Gronk and Hernando, 2-gether 4-eva.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/gronk-and-hernando-2-gether-4-eva/
RT Marcus Cannon (½ sack, one stuffed run) played very well. Probably the most important thing was the fight we saw. He really got after it. Cannon wasn’t exactly facing Lawrence Taylor, but it was a job well done.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/rt-marcus-cannon-%c2%bd-sack-one-stuffed-run-played/
Game breakdown: Bucs 30, Patriots 28 – Extra Points – Boston.com
Game breakdown: Bucs 30, Patriots 28 – Extra Points – Boston.com
Great stuff from Bedard, the most thorough breakdown you’ll find.
I really found it interesting how the Bucs were throwing so much disguised blitzes, ones that the Patriots can be sure to see from teams like the Jets. These can be some of the toughest plays for the o-line to block, so it was almost like Greg Schiano was doing us a favor to get us ready. The Patriots don’t show anything in the preseason so it is a little strange for a team to be advertising their blitz concepts already. So, the line really didn’t do too badly. From Bedard:
This unit was far better than it appeared on television, especially when you consider they had to handle nine blitzes, including four with six rushers and one with seven. Only eight of the 11 total QB pressures (sacks, hurries and knockdowns combined) were on the line.
Aaron Hernandez and Patriots agree to a 5-yr contract extension
In a move that I really didn’t anticipate the Pats and Hernando have agreed to a 5-year extension on top of his rookie deal locking him up in New England through the 2018 season.
A lot of Pats fans have been expressing concern that this means bad things for the chances of Welker still getting an extension but I think it’s too early to worry about that.
Things with Welker are going one of two ways after this season.
Either he’ll have another monster year, gain enough leverage for an expensive three year deal and walk. Or he’ll have a down year giving some leverage back to the Pats and maybe opening up some middle ground where they can secure him for a couple more seasons.
Personally I’m just going to enjoy watching Welker this year, because regardless of this extension for Hernandez, it’s likely his last in a Patriots uniform.
But the important thing is that Hernando and Gronk are going to be Patriots through the primes of their careers, and possibly through the Brady transition. There’s no question these two versatile pieces will give opposing defenses a lot to worry about in the coming years, especially in the middle of the field.
The two are such complimentary pieces and they should continue to help each other gain favorable match-ups. Now if we can just find a young outside wide receiver we should be really set for a long time.
Long-term agreement with TE Aaron Hernandez is through 2018 season, per source. Gronkowski extension was thru 2019.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 27, 2012
Hernando should have plenty of more ammo to “make it rain” now.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-hernandez-extension/
Anybody else notice Brady’s body language when Shane Vereen limped off the field near the end of the second quarter. Basically it was, “Again?
https://www.patspropaganda.com/anybody-else-notice-bradys-body-language-when/
Snaps: Jones quickly part of core – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston
Snaps: Jones quickly part of core – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston
Love me the defensive snap posts from Reiss…
The Patriots gave starting linebackers Brandon Spikes (middle), Dont’a Hightower (strong) and Jerod Mayo (weak) a chance for extended work as they were the only linebackers to play in the first half. The trio played together into the end of the third quarter as this was a signature aspect of the team’s defensive approach – an extended chance to look at this impressive starting trio.