The Off-Season of Gronk continues…
(via » Mila Kunis Got Gronk’d Last Night Barstool Sports: Boston)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-off-season-of-gronk-continues-via-mila/
Life on the Roster Bubble: Thoughts from a Former NFL Player | Bleacher Report
Life on the Roster Bubble: Thoughts from a Former NFL Player | Bleacher Report
Really good read from Ryan Riddle, and although it’s a tough quote about BB below it’s worth pointing out how the Pats consistently have undrafted rookies make their team. Did Dane Fletcher, Gary Guyton, Brandon Deaderick, or any of the other UDFAs who not only made the Patriots but contributed feel like “human sled dummies” too? One way or another they overcame it, and I think that speaks to the “it doesn’t matter how you got here” vibe that you hear about so often with Belichick and the Pats.
Regardless, a worthwhile read especially as we close in on training camp, especially if you want a little glimpse into what playing for Mangini was like.
A good friend of mine from college was signed to the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent. I recall stories about how he felt in camp that year. Struggling to handle the feeling of being utterly worthless, cast aside by the coaches and players. He described Patriots head coach Bill Belichick as a major (insert expletive here), as he was treated like a human sled dummy. It became obvious to him that any real opportunity to make the team was too much of a long shot while the bodily damage and torture necessary to see it realized was nowhere near worth it. He left camp after a couple of weeks.
TFB on Call Me Maybe
SI.com: Are you aware that someone this week made a video of you singing Call Me Maybe?
Brady: Someone sent it to me this morning.
SI.com: What did you think?
Brady: I’ve had a lot of ridiculous haircuts. That’s what I realized.
The biggest question in Foxboro will always be what if Tom Brady goes down with an injury? It happened once before and Matt Cassel answered the bell. Teams around the league tell me Brian Hoyer and backup Ryan Mallet could keep this team running for a month. As for the other nine criteria, the Patriots did a masterful job in the offseason. Backups on this team include: WRs Deon Branch, Donte Stallworth, Jabar Gaffney, OLs Robert Gallery, Marcus Cannon, RB Joseph Addai, TE Daniel Fells, DLs Jonathan Fanane, Ron Brace, Gerard Warren, LBs Chandler Jones, Donta Hightower, DBs Raz I Dowling and Will Allen, and core special teamers Julian Edelman, Tony Fiametta, Spencer Larson, and Danny Woodhead who can all play a position well.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-biggest-question-in-foxboro-will-always-be/
Building a better sub defense
Yet another example from Reiss of why nickel is the new base. As you can see from the percentages below the Pats had extra DBs on the field for more than 50% of the snaps against all AFC East rivals, including almost 92% of the time against the Bills.
- Bills – 126 of 137 (91.9 percent)
- Dolphins – 95 of 144 (65.9 percent)
- Jets – 71 of 126 (56.3 percent)
The biggest difference from building a 3-4 base defense and building a nickel is in the front seven, obviously. You can see from the Pats draft approach this year especially that they are getting away from filling the nose tackle/ five technique traditional defensive line positions. Now it’s about getting versatile defensive ends who can stand up against the run, but get after the passer on every down.
The true strength of the Pats defense is of course Vince Wilfork and his ability to dominate inside. I believe the Pats defensive fortunes this year heavily depend on their ability to not only hold up inside against the run but moreso get after the passer, especially on obvious passing down situations.
The Pats struggled at times the last couple years stopping runs against their sub defense, but really the bigger problem was generating that push up the middle. There are quite a few players on the roster now who could fill that role like Jonathan Fanene and Myron Pryor (if healthy), both of whom would be the top choices. But keep an eye out for rookie Justin Francis, who by all beat reporter accounts has looked good in multiple spots.
The Pats cannot afford to have another year of no push up the middle.
When you walk onto this field and it’s lined, and you see the end zones and the numbers, you feel it,” Bruschi said. “You still feel it, like the way you felt walking onto it for game day, just for those first couple steps. Whenever you walked onto it, you always had a mind shift. Mine shifts, but then I shift it back off really quickly because it’s just not that time for me anymore.
Miss you, Tedy…
https://www.patspropaganda.com/when-you-walk-onto-this-field-and-its-lined-and/
After unleashing a prolific two-tight passing game, what do the Patriots do after losing offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien? Go back to the coordinator who helped orchestrate their record passing game in 2007. Along with Josh McDaniels come two of his favorite receivers, Lloyd and Gaffney. On defense, starting with rookies Jones and Hightower, Bill Belichick now has plenty of versatile cogs at his disposal.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/after-unleashing-a-prolific-two-tight-passing/
