New pictures lining the halls of Gillette…
https://www.patspropaganda.com/new-pictures-lining-the-halls-of-gillette/
Matt Light Appreciation Post
Offensive lineman often go unnoticed until they have a bad game but today I’d like to take a second to throw some love at Matt Light. Since becoming the regular starter in 2001 Light has only missed 18 total games. That’s 13 in 2005 and 5 in 2009. Pretty impressive when you consider he’s often facing the other teams best pass rusher and he’s always right in the trenches.
You also have to love Light’s good nature off the field. He’s funny and has that hillbilly charm that makes him seem like the Patriot you’d most want to split a few pitchers with.
When you look around the rest of the league you can find many teams struggling to find that all-important left tackle piece. Some fans love to get on Light’s case if gives up a sack, or say that Sebastian Vollmer should take his job, but they ignore the fact that Light has been protecting Tom Brady’s blindside his entire career and has been a huge part of all the games won and touchdowns thrown. Show me a left tackle that plays ten seasons and never gives up a sack.
Not to mention how well he’s able to move in space and block on the screen passes that the Patriots love to run. He’s been an essential part of the Patriots success both on the field and off it, and never gets any of the credit he deserves.
So this post is for you, Matt Light. Thanks for the decade of work!
In their two losses (Jets/Browns) and their overtime win over the Ravens the Patriots had 0 takeaways. In their other ten wins they had 20.
Greg Bedard via Twitter
https://www.patspropaganda.com/in-their-two-losses-jetsbrowns-and-their/
Patriots Defense 8th in Bendability, Low 20s in Everything Else
The favorite quote mentioned by Patriots fans when people bag on our defense is that it’s a “bend don’t break” style. So yeah, we give up a lot of yards and first downs (i.e. the bend part which feels like we’re getting bent over and violated) before buttoning up when it counts most and holding teams to field goals or no points.
Cold Hard Football Facts has the Pats at 8th overall in Bendability which is just about the only stat I can find out there that gives any sort of a warm, fuzzy feeling about the defense. Even when you look at red zone defense, which should probably also be pretty good if you’re not “breaking”, the Pats are ranked 24th.
Everywhere else you look at stats for the Pats D and they’re not good. The closest thing I can find where they aren’t in the 20s is Defensive Passer Rating where they’re ranked 19th.
In their all-important Defensive Hog index, which CHFF says is the best stat to predict Super Bowl success, the Pats are ranked 27th.
So yes, I know stats are for losers, and the numbers have been getting better over the past few weeks, but let’s not start planning the Super Bowl parade just yet.
Tom Brady Interview 12/15
Here’s TFB keeping it on the level today. They know there’s still much work to be done and improvement to be made.
Guess Who Wasn’t at Patriots Practice Today?
Injuries are really starting to add up for the Patriots. McCourty and Brace were new additions to the hopefully still walking wounded, while Mike Wright and Myron Pryor remained out. Jonathan Wilhite if you hadn’t heard was also put on IR today, ending his season.
Not good, we need all these guys back and soon.
OH and Gerard Warren was missing too. He hurt his knee against the Bears but did return so maybe they’re just resting him. Hopefully. Otherwise your healthy defensive lineman are Wilfork (all-pro), Deaderick (7th round rookie), Love (undrafted rookie), and the FNG Louis Leonard. Eeeeeek!
NFL Playbook on the Patriots
Check out the video here. Mike Mayock breaks down the Pats and all is right with the world. I have to say that I agree with Mayock’s comments that “everybody’s getting a little carried away with the Patriots right now”.
I’m not going to complain about it. I love hearing everyone fawn over my team every time I turn on the TV. But really one loss can change that to the opposite end of the spectrum so I’m trying not to buy into the hype one way or another.
According to Football Outsiders the Pats have a 96.8% chance of having a bye in the playoffs. Obviously for a team with a lot of young guys who may or may not be hitting the rookie wall, as well as a couple veterans who are banged up, having an extra week of would be huge.
That is what matter most, continuing to improve, getting guys healthy and playing your best football about four to five weeks from right now.
The Pats are close, but as Mayock said in the Playbook segment, if they start turning the ball over or not forcing other teams to turn the ball over they won’t make it very far in the playoffs. That’s reality.