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ReFo: Steelers @ Patriots, Week 9 | ProFootballFocus.com

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ReFo: Steelers @ Patriots, Week 9 | ProFootballFocus.com

This is disconcerting…

A troubling trend is developing at left guard for the Patriots. Logan Mankins has earned three significant negative grades as a pass blocker in his last four games – a stretch unlike we’ve seen from him in the five-plus years we’ve been grading his play. His Pass Blocking Efficiency rating is dropping (now 95.5, 36th among guards) and, when combined with center Ryan Wendell’s known weakness in that aspect, is working to widen the danger area for potential problems, not something Brady will like to see given his history with pressure up the middle. With 13 total pressures allowed in the three games (sandwiched around a clean sheet against the Jets) compared to the seven pressures he gave up in the season’s first five weeks, there’s hope that is an extended blip. The Patriots will hope that’s the case and not a downturn of longer hold.

Tuesday Pats Update

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Of course, I am coming down with a cold during the bye week, why would the Hoodie above grant me full health on the one week I’m not knee deep in trials and tribulations of being a Patriots super fan?

Oh well, we’ll power through it to report some developments from today’s practice.

– First and most important, ROB NINKOVICH was at practice today so we can all breathe a big sigh of relief. It’s one of the first bullets we’ve dodged all season. The rest seem to all be hitting us dead in the chest or head.

– Steve Gregory has a broken thumb and is out a few weeks. Again, that’s decent news considering how many guys have been going on IR. Gregory was playing well so it’s a little disappointing, but I am curious and excited to see Duron Harmon get some snaps. Of course, this means we’ll have a rookie on the back end against Peyton Manning so uh, let’s get hope that maybe Gregory makes it back by then. 

– Pats signed two guys, running back Cierre Wood to the practice squad and wide receiver LaQuan Williams to the 53-man roster. Seems like Austin Collie might be the latest addition to IR.

– Had a chance to re-watch the game last night and the offense was even more impressive this time around. Something about watching the game without the stress of uncertainty that allows me to focus better.

– Excited to see Dane Fletcher playing well. Always felt like he deserved a chance like this. It’s too bad it had to come at Mayo’s expense, but I like what he’s doing out there and think we could see his role increase.

– Dont’a Hightower was a lot better in coverage in this one, that’s a positive sign.

– Alfonzo Dennard hasn’t gotten enough praise this season as all the CB love has gone to Talib, but he’s having an impressive second season. He might make occasional mistakes but he always seems to bounce back with solid plays.

– More to come once we get a look at the All-22 to get a better sense of coverages and route combinations…

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Newly acquired nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga played 26 snaps and two of the best came on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 to end the Steelers’ fourth drive of the game. On the third-down play, Sopoaga got his hands into right guard Guy Whimper and knocked him into the offensive backfield, impeding the path of running back Le’Veon Bell for no gain. That was a good snapshot of Sopoaga’s power. He did the same thing to center Fernando Velasco on the next play, winning at the line as Bell was dropped for a loss of 1 yard to turn the ball over. At 6-foot-2 and 330 pounds, Sopoaga gives the Patriots a powerful nose tackle that they didn’t otherwise have on the active roster. Based on those two plays, it sure looks like he still has something to offer.

Picked-up pieces from 2nd-quarter review – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

https://www.patspropaganda.com/newly-acquired-nose-tackle-isaac-sopoaga-played-26/