http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In0rnkYNp2o
Rob Gronkowski: Career Highlights HD (2011-2012) (by ComplicatedVideosTV)
A little Gronk Highlight film to help get us through this first Sunday of the off-season.
(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
Patriots in good shape with draft preparation – The Boston Globe
Patriots in good shape with draft preparation – The Boston Globe
Some great nuggets from Bedard this morning…
The way Patriots defensive backs coach Josh Boyer was talking at the Super Bowl, it sure sounded as though Devin McCourty will go back to cornerback full-time once offseason practices start.
Boyer said McCourty was switched to part-time safety because of issues other than his struggles at cornerback.
“I think the reason we put him at safety is we felt that’s what would be what’s best for our group and with what we were doing schematically,’’ Boyer said.
“Devin’s still out there as a corner. We can play him as a corner or a safety. We asked him to play man coverage, we asked him to play zone coverage, and it’s like anything else – there’s been some good and there’s been some bad.
“There were some plays that he didn’t make for us, and there were some plays that he did make.
“I would think if you look at the guys that made plays on the ball in man coverage, Devin’s probably made more plays than anybody we’ve had.
“Now, he’s had more balls thrown at him than some of the others, and the times that he hasn’t made plays, he’s probably been pretty close. Maybe it’s just a technique thing or finish thing here on the ball, or maybe it’s a better press or jam at the line of scrimmage. Little things which he’s working hard to improve on, he really is.
“I would say if anything, it’s been a plus for us this season to see that he has position flexibility, that he can play safety or a corner for us.’’
Look for the Patriots to work hard on those minor technique issues, which were a problem throughout the season.
Receivers coach Chad O’Shea related some of the complexities with the offense that can make things difficult for a new receiver. “At times, there are four decisions that a receiver needs to make after the snap the way our offense is,’’ O’Shea said. “That’s one of the advantages of our offense, that we give players a lot of flexibility within the system to take what the defense gives us. And that’s definitely something that’s unique about our offense.’’ Recognizing blitzes is something receivers have to do as well. They often have to break off their route if a defense sends extra players. “It’s on everybody,’’ O’Shea said. “We always say we need to see everything through the same set of eyes. So receivers have responsibilities in blitz, we have responsibilities in our route conversions, and the most important thing is the quarterback and receiver have to be on the same page. That’s why it takes time.’’
https://www.patspropaganda.com/receivers-coach-chad-oshea-related-some-of-the/
Felt like there was too much instability in the Patriots secondary in 2011 for the unit to be successful, and in retrospect, the team’s handling of the safety spot seems fair to scrutinize. In terms of decisions I’d imagine Bill Belichick would like to have back, I’d put releasing James Sanders alongside the acquisitions of Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco at the top of the list. Amazing to think that after all the headlines Haynesworth and Ochocinco generated in late July/early August, they were essentially non-factors.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/felt-like-there-was-too-much-instability-in-the/
