PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Notes on the Patriots-Chargers Re-Watch

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While the RedZone Channel is the greatest invention of the modern football watching experience, DirecTVs Short Cuts (each game in a half hour) isn’t far behind. 

While it’s hard sometimes to get a read on the personnel before the snap because they are cut so tightly, it’s an easy way to go back and see what happened without having to be constantly fast forwarding.

Anyway, this morning I re-watched the Patriots-Chargers game and some additional interesting tidbits caught my eye.

I am really curious to see Mike Reiss’ defensive snap totals this week because it seems like Shawn Crable and Dane Fletcher are getting more snaps.

On the re-watch I continue to be impressed with Fletcher. He did some blitzing, but he was primarily used as a spy on Darren Sproules. Not only did he force a fumble but he closed quickly on the ball carrier and made solid tackles. 

This is a similar role to what the Patriots use Gary Guyton for, and after seeing Guyton get beat more than a couple times (and miss a couple tackles) I’m starting to wonder if Fletcher might not overtake Guyton at some point this season.

Looks like the Pats can pretty much put any of their defensive lineman at any position in any given package. We saw a Wilfork – Pryor – Wright 34 front at one point which was a pass rush 3-4 look. That’s something we hadn’t see before.

I’ve already heard a lot of people say it was a tale of two halves, but it was really the tale of the first 3 quarters and the fourth quarter. Once the Chargers started taking the check downs they started moving the ball. 

Clearly as an offense they want to get the ball deep but the Patriots did an excellent job of taking the deep ball away. When San Diego finally adjusted late in the second half they began to have success.

I really thought that Sergio Brown had shown enough in the preseason to make the 53-man roster. Even though he didn’t he showed up strong yesterday. You can’t understate the tackle he made in pursuit of Antonio Gates to keep him short of a first down. That was a game saving play. Not bad for an undrafted rookie.

All anyone can talk about today is how bad the Chargers were early on. Rightly so, that gave the Patriots the game. Still, this again feels like the Patriots are just making enough plays to win like they used to. 

I’m the biggest Patriots homer there is, and even I would’ve been skeptical of anyone predicting a 5-1 start.

Notes on a Great Day: Patriots Hold On Vs. Chargers

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After a crappy three hour drive I’ve finally returned home from what was just about a perfect day. It could still end up being perfect but that depends on how hurt PatChung! is. Some general thoughts from the game which is even more general considering I haven’t even seen the highlights on TV yet.

– Robert and Jonathan Kraft made a pass by the Pats fans in the seats in back of the bench, shaking hands and signing autographs. I didn’t get a pic or video. Fail.

– We were surrounded by a great group of hard core Pats fans. Even got a spirited “de-fense” chant at the end of the game.

– Deaderick > Brace

– Cunningham and Ninkovich are the 3-4 OLBs. TBC and Crable are the third down pass rushers, with Pryor in the middle. Seems like it really breaks down that simply after today.

– Fletcher’s 3-3-5 nickel package was used for the second week in a row. Coaches must like what they’re seeing.

– I wonder how much the loss of Chung hurt this defense in the second half. Can’t stress enough how important he is to the defense. Initial indications from the Boston Herald is that Chung seemed like it wasn’t major. So that’s positive.

– Did Guyton get burned a lot in coverage today? Methinks he did.

– Yes we’re 5-1 but I think the addition of Logan Mankins back into the mix can only help this running game.

– Brady wasn’t his best, but having an INT-free day probably saved the game.

– McCourty. Wow.

– Butler was back out there, need to take a closer look at how much/how he did.

– Mayo is back to being a beast.

First Half Thoughts

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its hard to know everything when youre not able to see the stats but its pretty clear the Pats D and Special Teams are carrying the offense right now.

Sitting amongst plenty of Pats fans. Feels like this one will go down to the end. Unless the Chargers keep sucking. Lets keep our fingers crossed for that.

And so it begins…

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I knew I’d be up way early this morning, but there are many preparations to be completed before i hit the road. If theres one thing I have learned about Pats game trips to San Diego it’s that you better make sure you have drive supplies, especially for the post game trip home. breakfast, coffee, sandwiches, booze and of course the best post-drinking day fluid on earth, coconut water. Shower time…