Sunday, August 31, 2014

Patriots' Post-Cut Analysis - Options On Defense Almost Unfair

Do the New England Patriots have ten defensive linemen or ten linebackers?

Is it too much to ask for both?

For the past few seasons, the answer to that question would have been straight forward as the Patriots base defense was a standard brand 4-3, even though they were in their sub-nickle over half of the time - and not necessarily by design, but by need as injuries forced coach Bill Belichick into whatever defense that he had the most personnel to run...
Nose tackle Vince Wilfork is the key to the Patriots' defense

...especially last season, when the injuries mounted to the point that Belichick was reduced to starting many players out of their natural positions to fill the void, and often times, it wasn't pretty.

Season-ending injuries to Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork wreaked havoc on the interior of New England's front seven, as undersized Joe Vellano busted his butt to try and fill in for Wilfork and oversized Dont'a Hightower tried equally has hard to take over the play calling and cover running backs - and both took heavy criticism for not being able to physically match up with the position they were thrust into.

Which is absurd, but when Patriots' media and fans become frustrated, they are quick to look for a scapegoat - and the most convenient players to pick on were the ones that were playing out of position.  Eventually, Sealver Siliga arrived on the scene and shored up the nose, and Jamie Collins was eased into the lineup to provide the athleticism that Hightower lacked - and even though they rode that combination to the AFC title game, the lessons learned would manifest themselves in the offseason.

Belichick opened training camp with his wounded players cleared for contact, but instead of signing more players in an attempt to cover for any injury that may have occurred, he simply switched philosophies - and did so in such a manner that it didn't really matter if the team was in a 3-4 or a 4-3 or a sub-nickle, because the versatility of the depth chart, not injury, would now dictate to the formation.

Keeping that in mind, this depth chart is going to be a little bit different, as it will list the front seven in terms of both a 4-3 and a 3-4 base set, primarily to demonstrate the versatility of the units involved - and also how Belichick should now be able to transform his defense into anything it needs to be, and can do it on the fly if necessary.

Defensive Linemen 4-3 (10)

RE:  95 - Chandler Jones    99 - Michael Buchanan                            
DT:  94 - Chris Jones    74 - Dominique Easley (R)   72 - Joe Vellano  Kelcy Quarles 
NT:  75 - Vince Wilfork   96 - Sealver Siliga   Bruce Gaston                                              
LE:   50 - Rob Ninkovich   71 - Zach Moore (R)

Linebackers 4-3 (5)

SAM:     91 - Jamie Collins   44 - Darius Fleming
MIKE:   54 - Dont'a Hightower   44 - Darius Fleming
WILL:    51 - Jerod Mayo 

In order to make a 4-3 work with the current depth chart, much is reliant on health of the linebackers, which as we saw last season, is playing with fire - and just the fact that Belichick nearly wiped the cupboard bare of true linebacker depth dictates that he has to go with three man fronts and use his defensive ends as outside linebackers...

...which isn't the worst thing in the world, considering that when combined with the regular linebackers, he can create chaos with the opposing offense just because he will more be able to disguise coverages and where the pressure on the quarterback will be coming from.

That said, if a particular circumstance dictates a four man front as part of a nickle package, Collins and Mayo are capable coverage linebackers and Hightower can easily reduce down to a five technique nickle rusher, meaning that they would rarely have to come off the field.

Of course, whoever comes on as the nickle cornerback - either Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan or Brandon Browner - would have to be skilled in run support and be willing to stick their nose in a pile, and all three have shown the ability to do just that.

But the personnel that Belichick has assembled speaks mainly to the 3-4, which brings us to...

Defensive Linemen 3-4 (6)                                           

RE:   74 - Dominique Easley (R)  Kelcy Quarles  Bruce Gaston
NT:   75 - Vince Wilfork    96 - Sealver Siliga
LE:    94 - Chris Jones     72 - Joe Vellano

                                                
Linebackers 3-4 (9)

SAM:   50 - Rob Ninkovich  91 - Jamie Collins  71 - Zach Moore (R)    44 - Darius Fleming
TED:    54 - Dont'a Hightower  44 - Darius Fleming
MIKE:  51 - Jerod Mayo   91 - Jamie Collins 
WILL:  95 - Chandler Jones   51 - Jerod Mayo   99 - Michael Buchanan

The linebacker positions in the 3-4 require specific skill sets - but the way Belichick has constructed his depth chart, he has many different players with diverse skill sets that speak to the 3-4 as a whole - and as a result, his defense will have a much different look this season.

As mentioned in previous articles, the line consists of a nose tackle, who will demand double teams and take up two gaps on either side of the center depending on which way the play flows, while the ends are actually three-technique tackles that take the inside shade on the offensive tackles, which will occupy both tackles and also one guard, depending on how disruptive the end is in his penetration.

The two outside linebackers are responsible first for containment, making sure that nothing gets around his respective end - either in the way of a sweep or a screen pass - and secondly to provide pressure on the quarterback from the wing, redirecting everything inside where the bigger bodies roam and the inside linebackers await, ready to fill any gap that come open.

In that instance, the TED linebacker - usually the largest of the inside backers - will take on any resistance created by a pulling guard or tackle, allowing the MIKE - the more athletic of the two - autonomy to flow to the ball carrier with a clear shot to make the tackle.

Collins and Mayo are both good coverage linebackers as well as quality interior playmakers, and Hightower is an excellent pass rusher from the edge so, in theory, none of them would have to come off the field in the nickle, if it came down to that.

Corners (6)

24 - Darrelle Revis 
39 - Brandon Browner* 
26 - Logan Ryan 
37 - Alfonzo Dennard 
25 - Kyle Arrington 
29 - Malcolm Butler (R) 

Safeties (5)

30 - Duron Harmon  
32 - Devin McCourty  
23 - Patrick Chung  
27 - Tavon Wilson 
43 - Nate Ebner 

With Darrelle Revis aboard, there is zero doubt about one of the cornerback spots, but the depth of the corner unit creates many different scenarios to play across from him.

The real value of having a shutdown corner like Revis on the field is that it allows the defense to run with a single high safety that will shade to the corner opposite Revis in support of the direction that the ball will probably be going, which would allow the Patriots to run with four corners in a nickle without sacrificing run support.

In this instance, it matters not who is playing across for him, as the Patriots have excellent depth everywhere in the secondary - even with Browner suspended for the first four games - which also means that Belichick has insurance in case Revis is forced from a game due to injury.

Obviously, none of the Patriots' corners are in the same class as Revis, but they are of quality cloth and all would be starters or the first nickle option on other teams - so the dynamics would change and the single high safety idea would probably fade into oblivion, but the Patriots are more able to maintain integrity in the secondary that any of those other teams

So it is a testament to the skill of rookie free agent Malcolm Butler that he played his way onto this roster, and in doing so offers the Patriots many more coverage options than they would have had otherwise, particularly in being able to dictate matchups against opposing receivers.

His presence also allows the team to kick Browner inside to the slot and for him to match up against bigger running backs, slot receivers and tight ends, which in turn frees up the linebackers to flow more freely to the ball, as Browner's length and physicality make him imposing in a phone booth underneath.

It also allows for the other corners to rotate in and out as safeties as need be, though the team has quality depth there already in McCourty and Harmon, with Chung as the early down option as more of a big nickle, a role that Browner could also assume when he returns.

The sky is the limit for this defense, as they have so many options to choose from in dictating matchups that it's almost unfair - and if it is indeed true that all is fair in love and war, Patriots' fans are likely going to love what these warriors bring to the battlefield.

Patriots deal Mallett to Texans, claim DT Quarles amid roster shuffling

New England Patriots' quarterback Ryan Mallett is now ex-Patriots' quarterback Ryan Mallett, as the fourth year signal caller has been dealt to the Houston Texans for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

According to numerous sources, the Patriots' worked right up until the 4:00pm cutdown deadline on Saturday in trying to work a deal with one of three teams - reportedly between the Texans, Cowboys and Bills - and when the proper compensation package failed to materialize, coach Bill Belichick stashed the Texas native on his active roster, forcing him to cut long snapper Danny Aiken to make room...

...the reason being that Belichick didn't want to just waive Mallett and receive nothing in return, especially with three teams bidding on him, though he ended up with next to nothing in the long run.

In a corresponding move, the Texans waived quarterback Case Keenum, leaving their depth chart with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Mallett and rookie Tom Savage.

As the news broke, many were expecting that the Patriots would re-sign Aiken, whose cut left the team with just hybrid defensive end / outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich as their long snapper, but instead New England claimed rookie three-tech defensive end Kelsy Quarles off waivers from the New York Giants.

So in the spirit of killing two birds with one stone, the Patriots relieve themselves of the Mallett albatross while picking up much needed depth on the defensive line behind rookie Dominique Easley, Joe Vellano and Chris Jones - the undrafted Quarles losing out in a numbers game on the Giants' line after outperforming two recent high-round picks, the Giants probably hoping to stash him on their practice squad.

Quarles, a 6' 4", 295 pound South Carolina product, owed some of his sack production last season - nine-and-a-half sacks to rank second among defensive tackles in the NCAA - to the presence of the Texans' first round pick Jadeveon Clowney rushing from the outside. and may benefit from the excellence of Chandler Jones rushing from his outside linebacker position.

New England also signed two of their final cuts to the practice squad on Sunday, inking linebacker Ja'Gerad Davis and running back Jonas Gray.

Much more forthcoming on all of these transactions...


Saturday, August 30, 2014

Patriots' Post-Cuts Analysis - Maintaining the Status Quo On Offense

The grizzled old gunslinger Brady is poised to lead the perhaps the most talented offense in his tenure
The gig is up, the news is out - just like every other team in the NFL, the New England Patriots complied with the league's mandate to trim their roster to 53 players on Saturday afternoon, and there really weren't many surprises.

That came on Tuesday when the Patriots swapped long-tenured Logan Mankins for Tampa Bay's Timothy Wright and a fourth round draft pick, leaving the left guard spot a question mark for the first time since 2005 - which has to be painful for Mankins since he was the first draft pick following the last Patriots' title, and the team looks to be loaded to the gills with enough talent to accomplish that feat again.

That said, Mankins is gone and - other than former power back LeGarrette Blount - he is the lone missing incumbent from last season's AFC Championship losing team, and a quick peek at the roster tells one that the Patriots' maintained the status quo, with only four rookies making the offensive depth chart, and all of them reserves.

The one thing that prevented the Patriots from a trip to their sixth Super Bowl appearance under coach Bill Belichick was tough luck on the injury front, and it appears that Belichick made use of his roster to ensure if the team suffers through a heavy injury season again, that they can keep right on rolling.

That's how talented this offense is on paper - and next Sunday, we get to see it on the turf.

Quarterback (3)

12 - Tom Brady 
15 - Ryan Mallett 
10 - Jimmy Garoppolo (R) 

Naturally, there was little doubt about Brady, but there was considerable conjecture regarding the depth behind him - mainly, who was going to be the Greatest's backup - and while that question still is not answered, it should be made apparent next Sunday about 45 minutes from kickoff when the team must submit their active roster for the season opener at Miami.

Patriots' fans shouldn't be shocked no matter who makes the 46 man gameday roster, as both have proven capable reserves.  Of course, there is still the possibility that one of the two is dealt - Mallett most likely if there is a deal made.

Running Backs (5)
Rumors of Ridley's demise were greatly exagerated


22 - Stevan Ridley 
34 - Shane Vereen 
38 - Brandon Bolden  
46 - James Develin  
28 - James White (R)  

Maintaining the status quo is the theme of the running back depth chart, as four of the five incumbents from last season remain on the team, despite innuendo that Ridley had fumbled his last in Foxborough, at least as a Patriot - but Ridley's "fumbling problem" is actuality a media embellishment, though it is certain that Belichick would prefer that no footballs hit the turf for any reason.

Ridley is the Patriots' lone power back, though Bolden has flashed at times in that capacity - while Vereen and White have to have defensive coordinators up nights trying to figure out how to manage coverage on two speedy pass catchers at the same time as putting two bodies on Gronkowski and dealing with any assortment of receivers that Brady can send wide.

Tight Ends (2)

87 - Rob Gronkowski 
47 - Michael Hoomanawanui 

Again, status quo.  As far as pure tights are concerned, these two are it.

Gronkowski is the best tight end in the league when he's on the field and Hooman is a gritty combo that contributes in short yardage and on special teams - but when one adds hybrids in fullback James Develin and freshly acquired wide receiver Tim Wright, the position takes on a whole new look.

Develin is a powerful end-of-the-line type that specializes in the athletic pull-and-wham technique to free up running backs through the hole and has surprisingly soft hands and some speed in the pattern, while Wright is a big, reasonably fast possession receiver who specializes in the underneath stuff, and worked out of the slot about two-thirds of the time last season in Tampa.

Put all of that together, and you have as diverse a group of "tight ends" as you will find in the NFL.


Julian Edelman is ready to reprise his role as the top pass catcher
Receivers (8)

80 - Danny Amendola 
11 - Julian Edelman 
17 - Aaron Dobson 
19 - Brandon Lafell  
85 - Kenbrell Thompkins  
18 - Matthew Slater 
81 - Tim Wright
84 - Brian Tyms

A point that can not be stressed enough is the fact that this is perhaps the most diverse and, by nature, the most explosive set of pass catchers in the NFL.

There are no big names, just an assortment of large targets in 6' 4" Wright and Tyms, 6' 3" Dobson and Lafell and 6' 1" Thompkins - and smallish, quick munchkin types in Edelman and Amendola, and when combined with the receiving talents of the gargantuan tight end Gronkowski and the turbo-twins Shane Vereen and James White curling out of the backfield, that's just too much for any defensive coordinator to deal with.

Of course, Tyms is serving a four-game suspension to begin the season and is purportedly going to be training with former Patriot Randy Moss while on the bad-boy shelf, and Wright hasn't even had time to find some new digs, but they will both contribute sooner or later.

Nate Solder leads a line that will be without Mankins for the first time since 2005
Offensive Linemen (10)

77 - Nate Solder 
62 - Ryan Wendell 
63 - Dan Connolly 
76 - Sebatian Vollmer 
61 - Marcus Cannon 
67 - Josh Kline 
64 - Chris Barker 
65 - Jordan Devey   
71 - Cameron Fleming (R)   
66 - Bryan Stork (R) 

As was mentioned in a previous article, the Patriots seem to be falling back on their look from last season - or mashing the default setting, as it were - retaining four of the five incumbents from 2013.

The lone omission is, of course, Logan Mankins who will now endure a losing team for the first time in his career - which is sad, but it is the nature of the NFL, particularly when you won't play ball when the team asks you to restructure your contract.

Regardless, Mankins is gone and now it is on Belichick and his staff to find the proper mixture along the line to get the running game going, something that happened rarely in the preseason - and something that needs to happen with regularity in the regular season, because it matters not how many weapons one has at receiver, if you can't run the ball, you can not be consistently successful.

There is talk of moving Vollmer from right tackle to left guard and replacing him on the end with Marcus Cannon, who is coming into his contract year and needs a big season.  That's a lot of beef scrapping in the trenches, and one has to wonder if the stretch zone blocking scheme that the Patriots employ is going to give way to a drive blocking scheme to take advantage of the heft.

Whatever the case, where the offense always starts up front, it needs to be fixed.  Quickly.

Friday, August 29, 2014

New England Patriots' 53 Man Roster Projection - The "Losing Logan", Saying "Hi" to Timmy, Final Edition

Once again, Bill kills my roster projection.

Just three days ago, I was all set with the absolute BOSS of a 53 man roster projection, then Bill Belichick decides to trade Logan Mankins to the Buccaneers for Tim Wright and a draft pick - and while many may say "Well, it's just swapping one guy for another", it's really not that simple.
Garoppolo played well, showing poise in the shrinking pocket

The entire dynamic of the offense is altered when you lose a five-time All Pro guard, and just as much when you acquire a young hybrid pass catcher- because now the Patriots must not only decide who is going to replace Mankins at left guard, but also whether to keep an extra lineman for reliable depth or just run with eight, as always...

...and also if Wright's presence precludes a roster spot for a bubble receiver or whether one of the pure blocking tight ends gets the axe.

Is Wright a really tall wide receiver or a very narrow tight end?  On Thursday night, he looked like a possession-type receiver who is mature beyond his football years, giving starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo a big set of numbers to target as both a primary target as well as a check down.

He's not a blocker per se, though he does possess some skill in that area, nor does he have sprinter's speed to stretch the field in a conventional sense, so if counted as a tight end the projection would have to include a third, and the cut to make room for Wright could conceivably come from anywhere on the roster, not just from the pass catcher ranks.

So, as it turns out, I made a big deal out of nothing as Belichick's move not only hasn't impacted my thoughts as to the 53 man roster, but actually gives the team latitude to leave a roster spot open so that only one cut has to be made when suspended players Brandon Browner and Brian Tyms return in early October.

Quarterbacks (2)

12 - Tom Brady
10 - Jimmy Garoppolo (R)

No changes from original projection

Garoppolo didn't exactly kill it in his full game start against the Giants, but he didn't hurt his public perception at all either.

In this game, he looked like a rookie - As he became comfortable in the flow of the game, his mechanics disintegrated into improvisation and he seemed to try to be counting on his Favre-esque sixth sense and keen feel of the pocket, and too often put himself in a position where he had no choice but to throw flat-footed.

He threw into tight coverage, missed a few receivers and made a couple of more throws that probably had Belichick grimacing - but he never looked uncomfortable, never seemed to panic and stood tall in the pocket like the gunslinger he is destined to be, but that won't be for a while.

That said, the kid is a gamer, and with the grizzled and crusty old veteran Brady showing him the ropes over the next few years, he will be special - but on Thursday night, he was just rookie with a ton of potential.

The question is, did he do enough to overtake Ryan Mallett as Brady's apprentice?

He displayed poise and a command of the huddle, and while his numbers don't jump out you - 22 of 42 for 284 yards with a score and a pick - it's difficult to believe that Mallett would have done any better with what Garoppolo had to work with against a Giants' defense that played its starters through the first four series - because in four preseasons with the Patriots, he never has.

Running Backs (5)

22 - Stevan Ridley
34 - Shane Vereen
28 - James White (R)
35 - Jonas Gray
 46 - James Develin (H-back)
  
Added Gray from original projection

Gray and White started the game in the backfield, but neither could get untracked - an underlying theme that may have gone unnoticed with all of the drama surrounding the race to be Brady's backup, the rise of a couple of pre-camp longshots to probable roster spots and the epic trade of Loagn Mankins to the Buccaneers.

To be honest, the running game has been the black sheep for the Patriots' offense - and while it's true that the backs have been running behind a makeshift offensive line while the coaches attempt to find some chemistry in the trenches, it is also true that not one of the backs have risen to separate themselves from the others.

It's probably much adieu about nothing, given the fact that the running backs are operating behind an offensive line that has been - well - offensive in the preseason while trying to gel.

The lone positive from the last preseason game for the backs was the smooth wheel route and fly paper hands displayed by White.  He may be struggling to adapt to the Patriots blocking scheme - he ran behind a drive blocking scheme in college while the Patriots fly with a stretch zone - but the threat of he and Vereen curling out of the backfield is sure to help open up some running lanes.

Gray hasn't done much since his breakout game against Philadelphia two weeks ago, but no Patriots' backs have - and the person he's looking to unseat, Bolden, has done nothing at all.


Tight Ends (2)

87 - Rob Gronkowski 
86 - Steve Maneri

Maneri added and Hoomanawanui subtracted from original projection

Recent addition Steve Maneri caught one ball, a perfect gut strike from Garoppolo that went for 19 yards, and it was a bullet that took some concentration to look in as he was blanketed and knew he was going to take a shot from either the linebacker or the safety - or both - on one of the balls that Garoppolo threw in the game that he probably shouldn't have.

But the point is that in the two weeks since he had been signed off the street as a supposed camp body to fill in as the only tight end healthy enough to participate in any manner, he has passed Michael Hoomanawanui on the depth chart and has done enough to earn the roster spot behind Gronkowski.

Sure, Hoomanawanui has been on the shelf since early in camp so Maneri's ascension is pretty much by default, but it's not as if the job was just handed to him.  He's a crunching blocker who can spell Gronkowski as the Patriots try to limit Gronk's reps in an attempt to keep him healthy for the season...

...and it's not as if that's unprecedented, as folks tend to forget that he played two full seasons and half of another one before snapping his forearm midway through his third season.  Of course, it was a downward spiral from there but the team would be smart to ease him in.

Receivers (8)

80 - Danny Amendola 
11 - Julian Edelman 
17 - Aaron Dobson 
19 - Brandon Lafell  
85 - Kenbrell Thompkins
81 - Tim Wright  (H-back) 
18 - Matthew Slater 
84- Brian Tyms (suspended 4 games)

Added Tyms and Wright since original projection

Wright's debut with the Patriots after only 48 hours in town and a brief indoctrination to the offense, was a breath of fresh air - his performance unpresumptuous, just going out and playing football.

"Football is football" the newest Patriot confided to beat reporters after the game. "So it's easy to get prepared."

Of course, preseason football, and particularly the final preseason game, has no strategy to it in the sense that the score makes any difference or that any exotic game planning is going on - rather - it is all fundamental, basic football, which explains the quick turnaround for Wright - which is not to discount his obvious intelligence, it's just the way that it is.

So with the 6' 4" Wright in the fold along with what looks to be a bigger, much improved 6' 3" Aaron Dobson and the like-sized Brandon Lafell, the Patriots are suddenly rich with big, athletic targets at wide receiver - and when combined with 6' 1" Kenbrell Thompkins and mighty-mites Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola, this may be the most talented pass catching corps ever put together by Belichick.

Something that should also be mentioned is that 6' 6" Rob Gronkowski and the super quick duo of running backs Shane Vereen and James White will be integral pieces to the passing game as well, so the pass catching corps is so versatile and multi-faceted that the nine players mentioned comprise what may very well be the most explosive passing attack in the NFL.

What a change from last season...

Offensive Linemen (8)

77 - Nate Solder
76 - Sebatian Vollmer
63 - Dan Connolly
61 - Marcus Cannon
67 - Josh Kline
71 - Cameron Fleming (R)   
66 - Bryan Stork
65 - Jordan Devey 

Added Connolly since original projection

Oh boy, where to start?

While it is important to remember that most starters saw little or no action against the Giants, it is equally important to remember that the offensive line is in a state of flux on the interior - and in a stretch zone blocking scheme such as the Patriots employ in the running game, one guy zigging when he should be zagging can throw the entire scheme into chaos.

This is the main concern for the Patriots going into the season opener - not so much in pass protection as in the aforementioned stretch zone in the running game, where the cut back lanes for the running backs are just not there half of the time, which hangs the back out to dry - which is evidenced by the 2.3 yards per carry in the Patriots' running game for the preseason.

Where is the disconnect?  Hopefully it's just a unfortunate but inevitable result of the team breaking in a new offensive line coach combined with a draft heavy in linemen and trying to meld the two together - and it really has not a thing to do with Mankins being shown the door, as the issue existed with him in the lineup as well.

As expected, second year man Josh Kline got the start on Thursday night, getting first crack at Mankin's old haunt and, in fact, played the entire game.

Bryan Stork returned to action in the final tune up game, which is probably bad news for incumbent center Ryan Wendell as Stork has fourth round draft capital invested in him, something that Belichick has shown time and again to be unwilling to part with, regardless of initial performance or injury history - while the right guard position was taken up by fellow rookie Jon Halapio, who is probably destined for the practice squad.

Defensive linemen (10)

50 - Rob Ninkovich 
75 - Vince Wilfork 
97 - Jerel Worthy
95 - Chandler Jones 
99 - Michael Buchanan
74 - Dominique Easley (R) 
94 - Chris Jones 
96 - Sealver Siliga
71- Zach Moore (R)
72 - Joe Vellano

Added Moore and dropped Kelly since original projection

The trade for Jerel Worthy looks like another patented Bill Belichick steal.

What else would you call a 6' 2", 310 pound three technique defensive end that was miscast as a two-gap tackle in Green Bay, when in reality he can be a dominating one-gap penetrator, and was a second round draft pick to boot?

Worthy joins known quantities Joe Vellano, Chris Jones and rookie first round draft pick Dominique Easley to form a solid group of 3-4 ends, while Wilfork and Siliga take on the task of clogging the middle and taking on the double teams in the run defense - of course, when the team goes with a four man look in the nickle, all can reduce down and line up as tackles next to the nose.

Veterans Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich, defensive ends in last season's 4-3 base, are outside linebackers in this preseason's 3-4 look and seem to be very comfortable making the transition, with second year man Michael Buchanan and raw-yet-explosive rookie Zach Moore backing them up.

The Patriots were gashed for over 170 yards on Thursday night, which had more to do with the New England coaching staff mixing and matching than anything the Giants were doing, so too much stock should not be put into that performance.  This is a solid group with enough versatility to make life difficult for centers and quarterbacks when calling out protection.

Linebackers (6)

54 - Dont'a Hightower 
91 - Jamie Collins 
51 - Jerod Mayo 
58 - Steve Beauharnais
44 - Darius Fleming
53 - Ja'Gared Davis

No changes from original projection

Beauharnais was turned loose on Thursday night, playing the entire game with the green dot and running the defensive huddle, and even taking his turn at being a human missile - ala Brandon Spikes - and while guessing wrong in plugging gaps a couple of times gets you noticed in a negative respect, those instances were few and far between as the tough-as-nails Mike put in a solid performance...

...as did Fleming, who has proven to be one of the better edge-setters on the depth chart.  Davis has been very good under the radar all preseason and is a vital contributor on special teams, which gives him the edge over veteran Chris White, who was manhandled in the running game and abused by backs and tight ends in the passing game.

Naturally, these players will probably not see much of the field during the regular season, What with Hightower, Collins and Mayo forming an elite set of linebackers, but this camp and preseason was all about depth in the linebacker corps and whether that depth is of the type of quality that could hold up in spot duty if an injury were to occur...

...and while the answer to that can't really be answered until an injury does occur, the staff has to feel confident that with the ability of the front seven to morph into anything that they need to be on a play-by-play basis, these depth players should be able to fill in quite well.

Corners (6)

24 - Darrelle Revis 
39 - Brandon Browner (suspended 4 games) (CB/NS)
26 - Logan Ryan 
37 - Alfonzo Dennard 
25 - Kyle Arrington (CB/SS)
29 - Malcolm Butler

No changes from original projection

No real surprises here, but only Revis and Arrington got Thursday night off.

That's not an indictment on the other corners - someone had to play, and those that did were impressive, even Dennard who was seeing his first action of the preseason and had blanket coverage and a nice pass defended.

Browner showed up as a force against the run and also had a pass defended when the slot receiver took him outside and had him beaten, but his length showed up as he was able to close quickly and batted the pass away just as it hit the receiver's hands - he should take over the slot duties upon his return from suspension, though he looks like an even better candidate as the Big Nickle hybrid enforcer.

Butler played sparingly, with Browner and Ryan taking the majority of the reps, and Dennard splitting time between corner and safety - a common theme for the Patriots this preseason.


Safeties (4)

30 - Duron Harmon  
32 - Devin McCourty  
43 - Nate Ebner    
27 - Tavon Wilson 

Removed Jemea Thomas since original projection

The way that Belichick has been using his corners as hybrid safties during the preseason could very well impact this depth chart.

Using the corners as safeties not only speaks to Belichick's mantra that all of his players have some diversity, but also in how much he values players like Ebner and Wilson in their roles as core-four special teamers, allowing them to be such by tapping the corners as depth on the back end as Dennard joined Arrington and Ryan in the ranks of hybrids.

Harmon and McCourty are locks, and both Wilson and Ebner have shown great improvement in their back end skills over the course of camp and in preseason games. Both showed up with big plays on Thursday night, the most notable being Wilson escorting big tight end Kellen Davis to the sidelines from the hash marks, showing linebacker-ish strength and leverage in not allowing Davis to gain another inch after contact.

Specialists (3)

6 - Ryan Allen 
3 - Stephen Gostkowski 
48 - Danny Aiken

No surprises at all, except that Tom Brady showed skill at a holder on an extra point, which you will see in the regular season never.  Gostkowski is a decent punter and backs up Allen, while defensive end Rob Ninkovich backs up Aiken as the long snapper.

Offense: 25
Defense: 26
Specialists: 3 
Total: 54



Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Patriots part with Mankins, hope new tight end has the "Wright" stuff

Apparently, when Bill Belichick's good buddy Greg Schiano was kicked to the curb by Tampa Bay Buccaneer's management, it didn't mean that the trade pipeline was closed.

The New England Patriots on Tuesday traded All Pro guard Logan Mankins to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and in doing so generating a level one shock wave that is sure to impact the fortunes of both teams.
Wright (81) celebrates one of his five touchdowns last season

What the Bucs get in Mankins is a nasty, snarling, road-grading country boy with a high tolerance for pain and a low tolerance for the shenanigans of defensive linemen, while New England gets a young H-back with a background in Schiano's tough-as-nails programs both at Rutgers University and last season in Tampa.

Wright is too slow (4.65) to play wide receiver and not really big enough to fill a traditional tight end role, but he is pure smooth hell out of the slot and provides a Brandon Lafell-like presence underneath the coverage.  Many are suggesting that the second year player from Rutgers is going to be able to fill the role that Aaron Hernandez left vacant last offseason, but he's a different kind of player.

In fact, Buccaneer's Offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford was kind of at a loss to decide what to do with the 6' 4", 220 pound tweener. "Tim can play tight end, but he can also play in the slot," Tedford said earlier in camp. "He can do a lot of things as a receiver and he’s done a nice job in the slot. That one’s still up in the air."

Wright was in line for the number three receiver position behind veteran Vincent Jackson and  rookie Mike Evans, but had fallen behind both veteran Brandon Myers and rookie Austin Seferian-Jenkins on the tight end depth chart and, despite being an exceptional athlete, was in danger of being phased out of the long-term plans for the offense.

The problem for the Buccaneers and head coach Lovie Smith, is that Wright struggles in the blocking game - which just goes to figure considering his long, slender frame - and Smith was concerned that having Wright as a traditional tight end would clue teams into what he was doing on any particular play, causing the defense to react with a nickle or dime package instead of keeping them guessing.

It is unclear how Belichick will decide to use Wright in the offense, and the learning curve is going to be both deep and accelerated, and there is little doubt that the kid that caught 54 balls last season as an undrafted rookie free agent receiver turned tight end adds another big target for quarterback Tom Brady to throw at - but for Tampa Bay, the direction that they want to go with Mankins is clear.

"He has a history of a certain type of play in the league." Smith said at the announcement of the trade. "tough football player, real man, everybody loves him, great guy in the locker room - exactly what we need on out football team and in the locker room."

"This is just a guy that we felt you couldn't pass on." Smith continued, suggesting that it was the Patriots that contacted him with an offer - regardless, what the Buccaneers get is their fourth new starter on the offensive line that was in serious need of upgrade, and a tough bastard to boot.

Mankins played the entire 2011 season with a torn ACL in his right knee, then tore the MCL in his left knee in the AFC Championship Game, then played in the Super Bowl with torn ligaments in each knee.  "I could still run, so there was no reason to sit out." Mankins said the following spring. "There were no MRIs or anything, so we never knew exactly what was hurt. If you can still run and play, there is no reason to go see a doctor, right?"

When asked how he could have possibly endured that level of pain, Mankins replied, simply, "Put a brace on it, tape an asprin to it, and go."

Both teams have to feel like winners in the trade, with the Bucs getting a five-time All Pro left guard when just two days ago they seemed resigned to giving outcast Richie Incognito a tryout, with the Patriots getting a somewhat known commodity who has the potential to and upside to form into another big weapon in a New England pass catching corps that was already full of them - and with a fourth-round draft pick along for the ride.

Wright is not Aaron Hernandez, however, so Patriots' fans should probably temper their enthusiasm toward the thought that Belichick is attempting to revive the tight end-centric offense - because Wright is destined to play all over the field, both as a compliment to beastly man-child Rob Gronkowski and as a compliment to the mix already present at receiver as a flex tight end.

Before the trade was made public, Belichick addressed the media and said repeatedly that he always does what's best for the football team - and then he scurried off leaving fans and media to ponder the implications of the transaction - but Bucs' coach Smith was rightfully upbeat and candid in his remarks in announcing the trade.

“Do I feel better about adding a Pro Bowler to our offensive line?" asked Smith rhetorically, "Yes I do.”

As he should.




Monday, August 25, 2014

New England Patriots' 53 Man Roster - The "Punking The Panthers" Edition

New England Patriots' coach Bill Belichick wasted little time in paring down his roster in anticipation of Tuesday afternoon's deadline for the league mandated 75 man roster limit, handing out pink slips to a trio of veterans on Sunday afternoon.

Belichick has long had a soft spot for tenured veterans, and also a long history of showing his respect and admiration in his actions toward veteran players whom he knows are ultimately not going to make his final roster, releasing them at or before first cuts to afford them a chance to catch on with another team ahead of the glut of players on the waiver wire saturate the market.
The play of Beauharnais, Fleming and Davis made veteran cuts easier

So, it doesn't really come as a surprise at all that Belichick sent 13-year defensive tackle Tommy Kelly to the bread lines, along with 11th season linebacker Will Smith and 9th year cover 'backer James Anderson - though, as always, there is a message in every move that the Dark Master makes.

Smith was the proverbial square peg trying to fit into a round hole as he was neither big enough to line up as a three-technique in the 3-4, nor did he have the wheels to fit as an outside linebacker - and as his best position as a defensive end in a 4-3 alignment, his release could be a sign that the team will indeed function primarily out of three man lines...

...and if his release wasn't enough to convince folks, certainly the surprising cut of Anderson should be.

Anderson is a cover 'backer if there ever was one.  Fast, fluid to the ball and comfortable in either man or zone, Anderson was kind of a luxury in a sense - a specialist that was only going to play on obvious passing downs and in certain nickle packages and had no special teams value was nevertheless depth on the weakside as insurance against an injury to Jerod Mayo.

Just as with Smith, Anderson's best destiny was on the outside of a 4-3 where he could flow to the play unencumbered by offensive guards and to pick up running backs wheeling out of the backfield.  Kelly was going to lose the numbers game - not as in salary as he came on the cheap with a minimum tenured deal - but in the sheer number of three-tech defensive tackles on the roster that aren't 33 years old and coming off knee surgery.

Dominique Easley, recent acquisition Jerel Worthy, Chris Jones and Joe Vellano are all younger options to align with an inside shade on the tackles where Kelly plied his trade, and hybrid defensive end/outside linebackers Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich give Belichick the flexibility to move between odd and even fronts.

Mix that in with strong showings by depth linebackers Steve Beauharnais, Darius Fleming and Ja'Gared Davis, and both Anderson and Smith were deemed expendable.

There will be other veterans released in the mad scramble to purge the roster of 31 more players by Saturday, with eight of those required to be within the next 24 hours as the team has also released tight end Justin Jones for the second time.

And that leads us into this week's 53 man roster projection:

Quarterbacks (2)

12 - Tom Brady
10 - Jimmy Garoppolo (R)

No changes from original projection

When Bill Belichick sent Ryan Mallett out for the Patriots' third drive of their game against the Panthers, the common perception - after recovering from the queasy moment of panic from Brady remaining on the sideline - is that Belichick was testing his second-string quarterback to see how he reacted to being suddenly inserted into a game...
Garoppolo has earned the start against the Giants on Thursday

...which is true on one hand, but on the other, Belichick did the same thing to Garoppolo the week earlier against the Eagles - so anyone who thinks that any decision in regard to whether the Patriots keep three quarterbacks or just two may be mistaken.

Mallett had an unremarkable seven plays that resulted in a field goal, taking over at midfield and moving 20 yards to set up Stephen Gostkowski.  Belichick has to be pleased in that "unremarkable" in this instance means that Mallett held down the fort ably, and even managed some points out of it...

...but he has to be even more pleased with the maturity and poise of Garoppolo, who took over for Brady in the second half - and that's the only reason why there is a legitimate "quarterback controversy" brewing in the marshes.  Mallett was a solid number two entering camp, and looked to be the only option as Garoppolo struggled in practices leading up to the first preseason game.

One ordinary performance out of Mallett followed by a spectacular debut by the rookie against Washington immediately started the trend heading the other direction - and subsequent solid outings by both look to have the job of carrying the clipboard in a dead heat.

But word has leaked that Garoppolo will start this Thursday's preseason finale and is expected to play the entire game, lending speculation to the idea that Ryan Mallett's days as a Patriots are indeed numbered.


Running Backs (5)

22 - Stevan Ridley
34 - Shane Vereen
28 - James White (R)
35 - Jonas Gray
46 - James Develin
  
Added Gray from original projection

Friday night's contest against the Panthers did very little in deciding anything in the backfield as Patriots running backs found very little running room against Carolina's stout front seven - but that shouldn't be an indictment against them.
Gray's tough running adds an exciting element to the running game

That said, the number of snaps and subsequent number of touches for Vereen (6 rushes and five receptions in 26 snaps) compared to Ridley (8 rushes in 11 snaps) and White (4 rushes and 1 reception in 15 snaps) speaks volumes as to how Belichick plans to use his running backs.

Ridley is a power back that adds virtually nothing to the passing game, and therefore makes the Patriots predictable in one back sets and allows for the defense to play the run without much fear of reprisal, where Vereen and White offer a more versatile skill set - and when in the game together in what is termed the "Pony" set, some positive results have begun to manifest.

For example, on Vereen's 40 yard scamper after securing the ball on a wheel route, the Carolina linebackers seemed overwhelmed and confused with two speedy backs curling out of the backfield.  The split-second delay in the linebacker's reaction allowed Vereen to sprint down the sideline untouched.  As defenses gear more toward trying to limit Vereen's touches, the beneficiary will be White as the lesser of two evils until he proves to be as dangerous with the ball in his hands.

White seems to be struggling a bit with making the transition from college - where Wisconsin's notoriously nasty drive blocking scheme dictated where the hole in the defensive line would be - to the pros and New England's synchronous stretch zone scheme forces the back to make a quick-twitch decision on where to cut back against the grain...

...but once he figures it out, Patriots' fans are in for a treat because the kid has electric moves and deceptive speed once at the second level.

Gray has earned a spot on the roster - at least temporarily - as his downhill, punishing style is perfect for the four-minute offense and offers a reliable target as a check-down option in the passing game, and as he has shown in multiple snaps this preseason, he can generate yardage without much of a hole, and has the agility to change direction.

Develin is a load as a lead blocker, has the pop to serve as an inline tight end with the agility to pull and lead a back through the hole and, perhaps best of all, has gained Brady's trust as a pass protector and also as a legitimate option in the pattern.

Tight Ends (2)

87 - Rob Gronkowski 
86 - Steve Maneri

Maneri added and Hoomanawanui subtracted from original projection

Patriots' television broadcasters hit the nail on the head when they quipped several times that what we all witnessed on Friday night was what the offense was going to look like without a tight end involved in the passing game, and not just because neither Maneri nor newly resigned Justin Jones were targeted in the pattern.

You see, when Rob Gronkowski returns to the lineup, he's just going to be one of the guys - mostly in an attempt to both preserve his health and to facilitate a change in philosophy, refocusing the personnel package from a fleet-of-foot matchup gimmick to a heavy, physical presence in support of the running game as the primary duty on their job description, with Gronkowski being one of the most feared receiving threats in the National Football League to boot.

The value of Gronkowski to New England's offense is immeasurable, despite the false notion that the position has been devalued by the team in any way - because nothing could be farther from the truth.

An ongoing trend in preseason games has been Belichick's penchant for employing his offensive linemen as tackle-eligible types as inline tight ends, with left tackle Nate Solder and right tackle Sebatian Vollmer seeing snaps as such in earlier contests, but seems to have gravitated toward the numerous talents of guard/tackle Josh Kline in the role as late.

So with those three, H-back James Develin and the additional blocking prowess of Maneri, the tight end position is stocked to the ceiling with big nasty run blockers who, as a group, also add a different dimension in the passing game.

One thing that could upset the apple cart is if the team were to target a more natural receiving tight end among post-cut options, though any talented one will likely be scooped up by a team with priority over New England on the waiver wire, so if the Patriots were actually thinking in this direction they would have made a deal with a team like the Cardinals for Rob Housler, who is likely to fall off of their roster as he tumbles down the depth chart for offering no blocking skill.

Receivers (8)

80 - Danny Amendola 
11 - Julian Edelman 
17 - Aaron Dobson 
19 - Brandon Lafell  
85 - Kenbrell Thompkins  
18 - Matthew Slater 
82 - Josh Boyce
84- Brian Tyms (suspended 4 games)

Added Tyms since original projection

As mentioned before, the Patriots have perhaps the most diverse set of weapons in the league.

While Dobson hasn't played a down in the preseason, he is locked in on potential alone and joins Edelman, Amendola and Thompkins as one through four on the depth chart, though Amendola seemed genuinely distraught on the sidelines when left out of the 21-personnel groupings.
Edelman is Brady's top option

That could mean a variety of things or nothing at all, as Brady has shown confidence in his ability and the team is probably just trying to preserve the uber-fragile Amendola for the regular season, but also shows the confidence that the team has in Thompkins, so one can chalk up his exasperated reaction as that of being a competitor wanting to be out on the field.

Edelman has evolved into an elite receiver through hard work and dedication to his craft, and runs such precise routes that even the great Darrelle Revis has a hard time covering him one-on-one - he sets the gold standard for the Patriots in practice and on the field.

Brady gushes about Lafell and Thompkins, but hasn't had the opportunity to target Tyms in a game as yet - and that won't be happening as Brady won't play against the Giants and because Tyms is suspended for the first four games of the season.

Boyce has been very inconsistent, but has flashed in spots, so he should make the roster but can't afford the inconsistency going forward, because Tyms may well have passed him for sixth receiver, which would mean Boyce would be replaced upon Tyms' reinstatement.

The status of Dobson's foot and the thought that his conditioning will be an issue upon his return may upset this apple cart, otherwise, this is a solid group with a good mix of individual skill sets.

New addition Lafell is a veteran who understands coverages and where the sticks are, and could be in the mix at the "move" type tight end position.

Offensive Linemen (9)

77 - Nate Solder 
70 - Logan Mankins
76 - Sebatian Vollmer
63 - Dan Connolly
61 - Marcus Cannon
67 - Josh Kline
71 - Cameron Fleming (R)   
62 - Ryan Wendell 
65 - Jordan Devey 

Added Connolly and Wendell since original projection

If there is such a thing as a default setting for an offensive line, it appears that the Patriots are willing to mash it down - with emphasis.

The starting five from the past three seasons - Solder, Mankins, Wendell, Connolly and Vollmer - have been considered one of the better offensive lines in the game, in fact garnering a Madden Protector's Award a few seasons back.

But the common perception this camp has been that the Patriots have gone as far as they can with "servicable" interior veterans Wendell and Connolly as center and right guard, respectively - and Belichick even drafted a center with fourth round capital this past May plus has a virtual plethora of candidates to take over at guard...

...but with the injury to Stork and the inconsistent play of sixth-round pick Jon Halapio, it appears that Belichick may be ready to hit that reset button and send the line back to its default setting.

Besides, with the change in philosophy to the power running game setting up the play action initiated late last season being a huge success, having the ability to come back with the same five and gaining instant chemistry amongst the big uglies isn't the worst thing in the world, and there isn't another team in the NFL that would be able to do that with any degree of confidence.

There is definitely something to be said for the depth that Belichick has accumulated, but also some disappointment in the fact that only one of his three draft picks along the offensive line, tackle Cameron Fleming, is likely to make the 53 man roster, as Halapio will likely be stashed away on the practice squad should he clear waivers and Stork is likely headed to the IR for a redshirt year.

As mentioned earlier, starting tackles Solder and Vollmer and guard/tackle Kline have shown an aptitude as tackle-eligible tight ends to provide more bulk in the running game, supplementing the thin depth at tight end - and with swing tackle Cannon and multi-purpose Devey having some tangible experience at the pivot as well, the Patriots could have the deepest offensive line in football.

Defensive linemen (10)

50 - Rob Ninkovich 
75 - Vince Wilfork 
97 - Jerel Worthy
95 - Chandler Jones 
99 - Michael Buchanan
74 - Dominique Easley (R) 
94 - Chris Jones 
96 - Sealver Siliga
71- Zach Moore (R)

Added Moore and dropped Kelly since original projection

Nink and Jones had a field day against Carolina
Word has leaked out that the injuries to Siliga and Chris Jones and soft-tissue in nature and not due to anything broken - which is excellent news and probably why Belichick felt comfortable trimming Tommy Kelly and Will Smith off the roster on Sunday.

That said, the quality of the remaining depth on the defensive line is such that the cuts on this unit are probably going to be the toughest decisions for Belichick moving forward, and the decisions on which depth players make the roster and which ones Belichick exposes to the waiver wire in hopes of reeling them back in for the practice squad are a roll of the dice.

Belichick probably knows that rookie Zach Moore would be scooped up quickly, as would former Green Bay second-round pick Worthy, while former Cowboy Ben Bass and second year lunch pail-type Joe Vellano could fly under the radar and revert back to the team as excellent depth on the practice squad - but no one can be sure, so the team had better be absolutely positive about who they keep.

As it stands, the Patriots have the built-in flexibility to switch between many different four and three man fronts, and their propensity to shift between a 3-4 alignment and any number of nickle sub-packages dictates that the players that they do keep have scheme versatility.

Vellano could certainly stick on the roster given his work ethic and success in the scheme despite being a 'tweener between an undersized nose and penetrating three-tech, dropping Worthy or even dipping into the linebacking corps to make room for him - but regardless of what happens, the Patriots are assured of having one of the better defensive lines in Belichick's tenure.

Linebackers (6)

54 - Dont'a Hightower 
91 - Jamie Collins 
51 - Jerod Mayo 
58 - Steve Beauharnais
44 - Darius Fleming
53 - Ja'Gared Davis

No changes from original projection

Regardless of whether the Patriots line up in a 3-4 or 4-3, the starting linebackers are of the highest quality - and apparently Belichick is comfortable with the personnel he has covering running backs in the pass pattern, having released James Anderson on Sunday.

And why shouldn't he be?  Mayo is no slouch on the weak side and Collins is a monstrous entity no matter the application while Hightower is a mix-and-match force in the middle of the defense or as a pass rusher anywhere along the defensive line...

...conversely, defensive ends Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich are capable 3-4 linebackers as well, though their roles would be taking turns rushing the quarterback from a two point stance while the other sets the strong side edge - and if the game against the Panthers is any indication of how that would work, then game on!

The key of course, is what transpires with the defensive backs, as there are a couple of options for the big nickle hybrid.  Cornerback Brandon Browner could also double as a nickle linebacker/safety hybrid - more commonly known as the Big Nickle - giving Belichick both an enforcer over the middle and the latitude to engage in some exotic blitz and rush packages with Hightower and / or Collins on passing downs...

...while Kyle Arrington bring linebacker-type physicality to both the slot and as a potential starting strong safety. 

Beauharnais has shown that he is more than capable in a downhill role and is astute and instinctual in covering the middle zones in pass defense, plus looked like he ran the huddle with authority on Friday night, so he sticks with Fleming as an edge-setter and Ja'Gared Davis as a utility inside linebacker with core-four special teams ability.

Corners (6)

24 - Darrelle Revis 
39 - Brandon Browner (suspended 4 games) 
26 - Logan Ryan 
37 - Alfonzo Dennard 
25 - Kyle Arrington 
29 - Malcolm Butler

No changes from original projection

Coverage sacks are beautiful.  Unfortunately, there haven't been many of them in the past decade of Patriots' football, so seeing Cam Newton getting happy feet in the pocket on Friday night as even his thrid and fourth reads in the pattern were tightly covered was enough to make even young children jabber with joy.

Butler again started opposite Revis, while the Patriots got solid contributions from all of their corners in different packages - even from incumbent starter Alfonzo Dennard, who saw his first action of the preseason after recovering fully from offseason shoulder surgery - which means that the Patriots are absolutely loaded at cornerback...
Harmon has proven to be a tough and versatile safety

...and not only at the corners, but also at safety where Ryan and Arrington have seen time in the past few weeks as part of Belichick's evil scheme to put his best 11 defenders on the field at the same time, congruent to the package, but as physical as Ryan is, that doesn't look to translate to safety and is more suited for corner at this point, as he enjoys equal success both in the slot and on the wing.

Many are starting to see Brandon Browner for what he is, which is a unique hybrid between a cornerback and a cover 'backer who is a Big Nickle defensive back if there ever was one.  He has always been able to mask his lack of speed by using his long frame to shield receivers from the ball, but last season in Seattle was getting toasted by double moves down the sideline...

...but if allowed to stalk underneath as the second corner or nickle linebacker, it also gives Belichick the confidence to use Hightower and Collins in some exotic blitz packages.  Of course, he is on suspension for the first quarter of the season, but will be ready to assume that responsibility starting in week 5.

Safeties (4)

30 - Duron Harmon  
32 - Devin McCourty  
43 - Nate Ebner    
27 - Tavon Wilson 

Removed Jemea Thomas since original projection

Duron Harmon has put himself in position to be a backup on the blue line - but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The second year man is such a versatile talent that he could assume many different roles on the back end, including starting roles at either strong or free safety or even reducing down into the box as the big nickle - a point made with violent clarity in the game against the Panthers as he showed instinctive centerfield work and filled ably in run support.

Arrington is still a real threat to make a career-enhancing move to strong safety, and though Belichick tried to discount his work at safety as due dilligence, it makes too much sense to not be real.  4.4 speed and quick-twitch change of direction skills mixed with heavy striking in run support equals strong safety.

So with the overall versatility of the defensive backfield seemingly able to account for both the corner and safety groups, the questions remaining involve special teams value - and while Nate Ebner's contribution to that end is well documented, many are unaware that Wilson possesses the same core-four capability...

...and since his work with Darrelle Revis during the offseason seems to have caused him to make significant strides in his coverage ability and anticipation of angles, Belichick has to be positively giddy that his second round reach three years ago may finally pan out.

Specialists (3)

6 - Ryan Allen 
3 - Stephen Gostkowski 
48 - Danny Aiken

Aiken wins out over Tyler Ott in the competition for long snapper, though Aiken will probably be on a short leash after his late season air mail struggles.  Allen and Gostkowski are as dependable as they come - though both had some shaky moments in the game against Philadelphia, but both atoned themselves nicely against the Panthers.

It was also interesting to note that Rob Ninkovich got some work as long snapper, a position that he was drafted for by New Orleans back in 2006.

Offense: 26
Defense: 26
Specialists: 3 
Total: 55

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Patriots' defense stifling, offense on point in blowout of Panthers

The entertainment value of a third preseason game derives it's attractiveness from the fact that, traditionally, the perceived starters from each team get the majority of playing time.  As a result, the quality of the play is usually more aesthetically pleasing compared to the choppy, practice-like feel of the first two.

But unlike in preseasons past, the choppiness of Friday night's "Dress Rehearsal" for the New England Patriots' season opener was provided by the National Football League's renewed emphasis on eliminating defensive backs making contact with a receiver past the five yard chucking zone...
Rob Ninkovich and Darrelle Revis helped shut down the Panthers

...but in between all of the yellow flags, the Patriots throttled the visiting Carolina Panthers so completely in a 30-7 victory at Gillette Stadium that the performance should send a shiver down the spine of every offensive and defensive coordinator on New England's regular season schedule.

Just don't look for coach Bill Belichick to join in on the hype, because to him, his team's domination of the Panthers was nothing more than a scrimmage where more things went right than wrong.

"This isn’t a big strategy type of game or that type of thing." Belichick said after the game. "It’s just about fundamentals and execution. There was some good things. There are a lot of things we need to work on."

Right - so if his team's performance wasn't enough to give pause to his future opponents, the Dark Master's assessment of that performance certainly should - particularly given the fact that his team was operating without a handful of its key players...

...especially on defense, where the coverage in the secondary was as blanketing as the overcast din over Gillette Stadium, but was even more ominous for Panthers' quarterback Cam Newton, who looked more like a gargoyle in the pocket than the usually dynamic and ambulatory budding star who burned New England's crippled defense last season with his strong arm and nimble feet.

But last season - and, in fact, for the past decade - the Patriots defense hadn't possessed such an imposing array of intrepid talent that could be unleashed on an opposing offense at the whim of the defensive genius, either due to injury or gauche aptitude, than what was on display on Friday night.

Ninkovich and Jones accounted for all three Patriots' sacks
The starting cornerback tandem of Darrelle Revis and rookie free agent Malcolm Butler effectively shut down the outside, consistently forcing Newton to his third and fourth reads - eventually either finding short gains underneath the coverage or succumbing to the ferocity of the Patriots' pass rush that relentlessly battered the besieged signal caller.

In fact, so deep and talented is the New England secondary that Revis' presence and Butler's emergence enables Belichick to rotate in a brace of nickle and dime backs that would be starters in most other teams' secondaries - certainly in Carolina, whose defensive backs were exposed by all three Patriots' quarterbacks to the tune of a combined 28 completions on 36 attempts for 323 yards and three touchdowns...

...two of which went to running back Shane Vereen, who together with Brady took advantage of a blown coverage on a perfectly executed wheel route pitch and catch and raced untouched down the right sideline for the Patriots' first touchdown, then just after halftime simply beat the coverage in the flat then laid out to stretch the ball across the goal line to make the score 20-0 and to end Brady's night on a high note.

Vereen's five catches for 57 yards was second on the team to Julian Edelman's eight grabs for 99 yards, but paced the Patriots' running backs who saw full third of the targets in the passing game and produced all three touchdowns.

In comparison, the Panther's passing numbers were just as efficient as their four quarterbacks were a combined 17 of 25 for 227 yards and a touchdown, but only eight of those completions came against New England's starting rotation for a meager 88 yards - but as impressive as the Patriots' secondary was against the pass, their front seven was even more so against the run.
Brady was masterful and Nate Solder (77) held his own in pass protection

For the game, the New England run defense allowed  just 63 yards on 22 carries, but if you take away the yardage gained by Panthers' quarterbacks running for their lives, the Carolina running backs totaled a paltry 37 yards on 16 carries, a minuscule 2.3 yards per carry average, albeit behind a makeshift offensive line featuring four players with a combined 11 NFL starts between them.

To be fair, New England's heretofore stagnant running game didn't fare much better against the imposing front seven of the Panthers, averaging only 2.6 yards on 31 carries and denying the team and their fans the satisfaction of watching the Patriots' four minute offense shove the ball down the Panthers' collective throat.

Stephen Gostkowski got the scoring started in the waning moments of the opening period, hitting on a 47 yard field goal, then Vereen's 40 yard dash to paydirt made it 10-0 just four minutes into the second frame, then after New England's defense thwarted the only real drive the Panthers could muster in the first half, Brady led the offense on a nine play, 49 yard drive in just 1:44 of game time, setting up Gostkowski for an epic 60-yard field goal to close out the half.

After Vereen's full-effort six yard stretch kicked Brady to the curb early in the third quarter, rookie quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo took over and after a 61 yard interception return by linebacker Steve Beauharnais that ended the second Carolina scoring threat, led the Patriots on two protracted scoring drives - a ten play 32 yard drive that culminated in Gostkowski's third field goal of the contest...

...then on a methodical 12-play, 82 yard drive with roster-bubble H-back Taylor McCuller hauling in Garoppolo's 11-yard scoring strike to end the Patriots' scoring on the night - only a last minute touchdown pass from Panther's reserve quarterback Joe Webb to tight end D.C. Jefferson fouling the scoreboard on the visitor's side.
Linebacker Steve Beauharnais returned an interception 61 yards

Both teams were missing key contributors in their linebacking corps and were toying with their offensive lines as the game progressed - so caution should be preached in the running game on both sides, but with all things being equal, the Patriots took the Panthers behind the woodshed for a thorough and resounding thrashing that is hard not to be excited about.

Cautious optimism is the watchword in Patriots' nation, as Belichick's notorious fence-sitting, post-game diatribe noted, the hooded one admitting only that his team "took another step in our preparation" and that they "still have a lot of stuff we need to work on; left a lot of plays out there on the field that we need to clean up."

And with that being the case, the Patriots' served notice to the rest of the NFL that Friday night's blowout victory over the Panthers should be the minimum standard that they should expect of the team from Foxborough.

"I think it’s a game about fundamentals." Belichick pondered in his post-game presser. "It’s about basic football and it’s not anything close to a regular-season game in terms of game planning and situational football and doing strategically the things that you would do."

Pump the brakes all you want, but when Belichick preaches that his team ran the Panthers out of town on fundamentals and vanilla schemes alone, it's bound to incite enthusiasm, particularly when they were missing half of the starting linebacker corps and their most dynamic offensive weapon in tight end Rob Gronkowski...

...all three of whom are expected to be healthy and ready for opening day, a little over two weeks from Friday night.