PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

PatsPropaganda Contributor Roundtable: Part I

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As you might’ve noticed in the past week, it’s not just me Mike D posting content here on PatsPropaganda anymore. I’ve added a handful of contributors to help this season. All are passionate and knowledgeable Patriots fans and I’m excited that there will be more great content than ever on the site thanks to them. You can check out more on each of them here.

While some of their pieces have already been posted, I thought a good way to introduce everyone to some of the contributors would be a round table discussion with everyone, with topics ranging from their Patriots fandom to their opinions on the upcoming season.

Here’s part one:

What are you most excited for with the 2016 Patriots as we get ready to open camp? 

Pete Smith: The running game benefiting from a healthy Blount & Lewis, and an improved offensive line. It won’t matter who starts at QB if these two play to the best of their abilities. An improved offensive line, aided by the return of Dante Scarnecchia, should pave the way for what I see as a top-5 RB combo in the NFL.

Rick Starke: Some football. The offseason seems longer every year, especially when certain particular “scandals” can’t seem to disappear. 3 out of the past 4 offseasons have been littered with ugliness, some manufactured, some really, really unfortunate.

Niko Davos: Oh come on. This one’s easy. Gronk and Bennett. Bennett and Gronk. On paper, the towering tight end duo is as difficult to defend as any pair Brady’s had to work with, including Moss and Welker. If the O-line can just be average this season, good freakin’ luck keeping the good guys out of the end zone.

Jamie Conway: Seeing how wide-open at least two of the stable of quick release receivers (Edelman, Amendola, Hogan, D. Lewis) and loping giants (Bennett and Gronk) will be on nearly every play.

Adam Magnacca: I’m most excited to get an inkling of how the team uses the new pieces they’ve gained this offseason. Are they going to use Bennett as another Y TE or will they see if they can use him as a move guy or maybe some weird combination of both? Will Shea McClellin be an edge guy or will be in the middle of the linebackers? There are so many interesting twists these and other new additions could create for the team this season

What are you most concerned about?

Pete Smith: Depth at Offensive Tackle. When Solder went down last year the Offensive Line never really seemed to be able to identify a reliable replacement at left tackle. This led to a constant shuffling and rotating of personnel upfront, and the line never seemed to really gel like previous lines. The Patriots did little to address these concerns with the addition of two primarily interior linemen in Thuney and Karas. This leaves the beguiled Marcus Cannon (a potential cap casualty), LaAdrian Waddle & Keavon Milton as the primary backup tackles. All things considered, this is a great problem to have, but one that I would have preferred seen addressed with a FA signing or trade.

Rick Starke: Depth at runningback has to be the biggest concern for all Patriots fans. I can’t see anywhere else on the roster that hasn’t been addressed. Perhaps the return of Dante Scarnecchia will be all that is needed to push the running game to the next level.

Niko Davos: The offensive line is by far the biggest concern. If you watched the godforsaken AFC Title game and saw Brady get hit 20 (!!!) times, that much is obvious. There is reason for optimism though, with the return of coach Dante Scarnecchia from retirement, tackle Nate Solder from injury, the infusion of new talent (Cooper, Thuney) and the expected in-house development. 

Adam Magnacca: I’m gonna go out on a limb and say I’m a little concerned about the Special Teams. It was not nearly as strong last year as it has been since Belichick took over. I’m hoping they tighten up in that area but we’re not really gonna see if what they’ve been doing will come to fruition until the preseason starts.

Under-the-radar player you think could breakout in camp?

Pete Smith: Jonathan Jones. Fits the mold of a typical Patriots corner. Has great speed (4.33 40), and great ball skills. Played in the SEC with Auburn. I was surprised he went undrafted, and with $35K guaranteed as a signing bonus for an UDFA, it reflects the value the Patriots saw in his skill set. According to multiple reports he’s looked good in camp so far, so I guess this is a bit of a safe pick.

Rick Starke: I’d love to see Kamu Grugier-Hill turn into more than just a bubble player. Freakish athlete Swiss army knife type players are certainly more bust than boom, but one more piece like that for the Patriots defense could push them into top-3 in the league realm.

Niko Davos: Tight end/fullback Clay Harbor was an interesting offseason acquisition that flew under the radar. He’s had a somewhat underwhelming career up until this point with Philadelphia/Jacksonville (26 catches in 2014 is his career high) but he’s a 6’3 250 pounder that can run a 4.6 40–yard dash, so the attractiveness from the Patriots’ perspective is clear. He has a Swiss-army knife skillset; one Josh McDaniels is drooling over as we speak.

Jamie Conway: Keshawn Martin or Nate Washington.

Adam Magnacca: I don’t know if it will happen but I want nothing more than for TE AJ Derby to explode on the scene. I want him to add another weapon to the TE room and scare the bejeezus out of the opposing D-Coordinators. If he turns into the Swiss army at TE who can line up anywhere and match up with anyone I would jump and down with joy.

Veteran player you could see as a surprise cut?

Pete Smith: Marcus Cannon. He has a big contract and I don’t think anyone on the OL outside of Solder and Vollmer has job safety right now. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Patriots roll the dice on Waddle or Milton in place of Cannon.

Rick Starke: Somebody in the trenches, most likely. There are a LOT of defensive ends on the roster, and a LOT of offensive linemen on the roster. Maybe Blount.

Niko Davos: Would Aaron Dobson be a surprise cut? No? OK, I’ll do better than that… Obviously something is going to have to give with the offensive line so my attention is there. Although they probably don’t qualify as “veterans”, 2015 rookies and occasional starters David Andrews and Tre Jackson need to perform in camp to stick around. That goes for Josh Kline as well. Jackson has had injury issues throughout his short career, so I could also see him beginning the year stashed on the “PUP” list.

Adam Magnacca: Bill always has a surprise camp cut and while some might not be shocked I could see them not keeping Clay Harbor. Even though he had a signing bonus, the team doesn’t care about that at final cuts. I think the offensive positions are pretty full and I don’t know that he’s different enough from James Develin, who the team loves.

What position battle intrigues you most?

Pete Smith: Last two defensive back spots. The battle between veteran E.J. Biggers, Justin Coleman, Darryl Roberts & Jonathan Jones should be intense for what I think will be ultimately 2 spots. I’m high on Jones and hope Roberts can oust Coleman. I’m not sure Biggers is anything more than a veteran camp presence.

Rick Starke: The interior of the offensive line. Stork has lined up everywhere, so he’s not a lock at center, but definitely a lock as a starter. Between three years of trades, draft, and free agent finds, there is a logjam of players there.

Niko Davos: Running back. After not drafting a back (which I was admittedly upset by), it’s clear the Hoodie trusts what he has in-house. With Blount the only power back (Bolden is primarily special teams), Dion presumably being handled with caution coming off the ACL, who steps up in the early going? I’m a fan of James White, but he’s not a great runner between the tackles. We know exactly what Donald Brown is, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Can the shifty undrafted rookie DJ Foster make the two aforementioned backs sweat their respective roster spots?

Jamie Conway: D Tackle: Branch, PotRoast, Malcolm Brown and Vincent Valentine show how a free agent depth acquisition can turn a vulnerable group into a real strength. 

Adam Magnacca: I’m most interested in how the offensive line shakes out. I think it’s an incredibly young and competitive group and nothing but good can come from that competition. Worst case scenario, the depth on the team is A+ and those young guys not starting are hungry for snaps.

Part II comes tomorrow!

Deflategate is Over, Tom Brady will Sit Four Games

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Tom Brady posted the below message on Facebook today, putting an end to Deflategate once and for all.

Tom Brady Deflategate

It’s hard to believe this thing dragged on for as long as it did, and you can revisit all the choice Deflategate posts from PatsPropaganda here. The 2014 AFC Championship seems like a lifetime ago now.

While it will suck not to have Brady for the first four games of the season, and my disgust for the NFL’s handling of the entire affair burns brighter than ever, I’m glad to get away from labor law. This blog has always been a football-first blog. Now we can go back to that. In fact, it really already started yesterday, taking a look at how Garoppolo is better prepared than Matt Cassel was in 2008, but faces a far more daunting slate of games.

Brady will sit those four games, one more lost draft pick will go by in April of 2017 and then Deflategate can fade into a footnote of Brady’s career. But it certainly sets the stage for one more necessary championship run. That fifth Super Bowl means everything now. Not only would it put Brady in a class by himself as a quarterback, it forces Roger Goodell to hand over the Lombardi trophy to Tom’s awaiting hands one more time.

That might be a hollow victory, watching Goodell Bot act like it’s no big deal. Like it was all business. That Brady doesn’t want to murder him. But it would mean something to all the Patriots fans who have passionately defended Brady from the start to get one more moment like that.

Now we can move on. Kind of. There will always be the idiots who make air pressure jokes. Who think this was about the Patriots and Brady cheating and not a corrupt NFL office. But when the NFL punishment circus comes their team’s way all we can say is “told ya”. I think more and more fans are aware of this now. John Cena’s joke at the ESPY’s confirmed that for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00sRBDl1J2I

This is really nothing new for Patriots fans. We got through it with Spygate and we’ll get through it with Deflategate. Because we have the best coach, quarterback and team in the NFL and their run is not yet over.

I leave you with the first ever piece I wrote that got any internet attention. I wrote it over eight years ago and it’s just as true as ever.

Embrace the hate. We’re Darth Vader. And the rest of the NFL is living on Alderaan.

Got Hair?: Report from Patriots’ Celebrity Bartender Event with Dr. Robert Leonard

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Bar View

Thanks to the site, I was able to attend Dr. Robert Leonard’s celebrity bartending event on Tuesday night. Dr. Leonard is the founder and chief surgeon of Leonard Hair Transplant Associates and New England’s primary hair restoration doctor. He has helped a number of high-profile athletes including Wes Welker, Rob Ninkovich, Sebastian Vollmer, and Chris Gronkowski.

The aforementioned four are the “faces” of Leonard Hair Transplants and were the celebrity bartenders for the evening. It was my first experience like this, and it was extremely worthwhile. I really had an unbelievable time not only meeting the players, but other media members as well. Dr. Leonard also gave me hope for my own personal hair longevity, as he refuted my original thought that the gene is strictly from your grandfather on your mother’s side, in which case I’d probably be bald already. He did mention however that I still could be screwed, so we exchanged contact information.

I was hoping to get a little more individual time with the guys, but it was a regimented event, with a segment of signing autographs and taking pictures for the first half of the night and bartending for the second half. Over the course of the evening, I made several observations…

Observation #1: Sebastian Vollmer is freaking huge. For perspective sake, that’s me in the middle (se below) and I’m 6’1 200+ pounds. While the other guys would be fairly tough to pick out of a crowd if you weren’t familiar with their face, Sebastian sticks out like “The Hound” in Game of Thrones. Whatever height/weight “Seabass” is listed at, he’s absolutely all of it. His hand essentially absorbed mine as we shook, but he seems like the nicest guy on the planet, off the field that is.Players

Observation #2: Chris Gronk’s mannerisms, humor and voice are identical to Rob’s. When I asked him how the “Gronk Party Cruise” was, he answered, “It was crazy, everything you could imagine really…and more.” His expression as he proudly blurt out “and more” was so enigmatic I was afraid to ask a follow up question on the cruise. I immediately regretted not doing so…

Luckily, I was able to get a piece of football substance from Chris when I asked him about the landscape of the game, its transition to a passing league, and how it affects his position, fullback. Chris responded, “It has definitely affected us (fullbacks). Teams are opting for those big tight ends now, like you see on the Patriots, with Rob and the other guys. They can do a little more in the receiving game in most cases.” Chris and I agreed that the Pats undoubtedly missed injured fullback James Develin last season, especially during the winter: “Oh yeah, he’s a bad ass. You need that toughness. He plays with an edge.”

Observation #3: While Gronkowski was going with strictly Miller Lites, Nink and Welker were diving into some interesting pineapple cocktails. Stress on the plural. I can confirm these drinks packed a punch, because by the time Wes was serving drinks behind the bar, he had a nice glaze over his eyes reminiscent of your favorite doughnut. I was able to snag a quick picture with Wes, pre-glaze:Welker

Observation #4: Tom E. Curran from CSN and Rob “Hardy” Poole from 98.5 the Sports Hub are really approachable guys, and I enjoyed meeting both very much.

Hardy Tom Curran

I asked Hardy where his co-worker and everybody’s favorite broadcaster Scott Zolak was, and he responded, “Oh come on man, you really think we want ‘Zo driving home from this thing?!”

Curran reiterated to me his disgust with Dictator Goodell and how he’s handled you know what. He guessed Tommy B has a ‘50/50’ chance to suit up week 1, but admitted the entire thing is a crapshoot at this point. This was before we heard of the 2nd circuit’s decision, however, so his tune unfortunately may now have changed with this new information.

Overall, it really was an incredible experience and one that I’m very thankful for. Down the line, if you’re starting to lose your hair, call up Dr. Leonard at 1-800-GET-HAIR, or visit his website: https://www.hairdr.com/

Who knows? You might see me there!

What does Cassel’s 2008 mean for Garoppolo?

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Cassel 2008

Cassel celebrates a third quarter touchdown pass during their 17-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

One of the common refrains you’ll hear with Tom Brady potentially sitting the first four games of the 2016 season is “well Matt Cassel took the Pats to 11-5 in 2008, so Jimmy Garoppolo will be fine!” I agree to an extent, but I don’t think it’s that cut and dry and it’s worth taking putting that season into context and how different things will be in 2016.

We all remember that fateful opening game in 2008. The Pats were in white jerseys at home. Like Belichick’s SB42 way-too-short cutoff red hoodie something seemed off from the start. Then there were the big GU patches to honor Gene Upshaw that would forever make this game instantly recognizable. Brady hadn’t played at all in the preseason and Matt Cassel looked terrifyingly awful.

When Brady went down after Bernard Pollard dove into his knees then limped off the field, we knew it wasn’t good. Anyone who had watched the preseason thought we were dead meat with Cassel. But Cassel managed to put together a solid season, completing 63.4 percent of his passes for 3693 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. That included two fourth quarter comebacks and two game-winning drives.

But the problem, as Bill Belichick said himself in his episode of A Football Life, was that the Patriots could not beat the good teams in the AFC. Their only win over an AFC playoff team was in Miami, in a Wildcat revenge game. They lost to the Steelers, Chargers and Colts, the only three teams outside their division that they faced with winning records, not including a 9-7 Cardinals team that never got off the bus in Foxboro. They feasted on the terrible AFC and NFC West divisions.

Had the Patriots faced a more daunting schedule, we likely wouldn’t have the 11-5 argument to make.

Still, Cassel did far better than anyone would’ve expected based on his preseason. He had a veteran cast of weapons around him including Wes Welker in his prime, Randy Moss and Jabar Gaffney. The defense however was at the end of the line. 2008 was their final gasp before the full turnover began the next offseason. Had Brady stayed healthy this probably would’ve been their downfall.

The 2016 Patriots are a little different. While they have a lot of veterans in place on offense, their defense is just hitting its prime. That’s what stands out to me most. The 2008 defense was not one that could singlehandedly win games. The 2016 should be.

Garoppolo also seems a far better fit for the Patriots’ offense at this stage. Simply put, he’s more talented than Cassel and his quick release should fit what the Patriots do with Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett extremely well. He also has some of the athleticism that Cassel displayed which gave teams used to facing the statue-esque Brady a new twist.

Garoppolo’s first TD pass.

Belichick and Josh McDaniels had to adjust on the fly when Brady went down. Now they have an entire training camp to cater the offense to Garoppolo’s strengths. This is vital because 2016’s schedule is far more daunting than 2008’s was. This is why the comparison is a hard one to make. There are six 2015 playoff teams on the docket this year, including two (Cardinals and Texans) which Garoppolo would have to face.

And the other two matchups against Miami and Buffalo feature defenses that would push even Brady to the limit. Luckily three of the first four are at home. That counts for a lot against defenses that love to blitz.

Garoppolo should be ready for this. Most quarterbacks are thrust into the fire long before they’ve had a chance to apprentice for two seasons under a Hall of Fame quarterback. And if the Patriots are ever going to be able to get something for Garoppolo, now is the time to showcase him.

Cassel’s 2008 has some similarities, but he was a less-talented player facing less-talented teams. He performed as you’d expect a Belichick-prepared player would, and probably would’ve made some noise in the playoffs had the Jets just beaten the Dolphins in Week 17, allowing the Pats in.

It’s a tall order for Garoppolo facing four very good defenses, but should be better prepared than Cassel was with all this time to prepare. I have no doubt Belichick will have Garoppolo ready to go with a plan that suits his strengths, which just happen to be very similar strengths to Brady’s.

And in the long run, getting a look at Garoppolo now is really what’s best for the Patriots organization.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KvrEZOaR6Q

Will the Black Unicorn mean the return of the 1,000 yard Rusher?

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That’s idiotic, you say, the Patriots haven’t had a 1,000 yard rusher in 4 years, that’s not how their offense functions. BB and McDaniels never feed the rock to an RB enough for that to happen and the short passing game is essentially the running game. The additions they made in their offense (Hogan, Bennett, Washington, Lewis back from ACL) are in the passing game not rushing. And for God’s sakes, the offensive line was atrocious last year, they can’t put on Sunblock, let alone run block (you’re right that was a lazy joke). And now Jimmy G is starting, they’ll load up the box. You’re a dickhead, Conway.

All of those things can be true and there will still be a 1,000-yard rusher on the team.

A bit of history: the last time the Patriots had a 1,000-yard rusher was 2012 with current Detroit Lion and failed Jets experiment, Steven Ridley. Before that, the last 1,000-yard rusher was in 2010 with out-of-the-league Benjarvus Green Ellis. How did those two deadbeats gain 1,000 yards. I’ll give you a hint: it rhymes with “Baron Fernandez and Slob Bonks-out-see”.

That’s right it’s the return of the 2-tight end sets with 2 elite tight ends!

At least on paper, the “Bennett and Gronk” 2 TE set has a fair chance of being better than “Hernandez and Gronk“ (i.e. the most-efficient offense in NFL history according to DVOA). But even if it doesn’t match those levels, it all but guarantees that the Pats running attack will be elite. With Gronk and the Black Unicorn (best nickname in the NFL), the Pats will have dynamic playmakers that also happen to be complete and total football players. They can run block, pass block and run precise routes. BB favorites. Also this creates the perfect set of training wheels for Garropolo.

The reason why this is so important is Garropolo now has options at the line of scrimmage, lots and lots of options. For obvious reasons, two-TE sets with two good-to-great tight ends create more offensive mismatches than any other formation. You can leave both in and run with seven blockers or you can send them both out and have essentially a 4/5 WR set, or you can leave one in to block, send one out on a seam route. This forces a huge decision for defenses pre-snap because they have to declare how they’re going to defend the match-up with their on-field personnel 15 or so seconds before the play begins or risk an incredible mismatch.

Tom Brady eats this type of fear like dripping kale Froyo, Jimmy will eat them like deep dish pizza (he’s from Illinois). And because NFL coaches are a bunch of risk-averse checkers players, they will show their hand and likely bring in safety help.

An extra safety sprints on the field, then another. Very few safeties in the league can handle Gronk or Bennett one-on-one in run blocking. Or if a bolder coach, like Rex decides to leave an extra linebacker on the field to try to maintain some strength against the run, Brady and Garropolo have options: run the ball away from the linebacker, play action to freeze him, or attack him with one of the 20 quick release receivers currently on the roster. And if defenses actually show respect for the run and leave two extra linebackers on the field, Brady and even Garropolo will eat and eat well. Hell, even, Tim Tebow would eat well if he could hit Buzzards Bay.

The last concern is the O-line. 2012 had Solder and Vollmer at the Tackle spots (sound familiar?), Mankins at LG was an upgrade over whoever takes over, but Wendell and Connolly at C and RG are both downgrades to Stork or Andrews and the crew at RG. Scar’s back and the team will run block well. But the truth is that defenses will be so worried about getting burned that running lanes should amply open up. Scar will be declared a genius and he is, but not because of how well the Pats run this season, that will all be because of Bennett’s addition.

So all of this boils down to the question: who gets those touches. Who better to follow in the footsteps of Green Ellis and Ridley than LeGarrette Blount? In fact, that’s the kind of runner he is, he will have a hole at the line of scrimmage and we all know he has straight line speed that can take it 50 yards. Talk about hot takes: LaGarrette Blount on the docket for a cool g.

A few Residual notes: a.) 25.7% of Green Ellis’ 3,914 career yards came during the ’10 campaign! #FeelTheBenj!

b.) Steven Ridley has rushed for 2,907 yards in his career. He gained 1263 in 2012. 43% of his career happened that year.

c.) If Isaiah Crowell becomes available, and by all accounts he will, the Pats should pounce. He’s a perfect compliment to their RBs and would allow them to move on from Blount. He’d likely have 1,500 All purpose as a competent receiver as well.

1st POST MEA CULPA: I’d like to apologize to my family. I had a goal to quit the NFL and I fell off the wagon, barely made it through training camp last year, Goddammit I was right back in the mix to hear Mike Tomlin bitch about communications systems. Helped that TB beat Goodell in court. I love football and hate the NFL. Anyway, I’m back I understand that makes me some kind of hypocrite, but I’m good with it, I hope you are too. Gonna be a great season! And now we get to evaluate Jimmy.

Just more fuel to Brady’s fire.

Deflategate Day 535: En Banc Hearing Denied

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Deflategate En BancIt’s looking more likely that ever that Tom Brady will be sitting the first four games of the 2016 season. The second circuit court denied Brady and the NFLPA’s appeal for an En Banc hearing on Deflategate, leaving limited options for the defamed quarterback. Brady could try to take it to the Supreme Court, but he’s just about out of options.

For Pats fans, there are so many emotions. Everyone is sick of Deflategate. Even those of us who are apoplectic at the way the NFL treated their star player are ready to be done with it. And by now it’s easy to find the silver linings.

Jimmy Garoppolo is now poised to play at Arizona, vs. Miami, vs. Houston and vs. Buffalo. Three home games, but four defenses that are daunting. In the long term, it’s great for the Patriots to get a look at Garoppolo now, in his third year. Next offseason will be the last time the Pats could move Garoppolo and get something for him. So this will be an audition as much as anything.

And really, even with Brady, the Pats usually sputter a bit out of the gate. Even a 1-3 record wouldn’t be insurmountable, while 3-1 or 2-2 are usually par for the course anyway. So to the 31 teams who are reacting like the Bills, nah-nah-nah-poo-poo the Patriots are still going to be fine, not only this season, but for future seasons because they’ll truly know what they have in their backup QB.

Plus Brady gets a lighter training camp and shortened season which can only benefit the soon-to-be 39 year-old. He’ll have four weeks to stew and will be ready to unleash hell on the Cleveland Browns on October 9th, before making his first home appearance against the Bengals. I’m most curious how Brady studies the offense in those first four games, what he sees and how he can help implement ways to use new players like Martellus Bennett.

But it still sucks. The NFL played dirty from the start with this whole affair. From refusing to correct false information in the media, to planting lies in the media to support their version, to moving the goal posts after the appeal, the NFL was in it to win it the entire time. Forget the actual truth and evidence. They saw their chance to finally get those Patriots, and pulled out all the stops to make sure they prevailed.

Maybe Brady tries to go to the Supreme Court. He certainly has the legal team in place for it. Maybe, like many would love, he opens a defamation lawsuit against the NFL (that’s where things would get uber interesting). Or maybe this really is the end of a crazy charade that lasted over a year-and-a-half all over footballs that were .4% below what the Ideal Gas Law predicted they would be.

Malcolm Butler Named 8th Best CB on Ringer NFL Show

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I think that Malcolm Butler is sort of a laboratory to prove how much confidence has to do with the Cornerback position. I remember speaking to him the Thursday before the Super Bowl…and he lacked confidence, he was not brash or bold or anything. I talked to him before the season last year, 8 months after he made one of the biggest plays ever, and there was just a different air about him. That showed on the field and now I think he’s a top ten player. I just don’t think you can put any sort of quantitative value on confidence.

 

-Kevin Clark: The Ringer NFL Show
July 8, 2016

I found the nugget about Butler’s growth to be interesting. I love the energy and confidence Butler plays with and I think it’s been one of his best allies on the field. Butler said himself after the Super Bowl he knew he was gonna make a play. A little swagger seemed to be his secret weapon.