An inside look at Aaron Hernandez’s training regimen – Extra Points – Boston.com
Almost missed this one but it looks like the hard work in the off-season is paying off for Hernando so far in camp. Let’s hope it keeps him healthy too.
Tyrann Mathieu, DeMarcus Ware, and the movement toward hybrid defenders in college football and the NFL – Grantland
Not really a Patriots-centric article but an interesting read for those like me who love Xs and Os and the ever-evolving nature of football schematics.
Only time will tell if football has permanently changed – Grantland
Only time will tell if football has permanently changed – Grantland
Great read about the impact of Tight Ends on the game and their sustainability.
These organizations end up staying behind the curve by trying to keep up with what the Patriots were just doing. They’re focusing on the wrong thing. The Patriots went after their star tight ends because they were both undervalued assets on draft day; Gronkowski declared for the draft after missing his entire junior year with that back injury, and Hernandez had a reputation as a stoner. The Patriots then modified their offense to play to their young talents’ strengths, and by 2011, they were golden. The lesson to learn there, NFL organizations, is not to go out and acquire two tight ends! It’s to identify undervalued asset types, integrate them into your organization appropriately, and continue to stay ahead of the curve.4 If you want to run your team like the Patriots, you don’t steal what the Patriots are doing now. You steal what the Patriots are going to do next.
The two offensive linemen I like watching the most are Thomas and Ryan Wendell. Yes, Thomas went 0-2, but almost all of his battles are prolonged and he relishes the battles. Wendell just keep getting better and better. On the short side, Wendell does a great job with leverage and holds his own against powerful guys like Kyle Love.
Practice rundown #15 – Extra Points – Boston.com
Two names to keep an eye that have been popping up more and more this camp are Thomas and Wendell. The O-line will have a new look to it this year without Matt Light, and there’s still a chance that Mankins-Waters-Vollmer are all back, but it’s good to hear about some new o-linemen rising to the opportunity.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-two-offensive-linemen-i-like-watching-the-most/
A little Football 101 with Nick Saban | The Daily Bama Blog
A little Football 101 with Nick Saban | The Daily Bama Blog
In case you missed the Nick Saban video from yesterday here’s a transcript describing what make good “star” and “money” defensive backs. Star is your traditional nickel or slot corner, Money is your traditional dime back or sixth defensive back. Looks this year like Tavon Wilson could be the Pats Money back.
“You can be a really good star and not have the long-speed to be a good corner — long-speed being that if a guy runs a take off on you, you have to run and not get out run when the ball is in the air,” Saban said. “If you have really good quickness and cover ability, the slot guy has a hard time beating you in that position because he’s closer to the safeties, he’s closer to the middle of the field. So, a good tackler, a good blitzer, a good cover guy on a slot player, which is different than a good cover guy on an outside player.
“The money guy has got to have some linebacker characteristics, in terms of the run. It helps that the guy’s a little bit bigger and physical because sometimes he has to cover a tight end, which is a bigger guy. But he also, unless you change personnel, has to be good enough to do the same things that the star does.”
Not sure if it’s due to the return of Josh McDaniels, but the Patriots have run a variation of trick plays in camp.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/not-sure-if-its-due-to-the-return-of-josh/