PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

The Best/Worst of the Week in Patriots Posts 10/1

by

Rex week.

Gold. 0-2, back against the wall, dials up a big winner against the Cardinals last weekend. Cocky Rex is the best Rex, especially coming into Foxborough. Couldn’t have written it up any better. Love him, hate him, flat out despise him, but the entertainment factor is real. It’s always great to see him beat his big old chest and pull on Belichick’s cape leading up to every matchup. I can’t even think of a word to describe it…

[Read more…] about The Best/Worst of the Week in Patriots Posts 10/1

Coffin Corner: Let’s fix the NFL’s Rulebook

by

images

In a dimly-lit, window-less room, deep in the bowels of an office building on Park Avenue, we find a man that closely resembles Professor Gerald Lambeau, disheveled, sweat dripping from his receding hairline, a cigarette resting limply on his lip. He feverishly picks up his red crayon and begins drawing something on the wall—Stick figures, a football, a physics equation.

PULL BACK to find adorning the walls are the etchings of a madman.

CATCH: To Catch a Predator ——–> Catch Me If You Can ——-> Catcher in the Rye – Reagan, Hinkley, Jodie Foster, ———> JFK?

A train of red yarn connects this to another series of notes –

TWO FEET – definition (Noun, Pl.) ——> 24 inches or dueling appendages attached to ankles”

Then another yarn string –

POSSESSION = 9/10ths of the Law!!!!!

Professor Lambeau steps back from his sprawling work to take in the sum of all of the respective parts. An equation that spans all four walls.

Eureka! He’s got it! Will Hunting and Sean the Shrink said he couldn’t do it, wasn’t smart enough, but he did. They bronze Fields medals for this type of work.

That is the only possible explanation for this definition of a “catch”:

[Read more…] about Coffin Corner: Let’s fix the NFL’s Rulebook

New England Patriots Gameplan: Week 4 vs. Buffalo Bills

by

This is it. The last Brady-less game of the 2016 season (we hope). Yes, there are plenty of questions surrounding who will be under center for the Pats in this one, but ultimately this is a tepid Bills offense that should never ever waltz into Foxboro and pull out a win, even we had good ole’ Tommy Hodson back there taking snaps.

Rex Ryan always makes things interesting and despite just a 4-11 record against the Pats, the average margin of victory in the last six games against Rex is just 4.7 points. Last year the Pats beat Ryan’s Bills by 40-32 (week 2) and 20-13 (week 11). So despite the records, this game will probably be interesting.

What has made them most interesting is Rex’s schemes against Tom Brady. Recently this has involved disguising his blitzers while dropping a majority of players into zone coverage. Often times this has slowed Brady down, but as Jeff Howe points out, Brady has still done as well as anyone (which isn’t saying all that much considering the shitlist that is quarterbacks who faced Rex at least five times):

Brady has completed 60.1 percent of his passes against Ryan’s Jets and Bills for an average of 282 yards per game to go along with 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His 91.2 passer rating against Ryan’s Jets (2009-14) was the highest among all quarterbacks to face him at least five times.

So now what happens with (probably) Jimmy Garoppolo or (possibly) Jacoby Brissett? The Bills have plenty of defenders who can wreck a gameplan, starting with Kyle Williams. The Patriots will need a sound offensive game from whoever their QB is to keep the Bills at bay.

On the other side of the ball, the Patriots defense finally showed what they’re capable of against the Houston Texans, pitching their first meaningful shutout since 2009. Now they must contain Tyrod Taylor and LeSean McCoy. If the Patriots defense is truly going to live up to their perceived talent level, this is another game they should be gunning for a shutout. Expectations are that high.

Here’s the gameplan for capping off the Brady suspension in style, with a win over our old pal Rexy, (who’s coming off a win btw)…

[Read more…] about New England Patriots Gameplan: Week 4 vs. Buffalo Bills

Will the Patriots Defense Reach Their Potential in 2016?

by

<a rel=

Things are going to change in 2017 for the Patriots defense. The list of defenders due to hit free agency after this season is long and talented — Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Jabaal Sheard, Alan Branch, Logan Ryan, Duron Harmon and Chris Long are some of the high profile names.

Now, the Patriots have the cap space to re-sign who they want. They won’t re-sign all of them, but they have enough in the pipeline to overcome a few departures from that group. Guys like Trey Flowers, Cyrus Jones, Vincent Valentine and Eric Rowe are some who could potentially take elevated roles in 2017 if guys leave.

But make no mistake, change is coming and what the Patriots have right now on defense is as experienced and talented a group on paper as they’ve had since the mid-2000’s. We knew coming into the season that this defense had the chance to be special. This was supposed to be peak Patriots defense for the second time in Bill Belichick’s reign. That’s what happens when you return everyone except one defensive end, and add even more talented contributors like Long and Valentine.

But what is troubling is similar issues continue to haunt this defense and I can’t help but wonder if they’ll truly reach the level Patriots fan believed them capable of this offseason.

[Read more…] about Will the Patriots Defense Reach Their Potential in 2016?

Pats Should Keep Garoppolo Through 2017

by

tom brady jimmy garoppoloThis weekend will hopefully be the last time of the 2016 season that we see a quarterback not named Tom Brady under center for the Patriots. Both Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett have shown plenty of promise in limited action and it’s whipped Patriots nation into an early frenzy — “who gets traded and for how many first round draft picks?!”

Garoppolo has apprenticed for two full seasons under Brady, and against the Dolphins, Garoppolo took his game to a new level, looking calm and collected in the pocket, delivering laser passes with pinpoint accuracy. There’s still some unknowns with Garoppolo, like how he does against a blitz-happy, disguise-based defense like Rex Ryan’s, but it’s clear that Garoppolo has what it takes to at least get a shot as a starting quarterback in the NFL.

Now the discussion of Brady’s inevitable exit have begun. The Patriots still have Brady under contract through 2019. Garoppolo is signed through the 2017 season, meaning this coming offseason is the last chance the Pats could have to move him for more than a potential 3rd round compensatory pick. Now the Patriots could also franchise tag Garoppolo in the spring of 2018 as they did with Matt Cassel and then move him for significant capital, but they’ll certainly be tempted by a number of offers in the spring of 2017.

[Read more…] about Pats Should Keep Garoppolo Through 2017

Week 4 Scouting Report: Buffalo Bills

by

After an incredibly satisfying trouncing of the Texans, the Bills all of a sudden might not be the cakewalk we thought them to be. Sexy Rexy’s squad showed some life in a defeat of the Arizona Cardinals. Fun Fact of the Day, that was Chandler Jones’ first loss to Buffalo since he’s been in the league (not counting Week 17 of the 2014 season where several starters sat). Now it’s time to find out if Buffalo actually has any fight in them.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Bills aka “The Super Ryan Brothers”

Week 4: vs. Buffalo Bills (Tickets)

Sunday, October 2

1pm EST, CBS

Mostly Cloudy, High 60’s

Opponent/Patriots Stats:
Bills: 1-2
Notable Games: Week 2 vs. NY Jets. Rex Ryan fired OC Greg Roman after the game.

Common Opponents: Arizona Cardinals (Buffalo 33-18)

Recent games vs. Pats: Week 2 of 2015 (NE 40-32), Week 11 of 2015 (NE 20-13)

[table id=16Bills1 /]

Notable Players

TYROD TAYLOR QB: 47/77 comp (61%), 527 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 83.6 rating

LESEAN MCCOY RB: 48 carries, 227 yds, 4.7 avg, 3 TDs, 1 fumble, 11 rec, 49 yds,

SAMMY WATKINS WR: 6 rec, 63 yds, 10.5 avg, 0 TDs,

KYLE WILLIAMS DT

Injury Alerts

Patriots:

Jimmy Garappolo is still dealing with an AC joint injury. While the arrow is pointing up on his recovery (Garappolo was at practice on Tuesday), I wouldn’t anticipate him playing. If he does play, expect JFG to be limited in his throwing.

Jacoby Brissett has injured his right thumb according to multiple reputable outlets. However, the severity is up for debate. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Brissett would be fine to throw. Brisket was also at practice on Tuesday. Expect to see Brissett out there for the start

Dont’a Hightower was inactive last week and the defense posted a shutout so obviously Hightower was the problem *sarcasm emoji.* Having him back would be a help to the defense and free up Jamie Collins to do more. Keep an eye on the injury report today for his status.

Rob Gronkowski played last game for the first time this season but was obviously limited. Coaches seemed to have him on a snap count. You figure this week he’ll be a little more effective and have a little more juice in him considering the 10 days off between games. Hopefully, we see more of the Gronk that will make Sexy Rexy quiver in his boots.

Jonathan Cooper is probably a ghost. Who knows when we’ll see him.

Bills:

Sammy Watkins is the stud Buffalo receiver who has struggled to get healthy since the offseason. He had surgery on a stress fracture in his foot. He played Weeks 1 and 2 but it was reported he was dealing with significant pain, explaining his low numbers. Watkins was inactive last week. He’s one who, if he plays, doesn’t look to be very effective.

Key Matchups:

Patriots:

vs. WR1: 14th —–  vs. Logan Ryan vs. Sammy Watkins

vs. WR2: 20th —– Malcolm Butler vs. Marquise Goodwin

vs. other WR: 16th —– Justin Coleman vs. Robert Woods

vs. RB: 21st —– Jamie Collins vs. LeSean McCoy

Bills:

vs. WR1: 30th —– Julian Edelman vs. Stephon Gilmore

vs. WR2: 23rd —– Chris Hogan vs. Ronald Darby

vs. TE: 12th —– Rob Gronkowski vs. Aaron Williams

vs. RB: 11th —– James White vs. Preston Brown

What’s at stake?

New England’s second division game in four weeks is of course an important game. Winning the first meeting puts less weight on the next meeting. However, as many have pointed out, the team is playing with house money. A win here would provide a huge confidence boost to the team for Tom Brady’s return. However, a 3-1 record with arguably the best QB of all time returning to the team is an incredible place to be. Also, an L here wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. It would take the pressure of 16-0 off of the team, which is not to be underrated.

Early thoughts:

I think it is fair to say NE should be equipped to handle Buffalo. They have had their DB depth tested before this season with the Cardinals and play the matchup game better than anyone else. The only worry is that the Ryan Brothers are able to confuse whatever young QB is under center for the Patriots. Although, NE won’t give Brissett anything confusing to have to decipher on the field so any trickeration on Buffalo’s part might be for naught.

Patriots vs. Texans Film Review: Defense Edition

by

The Patriots defense pitched their first shutout since 2012 in Week 17. Before that you have to go all the way back to the snow blowout of the Titans in 2009. So there was plenty to like from this performance, especially against a revamped Houston offense that is not without their fair share of threats.

The biggest schematic adjustment this week came in the form of a shift toward more Cover-2, which put Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon over the top on both sides of the field. This took away the deep passing game that was so vital to the Texans in their first two games.

The Pats primarily played out of a three-safety set because of this, putting more pressure on the front six to stop the run, but they did just that.

The result was pretty much a start-to-finish domination that laid to rest some of the uneasiness we felt after the Pats were torched in the second halves of their first two games.

Here’s what else stood out from the defensive film review… [Read more…] about Patriots vs. Texans Film Review: Defense Edition