http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD5LzsHazHs
Oh boy, it’s a new Tom Brady highlight film!
Best of Tom Brady | Career Highlights (by mike vaz)
(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
People talk about how the WRs and Jamie Collins will and need to have a breakout year but what about the people who need to take that final step like Solder, Chandler and Hightower
Fair point. I think Solder had an okay year last year, but it would be nice to see him take that final step into an elite left tackle. I certainly think he’s capable of it, just has had some inconsistency.
As for Hightower, I’m not sure what his role will be this year. On one hand I thought he overcame a rough start when Mayo went down and really came into his own toward the end of the season. He was really thrust into the spotlight and even admitted he might’ve been trying to do too much when he was suddenly the defensive signal caller.
But what will 2014 hold for him? Could it be that with Mayo back and Collins’ emergence that Hightower might be relegated to a two-down linebacker role? It’s certainly a possibility. The key for him as I see it is proving his worth on passing downs. He might not have the speed of Mayo and Collins but perhaps there’s a pass rushing role he could carve out for himself.
As for Chandler I think he just has to keep balling like he did last year. The talent level along the rest of the defensive line should be much improved and that should take some of the attention away from Chandler, enabling him to be even more productive. Just stick Easley out there and watch how much easier it gets for Chandler while the guard and center are trying to account for an interior defensive lineman flying off the ball.
Most of all the Pats just need Chandler to stay healthy, because if he goes down the dropoff at defensive end is precipitous.
A History of the NFL in 95 Objects: Bill Walsh’s 49ers Coaching Tapes | The MMQB with Peter King
A History of the NFL in 95 Objects: Bill Walsh’s 49ers Coaching Tapes | The MMQB with Peter King
Not necessarily a Pats read but a great one from Greg Bedard nonetheless if you love preparation. It’s clear how much of Bill Walsh’s philosophy that Bill Belichick adopted.
Here was one nugget from Walsh that stood out to me and spoke to BB’s front toward the media.
Every year you’re going to have a calculated approach taken by a couple writers, especially when you’re doing well, to take the team apart. And they delight in it. They like to see you squirm, they like to see all of us squirm. If they could feel they affected us and we didn’t do well, they have won the war. It’s that simple. I guess we’re fortunate we don’t have more of them. If were in New York City or some place it would be eight or 10 of them doing this. But every year, the same guy locally, there’s a couple of them, will do anything they can to disrupt us. They can make it black and white, defense versus offense, coaches versus players, owners versus coach. They’ll do it every conceivable way, and they’ll get a formula and a plan and methodically work on it. And they work on it. They really calculate it. These guys are not simple-minded people. They’re very bright guys. Just find a way to deal with this stuff, because it will happen. We’ll have two or three things come up, we don’t even know what they are yet, but he’ll come up with something to try to break us. And nobody’s going to break us. Nobody’s going to take us apart.”
Revis, [Brandon] Browner, [Devin] McCourty, [Kyle] Arrington, [Alfonzo] Dennard all these guys – it’s only going to make everyone better, including our corps with the receivers. You like going against guys that are very, very good. If you don’t, you’re in the wrong business. If you can get open on guys like that, it’s only going to make you better for Sundays.
Julian Edelman, with no mention of how burgers make you better.
Extra points from New England Patriots’ Play60 event – ESPN Boston
Even in the offseason the Pats are still giving back to the community. Don’t let that other news from today going on in a courtroom ruin all the good the rest of the team continues to do.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/even-in-the-offseason-the-pats-are-still-giving/
Aree you saying that Jemea Thomas could be that coverage LB we’ve been looking for?
No, I think he’s probably going to be a slot corner or a safety. Which kind of safety is TBD, although I think the safety depth chart isn’t really divided between free and strong like it used to be.
And I don’t really think the need for a coverage linebacker is that big. Mayo and Collins are both as athletic as linebackers come. Despite them checking out Wesley Woodyard, I’ve never really expected them to suddenly stick a 6’, 225 pound linebacker out there. Maybe in a special teams role, but unless you want to replace Mayo, I think the Pats linebacker spots in each package are filled.
There just might not be quite enough depth behind them. Really, if you wanted to add another linebacker I would’ve bet on a run-stopping middle linebacker to replace Spikes,
I also think that the money (aka a dime linebacker spot traditionally played by a safety) has changed and now we’ll se Jamie Collins more in that role. As I’ve said before, I don’t think Collins comes off the field this year.
Football Gameplan’s 2014 NFL Draft Grades – New England Patriots (by FootballGameplan)
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)