PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

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During the offseason at one point I had to go back and watch a couple games from 2010. What struck me was how terrific Brady was that season, even before considering all the changes he had to deal with. His tempo and accuracy was off the charts in 2010. Man he was good that season. And then it made me realize that he wasn’t quite as good in 2011. Now, I’m sure the elbow injury factored into a lot of that, but I came away with the question, “Can we ever expect Brady to be that good again?” I’m not sure of the answer. Not sure he has to be that good for this team to win it all if the defense and his receiving options are better. I still believe Brady is right behind Rodgers in terms of rankings – yes, ahead of Brees – and I’m going with the though that he’s going to have to prove to me that he’s on the decline until I actually believe it. I expect him to be sensational this season. Maybe not quite as good as 2010.

Football chat with Greg A. Bedard – Extra Points – Boston.com

Just one of many great nuggets in this chat. Let’s throw this one in here too:

I don’t think the Patriots are going for it this year because of Brady’s closing window – it’s because Belichick is sick of the seven-year title drought. I have as much reason to believe that Belichick is more worried about winning after Brady than before TB retires. The last thing Belichick wants is for TB to retire and then the team go in the tank. Everyone would give all the credit to Brady.


Thank you! Nothing kills me more than the yearly “the Patriots are really going for it this year” or “the Patriots aren’t messing around any more”. Look, Belichick is “really going for it” every year. In fact, every moment of even the off-season.

And I totally agree that Belichick has a very good chance at sticking around beyond Brady to match how the 49ers did it with Montana and Young. He’s spoken admirably of that in the past.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/during-the-offseason-at-one-point-i-had-to-go-back/

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It’s clear that after speaking with special teams coach Scott O’Brien during minicamp, the Patriots weren’t thrilled with their return game last year. So they’re doing their due diligence when it comes to examining their options. Woodhead was the closest thing New England had to a regular kick returner last year, fielding 20 of the 46 kickoffs, while Edelman handled 28 of the 38 punts that came the Patriots’ way. (Last year, Edelman also fielded 12 kicks and Ridley seven, while Welker also handled eight punts.) But several different players worked at both spots throughout the spring, including the two incumbents as well as Stallworth, McCourty and Patrick Chung.

patriots – Battle Royal: The five best fights for playing time on the Patriots’ roster – WEEI | Christopher Price

The two returner spots are one of the most unmentioned camp battles of all. One wild card… Shane Vereen.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/its-clear-that-after-speaking-with-special-teams/

New York Jets Ready to Compete With Patriots Again: Enemy Week | NEPatriotsDraft.com

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New York Jets Ready to Compete With Patriots Again: Enemy Week | NEPatriotsDraft.com

So let’s run down these points with some counter points:

1. Quinton Coples – maybe he is the next coming of Justin Tuck, but he’s a rookie and rookies who can transform a pass rush are rare.

2. No More Eric Smith – Or Jim Leonhard for that matter. Not out of the question that Landry could be a good anti-Gronk, but he’s still not healthy and hasn’t proven he can stay healthy. Yeremiah Bell could be helpful here too, but again saying they can stop Gronk and actually doing it are two very different things.

3. Brandon Lloyd will have minimal impact – Sure, if you put Revis on him the whole game, but it’s the trickle down effect that’s going to hurt because now you’ve got Cromartie and Wilson on Welker and Gaffney which are mismatches that favor the Patriots. There’s no other way to slice it, a legit X-receiver for New England makes things harder for a man to man team like the Jets.

Stephen Hill’s Downfield Threat – Hill was seen as extremely raw coming out this year, and assuming that he instantly has an impact, and that Mark Sanchez can develop the pocket presence and chemistry to make those deep throws is a bit of stretch.

Jeff Otah – again, not healthy.

Dedication to the running game – it takes more than dedication, it takes players to execute, and I’m not sure Shaun Green and whoever else are those players.

There’s no question that Coples, Landry, Bell, Otah and Hill could become significant impact players for the Jets and that would improve their team by leaps and bounds, but counting on all their rookies to make an impact and all their banged up guys to get and stay healthy is an extremely optimistic outlook.

But hey, maybe all our rookies and injured guys will be great this year too and then we’ll really be talking about some epic battles.

Top position battles we’ll be watching – Extra Points – Boston.com

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Top position battles we’ll be watching – Extra Points – Boston.com

Let’s add some lesser battles we’re intrigued by…

1. Carpenter vs. Hightower vs. Spikes vs. Fletcher for who stays on the field next to Mayo in clear passing situations, i.e. your 4-2-5 nickel.

2. Fanene vs. Pryor (PUP) vs. Francis for interior pass rusher. Maybe even throw Forston in here as a wild card. Pryor has to get healthy, but if he somehow has a healthy season in him this year I think the defense will be immediately improved.

3. Woodhead vs. Vereen for primary third down running back duty. Woodhead has to be the favorite to start, but Vereen might have the higher ceiling.

Patriots Camp Watch – AFC East Blog – ESPN

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Patriots Camp Watch – AFC East Blog – ESPN

The New England Patriots will have a younger, more athletic defense in training camp. The Patriots were 31st last year in total defense. It’s questionable how much this group improved, but the Patriots certainly will be faster. Additions in the draft such as first-rounders Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower help. Patriots coach Bill Belichick needs to find the right balance for his defense right now. This is a team that did not cover well and had issues at times rushing the passer. The combination made it rough for the Patriots to keep opponents from racking up yards. They did several things in minicamp to mix it up defensively and find the right combination. That will continue in training camp.