PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

patrick chung

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Some pictures for the barren walls of Gillette Stadium…

https://www.patspropaganda.com/some-pictures-for-the-barren-walls-of-gillette/

Notes on a Feel Good Patriots Win

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The tide turned against the New England Patriots this week, and once again they showed that rumors of their demise had been greatly exaggerated. Here’s a tid bit from Ian Rapoport about BB’s pregame motivation:

The master motivator, Belichick had a barb for every player, emphasizing why they weren’t wanted or why they were overlooked. He ended telling them they played “just OK” for three weeks, but in Sun Life Stadium, “We explode.”

Explode they did. At least on offense and special teams. The funny thing is that there will be much love for the Patriots over the next twelve days but just as we didn’t get too low after the Jets/Bills games, we’re not getting too high after what might look like a blowout of the Phins.

The fact is that yes, the defense showed improvements and made some big plays, but they also gave up 66% of their third downs. The promising thing is that the Patriots defense is really not that far away. Just getting to that many third downs as a defense is a positive. Once they tighten up and stop a few more of them they’ll be on their way.

QUICK HIT THOUGHTS:

Brandon Deaderick showed up well in limited snaps, showing power to drive offensive lineman back.

Ron Brace didn’t play a defensive snap that I saw. Not sure if that’s an indictment of his play of late, but I think it’s probably because they wanted Wilfork at LE for this one and that’s the only position Brace has played this year going all the way back to training camp.

If you’re one of the people banging the we need pass rush drum I think you need to start looking at Myron Pryor/Mike Wright and not just the OLBs. Pryor and Wright are the guys responsible for getting interior rush and you’ve probably noticed we haven’t seen much from them. Wright gets somewhat of a pass since he logged heavy time at nosetackle but Pryor needs to start producing. Myron plays the role Jarvis Green used to have, and he seems to have a good motor, but he really needs to get into the 5 sack range. If he doesn’t start getting consistent pressure this season he could be marked for upgrade this offseason.

Another guy that I’m starting to lose patience with is Gary Guyton. He’s been moved back to a sub-package coverage linebacker role, usually covering runningbacks and tight ends, occasionally blitzing, and it seems like the backs and tight ends are consistently killing the Patriots defense. I’d be curious to see more Jarrad Page in that role if Guyton can’t start making plays.

Banta-Cain, Cunningham, and Ninkovich are all playing a lot in a variety of spots. It is interesting to see how Cunningham got the start at ROLB again, I wonder if the coaches feel he is better against the run than TBC, and/or if this is just a way to help keep TBC fresh for pass rushing.

Cunningham continues to show flashes, if he continues to improve it looks like the Patriots will have finally hit on an OLB via the draft.

Looks like the light is finally starting to come on for Meriweather and that’s a good sign. Shalise Manza-Young reported that she didn’t think his knee injury was serious. That is good. The Patriots really need Meriweather.

I have to say I feel kind of proud of PatChung! after the way I was pimping him all off-season. It’s nice to see a player you believe in have a breakout game. Now everyone needs to catch on that he doesn’t go by Patrick. I also really enjoyed his “Woosah” comment on the postgame interview. Perhaps that becomes this season’s defensive catch phrase.

Rob Ninkopoop made two great plays on his interceptions. He’s one player who is really seeming to improve with each snap he gets. He might not be Mike Vrabel but he’s a smart player and has the athleticism to compete on every down.

I love the thought of everyone complaining about how the Patriots always acquire/draft noted special teams players eating a nice, greasy shit sandwich this morning.

Devin McCourty’s fourth quarter, fourth down tackle of Ronnie Brown won’t make the highlight packages but it was an excellent heads up play by the rookie that Bill Belichick made a point to congratulate him on. McCourty looks like he could be a special player.

I try not to get past this year, but imagining this team with Bodden and Ty Warren back next year makes me warm and fuzzy. Assuming there’s not a lockout….

That Woodhead touchdown was a vintage Kevin Faulk one. I don’t know if Woody can block like Faulk but he clearly brings some pass catching ability to the party. Every time he touches the ball must make Rex Ryan shake his head.

Aaron Hernandez was a fourth rounder and is the youngest player in the NFL? Wow and double wow.

It’s kind of unheard of these days for a running back like Law Firm to be developed over three seasons, isn’t it? He runs hard and always gains positive yardage. Maybe there won’t be as much turnover at RB this offseason as we thought.

What can you say about Tom Brady getting to 100 wins faster than any quarterback in NFL history? It’s clear that Brady is back to the old Brady now. I guess it really does take two years to get back to 100%. (Welker in 2011?)

I heard Jay Shields mention on the Patscast podcast after week one that he thought Sebastian Vollmer had regressed a little bit and after last night I think it’s pretty clear that he’s right. Shields thought Vollmer was going back to relying too much on his athletic ability rather than technique and is paying the price for it against good pass rushers like the relentless Cameron Wake. 

How about Dan Connolly?

Special Teams can be a feast some games, but a famine in others. Maintaining consistency is one of the hardest things for a football team, but it appears that at the very least, the kickoff return team must be respected and game planned for by opponents.

The Patriots head into the bye week feeling pretty good, but there is still much work to be done. With the Ravens coming back into Foxboro, then a cross country trip to San Diego, the Patriots must continue to tighten up the blown coverages and mistackles on defense.

As Mike Lombardi has pointed out the advantage to having a young defense is that you can practice hard and improve throughout the season. This young Patriots defense must do just that.

Thursday Patriots OTA Huddle Up

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The Patriots are scheduled to have mini-camp next week but I’m not sure if there will be media access, so this could be the last chance we have to hear about what’s going on in Foxboro these days until training camp.

First off, there’s a report from the Denver Post that the Pats sent Logan Mankins a letter notifying him that if he doesn’t sign his RFA tender by next week they will decrease his pay for 2010. Basically it comes down to this simple math for Logan:

  • Sign RFA Tender, make $3.268 million in 2010.
  • Don’t Sign RFA Tender, make $1.54 million in 2010.

Either way the Patriots hold all the cards. I’m sure the media will begin hammering the Pats for this, but look, they’re playing by the rules. I know everyone wants to live in a land where the best players get huge deals and are with the team forever but it’s far from that simple. If the NFLPA doesn’t like it, then they should negotiate to kill that, along with the Franchise Tag, in the next CBA.

It’s hard for fans to swallow when the team has power over a player, but that’s professional football. Get over it.

On to the OTA Huddle up after the jump…

Mike Reiss finally reports some news on Tyrone McKenzie, as well as a Ron Brace update:

Patriots followers haven’t seen much of Tyrone McKenzie, the 2009 third-round draft choice who missed his rookie campaign with a torn ACL. His reputation is as a Ted Johnson-type run-stuffer who could be a first- and second-down type option, and then coming off the field in passing situations in favor of more speed. But that might be underselling McKenzie, who at one point in this practice was the lone inside linebacker on the field in a sub package. He should be one of the more interesting players to watch in training camp as we learn more about his skill set.

With starting left defensive end Ty Warren not practicing, 2009 second-round draft choice Ron Brace stepped in next to Vince Wilfork when the team was working in its base 3-4. This was a reminder that while Brace didn’t see much time during his rookie campaign (approximately 50 defensive snaps all season), he very much remains in the team’s plans.

McKenzie played in three college programs and produced in all of them. His versatility is vastly underrated to this point, and he could even project as a pass rusher. Everyone wants to put the young Patriots linebackers in a box… a Ted Johnson-type, a Mike Vrabel-type, and so on… but the fact is that no two players are the same, and BB will use them each to maximize their strengths. What those are we’ll just have to wait and see.

As for Brace, a solid year on run downs from him would be greatly helpful to the Pats organization that could desperatly use a young, stout defensive lineman. He will be a player to watch in training camp.

Ian Rapoport has a Crazy Legs update:

It appeared that Shawn Crable got more looks with the big team, while Marques Murrell was with the scout team

It’s minor progress from last week for Crazy Legs, when he was running only with the scout team, but it’s progress none the less. Biggest question I have is whether or not he’s playing special teams.

Albert Breer (not FakeAlbertBreer) has an update on the one and only Patriot I can’t stand, Matthew Slater:

Matthew Slater, likely a player on the bubble, got some love from his teammates after making a great sideline catch on an out cut near the goal line (there was no defense for the drill); several receivers slipped trying to make the same catch on the wet grass.

Slater seems like a hard working, good kid, but I am DONE with him as a kick returner. It’s been two seasons of him catching the kick and running full speed into the closest oncoming defender, getting himself absolutely laid out, and thus firing up the other team. I get it. He’s fast. He works hard. He also never started at UCLA and there’s a reason. Lack of vision. I try not to be a hater, but I really would like to see the team say “Later Slater”.

Some other minor notes to pass along:

  • Welker was back out there again. This is really a great sign that he has not suffered any setbacks. Look no further than Thomas Davis of the Panthers who was just coming back from an ACL injury himself and re-tore the same ACL this week in OTAs. Things like that remind you that nothing is guaranteed and we’re lucky Welker has had smooth sailing so far.
  • Patrick Chung continues to run with Meriweather as a starting safety while James Sanders watches. Something tells me Sanders could be headed for the trade block if he’s not already there. He was a steadying force last year down the stretch but his high salary and low ceiling might open the door for Chung to become the starter.
  • Per Jason LaCanfora of NFL Network there’s still no real interest in Adalius Thomas. I try not to bash Thomas too badly, I feel like it’s more of a bandwagon thing to hate him, when no one really had a problem with him until this season. But it’s really interesting that no one wants him. Not even Rex Ryan. Says something about Adalius for sure.