PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

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Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski should be OK to participate in the majority of offseason workout programs. Noted sports injury expert Will Carroll of SI.com said there’s reason to believe New England is looking at a four-to-six week recovery time for their big tight end, which should allow him to be ready by mid-April and the start of offseason minicamps. “He just had it cleaned out, from what I understand,” Carroll said. “I think that the fact they just went in and cleaned it out is a big positive. He’s got plenty of time to get back, even if it had been more serious.”

It Is What It Is » Carroll: Gronkowski looking at a four-to-six week recovery time after ankle surgery

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-tight-end-rob-gronkowski-should-be-ok-to/

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And then Mark Anderson used his finishing move to kill Sanchez…

https://www.patspropaganda.com/and-then-mark-anderson-used-his-finishing-move-to/

Top 5 Patriots who need monster off-seasons

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Much will be made over the coming weeks of which free agents and draftees the Patriots should go after, but what about the guys already on the roster? One of the always underestimated elements of change over an off-season is the improvement  of players who are already in the pipeline.

Here are my top five Patriots that I think the team most needs to make a jump.

1. Ras-I Dowling – Ras-I missed most of training camp yet suddenly played 67 of 77 snaps versus the Dolphins in the opener. No other player has the potential to positively impact the Patriots defense like Dowling does. He’s got the size they desperately need and apparently the skills to lock down one of the outside corner spots, which could allow Kyle Arrington into his more natural fit in the slot.

2. Markell Carter – Carter won 7 of 13 possible black jerseys this year as practice player of the week, while also adding over 16 pounds of mass since joining the Patriots, going from 252 to 268 pounds. While Jermaine Cunningham cannot be overlooked, Carter could very well be an impact player in 2012 with a full off-season. It looks like he has the size to play in the 4-3 or 3-4 and his development could very well factor into Andre Carter’s potential return.

3. Marcus Cannon – With a full off-season to complete his cancer recovery I’d love to see a big jump out of Cannon. Just the fact that he contributed like he did this year (9 games total, including 77 snaps against the Dolphins in December) is an incredibly positive sign. The real question is where Cannon projects long term. If he can go to right guard he should jump instantly into the mix with Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell if Brian Waters doesn’t return. And if he remains a tackle we saw this year you can never have too many of them. 

4.  Shane Vereen – Vereen only played 26 snaps in his rookie year, but flashed some explosiveness, especially against the Chiefs. The Pats had the luxury of bringing him along slowly after he battled a hamstring injury for a good chunk of the year. While Stevan Ridley should continue to increase his role despite late season fumbles, it’s Vereen who is the real wild card. Let’s not forget he was the higher rated prospect and was drafted before Ridley. Vereen is explosive and if he can translate that explosiveness in the NFL he’ll bring an added dimension to the Patriots offense that is badly needed.

5. Dane Fletcher – one of the great questions of the Super Bowl for me is why Tracy White was playing over Fletcher when the Pats went with their “fast nickel” package. White had barely seen the field once Spikes and Fletcher returned, including 0 snaps compared to Fletcher’s 10 in the AFCCG. With Gary Guyton likely gone this off-season Fletcher looks like he’ll be the primary back up inside linebacker to Spikes and Mayo, with a specialty in pass coverage. Barring the addition of a veteran I’d expect Fletcher to be significant part of the defense, and he’ll need to be in peak condition so that he can stay healthy. The thumb injury that plagued him all season can finally heal and Fletcher can continue his development.

Honorable Mention

Julian Edelman – continued development as Welker insurance at WR, and as a return specialist.

Jermaine Cunningham – 2011 was a lost year for Cunningham, he was battling injury all season long. If he returns to health I think he will again be a considerable factor on defense due to her toughness and versatility.

Devin McCourty – McCourty needs the off-season to get back on track physically and mentally. I expect him to show 2011 was nothing more than a sophomore slump.

Ron Brace – Brace needs to dominate this training camp from start to finish or else he’s probably looking for work somewhere else. He’s shown flashes but it will truly be now or never in 2012.

Super Bowl Hangover Pt. 2: From Bradying to Welker | Cold Hard Football Facts

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Super Bowl Hangover Pt. 2: From Bradying to Welker | Cold Hard Football Facts

Some of us might not like what this epic article from Scott Kacsmar has to say, but to ignore the numbers he lays out would be foolish. This whole thing is loaded with interesting and pertinent stats, leaving us with one thought…

Maybe it isn’t the Patriots inability to develop field stretching, outside X-receivers that’s been the problem, maybe it’s just that the deep ball is not (and has never been) Brady’s strength.

And please read the article before you get all hot and bothered by that statement and start ranting about 2007.

It’s a fair discussion at this point in Brady’s career.

What was different in 2001-04 that led to a 9-0 playoff record and three Super Bowl wins? Brady still averaged only 6.42 YPA and 10.27 YPC in those nine games.
 
The difference is Brady made up for a lack of offensive production by protecting the ball (just 3 interceptions on 304 attempts), a lot of good situational football, and of course a defense and special teams that kept the score down and even added to the scoring for the team.
 
They held six teams to 17 points or less, won a wild shootout with Carolina in a Super Bowl, and intercepted Ben Roethlisberger and Donovan McNabb three times each in the 2004 playoffs.
 
Brady still was rarely pushing the ball down the field, but the team was better prepared to grind out victories because of the defense they had. Now that the team is more built around Brady and excel so much offensively in the regular season, the expectations are higher for the playoffs, as are the requirements for them to win games. And they are not being met.

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Gronkowski earned some additional JumboTron time later in the game when someone with a sense of humor put him on the video board while an LMFAO song blared. Gronkowski has been in the headlines for dancing shirtless following the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss last weekend in Indianapolis while LMFAO performed. Gronkowski just flashed his familiar smile when he realized he was on camera and limited his moves to a little head bob from his seat next to the TNT broadcast position at midcourt.

Kobe recruiting Gronk for Eagles? – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

https://www.patspropaganda.com/gronkowski-earned-some-additional-jumbotron-time/

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The feeling here is that McCourty’s move was a result of a safety shortage in the eyes of the coaching staff, not that the position was his best fit. Outside of Patrick Chung and James Ihedigbo, the staff didn’t seem to have confidence in any of their other options at safety at the end of the year, which sparked the McCourty move. Assuming McCourty is back at cornerback full-time in 2012, the depth chart would start with him, and a question of whether he can return to 2010 form. McCourty would be followed by Kyle Arrington, Ras-I Dowling and Sterling Moore on the depth chart. Antwaun Molden, a free agent-to-be who performed well on special teams, could return to compete for a roster spot along with any other additions in the draft or free agency. In the end, the Patriots’ picture at cornerback is tied mostly to McCourty and Dowling, the 2011 second-round pick who the staff was clearly high on before he sustained a hip injury that ended his rookie season after just two games.

Mike Reiss

New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

A lot of people are projecting McCourty to safety as a permanent move but I’m with Reiss. I think he’ll be back at corner for mini-camps and training camp. Not to say he’d never go back to safety, but I still think long term he’s a corner.

Dowling is an interesting one. If you’ll remember he missed a lot of camp and was then suddenly starting in the season opener. I think this shows the staff sees a lot of potential in him. Clearly he has some size that the Patriots lack in the secondary, and it’s likely that the Patriots saw he had some ability to play man. His return to health could be a big factor in 2012.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-feeling-here-is-that-mccourtys-move-was-a/