PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Vote for Me, Mike D!

by

Vote for Me, Mike D!

Normally I’m not one to solicit help from the internets, but I think I actually might have a shot at winning this Direct TV Displaced Fan contest. I’ve been in the top 20 each month of the season so far and the contest ends December 31st. The grand prize is a four day trip to the Super Bowl, including all kinds of fun stuff beforehand.

Just for voting you’re entered to win a free barbeque set so if you have a second and would like to cast a vote for your fearless blogger I’d much appreciate it. 

If I win I promise to document it all.

by

Playoff beard y’all.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/playoff-beard-yall/

Patriots Schwag Hunt: Ultimate Patriots Matrix Snuggie

by

fumblingforward:

Snuggie

One of my life mottos is definitely “Do Less” and today I was doing less when I came across this post from our friend at Fumbling Forward. I’ve been on many a Patriots Schwag Hunt, but this Patriots Sports Snuggie takes the whole enchilada. Some times you sit back and just let the schwag come to you. I mean is this not the Neo/Matrix outfit for a Patriots super fan?

Tell me a Colts or Jets fan wouldn’t crap themselves if they ran into me wearing this snuggie in a dark alley. Especially when I started moving in bullet time for my touchdown celebrations. This is utter domination.

I’m not going to lie, someone needs to slip this Santa Claus for me because it will be mine… oh yes, it will be mine.

Building a Defensive Game Plan For the Patriots to Stop the Jets

by

Over the course of these season we’ve charted the defensive game plans and defensive packages the New England Patriots have used. This has been an insightful lesson into what the Patriots do and who they do it with.

This week against the New York Jets the Patriots are presented with some unique challenges. Based on the fact that top interior rushers Mike Wright and Myron Pryor, as well as top nickel corner Jonathan Wilhite missed Thursday practice it’s very possible that the Pats will be without the services of all three.

Of course it’s impossible to predict what Bill Belichick will do, but here’s our best crack at it.

The Patriots were in their base 3-4 defense for 66% of the snaps in week two and I’d bet they will stick to a similar plan on first and second down. I expect this will be the run-stopping personnel:

  • Brace – Wilfork – Warren
  • Ninkovich – Spikes – Mayo – Cunningham
  • McCourty – Meriweather – Sanders – Arrington

Brandon Deaderick should be well rested so expect to see plenty of him on the defensive line as well. Vince Wilfork was used in every spot on the line the first time around, expect that to happen again, especially with Kyle Love’s progression at nose tackle.

The Jets didn’t see much of Cunningham in week two, that is another difference that hasn’t gotten much mention this week. Brandon Spikes will have to be on his toes for play action passes, that has been one of his biggest challenges in his progression.

McCourty will take on Santonio Holmes, while Arrington will take Braylon Edwards.

On third down (short – medium) the Pats will have to get a little creative since with the injuries to Wright, Pryor and Wilhite. I expect the personnel to look like this:

  • Cunningham – Wilfork – Love – Banta-Cain
  • Guyton – Mayo
  • McCourty – Meriweather – Sanders – Chung – Arrington

Wilfork and Love maintain a presence versus the run as the Jets did have some success on the ground the first time around against the Pats sub-packages.

I see the coverage match-ups as so:

  • McCourty – Holmes
  • Arrington – Edwards
  • Chung – Cotchery
  • Guyton – Keller
  • Mayo – Tomlinson

In third and longs, with a lesser threat of a run, the Patriots could bring in Darius Butler and Dane Fletcher for a dime package that looks as such:

  • Cunningham – Love – Banta-Cain
  • Fletcher – Mayo – Guyton
  • McCourty – Arrington – Meriweather – Sanders – Chung – Butler

Arrington has been used as a blitzer from this package and that’s a wrinkle the Pats could throw at Mark Sanchez. Fletcher can be used as a spy on both Sanchez or Ladainian Tomlinson, and could even be employed in the nickel package in such a role should the Pats reduce to three lineman. He will also blitz at times.

The thought of Butler lining up on Edwards could bring horrible flashbacks from week two, hopefully he’d be up to the challenge.

If the Patriots are missing their top two interior rushers in Pryor and Wright it will certainly put pressure on Gerard Warren (who had a good game week two), Deaderick, Love and Wilfork to generate some pressure up the middle on Sanchez. If he’s allowed to sit on “the spot” and get comfortable he will pick the Patriots secondary apart like most teams have this season.

Based on the game tape they’ve seen, it’s probably a somewhat safe assumption that the Jets are expecting similar personnel packages as I’ve laid out here. Of course the execution of coverages and disguises are what truly make a defense work, and that will be in the hands of the Patriots coaching staff and their players.

Tom Brady Draft Profile Flashback

by

Stumbled across this on PatsFans.com today, it’s Brady’s draft profile from Pro Football Weekly. Kind of inspiring…

In the 6th round of the 2000 NFL Draft (199th overall) from Michigan the Patriots select Tom Brady.

Notes: Baseball catcher and football quarterback in high school who was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 18th round of the June 1995 baseball draft. Opted for football and redshirted at Michigan in ‘95. Saw limited action in ’96 and ’97 and started the past two years. Completed 3 of 5 passes for 26 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in ’96, 12-15-103-0-0 in ’97, 214-350-2,636-15-12 in ’98 and 180-295-2,216-16-6 in ’99, when he often shared time with super sophomore Drew Henson. Went all the way against Alabama in the Orange Bowl and completed 34-46-369-4. Unlike many Michigan quarterbacks, Brady is a pocket-type passer who plays best in a dropback-type system.

Positives: Good height to see the field. Very poised and composed. Smart and alert. Can read coverages. Good accuracy and touch. Produces in big spots and in big games. Has some Brian Griese in him and is a gamer. Generally plays within himself. Team leader.

Negatives: Poor build. Very skinny and narrow. Ended the ’99 season weighing 195 pounds and still looks like a rail at 211. Looks a little frail and lacks great physical stature and strength. Can get pushed down more easily than you’d like. Lacks mobility and ability to avoid the rush. Lacks a really strong arm. Can’t drive the ball down the field and does not throw a really tight spiral. System-type player who can get exposed if he must ad-lib and do things on his own.

Summary: Is not what you’re looking for in terms of physical stature, strength, arm strength and mobility, but he has the intangibles and production and showed great Griese-like improvement as a senior. Could make it in the right system but will not be for everyone.