but who knows what the Pats will be thinking with him, how well he really fits in, etc. But yes, Dennard looks like a keeper too. Things are starting to fall into place back there with or without Talib.

2. My biggest priority would be re-signing Sebastian Vollmer. However Marcus Cannon looks like pretty good insurance if Vollmer wants a huge payday. Right Tackles aren’t that hard to find, but I love Vollmer and hope he’s back. As for outside Free Agents who wouldn’t love to see the Pats try to lure Ed Reed to New England. They could certainly use a player like him on the back end, and I’m sure BB would love the chance to coach him. We’ll see if he leaves Baltimore.

3. Getting into some prelim draft stuff this week, but I’m going to be looking closely at the defensive tackle and wide receiver classes most closely.

Bill Belichick Press Conference Transcript

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Bill Belichick Press Conference Transcript

A little defensive X and O nerdery from BB’s presser today. This time on the difference between the Big Nickel and Regular Nickel defenses.

Q: What’s the biggest difference scheme-wise between a big nickel, three safety secondary and a standard situation with a nickel secondary where you have two safeties and multiple corners?

BB: I would say the ability of that fifth defensive back, that third safety vs. the third corner, what the skills of that player are and what you’re playing against.

Q: Do you see less of the big nickel because of the passing games, just as a simple generalization?

BB: Again, I think it depends on the team and it depends on the player. Like the Giants, they really play the third safety. We’ve played it that way with [Patrick] Chung in the past. I think if you have a true third slot receiver, a guy like whoever it is, whether it’s [Wes] Welker or [Davone] Bess or [Jeremy] Kerley or whoever you happen to be playing, then it’s who you want matched up against that guy and what your options are, who you want to put on him. Running game can factor into that. Again, who that player is, sometimes that – like a bigger slot receiver or is it a smaller, quicker guy? Is it 12 personnel, is it two tight ends and that inside receiver is more of a tight end type player. And who are your players, who are you talking about putting on them relative to the matchup? Some teams like to put the same guy in there and do everything with one guy and then there’s continuity to the defense. Other teams like to match up to try to get the player they want matched up against the other team’s guy that he’s going to be facing. It depends, there are a lot of variables.

My question is about the RB position for next year. Ridley and Vareen should be locks. I know that BB seems to like what Bolden offers. But with Demps coming off IR, could we possibly see Danny Woodhead get cut? I would hate to see this, but I dont see us carrying 5 backs. The only other option I can see is cutting Slater and letting Demps be our Special Teams guy. Your thoughts?

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I think there’s room for everyone at least going into camp. Runningback is one of those positions where you’ll often have injuries so there’s no need to try and over-engineer things this off-season.

With the Pats likely to lose Wes Welker their offense will go through another evolution and who knows how all these versatile running backs will come together in that new attack.

Obviously it will be one of the more interesting areas to watch next summer with so many talented guys, but I’d suspect that all have a chance to make the team. And I don’t think Slater is in any way influenced by the running back personnel.