PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

So you get to sit down with BB on a bench and ask him one question, one question only. He will tell you the absolute truth in full detail. No dodging. You going X’s and O’s, or gossip seeking? What say you? -Luke

by

Holy hoodie, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t contemplate this question before. Thought usually it’s more in the context of asking him something at a Friday press conference.

If it was just him and me, mano a mano, I think I’d like to really get him to in-depth on is modern defensive strategy. How he chooses his defensive front each week, what he looks to take away, what he looks to attack, who two-gaps, what he’s willing to give up to gain. That kind of stuff because really those are kind of the great unknowns with BB and what makes him special.

If I had to condense it down to the Friday press conference version I’d ask about the rise of importance of a third defensive end or designated pass rusher. He’s commented how the third cornerback, the slot guy, is essentially a starter now, so I’d like to know how he views that extra pass rusher. In the past this isn’t the kind of role player the Pats put a lot of value in, but since Mark Anderson in 2011 it’s kind of grown a bit.

The gossip stuff doesn’t really interest me. The guy’s one of the greatest football minds ever, so I’d want to ask him about football.

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Defensive Tackle

by

There were some major headlines this offseason for the Patriots at the defensive tackle position. The first was Vince Wilfork restructuring his contract after a somewhat acrimonious beginning in February. 

Tommy Kelly did the same and, along with the first-round selection of the explosive Dominique Easley in the first round of the draft, the Pats have some promise in the front middle of their front seven.

The Pats still have some questions at the position, but if everyone is healthy it might just be one of the deepest and most talented spots on the roster.

Here’s our defensive tackle preview.

Both Wilfork and Kelly appear headed in the right direction after OTAs. While both could open training camp on the PUP list, it seems plausible that both will be ready to go sooner than later.

Can both return to their previous level of play after major injuries? That’s one of the biggest questions facing the Pats defense. However, unlike last year, the Pats have built up some depth behind their projected starting two-some.

Chris Jones and Sealver Siliga were thrown into the fire last year, Jones sooner than Siliga, but by January both were solid players trending upward. The Pats have failed to develop any youth at the position, so Jones and Siliga’s 2013 seasons are reason for optimism regardless of Wilfork and Kelly.

Joe Vellano also did a good job in relief duty in 2013, but with the addition of Easley and the return of Wilfork and Kelly, he could be pushed off the roster. He was the least impressive of the 2013 fill-ins and just lacks the size necessary to hold up and the speed to make an impact on passing downs.

The addition of Easley is one of the most exciting developments for the defense in recent seasons. Easley has rare explosion and despite coming off a second ACL tear, should be ready to go early in the season.

Easley should make an instant impact on third downs, a place where the Patriots have been worst in the NFL over the last four seasons. He is outside the mold of the kind of defensive tackles Bill Belichick tends to like and this points to the evolution of the game as well as Belichick’s thinking.

Marcus Forston and Seali’i Espenesa round out the depth at nose tackle, while Armond Armstead’s disappointing retirement thins out the depth a bit behind Jones and Easley for a pass rusher.

Projection: If everyone is healthy the Patriots will be able to play any front with perfect personnel. A penetrating 4-3? Easley and Jones have you covered inside. A two-gapping 3-4? Wilfork and Kelly can play any spot up front.

Most likely Belichick will mix and match his defensive tackles, with one attacking and another taking away multiple gaps. Who will be where on any given play in any given game is anyone’s guess.

And that’s just the way Belichick likes it.

Previously:

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Offensive Line

Tight Ends

its week 4 of the 2014 season. what happens at the CB position opposite of Revis? I’m not sure at all how Browner affects Dennard? if Browner works out then is Dennard done or is he held on to incase there is an injury? Can Logan Ryan be used like an Arrington upgrade?

by

Unfortunately I think there will be at least minor injuries that will make this easier to flush out, but assuming full health it obviously seems like there’s almost too many talented corners to get them all on the field.

Revis is out there obviously, and I think the Kyle Arrington is just about set in stone in the slot. While I think Logan Ryan can play every position in the secondary, I like how Arrington matches up on guys in the slot a little bit better. Just look at what Arrington did against Welker in two games – 8 catches for 69 yards total. That’s usually a sub-par single game for Welker.

So I think what we have to prepare for is for the secondary to be a matchup defense. Maybe you see Browner on the bigger outside receivers one week, the next you see Dennard a bit more on a smaller shiftier guy. Or maybe it’s Ryan. It really could change week to week.

If everyone’s healthy I don’t think we can just pencil in anyone outside of Revis and Arrington. It could be a legitimate rotation that is unpredictable for the opposition. Browner certainly has his strengths, but he also has some weaknesses that could be protected with Dennard and Ryan in certain matchups.

One thing to watch will be how much play Dennard and Ryan get in the slot during camp. You have to have a second slot guy for sure, but Dennard has been exclusively outside in his two years even though he seems to have good size and tenacity to play in the slot.

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Tight End

by

With Rob Gronkowski ending the 2013 season on IR once again, most prognosticators figured the Pats would make a move on a tight end, either in free agency, the draft, or both this offseason.

The Pats re-signed Michael Hoomanawanui, but didn’t spend a single draft pick at the position, when most mocks gave them one of Jace Amaro, Troy Niklas, CJ Fiedorowicz or Austin Seferian Jenkins.

The Pats did kick the tires on a few of the injured free agent tight ends but never made a move. What can we expect to see from a lighter-than-expected tight end group this season?

Here’s our preview of a sparse tight end group.

First, the good news. Rob Gronkowski seems on track to be ready to go week one. If Gronk can stay healthy this year (granted a big if given his size and the hits/tackles he takes) the Pats’ need for another impact tight end is significantly less.

You can throw Michael Hoomanawanui out there for your two-tight set, or even James Develin who saw time at tight end in OTAs and you’ll be fine. Or maybe DJ Williams lives up to the potential he demonstrated when he won the 2010 John Mackey Award as the best tight end in college football.

Will it be the Gronk/Hernando show of 2011? No, but that was rare and not the kind of offense you can easily manufacture.

But if Dustin Keller is healthy, he’d make a lot of sense to shore up the F-receiver spot and with Gronk they’d be a potent pairing.

However, there is a lot of pressure on Gronk this year, especially given that he’s coming off an ACL surgery and usually it takes a full season to get back to normal. 

If Gronk once again ends the year on IR, it might make sense for the Pats to not pick up his contract option, as hard as that is to believe. Would anyone object to putting that money toward Darrelle Revis?

But if Gronk does go down again this year, the Pats are right back where they ended last season, without a true threat or blocking force at tight end. Not even Keller would fully fix that problem.

Perhaps one of the two undrafted rookies – Asa Watson or Justin Jones could emerge. Watson is more of an F-tight end who is coming off heart surgery (never a great thing), while Jones has monstrous size at 6’8", 274 pounds, but looked extremely slow in OTAs. 

It’s hard to think either will have an impact as rookies, especially after we were burned so badly by Zach Sudfeld last preseason.

Projection:

No secret here, it’s all about Gronk. If he starts week one and is standing on the field as the final gun sounds for the Pats last playoff game, there’s a very good chance the Pats will be playing in the Super Bowl. If Gronk sustains another major injury, or one of the previous major injuries to his back, arm or knee return, the Pats offense will struggle to replace him and take a big step backwards.

This is a feast-or-famine way to enter a season. There’s a ton on the line for both the player and the team. It will be one of, if not the biggest, storyline to monitor this season.

But with three roster spots open as of this posting, the Pats might still have another move or two to make at the position.

Previously:

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Offensive Line