PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Down 2 DEs, do you think the Pats employ more of a 3-4, with Ninko and Hightower as outside backers, or stick with 4-3? – @MattMorrison

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Good question, and I think you’re right, especially against a team like the Dolphins where shutting down Reggie Bush will be a big key.

However I think a lot of people tend to get confused about the 3-4 and 4-3. Just because one of the defense stands up doesn’t necessarily mean they’re suddenly in a 3-4. The real 3-4 basically features a 0-technique nose tackle, and two 5-technique over the tackles. We’ve seen a little bit of this in 2012, but more often you’ll see them in a 4-3 and the strong side defensive end might stand up to give him better leverage for setting the edge.

So yes, we’ll see a combination of both this weekend, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see some more of the traditional 3-4 featuring Deaderick/Wilfork/Love or Brace up front and Nink/Hightower at the OLB slots.

I also wonder if we might see Hightower as an interior rusher in place of Cunningham in the sub package.

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Pick up one of our Belichick DO YOUR JOB tees, they make great presents for any Patriots super fan and you won’t find anything like them anywhere else!

https://www.patspropaganda.com/pick-up-one-of-our-belichick-do-your-job-tees/

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The Patriots had this game in hand not only because of their passing game, but because of a hidden battle in which they comfortably got the upper hand. In battling for column inches with the likes of Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker, the Patriots’ running game is always going to come off second best. This season though, the dirty little secret around the Patriots is they have the running game to balance their offense and terrify the rest of the AFC.

Marquee Matchups: The Hidden Battle | ProFootballFocus.com

Good read on the Patriots run game.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-run-game/

Do you think the pats will re-sign welker in the off-season? If it were me, I’d do it in a heartbeat. This guy might be the reason why we haven’t lost more games this season, and the reason why we’ve been close in the games we’ve lost. His offensive value is too high for this team to let go. People point to Edelman to replace him, and while edelman is good, he can never stay healthy!

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Unfortunately I don’t. Not because I don’t want Welker back but because it’s just a long shot that they’d be able to figure out a long term contract this off-season if they couldn’t do it last year. And to franchise him again makes zero sense because you’d in effect be paying him in two years what you didn’t want to pay him over three plus years.

It’s unfortunate but I still think the Patriots will be okay offensively. They’ve been in the top 10 in points scored almost every year Belichick has been here and that was even before Welker. No question he’s a great player and it will be a significant loss to overcome, but the combination of Hernandez, Gronk and Edelman will soften the blow and allow them to continue to have solid receivers who can control the middle of the field.

The offense will evolve again, but they also have a stable of young running backs, including Jeff Demps who is on IR, that could make for an interesting next generation Patriots attack.

There’s no question they’ll have to add some receivers this off-season if Welker does walk away which will be interesting given their difficulties finding guys who Brady can trust.

It will be sad to see Welker go, but the Patriots will be okay.