PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

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They will be better even if their record doesn’t show it. Winning 12 games last season was a remarkable achievement for a team that subtracted both starting tight ends, slot receiver Wes Welker, tackle Sebastian Vollmer, both defensive tackles, inside linebacker Jerod Mayo and others. To reach 12 victories, the Patriots had to go 6-1 in games decided by three or fewer points. They shouldn’t need so many narrow escapes as they get healthier in 2014. New England also will have time to reset its offensive weaponry after Aaron Hernandez’s sudden demise blindsided them at the last minute in 2013.

Insider high on Patriots’ improvement – ESPN Boston

https://www.patspropaganda.com/they-will-be-better-even-if-their-record-doesnt/

New England Patriots rookie review: S Duron Harmon | masslive.com

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New England Patriots rookie review: S Duron Harmon | masslive.com

I really like what I saw out of Harmon last season. He has good instincts that will only continue to improve with experience and we saw a burst on the ball that the Pats have lacked in recent seasons. He also has long arms and has sound tackling technique.

The issue as I see it is that he’s probably a best fit in more of a free safety role as opposed to being in the box. The same might be said for Steve Gregory, but I think if you swap Gregory for a little more size and keep McCourty and Harmon as your back-end guys in three safety groupings, that’s a good core.

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Since 2001, Brady has completed at least 250 passes in the regular season to four different pass catchers over the course of his 13-year career as a starter: Wes Welker (563), Deion Branch (328), Troy Brown (323) and Kevin Faulk (310). Providing they stay healthy — and, in the case of Julian Edelman, return for 2013 — two more receivers could be added to the mix: Rob Gronkowski had 39 catches in an injury-shortened 2013 season, bringing his total of receptions via Brady to 223. And his 105 catches in 2013 boosted Edelman to 166 career receptions from Brady.

It Is What It Is » Which QB does best job spreading ball around in passing game?

https://www.patspropaganda.com/since-2001-brady-has-completed-at-least-250/

We hear all the time how the offense is a inside the numbers team, what do you think they can do so that they can still attack the insides without attacking outside (since it probably won’t happen) and be succesful

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It all comes down to having an X receiver that is a threat on the outside. The Patriots are certainly hoping the Aaron Dobson develops into this kind of player.

Even when they don’t have that guy, they still take shots (see the deep throw to Matthew Slater in the AFCCG that Brady underthrew), but there’s a big difference between those to keep a defense honest and having a real target on the outside with the speed to get deep.

Tom Brady’s strengths are obvious. He makes the right read and is deadly accurate within 15 yards. He’s not going to launch an aerial assault twenty yards down the field with every pass. 

They want to attack the perimeter and they need to be able to, but not at the expense of putting a one-trick pony, ala Ochocinco, into the offense. What makes the offense go are receivers who can read defenses and get open quickly. As long as they have a couple of those guys, they’ll be a top-10 offense with Brady at the helm.

But if they truly want to be explosive they need that X. We saw it against the Broncos in the AFCCG. The Pats moved the ball but it was tedious and they had just three 20+ plays, and none over 30 yards. The Broncos had eight, including two that went 30+.

That’s the difference Demaryius Thomas makes on the outside (he had four 20+ plays). The Patriots need that element to their offense.

An X will only make it easier to do what Brady does best and allow the inside receivers to deal with less coverage because at least one safety and probably two would have to be deep.

So let’s hope Dobson has a big offseason and takes a big step forward in 2014. Or maybe even second-year player Mark Harrison, a dark horse who has elite size and speed.