PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Patriots’ injury issues mean defense must step up

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This offseason I had two mantras to the 2013 Patriots:

1. There would be growing pains with the offensive turnover, but in the long run they would be better set up, both short and long-term, to be more explosive and unpredictable.

2. It was time for the defense to go from one that just didn’t lose games, to a defense that wins games.

Now here we are in week two, and these two things are truer than ever, yet because the offense didn’t look unstoppable many are ready to hit the panic button.

There’s no question, losing Vereen and possibly Amendola hurts, but both should be fine in the long run. So let’s look at this game for what it is, an excellent challenge against a divisional opponent who always plays us tough early in the season.

What we saw from the Pats offense is exactly what was expected. Inconsistency, and, gasp, an undrafted rookie actually playing like an undrafted rookie in Kenbrell Thompkins.

But let’s look at the positive. Julian Edelman played arguably his best game as a pro. If the preseason was any indication, Thompkins should bounce back, and Aaron Dobson said this morning he’s expecting to play.

Are they the 2007 Pats offense right now? No. But come on, it’s not like we need to hang 50 on the Jets to get the win.

So that makes me turn the page to the defense. This game is all about them as I see it. This is their chance to prove they can control games.

They’ve got a rookie quarterback, making his first road start and likely missing a significant weapon of his own in Jeremy Kerley coming into town. My expectation is for the defense to be the difference and shut Geno Smith completely down.

Let’s remember what happened in week two last year. The Pats lost to the Cardinals when they had Welker, Gronk, Lloyd, and Branch. The first couple weeks of the season are always flukey.

I think that Brady with Ridley (yes, Ridley), Edelman, Thompkins, Boyce, Dobson and whoever else they throw in there are good enough to put more points on the board than Geno Smith and the Jets offense IF the Patriots defense comes to play like an experienced veteran defense loaded with high-round draft picks should play in this situation.

For the offense, this will be nothing but a positive learning experience whether they win or lose. The young receivers will be thrown into the fire against a Jets defense that knows how to give Brady problems. 

For the defense, it’s time to live up to what we talked about all offseason.

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townienews:

If you’d like to get a #Buttfumble shirt in time for Thursday’s game order by 1pm today. Choose Priority shipping and it should arrive Thursday, just in time for the (*gasp!*) AFC East 1st place showdown between the Pats and Jets in Foxboro. Hoodathunkit?

And obviously we remember, honor and cherish the greatest football fail in history because, well, it’s the Buttfumble. But the perpetrator of said assterpiece won’t be playing Thursday night. And don’t expect anything like how previous contests between these two AFC East rivals have gone Thursday night. No asswhipping handed down by the Pats. Regardless of what the Vegas oddsmakers (Pats by 12.5?) say. This will be a tough game. A rough-n-tumble, won in the trenches, junkpunch you in the mouth slugfest kind of affair. Jets kinda shouldn’t have won Week 1. But maybe the same could be said for the Pats? Pats are as banged up as someone who went to a bachelor party the night before. The Jets are dinged up, lead by a rookie QB making his 1st start in Foxboro, against Belichick, on primetime. Youth abounds with the Pats. The Jets will be playing with house money, the old “nothing to lose” mentality. Could get messy as neither team has established a tempo or style yet, though it is only Week 2. Expecting Foxboro faithful to get lubed and bring the noise. TFB & Crew will need it.

Also, if anyone has some Stick Em, please visit Stevan Ridley before game time. Thanks!

OK – get your Buttfumble shirt today at The Townie News Store. Plenty more to come this week as we gear up for the Rex rhetoric and some serious Bradyface on national TV. Talk soon. GFY, Jets! Let’s Go Pats!

https://www.patspropaganda.com/townienews-if-youd-like-to-get-a-buttfumble/

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https://www.patspropaganda.com/10584/

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The Patriots running back broke his left wrist during his first snap against the Bills, will require surgery and miss at least four weeks while he recovers, according to a source. A second source told the Herald the Patriots had an idea Vereen would miss some time when they examined him yesterday. But the follow-up tests revealed the break, according to the first source.

The Blitz with Jeff Howe & Karen Guregian | Boston Herald

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-patriots-running-back-broke-his-left-wrist/

If the Pats bring back Andre Carter is that saying they don’t have much faith in chandler Jones progress? That’s what I would read into it.

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I was worried about Chandler Jones this offseason, but after seeing him in the preseason and against the Bills, I feel good about where he’s headed. PFF graded him out with a 2.4 overall, led the team with a QB hit and two hurries, and was third on the team with three stops.

In re-watching the game last night and specifically focusing on him I thought he looked faster than last year and I was really impressed with his hand-fighting skills and how aggressively he was attacking the offensive linemen.

This is not to make excuses to say the pressure was where it needed to be, but it’s worth pointing out that the Pats didn’t give up a 20+ passing play for the first time since 2009. They also played very conservatively, and every little bit of pressure Jones generated was reliant on him winning his matchup.

All that said, at the end of the game yesterday before looking at any stats or anything, I was feeling the same way. “Where was Chandler Jones?” But I think when you take a closer look he actually had a pretty good game and caused the Bills a lot of problems inside. 

I think as the season carries on we’ll see more and more out of him, because to me he looked stronger and faster than he was last year. If they do sign Andre Carter I’d view it as adding a veteran defensive end, a position where they only have four players, one who’s a rookie and the other is a second-year guy who has barely played at all.