FRIDAYYYYY!
Mayock relayed the story about the Patriots’ 2005 draft and how it’s a good lesson for anyone. The team was coming off a Super Bowl victory and badly wanted to go defense at No. 32, according to Mayock, but the board was picked clean and they instead were flexible in switching to Fresno State offensive lineman Logan Mankins. Ultimately, the team was rewarded for not forcing a need, and that was Mayock’s main point – teams shouldn’t lock in and must remain light on their feet to pick good football players regardless of position.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-draft-logan-mankins/
we normally don’t see the patriots blitz often if at all in games. with at least 3 corners that can play man should we expect a little more blitzing(not every play but more then we normally are accustomed to) this year
It’s an interesting question that will be something to really monitor this season because BB has never had the quality of corners on paper that he has right now.
One thing about defense though is that you never want to have to blitz. You want to get pressure with four. Of course that’s easier said that done. And really, the mainstream definition of a blitz is sending more than four guys, but some would tell you a real blitz is only when defensive backs are getting sent, which we saw occasionally with Arrington and Ryan last season.
Belichick is and will likely always be a fairly conservative defensive coach and it’s hard to argue with the results. But now that his theoretically has multiple corners who can man-up receivers and take them out of the equation, does he start sending more blitzes? Certainly seems like there’s a good chance.
But if I was a betting man I’d bet his blitz rate remains nearly unchanged.
Here’s the percentages of blitzes from last season. While some of it is dependent on how the games unfolded, the Pats are unlikely to ever blitz more than 30% of the snaps.
It might not be me [replacing Spikes], it might be somebody that nobody would ever expect,” he added, “but I definitely feel like from the point we’re at now, from everybody working out, and the way we’re all working out, and we’re having fun, I definitely feel like that’s not going to be a problem.
Dont’a Hightower Stepping Up As ‘Next Leader’ On Patriots’ Defense – Extra Points – Boston.com
Don’t play coy with us, Dont’a…
https://www.patspropaganda.com/it-might-not-be-me-replacing-spikes-it-might/
Which season that the pats went to the Super Bowl whether they won or lost is your favorite and why
That’s a tough one but 2007 and 2012 were extra special to me.
Why not a magical Super Bowl-winning season you might ask? Because back then was long before any of this blogging stuff. 2007 was the season I started blogging and for obvious reasons that was just a crazy ride on and off the field.
By 2012 this blog was fully realized so the trip to the Super Bowl with all my fellow fans and readers was extra special.
Nothing can take away the experience as a fan of winning three Super Bowls, but being a blogger and feeling almost a part of it in 2012 was pretty cool too.
Don’t Stop Frontin’: The Mind-Boggling Multiplicity of NFL Defenses « Grantland
Don’t Stop Frontin’: The Mind-Boggling Multiplicity of NFL Defenses « Grantland
Good read, even if there isn’t a single mention of the Patriots, one the originators of the multiple front defense. As I’ve been saying for years, 3-4 vs. 4-3 is just semantics now, those vanilla defenses are just too easy for modern offenses to pick apart. Now you need a combination of athletes and space-eaters, moving around the front and not giving away their intention. Who’s blitzing? Who’s two-gapping? Who’s dropping? It gives the offense a ton to think about rather than the old straight-up 3-4 where it will be the same thing down after down.
Third down, honestly, I’m just gonna put it out there, I’d much rather rush or blitz than cover,” the New England Patriots linebacker said. “Zone, man, or whatever. Third down is a fun down whether you’re covering or whatever you’re doing, because you can do different kind of things and come at the quarterback all kind of ways. As long as I’m able to be on the field on third down, or whatever they ask me to do, I’m willing to do it.
Patriots LB Dont’a Hightower would like the opportunity to serve as a pass rusher | masslive.com
I think between Collins, Mayo and Hightower, along with Ninkovich and Chandler, the Pats will have the ability to be extremely creative on passing downs. All are athletic and able to perform in space, but there’s also a wide array of pass rush potential.
Hightower was stuck more in Mayo’s role last season, but as he slides back toward a combination of strongside and middle linebacker, it will free him up to do more attacking. I think he’s at his best at the line of scrimmage where he can use his strength, but he also can use that to get through blocks and after the QB.
Should be fun to watch this defense.
