PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

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We’ve been so multiple for so many years, we don’t even consider that an issue,” McDaniels said of balancing life with and without his star tight end. “We’re working with our tight ends right now, and if he was here it would be the same type of thing. We have groupings where certain players play more and certain players play less. We were kind of a jack-of-all-trades last year and have done that many times over the course of the last eight to 10 years here. So our system is broad enough to allow for a player to be out for a specific period of time where that’s during the season, training camp or offseason.

McDaniels processing his Patriots offense

https://www.patspropaganda.com/weve-been-so-multiple-for-so-many-years-we/

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Our ultimate goal is to try to make each individual the best possible player they can be to help the team, and we’ll ask them to do numerous different things, and as we build that way and the individuals get better, the group gets better and then the team gets better.

Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner Team Up For First Time at Patriots OTAs – Extra Points – Boston.com

https://www.patspropaganda.com/our-ultimate-goal-is-to-try-to-make-each/

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Gronk at OTAs. Still rehabbing but a good sign he’s out there. And no mega arm brace for now.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/gronk-at-otas-still-rehabbing-but-a-good-sign/

Taking a closer look at Patriots’ backup linebackers

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One area of the New England Patriots’ roster that looks frighteningly thin is at linebacker. Starters Jerod Mayo, Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins are all very versatile and solid, but after them the dropoff is precipitous.

While the squad of back-up linebackers won’t have much effect on the odds on the first Patriots game of the season, an injury to one of the starters could be disastrous to a Super Bowl run.

There’s a very good chance that as many as three of these players could make the team, and while a couple of them will likely stick as special teamers-only, could any of them actually see significant time on defense?

The Pats lost middle linebackers Brandon Spikes and Dane Fletcher, both who played significant snaps. Here are the candidates to replace them:

Beauharnais looks the most intriguing on paper. He played a lot in the 2013 preseason and could have the most defensive upside of anyone.

White and Hull look primarily like special teamers and should have the inside track on a roster spot for that very reason being the most experienced veterans on this list.

Davis and Fleming projected to be primarily pass rushers when they were coming out of college. Fleming has had back-to-back seasons of tearing the same ACL, but if he can avoid tearing it again he could be a potential designated pass rusher option. He has solid size for that spot.

The rookies Gordon, Skinner and McCuller are all intriguing for their own reasons. McCuller is making the jump from division 2, where he was all-everything. 

Gordon and Skinner come from good college programs and have special teams potential. But neither were blue chip prospects.

My projection? Beauharnais wins the fourth linebacker spot and sees time both on special teams and on defense. White should also make it, while Gordon makes it for special teams as well.

The wild card? Fleming. He might not see much time at linebacker but could end up being a surprise pass rusher who sees time in sub-packages.

Patriots OTA Practice Report Linkage

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Here are some reports from the reporters who were there today. Some nuggets that stood out to me:

Jamie Collins looked bigger and rarely left the field despite a lot of rotation going on.

Jemea Thomas seeing time at Free Safety with the second team.

Roy Finch and James White standing out, those two will push not only for roster spots but playing time it seems. Though we’ll wait until the contact starts before saying anything definitive.

Starting nickel was what I expected outside of Hightower being in there instead of Collins. Though other reports said Collins was in there a ton, not sure what that means. 

Mark Harrison is actually on the field, but Armond Armstead continues to rehab whatever.

Boston.com: 10 Missing from Patriots OTA

BostonHerald.com: Mayo Participates Fully

NESN.com: Edelman, Justin Jones Stand Out

ESPNBoston.com: What Stood Out

Patriots.com: PFW’s Blogservations

Updated depth chart, with injuries in italics:

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Patriots Friday OTA Roster Report

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The media is getting a glimpse at practice, here are some nuggets on who was there and who wasn’t to digest…

Rehab Group: Wilfork, Gronk, Tommy Kelly, Will Smith, Nate Solder, Brandon Bolden, Armond Armstead, Justin Green & Deontae Skinner.

Excused Absence: Jimmy Garoppolo/Asa Watson (NFLPA Rookie Premiere in LA), Cameron Fleming (still at Stanford).

MIA: Dobson, Slater, LaFell, Dennard, Mankins, Easley, Tuipulotu.

Disappointing to see Armstead still isn’t a full-go, and I’m not sure what’s going on with Solder. No reports of offseason surgery for him. Obviously the Wilfork/Gronk/Kelly/Smith group were all expected to likely be rehabbing.

The MIA group is full of surprises outside of Easley, though I was hopeful he’d at least be in the rehab group. LaFell was practicing earlier this week, maybe he just tweaked something. Dobson not a surprise though, he’s recovering from surgery.

Mankins/Dennard/Slater are all big question marks.