PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Patriots Book Review: Gridiron Genius by Michael Lombardi

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I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of Michael Lombardi’s new book coming in September, Gridiron Genius. If you’re a fan of the kind of stuff I write… i.e. pretend Pats football GM, coach, team builder… this is the book for you!

Around 2014 I found a group of concrete articles I wanted to write every week. Mondays are Posits, just general thoughts about the team. Tuesdays are film review, Wednesdays are scouting reports and then Fridays are the big one, my favorite, the gameplan. Well, Lombardi pretty much gives you the real version of all these things and I couldn’t put it down.

First, I will obviously focus much on Bill Belichick in this review and he is a huge part of the book, but there are tons of great stories about Bill Walsh and Al Davis as well in here. As a fan of the game, anything about Bill Walsh instantly perks my attention and Lombardi spent plenty of times getting to know him. And of course, there’s Davis, who became somewhat of a cartoon by the end, but we forget what a passionate football mind he was and one-of-a-kind. He had his preferences and it’s interesting to see how the game changed on him.

That aside, the Patriots stuff, oh the Patriots stuff.

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Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection 2.0 (August 2nd)

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With one week of training camp under their belt, it’s an okay time to make another attempt at a 53-man roster. In case you missed them I’ve put up three training camp videos on my Youtube channel so far. Please subscribe!

QB (2) T.Brady, B.Hoyer — With a year on the practice squad, Etling could have some promise developing behind the scenes, a perfect spot for him.

RB (6) R.Burkhead, J.White, J.Hill, B.Bolden, S.Michel, J.Develin — Gillislee better get on the field quick or Hill will run away with the job.

WR (5) C.Hogan, P.Dorsett, C.Patterson, K.Britt, M.Slater — Projecting Britt based on OTAs but he has to get back on the field. Losing Matthews hurts the depth but really the top line is going to be the same once Edelman gets back. Dorsett will be a key contributor this season. Addition coming?

TE (3) R.Gronkowski, D.Allen, J.Hollister – Solid group led by Gronk. Allen is improved. Hollister continues to carve out a receiving role.

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Video: Patriots Training Camp Report 8/1

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It was a cool, overcast morning with a reduced crowd and I was able to get a seat in the sideline stands to get a closer look than I’ve had in any of my previous three practices. It was another pads session with a variety of special situations getting worked on, including bad field goal snaps and running back route running at the goal line.

In my latest video I have my five big takeaways, but perhaps the biggest dropped while I was editing — that Jordan Matthews was released after sustaining a serious hamstring issue. I spent most of the summer getting excited about Matthews, but just like that, not only a week into practice, he’s off the team. Riley McCarron was the beneficiary of extra snaps with the top team, but I’d bet there’s another receiver signing soon. Eric Decker, a big slot receiver like Matthews, makes a lot of sense.

Other nuggets that I forgot to mention in the video:

— Tom Brady and Bill Belichick spent a good minute talking at midfield before practice. Belichick was animated, appearing to explain something football-y? All the “are they having fun, is Brady-Belichick still mad” takes are pretty silly but maybe them talking pre-practice helps?

— Rookie JC Jackson and second-year corner Ryan Lewis continue to get second-team reps as well as significant looks on special teams.

–Bojorquez continues to outkick Ryan Allen, at least consistently in distance. He didn’t get any reps holding the numerous field goal tries with the top team today though.

— Burkhead is taking punt returns but muffed one. McCarron was consistent, Berrios was as well.

Patriots Rookie Power Rankings

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The Patriots have a day off today so it’s a moment to catch our breath. As you probably heard by now Isaiah Wynn caught a second punt attempt and won the team a day off. It won’t do them much good in NFL Power Rankings, but it was a welcomed break after five-straight days of work.

Belichick pulls this all the time in camp — Matt Light, Vince Wilfork caught punts, Stephen Gostkowski kicked a night off-winning field goal. But every time I can remember, all did it on the first try. I’m pretty sure Wynn was the first to drop one, but that doesn’t hurt his spot on my rookie power rankings after five training camp practices because he looks like a beast.

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10 Things We’ve Learned About 2018 Pats

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Four days, four training camp practices. Not that many, but enough to get some answers to some of the questions of the offseason.

I’ll be back at Gillette tonight for the in-stadium practice, which I’m very much looking forward to… sitting in a seat and not getting baked by the sun. Usually, these are special teams and autograph sessions. Still, I bet we get a good chance to see more of the Allen-Bojorquez competition. Despite one bad shank, Bojorquez very well could be in the lead.

One quick note, in case you’ve missed it I’ve added some videos to the blog this season. Please check them out and subscribe for more this season!

Here are 10 more things we’ve learned about the 2018 Patriots.

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Video: Patriots Training Camp Practice #4 Report

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Another great time getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse courtesy of the Patriots today. This will be my only time playing a real journalist this training camp but I still plan to hit up a few practices from the fan stands, where I’m more comfortable anyway and am still able to see just as much as from the sun-baked hill in front of the media tent.

Anyway, here’s a few things I left out from the video, while also expanding a bit on some of the five main takeaways.

— Berrios is stocky but reps are really limited for him right now.

— Patterson made another tough catch today, he’s making one per day now and earning trust. He’ll be a valuable player and the Pats are using him in a variety of ways on offense. He took some punts after practice and they were ugly.

— Brett Bielema is an active voice that stands out. I heard him often yelling coaching points to Jomal Wiltz for whatever that is worth. Wiltz did have a nice pass break up on Chris Hogan but has otherwise been quiet. Bielema’s presence is noticeable, especially to former Arkansas players like Trey Flowers and Dietrich Wise I’m sure.

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Tweets of Note: 2018 Patriots Training Camp Practice #3

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The pads came on at Patriots training camp on Saturday, and despite the potential for some physicality, it sounds like the energy was muted in the third practice of the season. Hopefully, when I’m there tomorrow the energy is up again, though this is where camp starts to turn into a grind.

Here are the tweets that stood out:

By all accounts, Wise had an excellent practice and was dominant. This kind of tone-setting is just what you want to see out of the second-year player. He had a reduced role in the Super Bowl and I think he might’ve been able to help. The top three ends are pretty set with Flowers, Clayborn and Wise. Whether Derek Rivers can carve a pass-rushing role remains to be seen, but he is way down the depth chart on the regular personnel packages.

Reminder the Pats haven’t scored a defensive touchdown since 2015. Another thing — Mike Lombardi writes in Gridiron Genius that you can judge how fast a defense is by how many fumbles they force. Well in 2017 the Pats ranked 30th with nine forced fumbles. 2016 – 19 t-3rd, 2015 – 24 3rd. Defense needs more plays like the one Harmon made today in practice, so it’s nice to see.

Sounds like the towel was bloody too? Hopefully just stitches and not an eye injury. Eek.

Matt Chatham had some good tweets about loving Wynn too. Brown will be the guy at least to start, but if somebody gets hurt we could see Wynn in there and it could be fun to watch.

Second time in three days Michel has lost a ball, not good for the guy who had the highest fumble rate in this year’s draft class. Nothing will delay his development quicker than losing the ball. Just ask Stevan Ridley.


Another good day for Brady and Matthews, an excellent sign.