We’re back on the internet airwaves tonight at 11pm EST breaking down the last week in Patriots news and evaluating some potential offseason moves. Tune in live here.
Top 5 Patriots who will take big steps in 2011
One factor that is often discounted when projecting needs for your team next year is the development of younger players. For those who just finished their rookie season they are just now, for the first time since the offseason before their last year of college, getting a chance to slow down and catch their breath.
Here’s my list of five players I expect to see take big steps forward in 2011.
Taylor Price
Price had a couple things going against him in his rookie year. First, he was coming from a run first, basic college offense, and second, he got a later start than most because he couldn’t report until his after his college’s late graduation.
So he was already behind the learning curve, but couldn’t even get into rookie mini-camp with everyone else and get a jump. Price had essentially a red shirt year in 2011, but his two hallmarks, size and speed, are what the Patriots definitely need more of. We should hope to see something out of him in camp and preseason.
Jermaine Cunningham
Few positions provide a great transitional challenge that college defensive end to NFL outside linebacker but Cunningham showed enough potential to be considered a possible three down linebacker for the Pats. His progress is tough to totally grade due to the nagging calf injury he had late in the year, but when healthy he was used in a variety of ways and made a couple big plays along the way, most notably just getting enough pressure to force Peyton Manning into a game-sealing interception.
Brandon Spikes
Spikes was really making great progress when he was suspended the final four games of the regular season for taking an ADHD medicine that was banned. Spikes provided the instant “Mike” inside linebacker presence that we thought he would. He comes down hill hard and is excellent at timing his run blitzes. I look forward to watching him continue to blast offensive lineman backwards. The biggest thing for Spikes is quickly identifying play fakes, something he was really picking up as evidenced by his interception of Mark Sanchez in the 45-3 game. The year of experience, both on and off the field, should really pay huge dividends for Spikes.
Brandon Tate
No one really cuts Brandon Tate much slack for some reason, but coming off a 24-catch season that was essentially his first full year in three seasons, it’s actually a pretty good start. Compared to how much we saw Chad Jackson on the field during his first year, it looks like the coaching staff does see potential in Tate. Consider what Tory Holt had to say about Tate after the seasons:
Brandon Tate, I think he is a speed guy. We all saw that he can stretch the field. More playing experience will help him in terms of slowing down and understanding the game and knowing where to be, being that much more reliable for Tom. I think that will come.
So while people like Mike Lombardi are saying the Pats do need to add another vertical threat this off-season, let’s not fall asleep on Tate developing into a more all around receiving threat that defenses will have to respect.
Patrick Chung
I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who will continue to hate my boy Patchung! for the botched playoff fake punt. But the truth is that Chung will likely be the number one safety in 2011 for the Pats. He’s a versatile player, who was a victim of that versatility when he was forced to play as a slot cornerback for much of the second half of the season. If he’s allowed to move back into more of a Rodney Harrison-type role he should really excel, especially given how much experience he gained in 2011.
Logan Mankins (aka My Mankins) is a tremendous player (who mauls fools). He (and his beard) has been a fixture on our offensive line since we drafted him in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft (to the shock of everyone, including Mel Kiper and his hair) and he remains an important part of our future plans (i.e. winning Super Bowls with extreme prejudice). Unfortunately, we have not been able to reach a long-term agreement, despite many attempts and proposals by both sides (you guys know how long this shit has been dragging on) . That remains our objective in utilizing the franchise designation (so don’t get too mad, Mankins, it’s worth $10.1 million!) and we are hopeful that Logan will be a Patriot (and maul many non-Patriot fools) for many years to come.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/logan-mankins-aka-my-mankins-is-a-tremendous/
Bill Belichick—I think he’s the best coach in history, and this is arguably his second best coaching job after his performance in 2001. He traded Randy Moss and Laurence Maroney, then lost seven key players to injured reserve. Belichick has done it with the youngest defense in the NFL and 18 undrafted players, including his two top running backs. He runs the defense, and he runs the offense. He has a great feel for playing to the strengths of individuals and identifying and playing to the strengths of the team, and that has been very evident this season. Belichick has gotten more out of a number of players than any coach should have.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/bill-belichicki-think-hes-the-best-coach-in/
Last chance to vote PatsPropaganda as Best Patriots Blog!
Today is the final day to vote for the New England Sports Blog awards presented by CSNNE and TruFan! If you’ve already voted before today please vote again!
Let’s meet a global Patriots fan: Ireland’s own NewEnglandSpitfire
In our unending effort to unite all forms of social media related to the New England Patriots we’ll be trying to bring you a Patriots fan from a foreign destination from time to time this off-season.
Today we have an awesome fan from Ireland. She goes by NewEnglandSpitfire and here’s our Q and A with her…
How did you become a Patriots fan?
When I lived in Worcester, Mass. I started to love Football, because my Daddy has been a fan since he was born and raised there. I watched the games with him all the time, and watched my first Superbowl in 97, when the Packers defeated the Patriots. There’s just something about the New England Patriots that gets me going every time they play.
Favorite current player? Favorite all time player?
My favorite current player would be.. Wes Welker. I have never seen a player improve so much by just switching what team they play on. When we got him from Miami, it was like ‘Welker who?’, then BAM, here comes an amazing WR. It was a nice surprise.
Now, for my favorite all time player.. Corey Dillon. He had the best attitude on and off field that I’ve ever seen in a player. I believe in God, and he wasn’t afraid to admit his faith to ESPN when they interviewed him. He has balls.
Best Patriots game of 2010
Best Patriots game of all time in my opinion? October 4th, facing the Miami Dolphins. Going out to halftime, I thought we were either done for, or we were going to cut it close. The coaches must have said something right in the lockerrooms, because when they came out, our Special Teams alone dominated the living crap out of the Dolphins, making it so that our offense was hardly out the entire second half.
What inspired you to make Patriots fan videos?
When I first joined the TTC, there were little to no Patriots video makers on Youtube. I figured we needed some, since people were telling me about this circle of video makers, and how awesome it was. I love it.
What should the Patriots #1 offseason priority be?
Offense we have nailed pretty good. Problem is, we need to train up our 2nd string as well. God forbid we get an injury, we’re screwed. We have our starters doing spectacular, and we held the spot for the number 1 offense for awhile, I’m just worried a few of the starters will get injured, and we’ll be left with a terrible season. My point is, we need more playing time for our rookies.
Most overrated and underrated Patriots?
Most overrated? Tom Brady. Don’t get me wrong, he is a wonderful Quarterback, and leader for the team, but we focus way too much on him and not enough on our rising stars such as Woodhead, and Green-Ellis. Too often I hear people talk about how ‘hot’ Tom Brady is, and as a woman, yes, he is drop-dead gorgeous, but number one, I don’t go for the long hair, and two, looks do not make up a player- talent does. We’re overlooking other players, and focusing on one, and even though Tom Brady is an excellent Quarterback, we need to remember that there’s 52 or so other members on the team.
Are there other Patriots fans in Ireland?
The NFL is gaining fans around the world, but as it’s extremely hard to view the games there, it probably won’t surpass Gaelic Football. There are games on TV there- rarely. You basically have to watch it online, or order a very expensive, special channel.
It’s official, my Mankins has been franchise tagged. Did anyone out there really expect the Patriots weren’t going use every bit of leverage that they have? Of course not. The question now is which one of three ways this goes:
- Mankins plays the year under the Franchise Tag which would net him $10.1 million. Some sort of hold out might be likely in this situation.
- This was only a way to extend their bargaining window and Pats/Mankins work out a long term deal.
- Pats find a suitable trade partner and unload him to a team they don’t have to see much of.
One small reason for optimism is that I can’t imagine the Pats really want to pay my Mankins $10.1 million this year. The trade price would be steep, certainly at least a 1st round pick.