PatsPropaganda

To be honest, it hasn’t really stood out to me. I think I felt it moreso in 2011 when they hadn’t gotten close since 2007, plus there was the Myra Kraft memory that amplified it a bit.

I know Brady is close to the end, but I’d actually expect them to be even better on offense next year considering LaFell with a full year under his belt, Gronk with a full offseason where he’s not rehabbing, Tim Wright with a full offseason in the playbook and, hopefully, some reinforcements along the offensive line.

Yes, there is always a sense of urgency when you get to this point. So many things need to go your way just to be in this spot of hosting the conference championship, but I still think this team has a couple more runs in the Brady/Belichick window in them.

It’s hard not to get anxious when they’ve been so close the last four years, especially considering this is the most talented defense they’ve had since 2007 at least, and who knows how things will go with Revis this offseason, one of the biggest key pieces of it.

But yes, it’s great to see the support they’re still getting from the old guard and I’m sure those guys are itching for a Super Bowl just as much as we the fans are. Remember, another Super Bowl win for TB/BB will do as much for the dynasty’s legacy as it will for the current team.

Because of Wendell’s experience at center I’m not super scared. The interior of the line has been slightly concerning all season long and if you had to lose one of those three starters, Stork would probably be the one I’d pick. Kline has some good experience this year so it’s not like we’re throwing some undrafted rookie in there.

The interior offensive line wasn’t a strength to begin with, so they’re going from slightly concerning to slightly concerning. They can win with this group.

I think a lot of Ayers’ pass rush success in Chandler’s absence was schemed and not really because he was dominant. That said, he was VERY solid filling in and even I am surprised that he’s essentially disappeared.

The easy answer is that BB loves Chandler and Nink and feels there’s too much drop off to Ayers, at least in the running game with setting the edge.

Now, if the Pats were to get a lead going forward and it becomes a pass-defense heavy situation I think we could see some more of Ayers. Or even on third-and-long, but still, against Andrew Luck you can’t just pin your ears back and go after him, you need to maintain discipline and not let him squirt out, so even then they still might stick to a three man rush with a spy dropping out.

I’d like to see them lock up Ayers this offseason and give him some time to acclimate into to defense a little more. As I’ve said many times, they can’t run Chandler and Nink into the ground. There has to be at least a bit of a rotation with a third guy at DE. Ayers could be a solid third guy, but it seems clear he’s not there quite yet.

Yeah I agree and I hope that comes across in my gameplan article. There’s no question they need to be balanced and the only reason to stick with the run is if they’re having incredible success, which I find unlikely.

And I really don’t see them going to six OL like they did in Week 11 unless they have a second half lead and are having some success on the ground.

The Pats can play pretty much any game on offense and there’s certainly an argument to be made to spread the Colts out to exploit their secondary and average pass rush.

So it doesn’t have to be one or the other, but out of the gate I’d like to see some power runs and see how they deal with it. 

Wright is the “F” tight end on the roster, which is the position that Aaron Hernandez played. Some call it the “move” tight end. I think Wright certainly has a package of plays where he comes on, but generally speaking the offense leans a little more toward Danny Amendola as the fourth receiving option (after Edelman/LaFell/Gronk with a running back) than Wright.

I don’t want to totally rule him out but I don’t think there’s any reason to think he’s suddenly going to be the secret weapon this week. I’m sure he’ll get some snaps, especially closer to the red zone and could even pick up a touchdown, but for the regular offense his role is minimal.

Next year we could see him blossom though. We have to remember he had to learn a very complex Patriots offense on the fly and never got any time in training camp. So there’s an element of the learning curve there as well.