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patrick chung

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SS Patrick Chung — Chung proved he was a special-teams playmaker in 2010, and the third-year pro could be primed for a big season in the Patriots’ defensive backfield in ‘11. He started 13 games last season and had three picks, including an interception returned for a score. Chung might be ready to take his play to the next level, assuming he can improve in coverage. The Patriots need to improve upon last year’s 30th ranking in pass defense, and a breakthrough campaign by Chung could help make that happen. He is generally better in the box and has been used on blitzes, but Chung could take the athleticism he has displayed near the line of scrimmage and on special teams to the passing defense as well. Chung’s days of being overlooked by his Pro Bowl safety mate Brandon Meriweather could be over. Someone on New England’s defense needs to take the next step to get New England back to the Super Bowl, and it could be Chung’s turn.

Pro Football Weekly

https://www.patspropaganda.com/ss-patrick-chung-chung-proved-he-was-a/

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Patriots Draft Flashback: Patrick Chung

The Pats clearly weren’t in love with too many guys in 2009, at least not enough to spend a first round pick on any of them. I remain a huge Patrick Chung fan, despite that lil’ mishap in the playoff game. He should have a huge season in 2011.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-draft-flashback-patrick-chung-the-pats/

Top 5 Patriots who will take big steps in 2011

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One factor that is often discounted when projecting needs for your team next year is the development of younger players. For those who just finished their rookie season they are just now, for the first time since the offseason before their last year of college, getting a chance to slow down and catch their breath.

Here’s my list of five players I expect to see take big steps forward in 2011.

Taylor Price

Price had a couple things going against him in his rookie year. First, he was coming from a run first, basic college offense, and second, he got a later start than most because he couldn’t report until his after his college’s late graduation. 

So he was already behind the learning curve, but couldn’t even get into rookie mini-camp with everyone else and get a jump. Price had essentially a red shirt year in 2011, but his two hallmarks, size and speed, are what the Patriots definitely need more of. We should hope to see something out of him in camp and preseason.

Taylor Price Patriots

Jermaine Cunningham

Few positions provide a great transitional challenge that college defensive end to NFL outside linebacker but Cunningham showed enough potential to be considered a possible three down linebacker for the Pats. His progress is tough to totally grade due to the nagging calf injury he had late in the year, but when healthy he was used in a variety of ways and made a couple big plays along the way, most notably just getting enough pressure to force Peyton Manning into a game-sealing interception.

Brandon Spikes

Spikes was really making great progress when he was suspended the final four games of the regular season for taking an ADHD medicine that was banned. Spikes provided the instant “Mike” inside linebacker presence that we thought he would. He comes down hill hard and is excellent at timing his run blitzes. I look forward to watching him continue to blast offensive lineman backwards. The biggest thing for Spikes is quickly identifying play fakes, something he was really picking up as evidenced by his interception of Mark Sanchez in the 45-3 game. The year of experience, both on and off the field, should really pay huge dividends for Spikes.

Brandon Tate

No one really cuts Brandon Tate much slack for some reason, but coming off a 24-catch season that was essentially his first full year in three seasons, it’s actually a pretty good start. Compared to how much we saw Chad Jackson on the field during his first year, it looks like the coaching staff does see potential in Tate. Consider what Tory Holt had to say about Tate after the seasons:

Brandon Tate, I think he is a speed guy. We all saw that he can stretch the field. More playing experience will help him in terms of slowing down and understanding the game and knowing where to be, being that much more reliable for Tom. I think that will come. 

So while people like Mike Lombardi are saying the Pats do need to add another vertical threat this off-season, let’s not fall asleep on Tate developing into a more all around receiving threat that defenses will have to respect.

Patrick Chung

I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who will continue to hate my boy Patchung! for the botched playoff fake punt. But the truth is that Chung will likely be the number one safety in 2011 for the Pats. He’s a versatile player, who was a victim of that versatility when he was forced to play as a slot cornerback for much of the second half of the season. If he’s allowed to move back into more of a Rodney Harrison-type role he should really excel, especially given how much experience he gained in 2011.


Patriots’ Patrick Chung still explaining botched punt fake

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You know, I haven’t seen a single second of the Jets playoff loss since the game ended, it slowly awaits a viewing sometime in March if it’s lucky. However it seems like the failed fake punt is still very much on the minds of the media and fans alike.

On Thursday, Pat Chung showed up to read to some kids at an elementary school, and so did, in the words of Mike Reiss:

Reporters from Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Comcast SportsNet, WBZ-TV, Kraft Sports Productions, Fall River & ESPNBoston here at Chung event

Bruce Allen of Boston Sports Media Watch pointed out via twitter it was curious that the entire army showed up to an offseason charity appearance. As Bruce said:

would the media crowd be as big if it were James Sanders out there today? I’m cynical.

Just last week even the Sports Guy was still bemoaning the play via his mailbag.

Q: I’ve been playing the Pats-Jets game over and over again in Madden for the past two weeks, and never once have I panicked and accidentally let a special teams player audible to a fake punt.– Brendan, Boston

SG: (Nodding grimly.)

Okay, so clearly every one is hung up on this particular play, which by the way wasn’t accidentally allowed or made by a just a “special teams player”. But I haven’t even seen it since it happened. So I was finally goaded into re-watching it so I could form my own opinion about the call.

The first question: Could he have made the first down if he handled it cleanly? 

Even Trent Dilfer, master of all things football knowledge, and Mr. Factorback Merrill Hoge couldn’t even agree on that, Dilfer told Bill Simmons on a recent podcast. They even called in all their interns and even they were divided. How controversial!

Well let’s have a look:

Pause it at :23 and tell me he isn’t walking to a first down. It’s Chung’s delay on mishandling the snap that allows Eric Smith to beat Sammy Morris’ block. If Chung catches it cleanly, Morris kicks Smith inside and Chung cuts around them with at least ten yards before the double team on the gunner can stop, cut back and tackle him.

So it really should’ve worked. The Patriots had four blockers for three Jets. The call is aggressive, there’s no doubt. Especially in a playoff game. But if successful it would’ve left the Pats just outside field goal range and they had the numbers. You can understand why they called it and why it should’ve worked.

So I guess the question is do you want an aggressive team, or do you want a team that plays it safe?

If Brady had been picked six on his halftime lob to Branch vs the Bears would you have been bullshit at him for throwing it?

Frankly I’m often surprised when teams aren’t more aggressive like the Patriots. The Ravens in particular played conservatively versus the Pats and it ended up costing them.

So while the call was an aggressive one, it’s what we’ve come to expect of Bill Belichick. Especially in a situation like that where the Jets might’ve been sleeping. Tactically I can understand why the call was made. However it went completely wrong, and the mistake was compounded when the Jets scored a touchdown (I think, right? Again, still haven’t re-watched this travesty yet).

As for Chung it was a confident call, and one that I hope he continues to be willing to make. He boofed it. He admitted he boofed it. So let’s move on.

Some Patriots nuggets from The BS Report with Dilfer

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Couple interesting things to pass along after listening to yesterday’s BS Report with guest Trent Dilfer. Of course talk turned to the Patriots playoff loss to the Jets, and Dilfer was pretty harsh on Brady’s performance. Dilfer said that in grading Brady for the game he had him with 14 minuses, the most he had ever given Brady before that was 4.

He said at times Branch and Welker were wide open but that Brady just couldn’t find them. They speculated that maybe Brady’s foot was really bothering him, or maybe he was sick, or maybe he was just spooked from how the game started, but Dilfer thought it was a shockingly bad performance from Brady. I’d argue for or against it but I haven’t seen a single lowlight of the game since it ended. Maybe someday this spring I’ll finally be able to check it out and confirm or deny these reports.

Another interesting thing was that it seems like everyone who watched the game are still completely divided as to whether or not Chung would’ve gotten the first down had he not botched the snap. Dilfer seemed assured that he would’ve gotten the first down and a “huge gain”. Merrill “Factorback” Hoge thought Eric Smith would’ve stopped him. They even called in a bunch of PAs to see what they thought and they were divided too. I guess it will remain one of the great mysteries of Patriots lore.

Why The New England Patriots Need Jonathan Wilhite Healthy

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Jonathan Wilhite is in his third season with the Pats and after a somewhat promising rookie year, where most of his mistakes were forgiven because he was a rookie, he became Whipping Boy of the Secondary in 2009.

You’ll probably notice Wilhite standing there, looking around confused, in any number of 2009 Patriots lowlights after the opposing team just burned him for a touchdown. The most famous one being the winning touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne against the Colts.

In 2010 Wilhite has been decent playing only the inside nickel cornerback position, but he’s missed the last three games with a hip injury. It might not seem like a big deal to not have him, but the trickle down effect has hurt the Patriots because Patrick Chung has been forced to take over Wilhite’s coverage duties.

Chung was having a breakout season until he himself dealt with a knee injury sustained against the San Diego Chargers, then upon his return he’s had to play nickel. Chung is best utilized as a versatile safety, who can cover or rush the quarterback and using him at nickel has limited his effectiveness. 

If Wilhite can return against the Jets we should seem some more impact plays out of Chung.

More Notes on the Patriots surviving the Colts

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Rewatched the short cut of the game this morning (mostly just the defense), here are a few more thoughts to pass along…

I never thought I’d say this but the Patriots need to get Jonthan Wilhite back. Patrick Chung has quickly become one of the emotional leaders of the team, but he struggles when he’s forced to be in coverage all the time. With Wilhite out Chung was relegated to, as far as I could see, entirely nickel corner responsibility. Not that Wilhite is a pro bowler but he is a better slot corner than Chung. When he comes back Chung can rotate in with Sanders and Meriweather at safety. Of course it might not have made much difference against the Colts as Meriweather and Sanders were in deep coverage most of the day and Chung excels near and around the line of scrimmage.

It looks like my one wish of next offseason, aside from no lockout, is for the Pats to re-sign Logan Mankins long term. Everyone is singing his praises, about what a difference he’s made with his leadership and nastiness. I know Dan Connolly has been really solid this season and is probably the future right guard once Neal retires, but Mankins is a special player who plays where BB values players the most, on the line.

How good has the Lawfirm been this year? And how nice was it not to have a Laurence Maroney fumble yesterday?

When you have a young defense that’s going to give up yards you can’t make mistakes. You must play solid football and that’s what the Patriots did yesterday. One turnover could’ve been the difference. 

Say what you will about the Patriots defense but they were the difference in the game. The were better at stopping the run than the Colts and they forced three more turnovers. No matter what the stats say they were the better defense yesterday.

Nothing’s more annoying than a DeadlineHollywood.com-esque TOLDJA! but I have to say I was pretty dead on with my defensive game plan based on what the Pats did in 2009. Arrington was on Wayne, McCourty was on Garkon, Chung was on Collie/White. The front was indeed Cunningham- Wilfork – Wright – Banta-Cain and we saw lots of Guyton and not much Spikes. Maybe all this film study is starting to pay off.

What I didn’t see coming was the Kyle Arrington at defensive end wrinkle. Seems like BB always likes to do at least one thing to Peyton Manning that no one has seen before. Unfortunately Arrington never sacked him, and I think the Pats got a little too cute with it in the 4th quarter when the Colts just started running right at him and picked up some big yards.

Vince Wilfork has to be all-pro this year, he is an absolute beast and is a leading an excellent young defensive line that can stop the run.

I shake my head imagining how good this team would be with Bodden and Ty Warren, but I digress…