PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

jonathan jones

Can the Pats Defense Stop KC?

by

If there’s one thing that was clear from the 2017 Patriots’ bookend losses to start and end the season, it’s that they lacked athleticism at the second level to counter the explosion of versatile offensive attacks. Plays like the read option, a nightmare for a slow linebacking corps, got the Patriots off balance early and opened up the playbook to a variety of other things like the Philly Special.

This offseason my biggest goal for the team was to get more athletic at linebacker. It looked unaddressed until Ja’whaun Bentley burst onto the scene, bringing some hope that the Pats finally had a second-level player who could make plays sideline-to-sideline. But alas, Bentley was lost for the season with a torn biceps, Dont’a Hightower has seemingly lost a step, and the Pats are dead in the crosshairs of an offense that has opened the season on fire, with the same defensive weaknesses they had last year.

The Chiefs have torched the Pats before, in 2014 and the 2017 opener, but with Patrick Mahomes under center they are playing at an even better level than either of those Alex Smith-led squads. They have speed, they have quickness, they have power and they have a quarterback that can not only throw the ball to any spot on the field, but one who excels making plays outside the pocket on the move.

The Chiefs pose a myriad of problems for every defense in the league and on paper, it would appear the Pats are really lacking what they need most to slow them down. But the Pats do have the pieces in front and on the back end to win this game, even if they do give up their share of plays. Spoiler alert — they will.

Here’s a pre-gameplan feel for what the Pats need to focus on to beat Kansas City.

[Read more…] about Can the Pats Defense Stop KC?

Film Review: Patriots Offense and Defense Sucksonville Edition

by

Nothing like an emotionless deep dive into the All-22 to give you a nice football reminder how scary it can look when even good teams play bad. I left my film review with a near-exact feeling like I had after breaking down the Patriots loss to the Chiefs in 2014. This is what happens when everyone takes turns making bad mistakes until things are just totally unraveled. Add in a talented young team playing a near-perfect game, making miraculous plays in heavy heat and it’s recipe for disaster.

And that’s what this loss was. But it was still just one loss in week two under extreme conditions. What we see in Detroit will be far more toward the center of who this team is. There might still be issues but no defense can play this perfectly bad two weeks in a row, especially a Patriots defense.

Flip just a couple plays and this is a ball game in the fourth quarter. But that doesn’t mean the Patriots don’t have issues to fix. Getting Josh Gordon this week proved that. But is it time to dip into the rookies at cornerback? At least there are options, whereas we’re all just holding our breath hoping Dont’a Hightower gets through the season on his knee.

More on that and everything else in the film review.

[Read more…] about Film Review: Patriots Offense and Defense Sucksonville Edition

How Will Pats Cut Corners?

by

The most interesting position group for the Patriots as we head into the final preseason week with cutdowns looming this weekend is cornerback. Between the new guys that have emerged and those who are returning from injury, there’s a logjam of intriguing players with a variety of skillsets, contracts and draft statuses. We’ve seen this happen before, with it often ending up with undrafted players making the roster and others unfortunately making it on different rosters around the league.

The position is oft-maligned but the top-two starters have been entrenched from the start. Stephon Gilmore was arguably the best defensive player in training camp. You might get distracted by the catches he gave up in a preseason game against Carolina, but make no mistake, Gilmore is poised for a shutdown season, the likes of which we haven’t seen in a long time.

Next to him will be Eric Rowe, who hasn’t let go of the starting spot since last Super Bowl. Rowe is an outside guy with good size, so he’s useful for matchups as well. While the Pats will lean heavily on their three-safety, two-corner package, all five positions feature entrenched veterans. After that is where things get murky.

Let’s run down the candidates.

[Read more…] about How Will Pats Cut Corners?

Patriots Gameplan: Preseason Week 2 vs Eagles

by

Another Patriots preseason game is upon us, and in Week 2 there’s a chance to build on everything that was revealed in the comeback victory of week 1. The team has since wrapped up practices that are open to the public as we continue to build up toward a regular season that is just a few weeks away.

Are you excited? You should be because the Patriots dynasty is very much alive. The end will suck and likely come suddenly, but until then all is still right with the world, just as it’s been for nearly the last two decades.

Again, this won’t be a usual gameplan because, well, there just aren’t gameplans in the preseason. Only a collection of simple schemes that give the coaching staff a sense of players when they have little other than their own skills to rely on. But what matters most is the fight in the team and there appeared to be no problems against the Redskins. Just the usual sloppy start followed by a stellar finish, done mostly by guys who will be looking for other jobs in a few weeks.

Here are five things to watch against the Eagles.

[Read more…] about Patriots Gameplan: Preseason Week 2 vs Eagles

Tweets of Note: Patriots Sunday Training Camp Practice

by

Greetings from Philadelphia, where so far I haven’t been too subjected to too much Super Bowl 52 misery. In fact, you’ll be pleased to know that most Eagles fans seem to have returned to the norm, being totally miserable about their opening preseason loss. We’ll see if my Patriots-plated car is still in one piece when I pick it up from the parking garage on Tuesday morning.

Imagine what’ll happen if they lose to the Pats Thursday? Won’t make up for the Super Bowl that’s for sure, but it’s always nice to see Eagles fans miserable and really, it’s their natural state anyway.

There’s only two more training camp practices open to the public left. That means, unfortunately, I won’t get to see them again and will instead have to rely on the great reporters whose job it is to be there in person.

It looks like it was another interesting day of practice after what has become a standard downpour that has affected numerous practices thus far. Here are the Tweets of Note…

[Read more…] about Tweets of Note: Patriots Sunday Training Camp Practice

Patriots Clear Off PUP, Tuesday Tweets of Note

by

The Patriots welcomed back the remaining members of the PUP squad meaning that they’ll open the season with no one getting a free pass behind the scenes until Week 6. Cyrus Jones, Jonathan Jones and Nate Ebner all returned to practice, donning full pads meaning their time being physically unable to perform were coming to an end.

For the Joneses, it’s a good sign that they’re back before the first preseason game. Jonathan could insert himself into the slot conversation over rookie Duke Dawson, while Cyrus faces a make or break year where the Pats could really use his punt return ability. He’s a bit of a wild card as a cornerback, especially with a loaded depth chart but maybe just maybe he could be a factor.

As for Ebner, he’s just about a roster lock for his special team prowess and is a good presence to have back on the field for Bill Belichick’s favorite phase of the game.

More on the brewing battles and what went down at Tuesday’s practice in the Tweets of Note.

[Read more…] about Patriots Clear Off PUP, Tuesday Tweets of Note

Film Review: Pats vs. Dolphins Defense Edition

by

The Patriots defense continued their streak of solid play against the Dolphins, only allowing 10 points and showing more of their renowned Bend-Don’t-Break style. There isn’t a lot of flash or sizzle with this defense, instead it’s mostly role players doing their jobs, tackling well and getting off the field in critical situations.

The team is on a seven-game win streak and they haven’t given up more than 20 points in a game since losing to the Panthers back in Week 4. As we’re well aware, points are what matters most but how good is this Patriots defense really? It’s been fairly smooth sailing as the offense has broken 30 points the last three weeks and has been generally in control for most of the seven games they’ve won in a row.

I still have my questions, not that I’m skeptical, but because I like to see the true character of a defense revealed and that only comes in pressure-packed situations, which they’ve mostly been able to avoid of late. That’s helped them get their feet under them, and the next few weeks should provide some more interesting challenges, especially facing the mobile Tyrod Taylor on the road this weekend and then the vaunted Steeler offense in two weeks after a rematch with the Dolphins in Miami (which I am very much not looking forward to).

Here’s 10 hits on 10 players who stood out to me against the Dolphins, players that will be critical to the defense for a Super Bowl run.

[Read more…] about Film Review: Pats vs. Dolphins Defense Edition