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2016: PatsPropaganda Year in Review

February 25, 2017 by Mike Dussault

Slightly non-football, self-indulgent post today as I take my yearly look back at the blog and all the fun that was had.

It’s hard to believe that this coming December will make it a full decade since I started writing internet blogs about the Patriots, and this April will make it seven years since I started focusing my efforts on PatsPropaganda. I’m still not entirely sure where this is all going, but what I do know is I enjoy it way too much to stop and each year it grows a little bit more.

The first major order of business in 2016 was to migrate the entire site from Tumblr over to a hosted WordPress site. That process was a crash course in all kinds of computer stuff I never thought I’d get into, but it all went smoothly and I learned a ton. In hindsight, I wish I had done it far sooner. The disadvantage was that I could no longer just make a simple video or GIF post and count that as content, but it pushed me to create better and more consistent posts and I think that improved the “brand” while I still could use Tumblr as a media outlet.

I’ve already made some 2017 tweaks to the design and will continue to streamline things while staying true to making PatsPropaganda the very definition of an independent sports blog.

[Read more…] about 2016: PatsPropaganda Year in Review

Filed Under: PatsPropaganda Tagged With: patspropaganda, year in review

Patriots Gameplan: Super Bowl Bye Week vs. The Haters

January 27, 2017 by Mike Dussault

No game this weekend so instead of a gameplan for the Pats I’m writing a gameplan for us, the Patriots fans.

It’s hard work being a Patriots fan when the games aren’t on, when we’re not kicking ass up and down the gridiron. Because we’ve been doing it for so long the countless blowhard pundits who need people talking about them often have our team in their crosshairs.

All you have to do these days is have a dumb opinion about Tom Brady and it’s going to spread like wildfire. Just ask Chris Simms.

The Pats’ merits are debated both at macro (Deflators! Videotapers!) and micro (Tom Brady can’t throw deep!, the defense hasn’t played anybody!) levels, because that’s what “sports media” is now and it’s annoying as hell to have to deal with for Patriots fans.

What can you do, New Englanders are passionate about their sports and that passion only seeps into all the other Patriots fans around the globe. I know because I hear from them. From places like Brazil and Germany and Hungary to name a few.

The support of this team runs deep everywhere by those who can appreciate excellent, once-in-a-lifetime quality football.

But this weekend let’s take a moment to appreciate what we have in this football team. How lucky we are that in this crazy world we have a diversion that has brought us all so much  joy over the last decade-and-a-half.

Let’s take a short trip down memory lane for some perspective.

[Read more…] about Patriots Gameplan: Super Bowl Bye Week vs. The Haters

Filed Under: PatsPropaganda Tagged With: bill belichick, deflategate, embrace the hate, ignore the noise, patspropaganda, spygate, tom brady

Use uberPOOL for a Boston Football Sunday Bar Hop!

August 8, 2016 by Nikolas Davos

uberPOOL

I don’t know how your Sundays during football season go, but mine typically revolve around football, food, and booze. Well, definitely more than just Sundays, but I digress…if you’re not feeling your regular football viewing place one weekend and want to mix it up in a big way, do it with the help of Uber and their new ride sharing program, “uberPOOL”.

uberPOOL allows you to share your ride and split the cost of your trip with another Uber rider headed in the same direction. The average time added to an uberPOOL trip is less than 5 minutes and each uberPOOL rider can bring one additional passenger along. And the best part? Take $5 off your first uberPOOL ride with code “PATSPOOL”!

Here’s a 5-stop bar crawl on steroids to get you and a friend locked and loaded for game day all around town:

[Read more…] about Use uberPOOL for a Boston Football Sunday Bar Hop!

Filed Under: Off Field Tagged With: cask 'n flagon, jerry remy's, mcgreevy's, patspropaganda, stats, tavern in the square, uber, uberpool

A Closer Look: Birth of a Patriots Blogger

August 5, 2016 by Mike Dussault

I’m excited to share a very special treat today with you all today. I get a lot of emails asking about how I got my start blogging about the Patriots, when I started rooting for the team, etc. While there are plenty of moments that I look back on that played a part in me starting this site, there’s one particular memory that I can not only tell you about, but show you.

I was the ultimate NFL Films junkie when I was a kid. I loved the epic nature of their work and would never miss a week of Inside the NFL. This inspired me to teach myself how to edit videos on my parent’s VHS camcorder. My first project? A highlight film of my freshman football team set to Eye of the Tiger and Bust a Move. I dragged our rack stereo system across the living room, hooked everything into our regular VCR, used the “dub” button and play/record/pause and cut by cut made my own cheap ass version of an NFL Films highlight video.

Here it is as an appetizer. You might catch a little of me, #34 playing some middle linebacker, but I was far from one of the stars, and probably knew my destiny laid on the sidelines or perhaps in the press box.

This video got me into our high school’s cable communications class that was run out of the cable access studio. I learned to shoot and edit, and eventually carved out a niche for myself as being a great handheld cameraman with my sideline work at our high school’s football games.

[Read more…] about A Closer Look: Birth of a Patriots Blogger

Filed Under: PatsPropaganda Tagged With: 1992, a closer look, Mike Dussault, patspropaganda

2016 Patriots Mock Draft

April 21, 2016 by Mike Dussault

The NFL draft is finally upon us and it should be an exciting year despite the Patriots’ lack of a first-round pick. This is my only 2016 Patriots mock draft and I’ve put a lot of time into considering each prospect, especially with the top four picks.

The first four picks of this draft are vital. While I thought the Patriots could trade up in the second, I think they’d be smarter to wait and see which of the quality offensive and defensive tackles fall through the cracks. Those are the positions where need, value and fit will all converge in the late second round.

The wild card position for me is wide receiver, as I’m sure it is for the Patriots themselves. I love Sterling Shepard, but don’t think there are a ton great fits who I feel confident could earn Brady’s trust out of the gate. Leontae Caroo, Tyler Boyd and Braxton Miller all have desirable traits, but I also have questions about all of them that left me indecisive when they were available in my mock draft work.

As always, the draft is crapshoot, not just for bloggers like me who have never been trained as scouts, but for the actually scouts themselves.  But expect the Patriots to add at least a couple players who will play significant roles this season.

You can check out my Top-50 Big Board here for my full list of Patriots fits, all of these prospects have been pulled from there.

Here’s my 2016 mock:

 

Round 2, 60th overall:

Shon Coleman, Tackle, Auburn (6’5″, 307, 35 1/8″ arms)

Shon ColemanFootball games are won in the trenches and though there are other, perhaps more pressing needs, I feel like tackles on both sides of the ball is the way to go with the first two back-to-back picks. That’s where the best value is and with both Sebastian Vollmer and Marcus Cannon entering the final years of their deals, it’s the same situation as when the Pats drafted Nate Solder in 2011.

I considered all the top-tanked tackles, and ran dozens of mock drafts. Sometimes Coleman was there, sometime he wasn’t. The big red flag on him is that he took two years off to beat cancer, so he’ll already be 25 this year. Both of those issues existed previously — Cannon overcame cancer and Vollmer was an older prospect, so it’s not scaring me away. And obviously, the guy beat cancer and has a maturity and perspective about him that should make him a good fit in New England. One thing I did more of in my draft research this year was watch interviews with prospects and I love how Coleman spoke and carried himself.

Coleman’s athleticism is what I crave for the Pats o-line, as he was a left tackle at Auburn, and I think he can project to take over the right tackle spot in 2017, while also bringing some much needed athleticism that Vollmer is slowly losing and Cannon never had. He could bring even more value if he can beat Cannon out and make him expendable as the swing tackle. But that might be a tall order right out of the gate.

Jason Spriggs is probably my favorite tackle fit in the class, but I think he’ll be gone by this point. There’s also the issue that Spriggs is probably more of a left tackle and I’m trying to project someone who can end up on the right side. Although I do think the game continues to evolve and the difference between left tackle and right tackle is getting smaller. I’d love to get more athletic at right tackle for the future. Joe Haeg and Willie Beavers are later options who I also think fit extremely well, but I see this spot as one to capture a gem who falls through the cracks.

Round 2, 61st overall (from AZ/Chandler Jones): 

Austin Johnson, Defensive Tackle, Penn State (6’4″, 314)

<a rel=Sticking with the trenches here, my mock drafts always left me choosing between Johnson and Hassan Ridgeway. Johnson has a little more size and a little less concern about his conditioning and overall work ethic so I’m taking him by a nose, though I’d be happy with either player. Johnson adds another dimension with Malcom Brown inside, while Ridgeway seems perhaps a little to similar to Brown, even if he might be better. Johnson would fit right in with Alan Branch and Terrence Knighton, as I believe the Pats will avoid 3-techiques who are undersized but are skilled pass rushers. That role will be for a rotational defensive end.

Johnson is everything the Pats need at defensive tackle now. He can hold his ground vs. double teams, he can push the pocket and get pressure, and is aware of what’s going on around him. He was incredibly productive playing a similar role to what the Pats would ask of him. Combine him with Malcom Brown and the Pats are set inside schematically regardless of what happens when Branch and Knighton’s contracts are up after the season.

Drafting a player like Johnson here, although not a pressing need, is what good teams who want to sustain excellence do. You can’t afford to lack depth or talent on your defensive line and Johnson gives just the right bump of youth and size that the Pats need for their future.

Round 3, 91st overall:

Alex Collins, Running Back, Arkansas (5’10”, 217)

Alex CollinsRunning back is the most pressing need in this draft and a position where the Pats can really round out their offense and add a new dimension to their attack that was severely lacking in the season-ender against the Broncos. Collins is my favorite Pats fit in the draft. While I think Kenneth Dixon would also do the job, there’s just something about Collins on tape to me that screams Patriots to me. He runs how they want their early down/early game back to run. Collins would step right in and give the Pats just what they need — 10-15 carries, grinding out everything that is there.

I do think that the talent dropoff after the third round at running back is significant, the Pats must strike with one, or even two, draft picks sooner that later. That’s why this is the perfect spot for a running back.

There are some late round options who could be interesting, and I also think Davonte Booker and Jonathan Williams could be options that would fit pretty well, but I don’t like either of them as much as I like Dixon and Collins. Though the receiving back role seems sturdy, could the Pats double dip like they did with Ridley and Vereen? I wouldn’t rule it out, but they must get at least one hard-running back here.

Round 3, (96th overall, compensatory):

DJ White, Cornerback, Georgia Tech (5’11”, 193)

DJ WhiteThis is the hardest pick in the mock draft. I’d really prefer to go offensive tackle, defensive tackle, running back and wide receiver with the first four picks, and I’d take them in just about any order, but no matter how many mock draft simulations I ran I could only ever get three prospects I liked in those positions.

So this is probably too high to take White, but he’s my favorite Pats corner fit in the draft. A three-year starter and captain who forced fumbles every season, White has all the instincts, athleticism and character that the Pats demand. He’d instantly step into the mix with the Pats young corner group and, at the very least compete for a starting job in the slot against Justin Coleman, if not push Logan Ryan and Darryl Roberts at the outside spots.

Ryan is entering the last year of his deal, and most seem to think the Pats will invest in Malcolm Butler long-term, though they control his rights as a restricted free agent next offseason. But you can never have too much depth at corner. The Pats were lucky last season as far as injuries are concerned. That might not happen again and after the two outside starters there’s no much else to work with.

Cyrus Jones and Harlan Miller are two other choices I considered around this spot. Ideally a wide receiver would be sitting here at this spot for the taking, but it’s probably too early for someone like Daniel Braverman to be selected.


And now the shots in the dark begin. While I’d predict the Pats make some trades to give them picks in each round, for mock draft purposes I never actually project trades. So here, with the bottom seven picks in the last two rounds, I’m simply sticking in players who I think fit well and ignoring needs for the most part.

Round 6, 196th overall (from HOU Keshawn Martin): Nelson Spruce, WR, Colorado – Spruce isn’t the big name many Patriots fans want, but he’s consistent and productive and has better size than any slot receiver we’ve had at 6’1″, 206 pounds. He’s the classic Patriots fit — doesn’t have the flashy performance numbers, but he’s a football player who competes and catches everything thrown his way. He’s also described as a fearless punt returner. I’m not quite ready to say he’s going to beat Danny Amendola out in training camp, but if he progresses he could give the Pats options at the slot position in the future.

Round 6, 204th overall (from CHI Martellus Bennett): Blake Martinez, LB, Stanford – With Shea McClellin in the mix, I don’t see linebacker as the huge need it was entering the offseason. Still I think they need some depth there and Martinez could give them a developmental player who can run. Martinez is one of the bigger middle linebacker prospects this year (6’2″, 238), he was also a top performer at the combine in bench press, three-cone drill and 20 yard short shuttle. There are still concerns over his quickness, but he plays tough and could immediately play a role on special teams.

Round 6, 208th overall (compensatory): Dan Vitale, FB/H-Back, Northwestern – Nick Caserio had some private one-on-one time with Vitale this offseason and pretty much anyone who studies the Patriots’ draft has Vitale as a potential target. I can’t leave him off because he’s such a unique player and I think Belichick is drawn to them. What stands out most to me is that while Vitale is built like a fullback/h-back hybrid, I’ve never quite seen someone run routes like he does at his size. It’s no wonder his position at Northwestern was called the “Super Back”. Vitale was a top performer at the draft in bench press, vertical jump, 20-yard shuttle and 60-yard shuttle. Special teams would be his way on the roster, but he’s got the Patriots feel to him and many people can see it.

Round 6, 214th overall (compensatory): Keenan Reynolds, RB, Navy – A record-setting player from Navy? Yes, few things are more Belichick-y that that. I’m not sure how Reynolds fits in, whether he could legitimately win a running back roster spot, especially if someone like Collins has already been taken. But I’m trying to nail Pats picks and the Patriots cannot ignore the former quarterback. Fumble issues initially scared me off of this, but as was pointed out to me by many on twitter, these issues were more related to zone read pitches than poor ball security. His passion and leadership are unquestioned, he’d fit seamlessly into the New England locker room, even more so considering Joe Cardona, a fellow former Midshipman, is already on the roster.

Round 6, 221st overall, (compensatory): Ben Braunecker, TE, Harvard – With Martellus Bennett likely only here for a year, there’s definitely a need for a developmental Y tight end and Braunecker is an interesting fit. He was a top performer in every combine category, but his athleticism and strength also translate to the field where he plays with the required edge for blocking. It’s a big step up from Harvard, but the Pats could afford to practice squad him and develop him over the next year.

Round 7, 243rd overall: Mike Thomas, WR, Southern Miss: A small school receiver who plays with “his hair on fire”, I love doubling up at the wide receiver position in this draft. Thomas is  a small school guy but leaves everything he’s got on the field on every snap. He could use some time to develop, but he checks all the boxes coming in.

Round 7, 250th overall (from HOU Ryan Mallett): Joel Heath, DL, Michigan St. – Heath’s a guy that kept popping up in my draft research and seems to follow a model the Patriots often consider – the guy with great size, versatility and leadership skills who never quite found a position in college and thus his production was underwhelming. The Pats love to plug guys like that into their system to see if they can awaken a beast. Heath seems worth the shot and will compete hard in training camp, possibly earning a practice squad spot.

Filed Under: Draft Tagged With: 2016 Patriots mock draft, mock draft, patspropaganda

PatsPropagaganda 2015 Season Wrap

January 29, 2016 by Mike Dussault

It’s hard to believe another season is in the books and with it my ninth season of blogging the Patriots and sixth here writing PatsPropaganda.

First and foremost I have to thank everyone who once again supported the site, bought t-shirts, asked questions, read my stuff and kept me entertained during one of the more blah years of Patriots football. I write this site because of you and as I always say every year, you’re why I keep it going. So thank you to every one of you and your messages of support mean the world to me and keep me going.

Some highlights to share include once again partnering with NRG Energy and getting to send a bunch of fans and friends to games over the season. Also sent out plenty of signed merchandise and swag bags, so thank you to NRG Energy for the second year in a row of giving me a chance to help spread the word about all the great things they’re doing – real things that actually matter for this planet far more than football does.

Thanks as well to Tide for their partnership on the #OurColors campaign! I’ll be shopping at NFLShop.com for the foreseeable future because of them.

Highlight of the year for me was going to Pats-Jets game in Week 7. We had a great giveaway contest and sent a great Jets fan to the game (I know I know). That was also the game I made my yearly trip home for and got to go to a Patriots game with my Dad for the first time since the 80′s. Special times.

Once again spent the pregame tailgate with awesome Patriots fans, giving away NRG swag and eating free food. Doesn’t get any better than that! Here’s the video I made of the whirlwind trip which had me in Boston for 36 hours total. All worth it of course, and not just because the Pats beat the Jets.

Finally, some notes on the future. In the coming weeks I’ll be migrating the site from Tumblr to a fully hosted Word Press site. This will open the door to expanding if I so choose, but is immediately aimed at making the site more user friendly for what is most important – the writing content. Hopefully there will be no major glitches. The Tumblr version will remain as it currently is, and the new main site will be unveiled sometime in February (or sooner if the mood strikes me).

I am also helping to start a new blog called The Rams Report that will be based out of Los Angeles following in similar fashion to PatsProp, you guessed it, the new LA Rams. Right now we’re starting to look for writers, especially anyone LA-based, so if you or anyone you know are interested please email ramsreport16 at gmail.com.

And now we’re on to the Patriots 2016 season starting with free agency and the draft (Hoodie help us). Last year we savored a fourth Super Bowl but this year I’m already getting excited for the 2016 campaign. The injured guys will be back with the team almost completely intact. Brady’s still in his prime. The schedule is a beast. This should be one to remember.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: new england patriots, patspropaganda

December 11, 2015 by Mike Dussault


Edelman back at practice and things are starting to look up for the rest of the season. 

https://www.patspropaganda.com/edelman-back-at-practice-and-things-are-starting/

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: julian edelman, patspropaganda, Rob Gronkowski

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