PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Unlikely reunion with Brandon Spikes blows up on New England Patriots – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN

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Unlikely reunion with Brandon Spikes blows up on New England Patriots – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN

Well that’s that then. I was excited to have Spikes back and really thought he was a solid addition given the uncertainty of Mayo and Hightower. Still, it seems clear Spikes wasn’t quite the changed man he said he was last week and it’s probably better for this to happen now than in the middle of the season. 

In what feels like deja vu, Dane Fletcher now looks in line to get significant snaps with the top defense until Hightower and Mayo can return. Like Spikes, I always liked Fletcher, obviously he’s not the power run stopper Spikes is, but he comes downhill hard, tackles well and is definitely better in space than Spikes was.

In 2013 Fletcher found himself playing a lot of linebacker in the Pats all0coverage dime package, this time he might not come off the field early in the season.

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Since Brady took over as the Patriots starting quarterback three games into the 2001 season, New England has started only two men under center (Matt Cassel is the other). Over the same 13-year span, the rest of the AFC East has cycled through 38 starting QBs (the Dolphins have had 16, the Bills 12, and the Jets 10).

Burning NFL thoughts on Cam Newton, Clay Matthews, Tom Brady and more | The MMQB with Peter King

https://www.patspropaganda.com/since-brady-took-over-as-the-patriots-starting/

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https://www.patspropaganda.com/1945/

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“When you talk about up front, I think I’d have to go to defensive tackle as opposed to an end, because tackles are harder to take out of a game plan by an offensive coordinator,” Schwartz opined. “You can chip a defensive end with a running back, (or) you can put a tight end to that side (and) make him redirect. But the defensive tackle is closer to the quarterback, and he’s harder to scheme. About the only way you can really scheme is slide the center his way, and most of them are good at dealing with that.”

“They’re the closest guy to the quarterback,” Schwartz later continued. “That quarterback wants to set up in the pocket. They can be a factor in every single play. If the quarterback throws quick – he throws on three steps, or even some of the one-step stuff that guys do now – defensive ends can be rendered ineffective on a lot of that. It’s hard to speed rush, it’s hard to be able to affect the quarterback if he’s throwing the ball so quick. But defensive tackles are always in the fight.”

Jim Schwartz: defensive tackles, not ends, have more value in modern NFL – Buffalo Rumblings

This is why I’d never complain about the Pats going DT in the first round the last two seasons.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/when-you-talk-about-up-front-i-think-id-have-to/

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https://www.patspropaganda.com/1950/