An Independent Patriots Blog
Must listen alert! 1/11 Bruschi/Reiss Patriots podcast
Tedy Bruschi and Mike Reiss’ podcast on ESPN Boston is always a must listen but this week’s is extra special. Bruschi gives some great behind the scene Pats insight, and even lays a Bill Belichick impression on us. Great stuff all around, check it out, the entire hour is packed with great stuff.
Denver @ New England – Official Madden NFL Playoff Sim (by EASPORTS)
Yup, sounds about right.
The Broncos and Patriots defenses could play much better than we think, because they will be able to stop the bread-and-butter plays from the other team’s offense. There is something to the one less day for the Denver Broncos, traveling, and the Patriots get the extra time and preparation and rest. Also, the Patriots have lost their last two playoff home games. I am not going to under-sell that fact at all. How much do you think that has been talked about in New England between the organization, players and staff? To me, those are big things. Their emotional level has to be incredibly high because of the previous two years, and the fact that all anybody talks about is their bad defense. They don’t even talk about Tom Brady. Then you have the Broncos and Tim Tebow, and we have some storm brewing.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-broncos-and-patriots-defenses-could-play-much/
Good stuff from Price, these guys should be big factors this weekend.
The first time the Patriots faced the Broncos on Dec. 18, New England was without two of their better run defenders in safety Patrick Chung and linebacker Brandon Spikes, both of whom were both in the middle of extended stretches on the sidelines because of injury (Chung with a foot problem and Spikes with a knee issue). In addition, the Patriots had defensive end Andre Carter in the lineup, who was providing some of the most sustained pressure of any pass rusher in a New England uniform since 2008. In that game, the Broncos – the best team in the league over the course of the regular season when it came to running the football – finished with 252 yards (and an astounding 8.1 yards per carry) against New England, including seven rushes of 10 yards or more in the first half. The Patriots were able to make the necessary adjustments to shut down the Denver offense and came away with a 41-23 win. However, it’s debatable how much damage the Broncos would have done early if both Chung and Spikes were in the lineup to begin with.
Playoffs put Brady in cranky, intense mood – NFL – Yahoo! Sports
Must read alert!
New England wide receiver Chad Ochocinco was so worried about the well-being of teammate and quarterback Tom Brady that he approached Deion Branch and Wes Welker and asked them if something was wrong. “I was like, ‘Is Tom OK?’ You know, he’s intense, but this was like a whole new thing, man. They were like, ‘It’s that time of the year, you just have to understand,’ ” Ochocinco said. “I’ve been around a lot of really competitive people and I’ve had Carson Palmer and Jon Kitna as my quarterbacks. You know that quarterbacks are a little different. They have to act a little different because of the position. But Tom has taken that to a whole different level.”
Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich is a prime example of the kind of player Bill Belichick has built his team on. Once considered a castoff long snapper by the Saints, Ninkovich has earned two contract extension from the Patriots and looks to be one of the pieces Belichick considers a building block.
When the Patriots went to a four man front this season we knew that the Strong Side Outside Linebacker would be a key position that the Pats would need production out of. We weren’t even sure who would play the spot until Ninkovich emerged as the only defender who could. Ninkovich ended up turning in a season where ProFootballFocus had him ranked as the Patriots second best run defender and third best defender overall.
Ninkovich has done a little of everything for the Pats this year. From rushing the passer as a defensive end, to his most common spot at SLB in the 4-3, to outside linebacker in the 3-4; it’s clear that Bill Belichick trusts him in a variety of roles because of his smart and tough play.
Against the Broncos this weekend the Patriots will need a stellar effort from Ninkovich. Despite missing two costly tackles early in the first tilt in Denver, Ninkovich had enough of a turnaround to make that game his highest PFF-graded one of the season.
Ninkovich’s bread and butter is against heavy running teams like Denver, and when he’s on the Patriots usually roll. When he’s not, like against the Steelers early this year, the rest of the defense tends to struggle as well.
His experiences a few weeks ago with trying to tackle Tebow should serve him well, but setting the edge will be absolutely vital for Ninkovich. Keep an eye on him in the game, as he goes so goes the Patriots D this weekend.
