An Independent Patriots Blog
Great read on Akeem Ayers. No idea how the Titans had no use for this guy. After spending all offseason wondering why the Pats didn’t go out and get a quality third edge player, they found one in-season in Ayers.
Pretty crazy how much success the Pats have had the last two seasons with guys acquired after Week 1. Siliga, Chris Jones, Blount, Wright, Ayers, Casillas is quite a list of impact players.
Of 420 defensive snaps played over the last six games, the Patriots have been in sub packages (which call for at least one extra player in the secondary) a staggering 377 times. That means they were only in their base or goal-line defense on just 43 snaps over the last six games
Quick-hit thoughts around NFL, Patriots – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston
As has been the case since 2010, Sub is the new “base” and why we now call the 34/43 “regular”. Regular is a run-stopping package. So when next summer when the 3-4 vs. 4-3 is a major topic of conversation, ignore the noise. It’s really just the defense that BB teaches from.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/of-420-defensive-snaps-played-over-the-last-six/
This will be one of the big questions of the offseason and it will be an interesting one.
Mayo is an excellent captain and leader, and his dedication to football and Belichick’s appreciation of what he brings to the field has been clear…
BUT…
Hightower looks like a capable replacement as play-caller as Mayo is coming off his second-straight injury-shortened season. Mayo has speed and intangibles, but has never been a pivotal playmaker.
Boiled down to the pure financials of it, Mayo’s cap hits are $10.6 million and $10.4 million the next two seasons. That’s a lot and given the history of the Patriots, it makes him a prime target for restructure.
Mayo seems like the kind of guy who would understand that. He just saw it happen last year with Wilfork.
It’s been pretty defined. Chung is the starting strong safety and plays primarily in the box, but they will drop him in Cover-2 occasionally. He’s had a fairly solid year in coverage, but struggles against big tight ends. Still, he’s been much better in his second stint in New England.
On passing downs they’ll pull Chung for Harmon who has better range on the back end. Sometimes they’ll even play all three of them.
McCourty has done just about everything this year. Usually, he’s the free safety playing Cover-1, but he will come up and man cover tight ends sometimes. He’ll even occasionally blitz.
Tavon Wilson is behind Chung at the strong safety spot, but has picked up some spot duty throughout the season. Not as much as his rookie year in 2012, but definitely more that 2013.
Appreciate the insight into this year’s draft class, I don’t touch that stuff until the Pats season is over, so it’s interesting to hear it’s deep on tackles. I’m still fine re-signing Solder, but they have some protection now.
I think they take one or two guards this year regardless of how free agency plays out. Even if it’s a guy like Halapio who gets cut, at least they’re trying to round out their depth.
Like in 2005, when a vicious hit to his left shin in Week 14 against the Bills left Brady unable to walk. He played the next week, against the Buccaneers, and suffered a sports hernia that left his testicles at least three times their normal size. He played four more games, including the playoffs, with a bad shin and awful swelling down below. His backup at the time, Matt Cassel, tells this story, setting up the easiest of punch lines. “So, yeah,” he says, “Tom Brady has big balls.”
https://www.patspropaganda.com/like-in-2005-when-a-vicious-hit-to-his-left-shin/
