Based on film study, the NFL Network Playbook crew named New England’s Kyle Love as one of the most improved defensive tackles in the NFL in 2011. Their other picks were Geno Atkins and Isaac Sopoaga. Love, a 2010 undrafted free agent from Mississippi State, showed the ability to “hold two gaps” as a second-year starter, and showed up on tape as a “dirt dog,” blue-collar player with disciplined performance to make the Patriots’ defensive line a strength.
Patriots saved up Gerard Warren for playoff push
Gerard Warren didn’t make the Patriots coming out of training camp and even after the Pats re-signed him going into week four against the Raiders he still played a mostly bit part.
But things changed once the playoff hit. After averaging 20.9 snaps during the regular season, Warren has logged 40 and 42 snaps in the Patriots two playoff wins, with one sack, two pressures, five tackles and four stops.
Bill Belichick has a penchant for knowing the right buttons to press with veterans and Warren has become a significant part of the Patriots defense in January, while second year player Brandon Deaderick has taken a step back. Clearly keeping Warren fresh is paying dividends now, with it all on the line.
Against the Broncos in the Divisional Round Pro Football Focus had Warren ranked as the top Patriots defender. As a former third overall pick, Warren knows this could be his last chance to get a Super Bowl ring.
Expect him and other veterans like Brian Waters and Shaun Ellis to bring their “A” games on Sunday.
Most head coaches and GMs, they’re never really willing to swallow their pride and admit that they made a mistake,” former Patriots fullback and NFL Network analyst Heath Evans explained. “Bill just says ‘Well, I thought we could fix [Haynesworth]. We couldn’t. So bye-bye.’ Most guys will sit there and hurt their team by allowing a cancer to infiltrate the system, the mindset, how you get something done. But Bill never hesitated. "He saw enough. He gave [Haynesworth] enough chances and, boom, he’s gone. That’s an aspect of the structure and discipline. Bill doesn’t care how it makes him look or what he’s doing. He’s going to do what’s best for the team.
Patriots: Fit in or get out – AFC East Blog – ESPN
This is something that people find so hard to grasp with BB, especially when it comes to things like the draft.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/most-head-coaches-and-gms-theyre-never-really/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvM77W1d53E
Patriots: All for One (by espnmediazone)
As for Xs and Os football, Brady detailed some of the issues he’s had in recent games against the Giants.
“I was holding the ball too long. They have some blitz schemes that are challenging to handle [and] as a quarterback, you can’t sit back there and think that you’re going to have all day to throw the ball,” he said. “You have to be able to find guys quickly and get the ball to them. You have to throw the ball with accuracy. You throw a quick pass and it’s half a foot behind the receiver, it slows him up and he’s tackled for a 5-yard gain. Whereas if you throw it one foot in front of his numbers, he catches it and he gains 12. That’s how you need to play this game.”
Brady also explained how he’s been handling this week with tight end Rob Gronkowski out of practice.
“We’re always communicating back and forth about his routes and the schemes that we have that are a little bit different for this game.” he said. “He’s a fast learner. He’s played every game, he’s practiced every single day this year [prior to his injury]. He has a pretty good understanding of what we’re doing. It’s not like he has to figure out how to play football again. Probably the break is good for him in a sense that he hasn’t been beat all week in practice. Hopefully he can go out there and play.”
https://www.patspropaganda.com/as-for-xs-and-os-football-brady-detailed-some-of/
Great 2011 Patriots Pump Up Video with audio from Any Given Sunday. We’ve seen Pats videos with this audio before but it still gets us every single time. It’s a little misty here in the Ministry of PatsPropaganda.
Game of Inches (by brdmaverick)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-giants-super-bowl-12/