PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Patriots 2001: Preview of a Dynasty

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As I’ve been enjoying the Patriots sixth Super Bowl title over the last month, I found myself glancing back at the 2001 season and how much has happened since then. The Patriots going on a second three-Super-Bowl run has certainly given things a complete feeling. I’ve been saying everything else is gravy but this is getting ridiculous thinking they’re not done.

2001 was a lifetime ago and for the Patriots it was the last time that there were no expectations for them. Really, no one outside of New England really cared about this football team back then, and now, 17 years later, the Patriots are loved and hated around the globe.

I popped the 2001 NFL Films Yearbook DVD in this weekend and was fascinated to see what a microcosm of the dynasty this season really was, how so many games against so many teams would encapsulate so much of what Brady and the Patriots would experience en route to winning five more Super Bowls. The themes that would recur over and over across the next two decades of football.

Let’s take a look at some of the notable moments and pieces that would echo well into the future.

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Pats Posits: Here Comes Free Agency and the Draft

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I’ve gotta admit, I’ve been just taking it slow these last couple weeks as far as the Patriots blogdom goes. As soon as the Robert Kraft thing turned the page from Super Bowl 53 back to the never-stopping cycle of crazy Patriots news I decided it was time to sit the latest controversy out.

As much as we want there to be a ton of football to talk about this is really the one time there isn’t much more than coaching departures and speculation. I’ve returned to my roots a bit, diving into the draft immediately and fully.

With six picks in the first three rounds, the Patriots are poised to re-energize their roster. After going to four Super Bowls in five seasons and winning three of them, you wouldn’t immediately think the roster needs re-energizing, but things are constantly turning over in the NFL and this has the chance to be a draft that sets the Patriots up for the next decade.

As we wait for real news, the easiest thing to do is to bang out some random Posits on all the little tidbits that have been dripping out.

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Patriots Offseason: Wide Receiver Wide Open

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All we know for sure about the Patriots wide receiver corps this offseason is that Julian Edelman will be back. After him who knows, but it’s reassuring to know the guy who keeps the chains moving on key third downs will return. The rest is mostly window dressing.

Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett and Cordarelle Patterson, if you even want to call him a wide receiver, are all hitting free agency, so the pieces of Brady’s offense will be shifting a bit once again.

Third Down Offense Table
ReceReceReceReceReceRece
Player Tgt
▼		 Rec Ctch% Yds TD 1D
James White402767.5%202318
Julian Edelman362261.1%278418
Rob Gronkowski291551.7%236213
Josh Gordon18844.4%15207
Chris Hogan16743.8%9115
Phillip Dorsett14857.1%8825
Cordarrelle Patterson9666.7%7823
Rex Burkhead2150.0%500
Totals1689556.5%11361469
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/25/2019.
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Pats Posits: Speculation Season Begins

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Yes, I’ve taken a week or so off of blogging to just enjoy the Patriots latest championship. When this blog started the driving question was whether or not Belichick could rebuild the defense around Brady to get him more Super Bowls.

Well, the answer is in. Yes. Yes he could and he did, adding a perfect run of three more Super Bowls and bringing things full circle. There’s just a level of no more worlds left to conquer now, which is both satisfying and slightly demotivating.

Every year it gets a little harder dealing with three-straight months of “WHAT ABOUT THIS GUY!?”

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Patriots Roster Breakdown: Short and Long Term Needs

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As much as it pains me it’s time to post the 2019 roster depth chart including only players under contract. Yes, we’re kinda sorta on to 2019 but reserving the right to go back to Super Bowl 53 any time I want.

The first reset before embarking on free agency and the draft is to take inventory of the complexion of the team. The short terms needs for the 2019 campaign and then the long term needs as players depart for one reason or another.

Let run through the roster and take a quick temperature test at each position group.

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Pats Posits: How The 2nd Dynasty Defense Was Made

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5llGT42P8Mg&app=desktop

I took the last few days off from blogging Pats to just let the sixth Super Bowl win sink in and enjoy some of the various delights like the above episode of NFL Turning Point, my favorite of them all…so far.

Of course, Three Games to Glory VI will be on its way later this spring and as the proud owner of I-V, I’m excited to add to my collection.

As I’ve meditated on the win I’ve found myself more and more impressed with the defense. The turnover from the original dynasty defense is what got me started on this blog. Could Belichick replace Milloy, Law, McGinest, Samuel, Harrison, Vrabel, and Seymour with a second dynasty defense that could get Tom Brady another Super Bowl (or more)? I blogged and blogged wondering.

Well it’s clear now — Belichick did in fact build a second dynasty defense that matched the trio of the original core.

How did he do it? There isn’t a better topic to jump into in the Posits!

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Patriots Off-Season Reset

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As much as I want to fight the desire to turn the page to the offseason and enjoy the afterglow of the Super Bowl win as much as possible, the NFL schedule is relentless.

The scouting combine is just a few weeks away then comes free agency the draft, OTAs and once again, training camp.

We knew this offseason was coming whether the Pats won the Super Bowl or not. Trey Flowers is still the biggest piece of the puzzle, but how much have things changed since my in-season glance ahead now that the Pats are Super Bowl 53 champs?

Here’s a look at how the playoff run might’ve altered my outlook.

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