An Independent Patriots Blog
Patriots DVOA Chart Updated 11/4/10
The Patriots offense had a good game, but the defense stumbled a bit. Special Teams remains strong.
(Note: High Offensive/Special Teams number are better, but you want your Defensive Number to be low, into the negatives)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-dvoa-chart-updated-11410-the-patriots/
Some nice little Patriots nuggest interspersed throughout, just ignore the Ladainian Tomlinson pump up speech part.
I usually subscribe to the Bill Belichick theory of only focusing on the here and now, but let’s take a quick glance toward February and take inventory of which Patriots will be Free Agents this coming offseason.
Logan Mankins – assuming Mankins is the same old mauling Mankins we’re used to he might be the biggest priority Free Agent this coming offseason. I’m not sure if the bridge can be mended between him and the Patriots, but he’s still young and you can’t say that for the rest of the offensive line, save Sebastian Vollmer. It might be too late to sign Mankins long term, but I expect the Patriots will give it one last shot. He’s too good not to.
Matt Light – I know Light is a popular whipping boy when he has a bad game, but I think he’s actually still pretty good and can still give the Pats another solid year or two. A lot of it will depend on how the Pats feel about moving Sebastian Vollmer to LT, and putting Kaczur back at RT. That could very well be the plan given Vollmer’s ceiling. But the decision on Light will be an interesting one as he’s yet another locker room leader who’s been with the Pats since the start of the dynasty.
Fred Taylor – Given the injuries over the past two years it’s probably safe to assume the Patriots will move on from Fred, barring a miraculous rebirth this season.
Kevin Faulk – This one will depend on how Faulk’s rehab from a torn ACL goes. Does he still want to play? I think if he does and the Patriots still think he can contribute he could be back on a one year deal. One thing’s for sure, he’ll either be back with the Pats or he’ll retire.
Sammy Morris – Morris has lost the speed that made him a decent fill in option at halfback. He can still play some fullback and is a solid contributor on special teams, but it’s a safe bet the Pats move on.
Gerard Warren – Warren has been a great addition this season, playing on a one year deal. It would be smart for the Patriots to bring him back as insurance. You can never have enough versatile defensive lineman.
Quinn Ojinnaka – Ojinnaka is a backup player but is versatile. His fate could be tied to Mankins and Light.
Jared Page – Page has been hurt as of late, just as he was starting to come on. Hard to know what the Pats brass think his ceiling is. But from the limited sample size I think they’ll try to lock him up for a couple more seasons. Clearly the Pats have no problem keeping four safeties. Some of his fate could be tied to what they think of Sergio Brown who is younger and cheaper.
Benjarvus Green-Ellis – Law Firm is having a break out season and with the projected losses of Taylor and Morris it seems to make sense that Benny will get a multi-year extension. Expect him to be joined by Danny Woodhead and a high round draft pick.
Tracy White – White has been a special teams monster since coming over after last cuts from the Eagles. He should be back on a 1-2 year deal.
Ryan Wendell – Wendell is a backup guard and his fate, like Ojinnaka’s, is probably tied to Logan Mankins.
Kyle Arrington – After making a name for himself on special teams in 2009, Arrington has taken the starting RCB spot from Darius Butler and not given it up. With Leigh Bodden returning, it could put Arrington in an interesting position. Will he go back to special teams? Can he replace Jonathan “the human target” Wilhite at nickel corner? Personally I think Arrington is a Patriots-type player and should be locked up. You can never have enough physical defensive backs, who are killer special teams players.
PatsPropaganda.com 2011 Internal Free Agent Priority List
CHFF: Pats #1, Colts #2… Just Like Old Times..
I don’t usually post power rankings but I think most of the other power rankings are really underrating the Colts. I’m scared to see what Peyton does to our defense. Although if you watch last year’s Pats-Colts matchup (ONLY THE FIRST HALF) the Patriots defense kept Manning largely in check. We’ll see if the improved defense can do it again this year. And for the entire game.
I thought this was a joke at first but it’s true, Tom Brady interrupted the conference call between the Boston media and Eric Mangini today. The transcript is here, but you can listen for yourself here.
TOM BRADY [passing through room on way from press conference]: Hey, what’s your plan to stop Tom Brady this week?
EM [Laughing]: He is such a god in every area. I don’t think it’s humanly possible. I mean, you talk about football player, movie star…
TOM BRADY: You wouldn’t say that if we were just sitting here talking.
EM: I am just so happy I get to talk to him some time.
TOM BRADY: I’ll see ya; take care.
EM [to media]: That’s great; hopefully that won’t be the closest we get to him.
NFLN Playbook Review: Pats vs. Vikings
Great breakdown of the game-sealing drive and the players who made it happen.
Kirwan: Patriots pulling off rare feat of winning while rebuilding
Must Read Alert! Pat Kirwan has always had great stuff and of course after reading his must-read book Take Your Eye Off The Ball I find him even more must-readable. If that makes sense. This article breaks down your 2010 New England Patriots like none other have done before.
Kirwan really hits the nail on the head with how the offense must protect the defense this year. The big thing is that the Patriots young defense should be considerably better at the end of the season than they even are now.
Mike Lombardi mentioned on a recent podcast with Bill Simmons that the good thing about a young team is that you can practice hard. When you have a team of vets they kind of hit their stride midway through the season then they cruise. But young teams will continue to get after it in practice and continue to improve.
So yes, some of the numbers and stats on defense are scary. But right now they’re winning and that provides a little breathing room for a defense that is sure to be inconsistent in the next month or so. By the time January rolls around this defense should be peaking.
As a rule I try not to jump into mock drafts or big name free agents as the offseason begins. The priority must start with the Patriots internal free agents because those holes would be best filled by players who have already been groomed in-house. Sometimes you hope that certain players make a leap otherwise […]
