tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73727016647371846672024-03-24T16:32:08.716-07:00Foxborough Free Pressnews, recaps and features focused on the new england patriots from my couch in lewiston, mainemikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.comBlogger628125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-31783192345976799722020-09-13T20:24:00.000-07:002020-09-13T20:24:16.252-07:00Patriots Old-School Their Way To Opening Victory; Newton Keys Powerful Rushing Attack<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Giddy. Absolutely, unabashedly giddy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And I would have been regardless of the outcome of the
game between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins, so long as the
Patriots ran the ball the way I thought they could – and it wasn’t so much that
they did run the ball the way I thought they could, it was more the way they
did it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And the way they did it was to simply line up and run
the ball straight down the Dolphins’ throats.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_59gzhSUPXs4cSV7G-qJkl5riiwv_nOEkHMfJJDkTBfj7d0CvrzIUidptWKl9P9tZTVOa3-LIQWdMMZcsgg66uyDCa3BI0_c7VB0F_-_wT0xfzZSwecfa2Mzwk4CWBtDSO7WubSdgxjG/s320/cam.jpg" width="320" /></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Led by quarterback Cam Newton’s 75 yards, the Patriots
racked up 217 yards on 42 carries, including all three touchdowns, in a New
England victory that was much more one-sided than the 21-11 final score would
indicate.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Newton’s mere presence turned the Dolphins’ defensive
ends into statues and opened up natural running lanes that were embellished by
the Patriots’ physical offensive line and consistently exploited by their
stable of excellent running backs – the result being everything that an NFL
team needs to win on Sundays.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Patriots enjoyed a nearly two-to-one advantage in
time of possession, ran for over five-yards per carry and were surgically
efficient in the passing game. In fact, so efficient was the offense as a whole
on Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium that they gained 29 first downs on just
63 snaps – an average of nearly one first down every other snap.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All four of New England’s running backs contributed
with surprisingly powerful running from both third-year runner Sony Michel and
undrafted rookie J.J. Taylor, while Rex Burkhead and James White contributed their
usual steady play. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In contrast, only three Patriots’ receivers combined
with White and Taylor to catch 15 of Newton’s 18 offerings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Shades of Chuck Fairbanks’ Patriots squads in the
mid-to-late seventies and his Steve Grogan-led offenses that commonly featured a
two-to-one balance between the run and the pass, as on Sunday, offensive
coordinator Josh McDaniels called a running play – including thirteen designed
runs for Newton – on seventy-percent of the offensive snaps.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It was straight inside-zone power directly into the
teeth of the Dolphins’ defense – and when Miami’s coaches tried to compensate
by loading the line of scrimmage with ten defenders, McDaniels countered with
short, quick-hitting pass plays that eventually forced the Dolphins to back off.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Running the football on offense and stopping the run
on defense are the most fundamental concepts in the sport, and teams who do
both successfully more often than not earn victory – and not only did the
Patriots plow the row through the Miami defense, the folks in charge of
stopping the opposition’s offense threw up a brick wall against the Dolphins’
running game, holding their runners to a paltry 3.2 yards per carry…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…forcing Miami quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to the air
thirty times, completing twenty for 187 yards but also tossing three
interceptions<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Patriots were particularly stout against the run,
with the three-headed monster of Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler and Byron Cowart
generally clogging the middle, forcing the play to the edges where Linebackers
John Simon, Chase Winovich and Ja’Whaun Bentley mopped up the mess.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Most impressive, however, was the play of safeties
Adrian Phillips and Terrence Brooks, who platooned in the Big Nickel role –
typically manned by the opted-out Patrick Chung – laying some huge hits in run
support and blanketing tight ends in the pass pattern, Phillips coming down
with one of New England’s thefts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All was not perfect for the Patriots – some early
missed tackles and late pass interference penalties made things seem a little
dicey at times, and the offense missed the opportunity to nail the Dolphins
coffin shut with a costly fumble inside the one-yard line – but those are
things that can be fixed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Offensive Players of the Game: Patriots’
Offensive Guards<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Patriots’ guards dominated in the running game,
pulling both inside and out, combining with Newton’s play fakes to open huge
holes for the backs and in anchoring against the pass rush.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Defensive Players of the Game: Patriots’
Strong Safety rotation<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The strong safety tandem of Adrian Phillips and Terrence
Brooks delivered nothing but wood in run support all day
long, and Phillips recorded one of the Patriots interceptions playing the
“Robber” role. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It appears that the Patriots are going to be content
to fill Patrick Chung’s shoes by committee, and it appears that they have two
physical options to rotate in and out – with a special shout-out to hybrid
JoeJuan Williams, who had sticky coverage from a safety position as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-30996692562314250642020-08-25T07:29:00.000-07:002020-09-04T20:53:08.755-07:00Patriots’ New Offensive Philosophy Isn’t New, It’s Just Evolving<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Bill Belichick is a freaking wizard, and once again we
are about to witness his magic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">In fact, the 2020 NFL season will come to be known as
Belichick’s finest hour, as it were – not so much tied to success on the field,
but for finally being able to build his New England Patriots in his own gruff
image.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I’ve always enjoyed watching Belichick build his team
from the ground up each summer, but not as much as I’ve enjoyed this year’s
effort thus far. He had a difficult – some say insurmountable – number of
obstacles to navigate even before the pandemic swept across the country, and
the resultant social distancing mandates made his task ten-times more daunting.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVw-s2_9zyiYt9lhpaBdujfJCZRcM6CgPYFVd0n0P1_OM1ekBXax_BCU4FEV0xeSig26rO-Wu4GMMg73x3DWrrpqofW_yNCJrWKnt4VkKnt5UfLLLUCxPfMRpnrNR5Jj1yZ16NRQAznwCo/s1600/190909121944-bill-belichick-nfl-new-england-patriots-opener-2019-exlarge-169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVw-s2_9zyiYt9lhpaBdujfJCZRcM6CgPYFVd0n0P1_OM1ekBXax_BCU4FEV0xeSig26rO-Wu4GMMg73x3DWrrpqofW_yNCJrWKnt4VkKnt5UfLLLUCxPfMRpnrNR5Jj1yZ16NRQAznwCo/s400/190909121944-bill-belichick-nfl-new-england-patriots-opener-2019-exlarge-169.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">But “difficult” and “daunting” are challenges that
fall right into Belichick’s wheelhouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">We got our first look at his mindset during the draft,
a fascinating, eclectic class of rookies whose selections seemed right on point
with what he needed to propagate the theory that he’s been building towards
this moment for the past four seasons…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">…and although his method caused quarterback Tom Brady
to go berserk and probably caused last-year’s late season collapse as well,
there’s no doubt that this season’s incarnation of the New England Patriots
will offer up a far better product than if he had not been building towards
life without Brady.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">The evidence is compelling, particularly along the offensive
line. Starting with Shaq Mason and David Andrews in 2015, Belichick has
assembled a group of linemen who are better a plowing the row than pass
blocking – but to be fair, the aforementioned Mason and Andrews, along with
2016 third-round pick Joe Thuney and 2018 top pick Isaiah Wynn, have gradually
improved in pass blocking…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">…perhaps not consistently enough to protect a statue
in the pocket, but plenty good enough to scheme around the talents of Cam Newton,
who is now the favorite to win the starting quarterback job (as if he wasn’t
the moment he signed his contract).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Initially, the line was being gradually constructed to
meld with the skill set of Jimmy Garoppolo, whom the Patriots drafted in the
second round of the 2014 NFL draft as the heir apparent to Brady. Garoppolo is
much more ambulatory than Brady and, as such, required an offensive line that
is more athletic than stout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">You know, guards that can pull into the flat on a
designed roll out, or who can slip onto the second level and neutralize a
linebacker, and tackles who have the ability to chip defensive ends and drift
out to lead the screen plays that are a staple of Belichick’s method of
operation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">But when Brady (Kraft?) forced Garoppolo out of the
building in 2017 - right in the middle of the building process - it forced
Belichick’s hand. His choices were to either scrap his philosophy and cater to
Brady’s insistence that he was determined to play into his mid-forties, or to
continue along the path he had designed for Garoppolo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Of course, it went against conventional wisdom that
Brady would still be playing at a high level three years later, so Belichick
maintained course and heading, knowing that his personnel acquisition was
moving the offense away from Brady’s strengths in favor of a hopefully seamless
transition to a quarterback that embodies the latest trends in the league, that
being a renaissance of sorts to the old-school, smashmouth ways of yesteryear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Some are speculating a return to the early seasons of
the millennium, a power-based running attack to open up play action and to clear
defined passing lanes, and while that is the hope on my end, Newton’s presence
adds another dynamic</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">And since any philosophy in football is built from the
inside out, Belichick has stocked the offensive line with smaller, lighter
linemen with quick feet, excellent football acumen, and a mean streak a mile
wide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Of all the starters along the offensive line, left
guard Joe Thuney is the tallest at 6’ 5”, followed by (presumptive) right
tackle Jermaine Eluemunor at 6’ 4”, center David Andrews at 6’ 3”, left tackle
Isaiah Wynn at 6’ 2” and right guard Shaq Mason at 6’ 1” – with only Eluemunor
checking in at over 310 pounds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">The NFL average for an offensive lineman is 315
pounds, the average height, 6’ 4”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Again, only Eluemunor checks in at or above the size
of the average NFL Lineman, and he wasn’t drafted by New England, brought in on
a trade with Baltimore to help assuage the massive injuries that befell the
Patriots last season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">All of that said and true, it is no coincidence that
Belichick has assembled the smallest, yet most athletic offensive line in
football – and all he needed was a quarterback to surround with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">That’s when Cameron Jerrell Newton fell right into his
lap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Newton isn’t just a mobile quarterback. In fact, he
was the gold standard for mobile quarterbacks when he entered the league in
2011, initiating a trend towards more option-based offenses that have swept
through the league in the past decade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">But the real indication of Belichick’s commitment to a
more diverse, power-based attack came with the drafting of two tight ends, both
of whom should step right into vital roles all over the formation and will
complete the blocking scheme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">The health of the line as a whole combined with the
drafting of the versatile tight ends and the presence of Newton suggests that
the product that Belichick is going to field will be different from what we’ve
witnessed in the past couple of decades under his rule – but not so different
that it will be unrecognizable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">The same concepts will be in play, but this time Belichick
will be building his roster from the ground up in his own image instead of
trying to fit square pegs into round holes in order to appease Brady, because
now the hole is square and all of the personnel moves that he has made in the
past few years should fit beautifully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">After all, that’s what the Dark Master has had up his
sleeve the entire time…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-42376206217516521702020-08-14T13:11:00.001-07:002020-08-14T13:11:46.065-07:00Patriots Sign Lamar Miller; Reaffirm Dedication To Running The Football<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The reclamation projects just never stop in
Foxborough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On Sunday, the New England Patriots signed veteran
journeyman(?) Lamar Miller and his surgically-repaired ACL to a one year
contract – a surprise move given the strength and quality of the Patriots’
running back kennel, leaving all of us to wonder if the signing is a sign of
trouble with third-year “lead” back Sony Michel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Michel, of course, was placed on the team’s PUP list
last week as he rehabs from foot surgery in the offseason, but we all assumed
that second-year redshirt Damien Harris would be picking up Michel’s slack,
with Rex Burkhead and James White providing a change of pace – and that most
likely still is the case, despite Miller’s signing.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwkupFdz7Bts5o6SVbu0A5fy-tpH-7tARXzm6wSfC5nDCkZRhMvvdBbqCdQ1r3XCLnX-o3RQarnFbmgB9772eFwL9_xpVqDyO87d2-S53p1mX5uHd9S0s0O4bkfopC5UMciiiMGCeZHs8/s1600/638755620.jpg.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwkupFdz7Bts5o6SVbu0A5fy-tpH-7tARXzm6wSfC5nDCkZRhMvvdBbqCdQ1r3XCLnX-o3RQarnFbmgB9772eFwL9_xpVqDyO87d2-S53p1mX5uHd9S0s0O4bkfopC5UMciiiMGCeZHs8/s400/638755620.jpg.0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In fact, Miller may just be camp fodder unless he
clearly out-performs one of the incumbents on the roster, with another option
being placed on the injured-reserved list if he shows promise but isn’t quite
ready to compete.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At his best, Miller is a crisp cutback runner between
the tackles and has a second gear to get around the corner – and then has an
extra gear once he breaks into the open field. The fastest back that came out
of the 2012 NFL Draft, speed is his calling card. If his knee has fully healed
and he regains his ability to cut against the grain, he offers more in the
running game than Michel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In fact, assuming Miller makes the 53-man roster, the
Patriots are in better shape in the backfield than they were a week ago, and
even then they were pretty stacked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is universally thought that the Patriots had one of
the best running back depth charts in the league to begin with - even with
Michel on the shelf – but now they have three similarly sized backs with
decidedly different styles, plus the most effective passing back in the league,
meaning that New England can now play the running game anyway you like it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You want a slasher with elite speed, a threat to take
it to the house on any touch? That’s Miller. You want a grinder who punishes
linebackers and always gets the extra yard? That’s Harris. How about a guy who
does a little of both? Yup, Burkhead – and even though all three are capable in
the pattern, James White is dependable as they come wheeling out of the
backfield.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Add all of that to the fact that they will be running
behind one of the best zone-blocking schemes in the league and with a
dual-threat quarterback running the entire show, what you get is a commitment
to run the ball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course, Newton is the catalyst with a skill set not
seen in New England before. Let’s face it, Tom Brady was glued to the ground,
but had decent elusiveness in the pocket - but more and more in the past couple
of years, when the pass rush was closing in, he would simply take a seat and
live to see another play…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…while Newton is an apparition, with the start and
stop ability to leave would-be tacklers grasping at air. On reputation alone,
defenders will have to account for Newton’s running ability on every play, his repertoire
including RPO experience and a knack for scrambling out of trouble. But where
his presence affects the running game is on the outside zone plays that
Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels loves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Newton is in his element In the outside zone. Where
Brady would simply turn and hand off to his backs, Newton can and will employ
elements of the double and triple options, so the need for a cutback runner
with speed became paramount the moment Newton signed his Patriots’ contract –
and that’s the reason Lamar Miller and his sub-4.4 speed now resides in
Foxborough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Actually, there is a lot to like about this year’s
incarnation of the Patriots’ offense. Sure, there are a lot of variables in
play – health and replacing players who have opted-out at the forefront – but if
the universe unfolds in their favor, we could witness a renaissance of sorts,
back to the days when the Patriots featured a powerful running game that sets
up the passing game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With head coach Bill Belichick being a rooted in the fundamentals
of the game, I can’t wait to see how he shapes his offense when in his element –
because there’s nothing more fundamental in football than running the football.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-10275774830878783312020-08-10T08:34:00.001-07:002020-08-10T08:36:48.260-07:00Belichick Will Have To Get Creative To Help Patriots’ Defense Survive Devastating Loss Of Talent<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Eight different members of the New England Patriots
have opted out of the 2020 NFL season for reasons related to the ongoing
pandemic, and while three of them were counted on to be integral components,
their loss opens the door for some talented players waiting in the wings…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…but now, thanks to those players opting out, the
Patriots also have almost $35 million in cap space that they could potentially
use to bring in a seasoned veteran or two to stem the tide of departures from
the depth chart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Under normal Belichickian standards, those aforementioned
young and talented players would essentially go through a “Redshirt” season,
seeing minimal action while they watch and learn from the veterans ahead of
them on the depth chart, but head coach Bill Belichick appears to have lost the
luxury of bringing his newbies along slowly.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFJTENzjMPCGV3fj8ofqvs5EqTDTkVPEUUCR7LXaXaVK9pyERGBbgQOPEE3AYSO6-8QLPBqjvUT7bcnD1aq6yAAbwkFryeAcdCrqzMD_YNZGllzMuG929Nnk0Zuyps4KtRB0hu9ztmPhZ/s1600/chung.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFJTENzjMPCGV3fj8ofqvs5EqTDTkVPEUUCR7LXaXaVK9pyERGBbgQOPEE3AYSO6-8QLPBqjvUT7bcnD1aq6yAAbwkFryeAcdCrqzMD_YNZGllzMuG929Nnk0Zuyps4KtRB0hu9ztmPhZ/s400/chung.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both Chung (23) and Hightower (54) have opted-out of 2020 season</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fortunately, of the players on the list of opt-outs,
only the loss of linebacker Dont’a Hightower and right tackle Marcus Cannon are
considered problematic, as there is no proven talent behind them on the depth
chart – but especially Hightower, as his decision robs the Patriots of not only
their play-calling defensive captain, it also leaves the linebacking corps
looking more like a Senior Bowl lineup…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…going from a “Who’s who” pack of speedy sack masters
to a “Who’s that?” group of rookies and journeyman part-timers that, from the
outside, looks like a serious degradation of the talent level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But these are the New England Patriots, and Belichick
is the quintessential boy scout who is always prepared – and while some (most)
believe that he was unprepared last season to deal with all of the injuries
that crippled his team, the simple fact of the matter is that he was preparing
his team for life beyond the dynasty in hopes of creating a new one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Replacing Hightower And Chung<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is likely to be a game-to-game scenario, which is
how Belichick operates anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Belichick is the master game-planner who builds his
teams with the Patriots’ schedule in mind. It is said that coaches build their
teams to match up with teams in their division, which makes sense on the
surface, given that they play each team twice – but in reality, that means that
each team plays only six of their sixteen regular season games in-division,
leaving ten games against non-division foes…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…so their success or failure in making the post-season
lies mainly on how they fare against the ten other teams on their schedule, and
somehow, someway, Belichick seems to be able to game plan for every single
team, every single week – and he uses his entire roster, even if it’s just in
one or two plays throughout the season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Situational football is what Belichick lives for, and
the options that he has for covering the “Will” linebacker spot that Hightower
has vacated are actually quite plentiful, if not traditional.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For the past two seasons, Belichick has employed
strong safety Patrick Chung in the position at times, and though Chung has
also opted out, some the players that they have brought in through free agency
and the draft to eventually replace the aging box safety are looking more and
more fortuitous as time goes on…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…and the draft also produced a couple of off-the-ball
linebackers who possesses the skill set to contribute in the multiple-layer infusion
to replace the volume of talent the Patriots lost not only when Hightower opted
out, but also the loss of Jamie Collins, Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts in
free agency.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It makes sense for Belichick to look at veteran
journeyman Brandon Copeland to provide some snaps in Hightower’s stead, but there’s
a reason why the Penn product has bounced around the league since entering the
NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2014. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He is a man without a true position, initially
entering the league as a 265 pound defensive end with impressive speed for the
position, but with suspect lateral agility in the pass rush and found himself
out of the league for a couple of seasons – then reinvented himself as an
outside linebacker for the 2015 veteran combine, shedding twenty pounds and, as
a result, trimming two-tenths of a second off of his forty…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…and while that improved his straight-line speed, it
did little to improve his agility. At his best, Copeland, who’s weight now stands
at 255, is a strong-side, edge-setting linebacker who willingly takes on tight
ends on the edge, but also gets regularly swallowed up in the maw, leaving an
inside track for runners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As a result, he found himself as a rotational player
for both the Lions and Jets, his greatest contribution being on special teams.
With his lack of lateral agility, I can’t see him as a regular part of the
lineup, especially if the rookies on the roster can make an immediate impact in
camp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Michigan’s Josh Uche is the favorite to take on the
“Will” role vacated by Hightower due to his “tweener” skill set. Though he won
many battles as an edge rusher in college, his size could work against him
against offensive tackles and tight ends in the pros unless he is schemed as an
interior linebacker in a 3-4 defensive alignment, where he could roll to the
edge in run defense and attack interior gaps as a blitzer in pass defense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He possess more speed than Hightower and is fluid in
underneath coverages, and the fact that he models his game after the late Sean
Taylor, those box safety-like instincts and versatility has to have Belichick
salivating at the possibilities of deploying Uche in the middle of his “Amoeba”
defense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As anyone who knows football is familiar with, the
difference between the aforementioned box safety and a coverage linebacker is
in name only, and since Belichick likes to employ his strong safeties as
coverage linebackers, Uche fits that bill – but he’s not the only player on the
roster who does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Belichick’s top pick in the 2020 draft, safety Kyle
Dugger, possesses the most versatility of any player on the Patriots’ defense
and, as such, he could fill a different role in just about any alignment. A
violent striker in space with the speed to handle the back end as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dugger’s coaches at the Senior Bowl tried him at the single high safety
position and as a hybrid linebacker who fills well in run support and excels at
underneath coverages. He has the size to hold his own at the “Will” spot, where,
as mentioned, Belichick used Chung at times to handle the better tight ends in
the league.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Former Los Angeles Chargers’ safety Adrian Phillips
was signed by Belichick in free agency, most likely to make him more
comfortable in facilitating a trade with the Detroit Lions that sent Big Nickel
safety Duron Harmon packing in a salary cap move. Phillips is also capable of
reducing down into the box, but his presence only adds fuel to the speculation
that Dugger will play a major role – something we will get into in a later
article.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But with both Phillips and Dugger on the roster,
Belichick should be able to continue fielding three safeties in both his Big
Nickel and Amoeba packages, especially the latter, which is defined by no
definition, a “formation” that is constantly shifting shape during the
offensive cadence, making it close to impossible for the quarterback to set his
protection at the line because he has no idea where the pressure will be coming
from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And that is important to remember about this defense.
In the Amoeba, all of the defenders are juking and shifting as if they are
rushing the quarterback, then at the snap, some defenders rush while others
fall back into coverage so it is imperative that Belichick have as many
versatile athletes on the field…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…and while the Amoeba is geared more towards
late-down, long-yardage situations, the presence of players like Uche, Dugger
and Phillips, along with young breakout candidates in linebackers Ja’Whaun
Bentley and Chase Winovich, he could employ the tactic on early downs as well,
albeit with a tweak or two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All of that said, there is no guarantee with the
newbies on the roster, but the versatility in their individual skill sets
actually gives Belichick more options both in coverages and in run support than
he had with more traditionally-skilled defenders in Hightower and Chung – but
that doesn’t mean those players won’t be missed, it simply means that Belichick
will have to open up his playbook a little wider, which isn’t a bad thing…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-18979627616277463042020-07-24T10:21:00.001-07:002020-09-07T18:04:04.758-07:00Newton Offers Increased Optionality For Patriots’ Offense<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Optionality is a financial term that, in short, is the
value of additional optional investment opportunities available only after
having made an initial investment, and with the recent signing of quarterback
Cam Newton, the New England Patriots are suddenly lousy with those additional
opportunities – not only in terms of cap dollars, but also on the playing
field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Most teams’ average investment on the quarterback
position runs at about 16% of their cap space, which includes both the starter
and the backup(s), but with Newton signing a bargain-basement contract, the
Patriots’ investment of 1.5% is the greatest value in the league. Even if
Newton reaches all of the incentives on his contract, the Patriots still come
in at just a quarter of what other teams are spending.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB22MocqNvQQP2kTPWBIf8lac2aouPmpExvFfftYGGk5fFY2G3Ped47xdFbY_6yAEhnOWtpYYyundtAWY-1Y7zZtaeRvbn6rWK8Xw7YBx_3mLNBJ73k0ITimi8JnsdsA7Yk1XZ6u7rsLfm/s1600/patsms025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="814" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB22MocqNvQQP2kTPWBIf8lac2aouPmpExvFfftYGGk5fFY2G3Ped47xdFbY_6yAEhnOWtpYYyundtAWY-1Y7zZtaeRvbn6rWK8Xw7YBx_3mLNBJ73k0ITimi8JnsdsA7Yk1XZ6u7rsLfm/s320/patsms025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Combined with the grievance relief that the team was
granted from the league over the contracts of Aaron Hernandez and Antonio
Brown, the Patriots suddenly find themselves with maneuverability in their cap
space, opening up options on the free agent market, though they will most
likely keep that money in reserve in hopes that Newton <b><i>does </i></b>reach
those incentives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hopeful, because a successful Newton will likely mean
success for the entire team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As mentioned, optionality (in the context of
football), isn’t limited to cap dollars, it also translates to the playing
field as their investment in Newton expands the playbook in ways that have to
have Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels salivating…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…and also translates to Newton himself, who, with a
successful season, can capitalize on the investment he’s made in himself by
signing what amounts to a “Prove It” contract, opening up options and giving
him leverage in contract negotiations beyond the 2020 season, be they with the
Patriots or on the open market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That said and true, many around the National Football
League are still wondering why a former-MVP in the prime of his football career
would settle for a one year contract from the New England Patriots with so
little guaranteed money that it looks like a mid-round rookie deal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Why, indeed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The market for Newton wasn’t what one would call
robust, but wouldn’t it have been better for him to wait until camps opened and
the inevitable injuries occurred, prompting panicked head coaches to reach out
to him with an exponentially lucrative offer?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the short term, that probably would have been the
way to go for the former first-round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers, but
taking over for an injured starter has many different layers to it, and the
process can become so convoluted that it becomes volatile at a point in his
career where stability is paramount, lest he become sadly known as a
journeyman…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…but in the long-term, New England looks to be the
perfect place for the of-late, oft-injured trend-setter to not only revive what
was once a spectacular career, but to also market his wares in order to gain a
contract more befitting a player of his ability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Patriots have all the tools in place to help
Newton do just that, and with their 2021 cap situation looking far better than
this season’s dead-money albatross, Newton could easily find himself the
franchise signal caller.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Newton is no dummy. He’s betting on himself to regain
his pre-injury dynamism, and he chose the best place in the league to try and
accomplish just that. Most athletes in his position and with such a celebrated
past are looking for the best money and see themselves as a savior of sorts,
stepping in with the mind-set that they alone can elevate the team to relevance…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…and it is far too early to project whether Newton
fits into that category, especially given his flamboyancy and confidence, but
the fact that he signed for the veteran minimum in guarantees gives one the impression
that his only goal is to prove that <b><i>he</i></b> is still relevant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Belichick is no dummy, either, as he likely sees
Newton as a super-sized, more athletic version of his long-lost favorite son, Jimmy Garoppolo,
whom he was building around to accommodate his skill set as the heir to Brady – so much so that even
after Garoppolo was traded, the Dark Master continued along the chosen path,
knowing that he was already locked in to a philosophy that would end the dynasty had he
kept hold of Brady for a couple of more years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We all saw it, right? The talent that Belichick built
his 2019 team with didn’t jibe with Brady’s skill set at all, causing the
greatest of all time to bitch and bristle about iron deficiency of the offense.
It was purposeful on the part of Belichick, as he wasn’t about to be caught
with his pants down once Brady left – and certainly not after the weird
contract that Brady signed before the start of the season that left Brady with
all of the leverage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So Newton, assuming he beats out Jarrett Stidham for
the starting role, steps into a ready-made offense that plays fabulously into
his style.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s worth noting that neither Belichick nor McDaniels
are likely to move off their spot so far as their conceptual philosophies are
concerned, nor should they, but it goes to figure that if Newton is indeed
under center, his presence allows for expansion and evolution of the concepts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are about to witness a much more diverse and open
Patriots’ offense, perhaps one that is more powerful and exciting than in years
past. Where the offense was a model of efficiency and consistency with Brady at
the helm, with a ratio between the running game and passing game consistently
around 40:60, with Newton calling the signals that should flatten out to a more
even mixture…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…and not for any reason other than that’s the way
Belichick’s team-building philosophy has been trending, and with Newton on
board, the perfect storm exists for the Patriots’ dynastic ways to continue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How? The answer to that question starts in my next
article, which reveals the fact that the Patriots’ offensive line and zone-blocking
scheme are perfect compliments to Newton’s skill set.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-37760138943211584302020-05-09T09:29:00.000-07:002020-07-22T14:06:27.259-07:00Belichick To Roll With Stidham And The Receivers He's Got, Because That Was His Plan All AlongMay 8, 2020<br />
<br />
So, Bill Belichick didn't select any wide receivers in this year's NFL Draft, but at least he doesn't have Tom Brady around to bitch about it.<br />
<br />
In reality, however, Belichick's New England Patriots are pretty stacked at the pass catching positions, so long as his wide receivers and tight ends do the job that they are capable of - but with a new quarterback under center, nothing's a given.<br />
<br />
Indeed, the Patriots are entering the 2020 season with plenty of mystery surrounding their receiving corps, with only greybeard Julian Edelman, sophomore Jakobi Meyers and passing back James White the only known quantity - and while we got a little taste of what second-year perimeter threat N'Keal Harry and veteran Mohamed Sanu bring to the field, they are largely question marks...<br />
<br />
...as are newcomers Damiere Byrd and Marquise Lee, both with undeniable measurables and speed to burn, but both having underachieved thus far in their brief professional football careers - and the advantage that all of them have is working with the aforementioned new, young quarterback who doesn't seem to have the same obsession with perfection that Brady did.<br />
<br />
Not that expecting your receivers to be where they are supposed to be on the route tree is a bad thing, but Brady's heat-of-the-moment, Sam Kinison-style of explosive expression seemed to make his young pass catchers tense up so badly that Harry looked like he was running with a corn cob up his ass near the end of the season.<br />
<br />
Stidam is young, so he also needs his receivers to be where he expects them to be, but with the fear of pissing off the greatest quarterback of all time no longer dominating their subconscious minds, maybe they can relax a little and work on their craft instead of running away from it.<br />
<br />
I love Tom Brady, make no mistake. What Brady gave to the people of New England - to the entire sports world - was nineteen years of the most clutch performances ever seen. When Brady signed with Tampa, my wife tried to peel the Fathead of Brady off of the cave wall, but I defended it like a wolverine and finally calmed her down enough to allow me to explain to her why it was staying in it's place of honor.<br />
<br />
I told her of my admiration of Brady and reminded her of all of the excitement and joy he was responsible for, of how he turned us both into adrenalin junkies by making us stew in anxiety during the two weeks between Championship Sunday and Super Bowl Sunday, then really amped us up by making the crucial plays on the biggest stage in sports to win six of those world titles...<br />
<br />
...and having his team in position to steal the three that he lost. He has been the one, lone constant on the field for New England for all nine championship runs, and I am thankful and humbled to have been able to witness every single throw.<br />
<br />
One of the best passes I ever saw Brady make was the seriously filthy timing throw on a ten-yard out pattern to Danny Amendola, who was well covered by an Atlanta Falcons' defender on the winning drive in the overtime period of Super Bowl 51. The ball exploded out of Brady's hand with the requisite zip required of such a pattern, but with just barely enough loft to evade the nickelback's fingers...<br />
<br />
...the Patriots scoring to win their fifth Lombardi Trophy, Brady taking the opening kickoff of overtime and shoving it down the Falcons' collective throat to complete the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, perhaps the greatest of all time. I recanted the tale to my wife, who looked at me thoughtfully and said, "He's still a dumb-ass for throwing that pick-six right before halftime."<br />
<br />
Brady. You either love him or you hate him, but no matter which way you lean, you have no choice but to respect him.<br />
<br />
Brady epitomized the not-so-well-worn cliché uttered by the old-school "Voice of God", NFL Films' narrator John Facenda who said, "Great players aren't great all the time; they're just great when they have to be.". My wife understood this, finally, despite being an insane female hybrid of Oscar Zeta Acosta and John Cleese, who would fly into a sputtering, animated rage when Brady threw an interception (see above).<br />
<br />
But as crazy as it sounds, the way that Belichick has stocked the offense over the past half-decade was in preparation for life without Brady - unfortunately for Brady, that meant the offensive personnel last season was geared more towards a power-based philosophy, or at least it became that way when the offense lost their center, both fullbacks and Harry for half of the season...<br />
<br />
...while Edelman played broken after missing a few games, and Sanu never really became part of the offense, dealing with a bum ankle that required offseason surgery - the tight ends didn't do squat, leaving the undrafted rookie Meyers as the only healthy receiver, making it easy for defenses to take away the Patriots' running game as well.<br />
<br />
That said, the caveat for this season's offense will have to be the well-worn cliché "If Healthy".<br />
<br />
"If Healthy", the Patriots have the receivers to force any defense to defend the entire field, with Harry working the perimeter, Sanu the intermediate routes, Edelman and Meyers working the middle and either Byrd or Lee clearing out the trash as deep threats. To make matters even worse for defenses, Belichick drafted two capable tight ends to handle the seam and safety valve responsibilities.<br />
<br />
And, of course, all of that opens up room for the real star of the passing game, running back James White, who along with his battery mates Damien Harris, Rex Burkhead and Sony Michel, will also work in the power running game behind an offensive line built to plow the row.<br />
<br />
All Stidham needs to be is proficient, the rest has been done for him. Just get the ball to where it needs to be and let his weapons be weapons. If he can command his troops on the field, earn their respect and manage the game plans, the Patriots have as good a chance as anyone to win the AFC East.mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-82264758620639302912020-05-09T09:02:00.001-07:002020-07-30T07:31:06.318-07:00Belichick Tanking 2020 Season? Complete And Utter HogwashMay 6, 2020<br />
<br />
There's a lot of talk going around in the media that New England Patriots' coach Bill Belichick is going to "tank" this season in order to get a high draft pick in the 2021 draft - and the notion is so un-Belichickian that it is prima-fascie absurd...<br />
<br />
...a fraud on it's face, and the so-called "AFC Evaluator" who started the rumor is either a complete lunatic, knows nothing about Belichick, or is a disgruntled fan who is in deep mourning over Tom Brady being shown the door - and perhaps a combination of all three. Then again, he could just be some douchebag blogger who cited this unknown and perhaps completely fictional "evaluator" just to gain page views.<br />
<br />
The blogging community is full of irreputable frauds who pretend to have some sort of anonymous insider contact, posting outrageous claims and knowing that they have a fifty-fifty chance of being right - and if they are wrong, they can blame it all on their anonymous contact to maintain their own credibility.<br />
<br />
At issue, of course, is the minimal trust that most fans and media have in Brady's heir, second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham, maybe trying to make themselves feel better about the future of the Patriots' offense by presupposing that Belichick is going to tank the 2020 season in order to log such a horrible record that they can select one of the elite quarterbacks coming out of college through the 2021 NFL draft.<br />
<br />
But here's the thing, and there's really no getting around it: Jarrett Stidham is the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots, and Bill Belichick doesn't give two shits if you like it or not.<br />
<br />
Belichick passed on every quarterback avaiable in the draft, and wouldn't even take calls from the Cincinnati Bengals, who were trying to get any value at all out of mediocre quarterback Andy Dalton before finally releasing him. Belichick hasn't even made inquiries of free agent signal callers Jaiemis Winston or Cam Newton.<br />
<br />
Perhaps all of this is why some ding dong started the "tanking" rumor, doing their own demented brand of math to connect the dots - but Belichick would never do such a thing, for several solid reasons...<br />
<br />
...the most prominent of which is, well, he's Bill Belichick - and Bill Belichick is all about winning, and the amount of losing it would take to obtain a top-three pick in next year's draft would send him into a spiriling, sputtering funk - and if you think he's terse with the media now, addressing them after losing so many games would be like watching an episode of Judge Judy.<div><br />
But as bad as that would be, tanking would also destroy the culture of the Patriots that Belichick has propogated for the past two decades.<br />
<br />
Losing creates a culture that impacts everything and everyone, from the team owner to the guys cleaning the toilets. Losing is a cancer that invades the very core of a sports franchise, and although he played doctor with the Cleveland Browns back in the mid-nineties and brought the franchise to the brink of remission before being uncerimoniously dismissed, he'd rather not put himself in position where he would have to go through that again.<br />
<br />
Not to mention that destroying that culture would have a residual effect of making New England a far less desirable destination for free agents, many of whom in the past have wanted to sign with the Patriots simply to escape losing cultures and to have a shot at a title - not to mention the effect it would have on current players, many of whom have taken less money as a free agent over the years to re-sign with the team.<br />
<br />
To lose while being competative is honorable, if also dejecting, but to lose by holding back is sandbagging, a dishonorable ploy that no one except lawyers respect, no matter the advantage it brings.<br />
<br />
And about that, Belichick cares very much - but even if he didn't, the idea wouldn't sit too well with the veteran players on his roster, affecting the aforementioned culture to the point that those players wouldn't be racing to get in line for new contracts or extensions to hang around.<br />
<br />
To that point, there would eventually be some sort of pushback from the players, and chaos would ensue, eventually driving both them and Belichick himself out the door in short order.<br />
<br />
In truth, however, Belichick may have come dangerously close to alienating the veterans on his roster last season, and did alienate Brady - or maybe it was Brady alienating Belichick by showing up at post-game pressers looking like someone pissed in his granola and not so subtly bitching about how inert the offense was...<br />
<br />
...which wasn't necessarily by design, as Belichick brought in help in the form of Antonio Brown (briefly) and Mohamed Sanu - but Brown turned out to be a post-juvenile delinquent who was all flash (pun intended) and no substance, while Sanu broke as soon as he arrived in Foxborough and contributed next to nothing.<br />
<br />
So, it's not like Belichick didn't try to appease his star quarterback, but injury crippled his offense in a way that nobody could have survived, not even Brady - but the good news was that the Patriots were in every game that they lost, a missed play here and there dooming them to having to play in the Wild Card round of the playoffs and an early exit from the tournament.<br />
<br />
And I'm off subject a bit, but it is important to know that Belichick never broke stride in his plan for life after Brady - even to the detriment of the offense last season - and, if Stidham turns out to be a good-to-very-good quarterback in the system that Belichick has set up for him, the Patriots will still be in the hunt for a division title and more.</div>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-37946020257531137382020-05-03T13:33:00.000-07:002020-07-02T07:24:18.637-07:00Belichick's Obsession With Safeties Paying Off In A Big Way<div style="text-align: right;">
3 May, 2020</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Lewiston, Maine</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Time was, the safety position on the football field was the catch-all for players who were good athletes, but didn't have possess a skill set that translated to anything else.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
When I first started playing football as a kid, I was the smallest player on the field but also the fastest. The coaches tried me at many different positions, but eventually "stuck" me at safety. I felt like the forgotten man, all alone on the back end, joining in on the play only when a kid on the opposing offense got past the first and second levels...</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8civ6n4cgHQR5GtD_4dAs5WUK-onsD_Dn-GUTAjELNb2upX2uIXcmFIiEk1X71LIxNIkcuT6gviT29JhORwrILRZ5HGjH3J5hiHT58DQ-324lk63qfOhL3ythHghw1Rr5gaaJe0QamLW/s1600/dugger2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="686" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8civ6n4cgHQR5GtD_4dAs5WUK-onsD_Dn-GUTAjELNb2upX2uIXcmFIiEk1X71LIxNIkcuT6gviT29JhORwrILRZ5HGjH3J5hiHT58DQ-324lk63qfOhL3ythHghw1Rr5gaaJe0QamLW/s400/dugger2.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rookie box safety Kyle Dugger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
...which, as time wore on and I graduated from Pop Warner to middle school and then to high school ball, became more and more often. Since I was so small, I got trampled if I tried to take on receivers and running backs who broke into the open field, so to stay on the field and off the bench, I had to actually learn the nuances of the position.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
That meant that I had to learn the route tree, study angles and work with a track coach to create an explosive first step. I played basketball and developed timing and stronger legs in order to meet the ball in the air - and I started playing hockey, which developed eye-hand coordination and taught me how to absorb big hits - and dish them out - without getting hurt.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
In other words, I evolved and became a solid last line of defense as a single high safety who made opposing quarterbacks think twice about dropping bucket throws to deep receivers - not because I arrived at the apex with any kind of thunder, but because I could usually get a hand on the ball and break up the play and, on occasion, intercept the ball.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
The point being, the safety positions have evolved into a specialty on every level of football, and have become far more than the last line of defense, no longer the dumping ground for aging cornerbacks or players whose skill set leaves them positionless - and in the New England Patriots' scheme, the safeties that they employ form a three-headed monster that makes their base defense different from every other in the National Football League.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
They didn't invent it - the "Big Nickel" defense has been around for five decades - but they run it between sixty-and-seventy percent of the time, and it has been primarily responsible for a defense that has finished ranked in the top ten in nine of the ten years since head coach and general manager Bill Belichick started collecting safeties back in 2009, taking strong safety Patrick Chung with their first overall pick...</div>
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...picking up then-cornerback Devin McCourty with his first overall pick in the 2010 draft - the exact same draft that proved to be the talisman that necessitated the need for a three-safety alignment, Belichick selecting tight ends Rob Gronkowski in the second round and Aaron Hernandez two rounds later, then unleashing them on a league that had undervalued the tight end position, for the most part, since the late 70's.</div>
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Knowing that the NFL was a copy-cat entity and seeing that the Gronkowski-Hernandez tandem was tantalizingly successful, Belichick began putting together a group of safeties to combat the eventuality that other teams were going to try to copy what he had. He already had Chung and McCourty but needed a third wheel in order to run the Big Nickel alignment, so he used a 2015 third-round pick on a little-known safety out of Rutgers named Duron Harmon.</div>
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Harmon was speedy, big and tough, but had a rap on him coming out of college that he was one dimensional and would only fit in a cover-one scheme - a man/zone scheme that employed a single-high safety - as he was at his best seeing the play unfold in front of him and had sideline-to-sideline range and angle recognition to be that last line of defense.</div>
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Harmon blossomed into the best centerfielder in the league and earned a reputation as a closer, knocking away would-be scores and coming down with interceptions at the most critical of moments, usually late in games with the outcome still in doubt.</div>
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So while the alignment isn't original, it is old school, which is exactly the direction Belichick is taking his team, creating the roster in his image.</div>
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The issue he's faced with is that while he has a defensive secondary that is considered one of the best in the league, Belichick traded away Harmon to the Detroit Lions in a salary dump, but did sign former San Diego All Pro safety Adrian Phillips who, if he's fully recovered from a broken arm suffered in week two of last season, is just as rangy and explosive as Harmon.</div>
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To further strengthen the secondary, he also selected the best box safety in the class, maybe the best in the last two or three years, when he selected Kyle Dugger, a 6' 1", 220 pound thumper who was born to play the position, and is without a doubt Patrick Chung's eventual replacement - but for now, the presence of Dugger gives Belichick an intriguing set of options moving forward.</div>
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They could still run a three-safety package, as Dugger has the size and speed to body up on tight ends and to neutralize running backs wheeling out into the pattern in man coverage, and the violent intent and explosiveness to lay out receivers crossing over the middle in zone. Both McCourty and Phillips can handle the back end well enough, giving the Patriots the horses to continue running the Big Nickel.</div>
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Which is most probably the reason that he valued Dugger so much, because Chung and his damaged body may not make it through the entire 2020 season. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't recall a game last season that Chung didn't have to have the training staff trot onto the field to render acute medical assistance. Terrence Brooks did a serviceable job backing him up, but with so much quality in the safety corps, he may have a tough time cracking this roster.</div>
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That's not a bad problem to have, and considering the talent at cornerback, including AFC Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore and the interchangeable "J" quadruplets, Jason McCourty, Jonathan Jones, JC Jackson and JoeJuan Williams across from him, the potential exists for the Patriots to possess the best secondary in the league...</div>
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...which immeasurably helps a front six that returns stalwarts at linebacker and on the defensive line, plus some intriguing newbies from Belichick's solid draft and deft free agency pick ups that will aid in the pass rush and help set a hard edge in the run game.</div>
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The mix of talented veterans and exciting young fire pissers makes up the best group of safeties that Belichick has ever fielded, period, his obsession with collecting off-market safeties finally paying off in a big, big way.</div>
mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-72295834243057263582020-05-01T08:40:00.000-07:002020-07-02T07:23:27.219-07:00Redshirt "Sophomore" Harris The Key To Productive Running Game30 May, 2020<br />
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There are probably many reasons why Bill Belichick is excited about this years incarnation of the New England Patriots' offense, but the most important one is that he finally gets to build the unit the way he always wanted to.<br />
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The way the draft went down suggests that he had everything he wanted to field a product that is based more on power and less on passing, needing only a tight end or two to put the whole thing together - and don't be surprised if the Patriots are formidable on offense despite not having Tom Brady under center.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damien Harris</td></tr>
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Because it's not a matter of replacing the greatest quarterback of all time, it was a matter of getting Brady out of his way so that he could build an offense in his own gruff image, using recent drafts to prepare for a philosophical shift that is going to mirror the early days of Belichick's tenure in New England, when the Patriots won three Super Bowl titles in four seasons with brute force.<br />
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Back in that day, a young Brady worked behind an offensive line built to run the football, handing off to the likes of Antowain Smith and Corey Dillon and riding their success to develop one of the best play action passing games in the league - but this is not suggest that second year quarterback Jarrett Stidham is going to enjoy the same success as Brady, nor that the Patriots as a whole are going to hammer their way to another Lombardi Trophy...<br />
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...but what it does suggest is that if Belichick made it work before, he believes that he can make that philosophy work again. It's not very scientific, but it is plausible, and he has the horses to make it a reality.<br />
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Starting with undrafted free agent center David Andrews and fourth-round guard Shaq Mason in 2015, Belichick has populated his offensive line with players coming from college programs where they developed into elite run blockers, adding left guard Joe Thuney the following year and left tackle Isaiah Wynn two seasons after that.<br />
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The offense hit a few snags along the way, most notably when All-World tight end Rob Gronkowski retired before last season, followed by injuries to Andrews, Wynn and every fullback on their roster which, when combined with running back Sony Michel's sophomoric slump and Brady's distrust of any receiver not named Julian Edelman, doomed the Patriots to their worst post-season showing in over a decade.<br />
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But as bad as it was, every negative circumstance that came out of the Patriots' struggles last season provided a clear view of what Belichick needed to do going forward as he starts anew with Stidham under center and, truthfully, it isn't that much.<br />
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First, Belichick upgraded the tight end position through the draft, taking two seam-busting, rough-and-tumble entities in UCLA's Devin Asiasi and Wake Forest's Dalton Keene, both willing blockers, with Asiasi more of an inline blocker with good speed in space and up the seam while Keene is more of an "H-back" who does his best work in pass protection and as a lead blocker out of the backfield, and as a safety valve on underneath routes in the passing game.<br />
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Neither is the second coming of Gronkowski, and they don't need to be, but both offer the versatility and are perfect fits to succeed in Belichick's philosophical shift.<br />
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Secondly, and although the jury will be out until they step on the practice field - whenever that will be - the starters along the offensive line should return healthy, and Belichick chose to back them up with new blood in the draft, taking three developmental types on the third day of the draft. They will compete with last season's less-than-thrilling pool of backups, hopefully one or two displacing the veterans.<br />
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Third, and most disquieting, was Michel's aforementioned and so-called "sophomore slump" which, in reality, was nothing more that proving that Michel isn't capable of getting anything more than what is blocked for him, looking more and more timid as time wore on and being benched in a handful of games in favor of tougher runners in Rex Burkhead and James White.<br />
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But there is an answer waiting in the wings in redshirt "Sophomore" Damien Harris, whom Belichick used a third-round pick on in last season's epic draft haul, number 87 overall. Belichick kept Harris on the active roster just as he did with James White in his 2014 rookie season, which, if history holds true, means that he has a specific plan for the hard-running, shoulder-dipping load out of Alabama...<br />
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...where he shared the backfield with now-Las Vegas Raiders' feature back Josh Jacobs, both enjoying equal success on the Crimson Tide's National Championship team, but with Harris becoming one of only eight running backs in Alabama's long history to rush for more than 3,000 yards in his career.<br />
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Harris ran over folks in the 2019 preseason, and showed soft hands in the pattern out of the backfield, gaining yards after initial contact by initiating said contact and exploding through the would-be tackler - something that would have been advantageous last season as proven by both White and, in particular, Burkhead.<br />
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But Burkhead's style and apparent fragility is a poor mix, as he has spent half of his Patriots' tenure on the trainer's table, and White is too important to the passing game as a third-down back to risk injury as an every down pounder. What the Patriots needed - and need - is Harris.<br />
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As far as Michel is concerned, he is still servicable as a change of pace back in a two-back set, though his running style is more angular than sudden, meaning that he is better at attacking the line through straight ahead creases as opposed to Harris, who possesses excellent vision and a wicked jump cut that comes in handy when cutting back against the grain.<br />
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In all, the Patriots should employ four backs, with Harris, Michel and White as roster locks, with Burkhead, Brandon Bolden and whatever free agents Belichick chooses to bring in battling for the last spot - while the fullback position should fall to second year undrafdted free agent Jakob Johnson, with rookie Dalton Keene seeing time as a lead blocker as well.<br />
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So on paper, the Patriots' running back depth chart looks solid, and with a productive running game being a young quarterback's best friend, that depth chart could be the most important position on the field.mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-75736516591358737012020-04-30T13:51:00.000-07:002020-05-01T08:41:31.807-07:00Belichick Nails First Pick, Middle Rounds; Draft Offers Several Players Ready To Contribute<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Previously published on our sister blog, Mainely Patriots</span><br />
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26 April, 2020</div>
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Bill Belichick has a different process for evaluating players in the draft than most, and it's worked out pretty well so far.</div>
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That's why it's close to impossible to nail down who he's going to select in the draft - that is unless you consider that Belichick doesn't select players based solely on collegiate performance, he selects them based on the bag full of squirrels running around in his brain that conjures ways of utilizing them to open up his playbook.</div>
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Sure he recognizes that he has holes to fill in the lineup and that is part of the equation, which also factors in things like potential attrition and measurables, but the deciding factor when selecting a player is left to Belchick's imagination.</div>
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The New England Patriots' 2020 draft haul may be the most diverse and incongruent of his Patriots' career, declining to select the big name that excites fans and opting for players that makes his imagination run wild with possibilities - and once the people who make their living generating mock drafts get that through their heads, they can start understanding that Belichick actually targets players throughout the process and sticks to his board...</div>
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...selecting players in order from top to bottom, no matter what round the draft experts project those players to be drafted, and things like level of competition in college means little in his grand scheme.</div>
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I'm starting to get it (I got two out of the ten picks correct) but I will never fully understand - that said, one can be sure that once Belichick makes his selections, the method behind his madness starts to make sense, and optimism reigns.</div>
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Going into this week's draft, the experts prioritized the outside linebacker, quarterback and tight end positions as needs for the Patriots, and to a certain extent, they were right - but the players that they projected as good fits for Belichick's roster were bypassed by the Dark Master in favor of the little known players in which he imagines can help open up his playbook, incorporating their skill sets into the maw rather than plugging them into a stringent template.</div>
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Take the way he approached the tight end position, for example. In my mock, I had him drafting two tight ends, Dayton's Adam Trautman in the third round due to his label as a combination tight end, and LSU's Thaddeus Moss for his traditional "H-back" skill set - and he did select two tight ends, trading up twice in the third round to take players that weren't even on most people's radars.</div>
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<b><i>UCLA's Devin Asiasi</i></b> is a potential seam buster with good speed and excellent vision and movement in space, while also being a handy red zone threat on fades and has a knack for finding the dead spots in zone coverages, while <b><i>Virgina Tech's Dalton Keene</i></b> will remind many of the skill set possessed by former-Patriots' tight end Aaron Hernandez, who was used in the H-back role by Belichick, lining up all over the formation.</div>
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Many will wonder why Belichick traded up into the second round to select Michigan outside linebacker <b><i>Josh Uche</i></b> when there were so many bigger names left on the draft board, but the undersized edge rusher is a speed demon that can blow by tackles and is an accomplished blitzer who can also hold his own in coverage, carrying his routes further downfield than many in the same position.</div>
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Another reason why Belichick called Uche's name is that he played opposite 2019 draft pick Chase Winovich, who together terrorized opposing passers. That chemistry should translate to the field this fall as Winovich is ready for a breakout season as a starting defensive end after limited snaps in his rookie season.</div>
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The other linebacker that Belichick selected, <b><i>Alabama's Anfernee Jennings,</i></b> isn't much in the pass rush or in coverage- though he notched eight sacks and defended five passes last season - but is pure hell in the running game, setting the edge by tossing tight ends and tackles aside and forcing plays back to the inside, where bigger bodies await.</div>
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A tackling machine, Jennings logged 83 tackles in thirteen games in his senior season with the 'Tide, 13 of those coming behind the line of scrimmage.</div>
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Jennings' and Uche's skill sets are particularly important for Belichick's defense, as they address issues that the defense has had for years - stopping the running game on the edges and coverage on running backs curling out into the pass pattern.</div>
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To further demonstrate his resolve to eliminate these negative impacts, as well as address the demise of Patrick Chung's skill set, Belichick used his second round draft pick marvelously, snagging the best box safety in the draft, Lenoir-Rhyne's <b><i>Kyle Dugger</i></b>.</div>
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Built like a freight train and striking like one as well, Dugger has the potential to be the centerpiece for Belichick's aggressive Cover-Zero look. Blessed with the rare combination of elite size, speed and explosiveness, Dugger compares more-than-favorably to former NFLer Adrian Wilson, who played at an All-Pro level for much of his career.</div>
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Unlike Chung, Dugger is the type of player that opposing offensive coordinators must game plan for and account for on every play, and he will make backs and tight ends think twice about extending for balls, especially over the middle - and he is an absolute load in run defense.</div>
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If Belichick got nothing else of value in the draft, Dugger makes his defensive draft grade out as a solid "A", but by adding Uche's elite pass rushing skills and coverage ability in the flat, combined with Jennings' edge-setting prowess, he addressed all of the needs of the defense with superior athletes who should contribute right away.</div>
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That is, all but one need, as Belichick passed on pure nose tackles in the draft, instead opting for quick but limited inside linebacker <b><i>Cassh Maluia</i></b> out of Wyoming, who is a projectile but needs some professional coaching to become anything more than a taxi squad player.</div>
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The same holds true on the other side of the ball, where Belichick tapped three developmental offensive linemen, though another Wolverine, guard <b><i>Mike Onwenu</i></b>, could bring his massive 350 pound frame into play as a road-grading power run blocker. Wake Forest guard <b><i>Justin Herron</i></b> possesses the footwork to work in a zone run blocking scheme and to provide solid interior pass protection, though he could stand to bulk up a bit.</div>
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Perhaps the most intriguing of the three linemen is Memphis center <b><i>Dustin Woodward</i></b>, a lightweight relative to the position at 6' 2" and only 285 pounds who is not going to beat out incumbent center David Andrews, but has a high upside as a backup center and guard and is valuable insurance in the event Andrews can not fully resume his role due to missing all of last season with blood clot issues.</div>
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But the most Belichickian moment of the draft came when he used his fifth round selection on a linebacker-sized kicker who prides himself on his consistency in foul-weather, game-winning situations. Marshall's <b><i>Justin Rohrwesser</i></b> stands 6' 3" and 230 pounds, and when he puts all of it behind his kicks, the ball explodes off his foot, straight and true...</div>
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...which is what you want from a place kicker, after all. But what really sets Rohrwesser apart from his peers coming out in the 2020 draft class is the control he shows of the ball on kickoffs, routinely forcing the kick returner to have to play the ball, with enough hang time to allow his coverage teams to arrive under the ball, an important field possession weapon.</div>
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All in all, and though it means little coming from me, Belichick deserves a solid "A" in the draft class. Even if his developmental guys don't pan out, he got plenty of value for his roster in rounds two through five, drafting six players who should be major assets to the team immediately.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-82875618169071514642020-04-30T13:48:00.001-07:002020-04-30T13:49:34.423-07:002020 NFL Draft: Won Some, Lost Some in Patriots' Projections On First Two Days<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Previously published on our sister blog, Mainely Patriots</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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25 April, 2020</div>
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Far be it for me to blow my own horn. Aw, who am I kidding?</div>
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While Bill Belichick traded up and down and all around in the first three rounds of the 2020 NFL draft, I did manage to nail down two of the players he was likely to select, including top pick in box safety <b><i>Kyle Dugger</i></b> - the third time in four seasons that I've gotten their first pick correct - and edge-setting linebacker <b><i>Anfernee Jennings</i></b>.</div>
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And while I did not even mention the two tight ends they selected in the third round, I did predict that the Patriots would use multiple picks on tight ends.</div>
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That said, let's take a look at what they should be looking for on the last day of the draft, starting with my original projections:</div>
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<b><u>Projected Patriots Draft picks 2020:</u></b></div>
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<b></b><u></u><br /></div>
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<b>First Round: </b></div>
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<b></b><br /></div>
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<b><i>Traded away #23;</i></b></div>
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<b></b><i></i><br /></div>
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<b>Second Round: </b></div>
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<b></b><br /></div>
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<b><i>#37 Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne</i></b> - (pick from trading down from the first round) </div>
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Patrick Chung is growing old and fragile. In fact, I can't recall a game last season when he didn't have the training staff run onto the field to escort him off in pain - so the time to find a replacement is upon Belichick, and the best box safety in the draft is Dugger. Bigger, faster and stronger than Chung, he fills well in the running game and arrives with dark intent, and has the length and bulk to match up well with tight ends in the pattern, along with the speed to deal with running backs curling into the flat.</div>
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<b>Third Round:</b></div>
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<b><i>#71 - Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton</i></b> - A tremendous value if he falls to the third round, as projected. Had he more experience at the position - he played quarterback and was a basketball star upon arrival at Dayton - he has all the tools to be a top-flight professional tight end. He is a willing in-line blocker and lined up all over the formation in the passing game, running routes not typically expected of a tight end. He possesses solid hands and a lot toughness and quickness, and tracks the ball well up the seam. Excellent prospect for a team that isn't tied to tradition.</div>
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<b><i>#87 - Denzel Mims, WR, 6' 3", 205 - Baylor</i></b> - One of the most versatile recievers in this draft, Mims did everything he was asked to do in college at a very high level. The issue with him coming into the NFL is that the routes he was asked to run in college represents only a small percentage of the route tree that professional receivers are tasked with. The upside is his deep speed, length and catch radius, which probably relegates him to a red zone target and occasional field-stretcher.</div>
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<b><i>#98 - Lucas Niang, RT, Texas Christian University</i></b> - Powerful hands and violent intent are the hallmarks of Niang, who comes from the same program that produced incumbent right tackle Marcus Cannon a decade ago. Like Cannon, his forte is run blocking, but he comes to the NFL with a more defined pass blocking package. His handwork is elite in both phases, but speed-to-power pass rushers will occasionally gain the edge of him in pass protection, as he relies more on strength and length to swallow up one-dimensional rushers. In the running game, he is a pancake maker with the ability to climb the ladder and erase linebackers. A tremendous value if he's still available in the third round, where the Patriots currently have three selections in their pocket.</div>
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<b><i>#100 - Anferneee Jennings, OLB, Alabama -</i></b> A true edge-setter with impressive upper body power to knock tight ends and tackles back and hold the edge, funneling the play inside where bigger bodies await to make the play. While instinctive and explosive off the snap, his closing speed chasing quarterbacks isn't as focused as a pass rusher, but college coaches used him as a disruptor who cuts off escape routes for mobile passers.</div>
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<b>Fourth Round:</b></div>
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<b><i>#125 - Davon Hamilton, NT, 6' 4", 327 - Ohio State </i></b>- A ture nose tackle in every sense of the word with tremendous lower body strength and quick, violent hands that routinely moved college centers off their mark, blowing up plays in the backfield, sometimes before they even got started. A gap eater who willingly takes on double teams to open up plays for his teammates.</div>
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<b><i><br />#139 Jordyn Brooks, ILB, Texas Tech </i></b>- (pick from trading Rob Gronkowski's rights to Tampa Bay) - A true four-down linebacker, the only knock on Brooks is that the defensive line has to keep him clean so that he doesn't get lost in traffic, so he would have to be mentored by experienced linebackers like Hightower in the nuances of playing inside - but once he cleans that up, he has the potential of being a violent interior linebacker who possesses coverage skills to handle backs and tight ends crossing the middle.</div>
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<b><i><br /># Trevis Gipson, DE, 6' 4", 260</i></b> - Tulsa (pick from trading down from the first round) - Possesses a unique skill set that fits perfectly with Belichick's 3-4 alignment. He loves mixing things up with tackles and tight ends and rarely yields ground to them in the running game, setting a mean edge. Not an edge-bender in the pass rush, but is sheer terror when shading tackles to the inside as a five-technique end.</div>
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<b>Fifth round: </b></div>
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<b><i># Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU</i></b> (pick from trading up from sixth and seventh rounds #195, #235) - Unlike his Hall-of-Fame father, Randy's kid is an elite run blocker who also has the requisite speed and hands to handle safety valve duties in the passing game. He's built like a linebacker and has "H-Back" written all over him.</div>
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<b>Sixth round:</b></div>
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<b><i>#212 - James Proche, WR, SMU</i></b> - Compared favorably to former-Patriots Danny Amendola, he excels from the slot and is twitchy off the line, with the ability to break in any direction and gain separation. Not big nor impressively fast, his hands and route running make him a perfect player to be mentored by Julian Edelman</div>
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<b><i>#213 - Van Jefferson, WR, Florida </i></b>(pick from trading up from sixth and seventh rounds (#204, #241) - a precise route runner with excellent NFL blood lines who is possesses perhaps the most diverse skill set in the draft at the position. Gains separation from anywhere along the line. He's not a speedster like his father was, but his experience and excellence in route running is a young quarterback's best friend.</div>
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As mentioned, the Patriots muddled the third-round board by trading up and down during the first two days of the draft - which destroyed my projections for the third day - and now hold six selections on the last day, including four in the sixth round...</div>
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...though I still believe that they will draft at least one receiver and a probably a quarterback to give Jarrett Stidham some competition in camp, as well as a right tackle, perhaps a center, and most likely a kicker, as they have released long-time great Stephen Gostkowski.</div>
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As you can see from my mock draft above, most of the players I had pegged as Patriots are already gone, with the exception of Gipson, Moss and Proche. I still like all three, though Moss is likely a no-go since Belichick has already drafted two tight ends.</div>
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The only real disappointment I have with any of my projections on this last day of the draft is that Jefferson is not available. </div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-77834826062929652422020-04-30T13:47:00.000-07:002020-04-30T13:47:25.421-07:002020 NFL Draft: Belichick Does The Smart Thing, Trades Out Of First Round<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Previously published on our sister blog, Mainely Patriots</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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April 24, 2020</div>
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As expected, Bill Belichick used his first round draft pick as a portal to his wheelhouse - and in doing so, he's put his New England Patriots in position to have an epic draft.</div>
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Don't be surprised to see Belichick trade down even further into the second round in order to pick up additional mid-round draft picks - but as it stands right now, the Patriots have a second rounder (picked up from the Chargers), four third rounders and three fourth rounders.</div>
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That are seven potential selections between pick 37 and 139, which gives Belichick a massive amount of ammunition to be a player all over the draft board, leverage to move up and down the board to grab the players he truly wants.</div>
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Naturally, fans and media lost their collective minds, but the method behind Belichick's madness is sound.</div>
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Never mind his track record of "Hit or miss" when trading out of the first round, mostly because the draft is crap-shoot to begin with, and he has a history of reaching for players that he could have had in the later rounds.</div>
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As bad as some of his second-day picks have been, when he does hit on them, the results are spectacular (See Deion Branch, Jamie Collins, Jimmy Garoppolo, Rob Gronkoswski, Patrick Chung), and each time, he addressed an area badly in need of an upgrade (Except for Garoppolo, because, well...Tom Brady). Where he gets in trouble is when he does that take-the-best-player-available thing.</div>
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Luckily (or sadly, depending on your point of view), the Patriots have several areas of need in this draft.</div>
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So, the only question is, which need do they address first?</div>
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In my mock draft, I had the Patriots trading out of the first round and using that pick on box safety <b><i>Kyle Dugger</i></b> out of Lenoir-Rhyne who, in my opinion, is the best box safety in the draft, but came in with a late second-early third round grade - and I think I'm going to stick with that.</div>
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In previous mocks, I had Belichick selecting Washington Quarterback <b><i>Jacob Eason</i></b>, and while he is still available, There really isn't that much difference between him and would-be incumbent Jarrett Stidham - both good and bad - so I'm thinking that if they do bring in a quarterback at some point, it will be in the third round with a guy like Georgia's <b><i>Jake Fromm</i></b> or Oklahoma's <b><i>Jalen Hurts</i></b>, or wait until the third day and pick up Florida International's <b><i>James Morgan</i></b> as a developmental project.</div>
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They are in need of a big-time box safety, where incumbent Patrick Chung is displaying symptoms of breaking down sooner than later. Dugger is big (6' 1", 215), fast, solid in underneath coverages and arrives at the ball carrier with bad intentions.</div>
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Maybe his best attribute is the coverage he can lay on a running back wheeling out into the pattern, which has been an Achilles heel for the Patriots' defense for many years - but don't be surprised if Belichick tries to replace departed Big Nickel safety Duron Harmon with surprisingly-still-available Alabama free safety <b><i>Xavier Mckinney</i></b>, who has the sideline-to-sideline ability that made Harmon such an important part of the secondary.</div>
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California's <b><i>Ashtyn Davis</i></b> is another prospect at Free Safety who could replace Harmon. It takes a specialized talent to play the Big Nickel, single-high safety position, and both McKinney and Davis have the measurables and natural talent to do that at a high level.</div>
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One name that could make the above all void is Notre Dame's <b><i>Cole Kmet</i></b>, the best tight end prospect in the draft. Another could be TCU's athletic and mean right tackle <b><i>Lucas Niang</i></b>.</div>
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Below, please find my updated Mock draft for the New England Patriots, which is a running tabulation and projects that Belichick will trade down into the second round and pick up a fourth-rounder in the process, then trade up from the sixth and seventh rounds to acquire a fifth round pick - which as we all know, will become a jumbled mess as he navigates the big board:</div>
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<b><u>Projected Patriots Draft picks 2020:</u></b></div>
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<b>First Round: </b></div>
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<b><i>Traded away #23;</i></b></div>
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<b>Second Round: </b></div>
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<b><i>#37 Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne</i></b> - (pick from trading down from the first round) </div>
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Patrick Chung is growing old and fragile. In fact, I can't recall a game last season when he didn't have the training staff run onto the field to escort him off in pain - so the time to find a replacement is upon Belichick, and the best box safety in the draft is Dugger. Bigger, faster and stronger than Chung, he fills well in the running game and arrives with dark intent, and has the length and bulk to match up well with tight ends in the pattern, along with the speed to deal with running backs curling into the flat.</div>
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<b>Third Round:</b></div>
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<b><i>#71 - Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton</i></b> - A tremendous value if he falls to the third round, as projected. Had he more experience at the position - he played quarterback and was a basketball star upon arrival at Dayton - he has all the tools to be a top-flight professional tight end. He is a willing in-line blocker and lined up all over the formation in the passing game, running routes not typically expected of a tight end. He possesses solid hands and a lot toughness and quickness, and tracks the ball well up the seam. Excellent prospect for a team that isn't tied to tradition.</div>
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<b><i>#87 - Denzel Mims, WR, 6' 3", 205 - Baylor</i></b> - One of the most versatile receivers in this draft, Mims did everything he was asked to do in college at a very high level. The issue with him coming into the NFL is that the routes he was asked to run in college represents only a small percentage of the route tree that professional receivers are tasked with. The upside is his deep speed, length and catch radius, which probably relegates him to a red zone target and occasional field-stretcher.</div>
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<b><i>#98 - Lucas Niang, RT, Texas Christian University</i></b> - Powerful hands and violent intent are the hallmarks of Niang, who comes from the same program that produced incumbent right tackle Marcus Cannon a decade ago. Like Cannon, his forte is run blocking, but he comes to the NFL with a more defined pass blocking package. His handwork is elite in both phases, but speed-to-power pass rushers will occasionally gain the edge of him in pass protection, as he relies more on strength and length to swallow up one-dimensional rushers. In the running game, he is a pancake maker with the ability to climb the ladder and erase linebackers. A tremendous value if he's still available in the third round, where the Patriots currently have three selections in their pocket.</div>
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<b><i>#100 - Anferneee Jennings, OLB, Alabama</i></b> - A true edge-setter with impressive upper body power to knock tight ends and tackles back and hold the edge, funneling the play inside where bigger bodies await to make the play. While instinctive and explosive off the snap, his closing speed chasing quarterbacks isn't as focused as a pass rusher, but college coaches used him as a disruptor who cuts off escape routes for mobile passers.</div>
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<b>Fourth Round:</b></div>
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<b>#125 - Davon Hamilton, NT, 6' 4", 327 - Ohio State</b> - A ture nose tackle in every sense of the word with tremendous lower body strength and quick, violent hands that routinely moved college centers off their mark, blowing up plays in the backfield, sometimes before they even got started. A gap eater who willingly takes on double teams to open up plays for his teammates.</div>
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<b><i>#139 Jordyn Brooks, ILB, Texas Tech</i></b> - (pick from trading Rob Gronkowski's rights to Tampa Bay) - A true four-down linebacker, the only knock on Brooks is that the defensive line has to keep him clean so that he doesn't get lost in traffic, so he would have to be mentored by experienced linebackers like Hightower in the nuances of playing inside - but once he cleans that up, he has the potential of being a violent interior linebacker who possesses coverage skills to handle backs and tight ends crossing the middle.</div>
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<b><i># Trevis Gipson, DE, 6' 4", 260 - Tulsa</i></b> (pick from trading down from the first round) - Possesses a unique skill set that fits perfectly with Belichick's 3-4 alignment. He loves mixing things up with tackles and tight ends and rarely yields ground to them in the running game, setting a mean edge. Not an edge-bender in the pass rush, but is sheer terror when shading tackles to the inside as a five-technique end.</div>
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<b>Fifth round: </b></div>
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<b><i># Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU</i></b> (pick from trading up from sixth and seventh rounds #195, #235) - Unlike his Hall-of-Fame father, Randy's kid is an elite run blocker who also has the requisite speed and hands to handle safety valve duties in the passing game. He's built like a linebacker and has "H-Back" written all over him.</div>
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<b>Sixth round:</b></div>
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<b><i><br />#212 - James Proche, WR, SMU</i></b> - Compared favorably to former-Patriots Danny Amendola, he excels from the slot and is twitchy off the line, with the ability to break in any direction and gain separation. Not big nor impressively fast, his hands and route running make him a perfect player to be mentored by Julian Edelman.</div>
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<b><i>#213 - Van Jefferson, WR, Florida </i></b>(pick from trading up from sixth and seventh rounds (#204, #241) - a precise route runner with excellent NFL blood lines who is possesses perhaps the most diverse skill set in the draft at the position. Gains separation from anywhere along the line. He's not a speedster like his father was, but his experience and excellence in route running is a young quarterback's best friend.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-40624917501468429172020-04-30T13:46:00.000-07:002020-04-30T13:46:00.877-07:002020 NFL Draft: Chances Are Patriots Take The First Night Off, Trade Down<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Previously published on our sister blog, Mainely Patriots</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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April 23, 2020</div>
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If the New England Patriots actually use their first round draft pick, it's not going to be to try and replace the greatest quarterback of all time - rather, it is going to be to mend a run defense that proved to be their downfall in 2019.</div>
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In games late in the season and in their one playoff game, the Patriots had a tough time against power running teams, who attacked right up the middle where Danny Shelton was hit or miss, and was routinely pushed off his spot and washed out of plays. When the Patriots compensated by stacking the box, teams attacked the edges with only one man to block as New England didn't possess anyone with the requisite lateral speed to close gaps.</div>
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The one man that teams concentrated on taking out of their equation was Kyle Van Noy, who was outstanding setting the edge, but had no one to back him up when tackles and tight ends washed him up and around the play. The lone bright spot in that scenario was three-tech tackle Lawrence Guy, who took to crashing down the line of scrimmage to try and blow up running plays behind the line of scrimmage.</div>
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On the weak side, Jamie Collins disappeared on the edge, leaving inside linebackers to flow to the gaps, often arriving too late to fill the gap as teams routinely muddied the second level to disrupt their movement.</div>
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Besides Shelton leaving, his defensive line returns intact with two quality defensive tackles in Guy and Adam Butler, and defensive ends Chase Winovich and Rob Ninkovich clone John Simon, while both of his starting outside linebackers have gone to other teams.</div>
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So Linebacker becomes a priority as well and I fully expect that Belichick will address the second level with players who can set the edge and rush the quarterback - but with an elite secondary to anchor on, edge-setting will take priority over pass rush ability in any linebacker that he selects...</div>
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...and while the secondary is one of the best in football, the back end is getting old, especially Chung, who is showing obvious fragility, so I expect Belichick to select a box safety and probably also a free safety for elder statesman Devin McCourty to mentor, one with the sideline-to-sideline ability to replace what they lost in trading away Duron Harmon and to keep the three-safety, Big Nickle alignment in play.</div>
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Below, please find my updated Mock draft for the New England Patriots, which projects that Belichick will trade down into the second round and pick up a fourth-rounder in the process, then trade up from the sixth and seventh rounds to acquire a fifth round pick:</div>
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<b><u>Projected Patriots Draft picks 2020</u></b>:</div>
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<b>First Round:</b> </div>
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Traded away #23;</div>
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<b>Second Round: </b></div>
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<b><i>#37 Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne</i></b> - (pick from trading down from the first round) </div>
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Patrick Chung is growing old and fragile. In fact, I can't recall a game last season when he didn't have the training staff run onto the field to escort him off in pain - so the time to find a replacement is upon Belichick, and the best box safety in the draft is Dugger. Bigger, faster and stronger than Chung, he fills well in the running game and arrives with dark intent, and has the length and bulk to match up well with tight ends in the pattern, along with the speed to deal with running backs curling into the flat.</div>
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<b>Third Round:</b></div>
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<b><i>#71 - Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton</i></b> - A tremendous value if he falls to the third round, as projected. Had he more experience at the position - he played quarterback and was a basketball star upon arrival at Dayton - he has all the tools to be a top-flight professional tight end. He is a willing in-line blocker and lined up all over the formation in the passing game, running routes not typically expected of a tight end. He possesses solid hands and a lot toughness and quickness, and tracks the ball well up the seam. Excellent prospect for a team that isn't tied to tradition.</div>
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<b><i>#87 - Denzel Mims, WR, 6' 3", 205 - Baylor</i></b> - One of the most versatile receivers in this draft, Mims did everything he was asked to do in college at a very high level. The issue with him coming into the NFL is that the routes he was asked to run in college represents only a small percentage of the route tree that professional receivers are tasked with. The upside is his deep speed, length and catch radius, which probably relegates him to a red zone target and occasional field-stretcher.</div>
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<b><i>#98 - Lucas Niang, RT, Texas Christian University</i></b> - Powerful hands and violent intent are the hallmarks of Niang, who comes from the same program that produced incumbent right tackle Marcus Cannon a decade ago. Like Cannon, his forte is run blocking, but he comes to the NFL with a more defined pass blocking package. His handwork is elite in both phases, but speed-to-power pass rushers will occasionally gain the edge of him in pass protection, as he relies more on strength and length to swallow up one-dimensional rushers. In the running game, he is a pancake maker with the ability to climb the ladder and erase linebackers. A tremendous value if he's still available in the third round, where the Patriots currently have three selections in their pocket.</div>
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<b><i>#100 - Anferneee Jennings, OLB, Alabama</i></b> - A true edge-setter with impressive upper body power to knock tight ends and tackles back and hold the edge, funneling the play inside where bigger bodies await to make the play. While instinctive and explosive off the snap, his closing speed chasing quarterbacks isn't as focused as a pass rusher, but college coaches used him as a disruptor who cuts off escape routes for mobile passers.</div>
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<b>Fourth Round:</b></div>
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<b><i>#125 - Davon Hamilton, NT, 6' 4", 327 - Ohio State</i></b> - A ture nose tackle in every sense of the word with tremendous lower body strength and quick, violent hands that routinely moved college centers off their mark, blowing up plays in the backfield, sometimes before they even got started. A gap eater who willingly takes on double teams to open up plays for his teammates.</div>
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<b><i>#139 Jordyn Brooks, ILB, Texas Tech</i></b> - (pick from trading Rob Gronkowski's rights to Tampa Bay) - A true four-down linebacker, the only knock on Brooks is that the defensive line has to keep him clean so that he doesn't get lost in traffic, so he would have to be mentored by experienced linebackers like Hightower in the nuances of playing inside - but once he cleans that up, he has the potential of being a violent interior linebacker who possesses coverage skills to handle backs and tight ends crossing the middle.</div>
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<b><i># Trevis Gipson, DE, 6' 4", 260 </i></b>- Tulsa (pick from trading down from the first round) - Possesses a unique skill set that fits perfectly with Belichick's 3-4 alignment. He loves mixing things up with tackles and tight ends and rarely yields ground to them in the running game, setting a mean edge. Not an edge-bender in the pass rush, but is sheer terror when shading tackles to the inside as a five-technique end.</div>
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<b>Fifth round: </b></div>
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<b><i># Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU</i></b> (pick from trading up from sixth and seventh rounds #195, #235) - Unlike his Hall-of-Fame father, Randy's kid is an elite run blocker who also has the requisite speed and hands to handle safety valve duties in the passing game. He's built like a linebacker and has "H-Back" written all over him.</div>
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Sixth round:</div>
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<b><i>#212 - James Proche, WR, SMU</i></b> - Compared favorably to former-Patriots Danny Amendola, he excels from the slot and is twitchy off the line, with the ability to break in any direction and gain separation. Not big nor impressively fast, his hands and route running make him a perfect player to be mentored by Julian Edelman</div>
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<b><i>#213 - Van Jefferson, WR, Florida</i></b> (pick from trading up from sixth and seventh rounds (#204, #241) - a precise route runner with excellent NFL blood lines who is possesses perhaps the most diverse skill set in the draft at the position. Gains separation from anywhere along the line. He's not a speedster like his father was, but his experience and excellence in route running is a young quarterback's best friend.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-32761585103866214492020-04-30T13:42:00.000-07:002020-04-30T13:44:46.996-07:00NFL Draft 2020: Drafting A Quarterback Could Shift Offensive Philosophy<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Previously published on our sister blog, Mainely Patriots</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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14 April, 2020</div>
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4:35pm, The Man Cave, Lewiston</div>
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Things have sunk pretty low when I find myself watching Judge Judy.</div>
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Day fifteen of the Maine lockdown is in reality Day twenty-seven of my coronavirus-based unemployment, and if it wasn't for writing in this blog and daily hikes at the bird sanctuary, I'd have been relegated to daytime television two weeks ago.</div>
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I've scrubbed every hard surface in my house, repeatedly, washed all the windows, cleaned out all cupboards and drawers, rearranged the Man Cave - twice - and cleaned the ceiling fans. And now, Judge Judy.</div>
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I feel copious amounts of IQ leaking out of my ears. It might sound naïve, but I'm genuinely shocked that people that ignorant actually exist. Judy rips into them, shuts them down hard, and then dismisses them with a condescending snarl that would make even Donald Trump shit his pants.</div>
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But not New England Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick, whose weekly press conferences absolutely drip with so much loathing towards the media that they are just as entertaining as anything Judge Judy offers, mostly because she has to follow legal procedure to keep things real, while Belichick is not constrained by anything but his mood.</div>
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And his mood these days have to better than the past couple of offseasons, simply because he doesn't have to appease Tom Brady any longer.</div>
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That's right. Belichick and Brady have had a contentious relationship ever since Belichick unceremoniously pulled sideline, locker room and team flight privileges from Brady's fitness guru and good friend Alex Guererro, then threw Brady under the proverbial bus in the wake of the so-called "DeflateGate" fiasco...</div>
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...causing an even larger chasm between the two by offering Brady's services to the San Francisco 49ers at the trade deadline in 2017. Of course, the 49ers weren't that interested in a fourty-year-old Brady and inquired as to the status of Brady's backup, Jimmy Garoppolo, whom Belichick grudgingly traded to them for a second-round draft pick.</div>
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Grudgingly because Garoppolo was the heir-apparent to Brady, offering the ease of a seamless transition between the two - seamless other than Garoppolo's skill set included an athleticism that Brady has never had, which meant that Belichick needed to tweak his offensive philosophy and start bringing in weapons that would meld well with Garoppolo.</div>
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Which, of course, meant that Belichick made some moves in free agency and the draft to accommodate his updated philosophy - and when all of that went to hell with the trade of Garoppolo, Belichick had to decide whether to bring in expensive and experienced weapons for the Greatest quarterback of all time to have at his disposal, or to continue on with his plan from an eventual future without Brady.</div>
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Was it purely spite that motivated Belichick to continue to plan for life without Brady, or was the lack of elite weaponry for Brady to work with last season simply Belichick staying the course for the future good of the franchise?</div>
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Probably, it was a combination of both, and it pissed Brady off something fierce. But all of that aside, Belichick now has a challenge ahead of him that most coaches would dread, but he is looking forward to, if not absolutely thrilled about - because now he gets to build a team from the ground up, with the job security that didn't have the last time he tried.</div>
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That was in Cleveland, where he took over a franchise that had a middling roster and built it into what would eventually go on to win a Super Bowl after he was let go rather than follow the team when they moved to Baltimore.</div>
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And he's really no stranger to the rude discontent that spews from the mouths of fans and the pens of journalists when it comes to replacing an elite, fan-favorite signal caller, as he unceremoniously benched and eventually released Bernie Kosar after arriving in Cleveland, replacing him with Vinny Testaverde.</div>
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That said, the gap present in replacing the greatest quarterback of all time with either an untested second-year player in Jarrett Stidham or a battle-hardened, lovable loser like Brian Hoyer is a hell of a lot wider than the disparity between Kosar and Testaverde, so no one would be surprised if Belichick decided to use premium draft capital on a pro-ready prospect in this year's draft.</div>
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The only real question to be answered is whether Belichick wants to keep his offensive philosophy intact with a strong-armed pocket passer, or if he wants to give it a total makeover with a mobile signal caller who has experience in the Run-Pass Option style of attack.</div>
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If he decides to stick with the status quo, Oregon's <b><i>Justin Herbert</i></b> is a ready-made signal caller, and at 6' 6" and 225 pounds, he has the requisite size to see over the scrum easily and has a ton of experience in play action - plus he is used to full-field reads, as he threw to receivers in college that struggled to separate.</div>
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His pre-snap reads are polished and he has the arm strength and accuracy to throw both into tight windows and make downfield bucket throws. A true pocket passer but with more athleticism than the departed Brady, he has a ways to go to become a statue in the pocket and deliver an accurate strike with pressure in his face. That said, Herbert is a talent that will sooner or later become the face of a franchise.</div>
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Herbert is mocked to the Patriots in the first round of several mock drafts, but his stock has also risen since the combine, so if New England wants him, they may have to trade up - which is a problem, since they don't possess the kind of draft capital that teams would typically expect or want as compensation.</div>
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That would leave two quarterbacks that will assuredly drop into the second round, both of whom offer some degree of talent to run the offense as it had been with Brady under center.</div>
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Georgia's <b><i>Jake Fromm</i></b> brings the mental aspect to the position, if not an overwhelming arm. Fromm comes from a program where he mastered the pro set offense, with excellent experience in pre-snap reads and audibles, seems to have a sixth sense and good slide in the pocket to avoid pressure, making quick reads and delivering an accurate ball.</div>
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The issue is the aforementioned arm strength and possessing zero athleticism to make something out of nothing if flushed out of the pocket. That said, the kid knows how to win, posting a 35-7 record in college despite his physical limitations, and the Patriots could do a lot worse than picking him up in the second round, but they should only do so if they acquire more confidence in their power running game, which will put the play action on the table for the highly intelligent Fromm.</div>
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The same holds true for Washington's <b><i>Jacob Eason</i></b>, who ran a pro-set offense for the past three college seasons, but unlike Fromm, he has perhaps the best arm in the draft, which would allow Belichick to utilize his entire playbook.</div>
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On arm talent alone, Eason compares favorably to every other quarterback in the draft class. He stands tall in the pocket and the ball absolutely explodes out of his hand, especially on perimeter throws, but he can also apply some touch for bucket throws up the seam.</div>
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The only negatives on Eason are that he doesn't make plays with his legs and can get a little panicked in a tight phone booth and will pull the ball down before going through his progressions. But that can be fixed, and with Eason running a pro-style offense for the past three seasons, he looks like a solid find.</div>
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Of course, the Patriots would have to either trade down from the first round or offer a package of second and third day selections to be in position to select him - but if they want him, they at least have the draft capital to go get him.</div>
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If Belichick decides that he isn't tied to the Brady-style of quarterback, there is really only one player in the draft class who incorporates a big arm with the athleticism to make plays outside of the pocket with both his arm and his feet.</div>
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6' 4", 225 pound Utah State product <b><i>Jordan Love</i></b>, who is a virtual skill set clone of former-heir-in-waiting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the most vital being the ball tied to his footwork, possessing a snap release and velocity on the ball to make all of the NFL throws.</div>
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Three years ago, the Patriots were ready to move on from Brady with Garoppolo, whose athleticism and quick release made him a threat to deliver accurate strikes from any platform on the field. Love is what they envisioned with Garoppolo, only far more aggressive and willing to pull the ball down and escape the pocket, always keeping the ball in position to release in a split-second.</div>
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Love is exactly what the modern NFL is turning to as a play-making quarterback, and may be a better fit than Oregon passer Herbert in that he would meld better with his runners.</div>
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Both Herbert and Love are mocked all over the first two rounds, so it's difficult to get a read on what the market bears. It could be that if either Herbert or Love do not fall to number twenty-three - and if the Patriots truly are seeking a quarterback - they will trade down into the second round, which brings Fromm and Eason into play.</div>
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Bottom line: I don't see the Patriots drafting a quarterback early, if at all. Right now the focus has to be on fixing a defense that got run over in the power running game last season, and to find a tight end or two that can help out in both the running game and the pattern.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-30212012691899961422020-04-30T13:40:00.001-07:002020-04-30T13:40:32.065-07:00NFL Draft 2020: Patriots Better Off Selecting Receivers In Later Rounds<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Previously published on our sister blog, Mainely Patriots</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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12 April, 2020</div>
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Many people are quick to throw blame around for the difficulties that the Patriots' passing game experienced last season - and most of the blame is leveled on the wide receivers.</div>
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Some look at head coach Bill Belichick's roster-building process in the 2019 offseason as the talisman of the issues in the passing game, while others focus their displeasure with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' sometimes nutty play calling, but most of the blame was leveled at the receiving corps itself.</div>
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In reality, however, there is no blame to be had. The fact of the matter is that the Patriots experienced a rebuilding year of sorts, which was compounded by injury and the incessant whining of quarterback Tom Brady - all of which contributed to a Patriots' passing attack that didn't scare anyone.</div>
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As mentioned in previous articles in this series, Belichick focused his attention on life after Brady and made his draft selections based on a shift in offensive philosophy to prepare for the transition from Brady to whomever is going to replace him at quarterback this season, which left Brady demoralized and showing up at post-game pressers looking like someone shit in his locker.</div>
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He obviously knew the score, which is why he signed that ridiculous contract that appeared to give him all the leverage going into this season, but in reality simply made him a very expensive placeholder for what Belichick had planned for life without him. He didn't like it, but his insistence on including a clause in the contract that prohibited the team from placing the franchise or transition tags on him this offseason left Belichick no choice but to think forward and just let the 2019 season play out.</div>
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Even so, the pass catching weapons that Brady had at his disposal would have been enough for the Patriots' offense to enjoy more success than it actually did, had injury wiped out so many intrigal pieces that McDaniels had to resort to trick plays to actually move the ball well enough to keep them in games.</div>
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After all, Belichick had drafted a big perimeter receiver in N'Keal Harry to go along with veteran garden gnomes Julian Edelman and Phillip Dorsett, then kept promising undrafted free agent Jakobi Meyers on the roster, along with Gunner Olsewski to return punts.</div>
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But Harry landed on the injured list, Edelman played through debilitating rib and shoulder injuries, leaving him a shell of his usual explosive self, while Olsewski turned out to be a wasted roster spot with only marginal success in the return game. To his credit, Belichick did try to upgrade his receiving corps by first bringing in Antonio Brown and, later, Mohamed Sanu.</div>
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But Brown turned out to be a perverted sociopath who lasted one game on the roster before his past caught up with him, and Sanu had such little impact on the group that he wasn't worth the 2020 second round pick that Belichick sent to Atlanta in trade for him.</div>
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Dorsett was woefully underused, as was Meyers, who lost Brady's trust by zigging when he should have been zagging in early games.</div>
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The result was the first time any of us had seen Brady so skittish that it affected his performance on the field, and it was powerful to witness. Many of his throws were off target as his trust in his receiving corps waned more and more with each contest and with each injury, and many times Brady ended up just heaving the ball out of bounds rather than risk trying to fit balls into a tight window.</div>
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Of course, the thin depth at the receiving positions - exacerbated by the retirement of tight end Rob Gronkowski and the loss of key blockers in the running game - meant that opposing defenses could focus on stopping the Patriots' excellent stable of running backs and took to blitzing Brady, daring him to beat them over the top which, of course, he wasn't willing to do.</div>
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Bottom line being, the Patriots' offense was a mess, and if it weren't for an insanely easy first-half schedule, they probably would not have made the playoffs.</div>
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But now, all of that is a distant nightmare. Brady is gone and took $13 million of the Patriots' salary cap with him in dead money. Dorsett left for Seattle in free agency, leaving only Harry, Sanu, Edelman and Meyers as the only pass catchers of note, and no clear direction in who will be throwing to them...</div>
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...buit whoever that ends up being, Belichick has tasked himself with the ominous task of building a receiving corps that lacks the speed to spread opposing defenses, which is key to opening up the short-to-intermediate routes which are a staple of any Belichickian philosophy.</div>
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The second rounder that Belichick gave up to bring in Sanu is just as hurtful to the team as the dead money that Brady's contract at up, as not having that second rounder to play with means that if the Patriots wanted to go after an elite receiver in the draft, they have very little draft capital to do so without putting themselves in an even worse position for the 2021 draft.</div>
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And Belichick needs that second round pick, as rounds two through four represent his wheelhouse for stocking his roster - so I'm assuming that he will trade out of the first round to get that second round pick back, and to add another selection in the third or fourth round.</div>
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Fortunately for him and the product on the field, the 2020 wide receiver class is incredibly deep with talented pass catchers, so he will be able to find excellent value on the second day of the draft, but don't expect him to spend anything higher than a third-round pick to stock his depth chart.</div>
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That leaves out names like Alabama's <b><i>Henry Ruggs</i></b> and Arizona State's <b><i>Brandon Aiyuk</i></b>, both of whom are projected first-rounders, and probably means that Penn State jitterbug <b><i>KJ Hamler</i></b> could be out of the picture as well...</div>
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...which is too bad, as Hamler is a pro-ready slot receiver that brings suddenness off the line, elite speed and excellent downfield vision - not to mention kick and punt return ability, which is something sorely lacking at press time.</div>
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What makes Hamler special is the suddenness off the line and his repertoire of moves to gain clean breaks into the pattern, with an innate ability to get into overdrive as quickly as any receiver coming out of college, which will make any opposing defensive coordinator think twice about pressing him at the line - and once the ball is in his hands, his vision and quick feet take over and, if he has a step on the defender, he's gone for a long-gainer.</div>
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At 5' 9" and only 175 pounds, Hamler's frame may take a year of working with professional strength and conditioning staff before he is anything more than a complimentary slot man, but the potential is certainly there in the long-range forecast.</div>
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So perhaps a better option would be Michigan's <b><i>Donovan Peoples-Jones</i></b>, who at 6' 1" and 210 pounds is a solid and legitimate threat from the slot, consistently proving that he can turn short throws into long gainers, either by slashing past or running through would-be tacklers. He's a little raw on perimeter routes, but professional coaching should bring his size and length into play. In the interim, he brings immediate help as one of the better downfield blockers in the draft class, and is also a seasoned punt returner.</div>
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Many mock drafts feature Baylor's 6' 3", 205 pound <b><i>Denzel Mims</i></b> to the Patriots, who has the deep speed, length and insane catch radius to be a legitimate field stretcher. The issue that Mims faces coming into the NFL is his limited experience in the route tree, as Baylor used him primarily as a deep decoy to pull safeties out play.</div>
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That's not a bad thing for New England, as they lost the only speed merchant on the team when Dorsett defected to Seattle - but his inexperience in the full route tree probably relegates him initially to the same decoy duties and an athletic red zone target, but his ceiling is very high.</div>
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Those two may be too much a project for Belichick to deal with, as he needs playmakers who already have experience with the full route combination - and if's he patient, there are two pass catchers that should be available on the third day of the draft that would fit right in with the tweaked offensive philosophy.</div>
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One is the son of former NFL Pro Bowl talent Shawn Jefferson. Florida's <b><i>Van Jefferson</i></b></div>
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is one of two late round receivers that could make immediate contributions.</div>
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A precise and talented route runner, Jefferson was the quick-twitch to consistently gain separation off the line of scrimmage and has the wing span to haul in balls away from his body. So, why is he a late round projection? His deep speed is merely average and he possesses a wiry frame that could leave him broken against professional defenders.</div>
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Be that as it may, Jakobi Meyers and former-Patriots wideout Malcolm Mitchell both came out of college with almost exactly the same profile, and flourished when given a chance in the rookie seasons.</div>
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With Julian Edelman reaching middle-age as an NFL receiver and no potential backup to his unique skill set, SMU's 5' 11", 185 pound <b><i>James Proche</i></b>, who actually compares more favorably to former Patriot Danny Amendola but would have a perfect mentor in Edelman and could contribute right away.</div>
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Not fast but possessing quick feet, a full knowledge of the route tree and competitiveness to burn, Proche is tough out of the slot, with twitchy moves off the line and the ability to break in any direction of the compass with equal success.</div>
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It is fully possible that, like it is with the tight end position, the Patriots could spend multiple draft picks on wide receivers, or none at all - and while Belichick would have to be patient enough to bypass higher-projected athletes, the players who fit in as immediate contributors to the passing game are third day selections.</div>
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Some may argue that Belichick should use more valuable draft capital to upgrade his pass-catching corps, but when one considers that the Patriots have so many holes to fill elsewhere and already have a decent stable of receivers (when healthy), the smart move would be to go after precise route runners to man the slot and intermediate routes.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-84093791268065117262020-04-30T13:38:00.000-07:002020-04-30T13:38:49.496-07:002020 NFL Draft: Deep Tight End Class Could Produce Multiple Selections For Patriots<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Previously published on our sister blog, Mainely Patriots</span><br />
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11 April, 2020</div>
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Fairly or unfairly, New England Patriots' fans have certain expectations when it comes to the tight end position, and, sadly, there is very little chance that any tight end brought on to the roster would meet those expectations.</div>
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That's important to keep in mind as Patriots' head coach and defacto general manager Bill Belichick navigates both the free agent market and his draft board - because no one he ends up bringing in is going to satiate the void left when sure-fire Hall-of-Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski retired before the start of last season.</div>
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Certainly, the duo of Matt LaCosse and now-retired Ben Watson did little to make fans forget about Gronkowski, as LaCosse and Watson were mainly a pass catching tight ends, lending only token production in the pattern and almost nothing as inline blockers.</div>
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Both were productive in other places and Watson was a serviceable tight end for the Patriots before Gronkowski arrived, returning on a one-year deal from New Orleans as a little more than a placeholder until Belichick dealt for a younger version. Belichick even passed on a couple of young players coming out of college...</div>
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...settling instead to appease quarterback Tom Brady with a big wide receiver with the last pick in the first round when there were still some decent tight ends left on the board.</div>
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Would Brady have preferred a safety-valve type tight end instead of Arizona State's N'Keal Harry, who spent half of the season on the injured list? Certainly, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels would have preferred a combination tight end who was at least a red zone target and could double as an inline blocker for the running game.</div>
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But he also thought that he had the run blocking covered with fullbacks James Develin and rookie load Jakob Johnson, but he lost both very early in the season and, combined with no inline blocking tight ends on the roster, the running game took a nosedive.</div>
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So if last season did anything for Patriots' fans, it made them appreciative of the tight end position and how important it really is to the product on the field, and how badly their team is in need of a quality combination tight end.</div>
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That will have to come in the draft, as the Patriots' lack of cap space prohibited them from bidding on veteran tight ends in free agency - and fortunately for Belichick and Patriots' fans, the draft features a couple of college players that fit their needs.</div>
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Purdue's 6' 5", 240 pound <b><i>Brycen Hopkins</i></b> is a combination of a plus-sized receiver and a serviceable inline blocker, though his skill set speaks more to a "Move" style of tight end, with speed and strength to separate, battle and fight for yardage after the catch, and can do so on routes on all three levels.</div>
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Unlike traditional "move" tight ends, Hopkins' length and speed make him a vertical threat, with seam routes being where he earned his bones in college, breaking into his routes from the slot, primarily.</div>
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Hopkins is a projected late-first, early-second round prospect and while he probably will not last until the Patriots select in the second round, he would be a reach at number twenty-three overall in the first round, with New England needing to fill several holes on both sides of the ball, better prospects and athletes in other areas of need would become better value in that spot...</div>
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...and since I'm projecting that Belichick will trade out of the first round to acquire picks in the second and fourth rounds anyway, Hopkins gets lost in the numbers game - But this draft is deep in tight ends with the skill set that Belichick is seeking - and as they all project as second and third day selections, there are three others that fall right into Belichick's wheelhouse.</div>
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Vanderbilt's 6' 4", 250 pound <b><i>Jared Pinkney</i></b> may not last to the third round, but would be an exceptional value if he did. While he doesn't possess a ton of speed, he is a fluid and graceful runner who can gain separation down the seam, and he catches everything thrown his way - but his best attribute is the physicality he brings to the position.</div>
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Pinkney won't run past or away from many defenders after the catch, but he will finish plays by punishing would-be tacklers, running through them rather than trying to dodge them. He's built like a bulldozer and is a willing inline blocker, using his size and strength to move defensive ends off their spot in the running game.</div>
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If Pinkney isn't still on the board early in the third round, Dayton's <b><i>Adam Trautman</i></b> should be.</div>
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At 6' 5" and 250 pounds, he has the tools to be a top-flight tight end, though he's a little raw, having arrived at Dayton as a quarterback and as a forward on their basketball team. He is a willing inline blocker, but his value is in his versatility, able to line up all over the offensive formation and running routes not typically traditional tight end routes.</div>
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He possesses solid hands and a lot of quickness and toughness and tracks the ball very well up the seam. Once he receives some professional coaching to refine his blocking skills, Trautman could be a solid addition and long-time starter for the Patriots.</div>
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While Trautman at the top of the third round is my overwhelming favorite for the combination tight end, one name that cannot be ignored in the later rounds is 22-year-old <b><i>Thaddeus Moss</i></b>.</div>
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Built like a linebacker at 6' 3" and 250 pounds, Moss's forte is run blocking, but was also a reliable short-to-intermediate safety valve in the passing game, his versatility translating to the H-back position as a lead blocker, much like a fullback would function in the Patriots' offense.</div>
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He's not a gazelle like his father, Randy, but does have the requisite speed, hands and tracking ability to handle seam routes. Namesake aside, Moss is an emerging talent with classic H-back skills, powerful blocking and with the ability to run the underneath and screen patterns as a safety valve. He needs some professional coaching, but his versatility, blood lines and commitment to the game means that he's the kind of athlete that Belichick loves to mentor.</div>
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The Patriots are in need of both an inline and a move tight end, so don't be surprised if Belichick spends two of his twelve overall picks on the tight end position.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-15268476798177697382020-04-30T13:36:00.000-07:002020-04-30T13:36:52.171-07:002020 NFL Draft: With Brady Gone, Belichick Looks Toward Building Power-Based Offense<i>Previously published on our sister blog, Mainely Patriots</i><br />
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April 10, 2020</div>
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4:20am, Lewiston, Maine</div>
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The departure of Tom Brady means the end of an era for the New England Patriots - or does it?</div>
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Of course, it means the end of the Brady sub-era, but with head coach Bill Belichick still in control of the team, the Belichickian Era is still in play, and it is promising the most interesting offseason for the Patriots in the past two decades.</div>
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Interesting for no other reason than now with Brady out of the way, Belichick can finally build his team from the ground up, surrounding the bare-bones roster with meat of his choosing, with a chance to put to rest, once and for all, the argument of whether Belichick made Brady or if Brady made Belichick and, at the same time, run his offense according to how he's built it over the past three years.</div>
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With Brady under center, the Patriots' offense was at his whim. Sure, Belichick was in charge and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels called the plays, but the concept-based system in place that Brady was the master of, McDaniels may have had the control of the personnel groupings and the requisite corner of the playbook at his disposal, but each concept sent in had half-a-dozen route combinations and twice as many audibles available that only Brady had control of.</div>
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And those numbers are probably conservative, but it still illustrates that when Belichick's product was on the field, it was Brady and not him who controlled what resource Brady used - and for the aforementioned past three seasons, the resources were became increasingly incompatible to the offense that he had run for the previous decade-and-a-half.</div>
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It was purposeful on Belichick's part. He had to prepare the franchise for life after Brady, and he thought that was going to be three years ago, when the situation dictated that he trade the heir-in-waiting in Jimmy Garoppolo to San Francisco - for what amounted to a substantial loss in his investment...</div>
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...all because team owner Bob Kraft and his meddling ways stepped in and forbade Belichick to deal away the quarterback whom Kraft considered one of his kids. To further exacerbate the situation, the San Francisco 49ers had already rejected Belichick's offer to deal Brady, but expressed a tremendous amount of interest in Garoppolo.</div>
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But no matter what actually occurred, Belichick stayed his course and started building his roster to make as seamless as possible the transition from Brady to whomever would eventually take over at quarterback - and since he knew that it would be close to impossible to find another pro-ready replacement with a similar skill set, his focus was on building a power-based scheme that would mitigate so much responsibility on said replacement.</div>
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So when Brady bitched and bristled last season about his supporting cast, he had reached his last straw with Belichick. Brady wanted weapons to win another title with before he inevitably left, while Belichick was sticking to his plan.</div>
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And now that Brady is officially gone, what Belichick now has control over is an offensive depth chart built for power football - which, if he goes forward under the same philosophy, his roster will be much bigger or offense, and that will obviously translate to the product on the field.</div>
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Not that he - not I, for that matter - isn't appreciative of all the Brady has helped this franchise accomplish. For example, ever since Garoppolo was traded, my wife has been bitching at me to take down the Brady Fathead that I have on the wall of our living room - but it is still there, along with all of the other Patriots and Bruins memorabilia.</div>
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Brady will be remembered fondly, and will always wear the moniker of the Greatest of all Time in my heart - but he will not be missed. The time is now for Belichick to pick up the pieces of the roster and truly build the franchise in his own image - and since football teams are built from the inside out, that begins with the offensive line.</div>
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Since selecting right guard Shaq Mason five years ago, Belichick has been stocking his offensive line with powerful run blocking specialists, and now that he doesn't have to appease Brady, he can finally use them for what he intended the entire time.</div>
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In this scenario, the line is set in every position except for right tackle, where incumbent Marcus Cannon is on his last legs and ripe for demotion to swing tackle duties. The depth behind him is ill-equipped to step in and wrestle the starting job away - and with salary cap space eaten up by dead money from Brady's last contract, bringing in a replacement via free agency is a dead dream, so Belichick will have to focus on the upcoming draft to upgrade and solidify the position.</div>
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So important is the right tackle position in the power blocking scheme that it wouldn't be surprising to see Belichick use his lone first-day selection to draft an upgrade, though he would probably have to trade up to the top-15 in the first round to snag the best right tackle in the draft.</div>
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The problem is that with no second-round pick to offer as incentive to other teams that select ahead of him, Belichick would be hard-pressed to find enough ammo to exchange with them to secure Louisville's 6' 7", 360 pound <b><i>Mekhi Becton</i></b> without mortgaging their future.</div>
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Becton would be worth the price to be paid, as despite being so large, he is still as nimble in pass protection as he is powerful in the running game. In pass protection, his wingspan makes it difficult for edge rushers to get around and bull rushers will find it nearly impossible to move him off his base - But his forte is run blocking, where he simply wipes out defenders and plows the row for runners.</div>
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He does need some instruction in regard to working in space on the second level, but the man is a difference-maker as a right tackle and could very well change the entire culture of the offensive line.</div>
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As good as Becton projects to be, Belichick just doesn't have the draft capital to make a trade-up without dealing away future draft picks, so he would be wise to trade his own first-round draft pick to move down into the second round, then use one of his three third-round selections to go after TCU's 6' 6", 330 pound <b><i>Lucas Niang</i></b>.</div>
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Powerful hands and violent intent are the hallmarks of Niang, who comes from the same program that produced Cannon a decade ago. Like Cannon, his specialty is run blocking, but he comes to the NFL with a more defined pass blocking package than Cannon possesses. His handwork is elite in both phases, but speed-to-power pass rushers will occasionally gain the edge of him in pass protection, as he relies more on strength and length to swallow up one-dimensional rushers.</div>
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That would have been an occasional problem with the stationary target Brady still under center, but becomes less so with a more mobile quarterback, second-year signal caller Jarrett Stidham being the odds-on starter at press time - though that could change drastically, especially if Belichick did indeed trade down and use his second rounder on one of the many quality quarterbacks coming out of college.</div>
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Either way, a mobile quarterback would precipitate the selection of Niang. In the running game, he is a pancake maker with the ability to climb the ladder and erase linebackers - A tremendous value if he's still available in the third round, as predicted.</div>
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Whichever route Belichick takes to select a right tackle, upgrading the position is a priority, and either Becton or Niang would join left tackle Isaiah Wynn, left guard Dan Thuney, center David Andrews and the aforementioned Mason to form a powerful run-blocking line that is also capable of protecting a more mobile quarterback.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-43620788538863309952020-04-30T13:34:00.000-07:002020-04-30T13:34:16.447-07:00Patriots Enter New League Year Crippled By Cap-Stressed Exodus<i>Previously published on out sister blog, Mainely Patriots</i><br />
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23 March 2020</div>
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2:47am, Lewiston Maine</div>
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A heavy drizzle and sporadic fog blankets the ghost town tonight, gloom on top of gloom as the world deals with a naturally-occurring biological attack and the residents have all but hunkered down for what might be a lot longer than the two weeks that the talking heads initially preached.</div>
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I just got back from a drive in the weather, a brief but needed respite in the middle of bad craziness. Other than a small crowd gathered in a vacant lot on the corner of Bartlett and Walnut, who appeared to be drinking heavily and doing that vampire dance from The Lost Boys, the streets were bare...</div>
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...except for a few persistent, desperate-looking hookers who are discovering the hard way that there's not much job security in times like these when people know that sex could lead to death.</div>
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It's a life-altering event for every soul on the planet, and everything has changed. Everything, that is, except the well-meaning loons that run the National Football League, whose decision to open their free agency period as scheduled has proven to be a powerful respite from the nasty little bugs floating around right outside my window. Business as usual, says the league, and all while observing the social distancing mandate from the CDC.</div>
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Of course, the fact that New England's favorite son has defected for the warm climes of Florida has many football fans in the region feeling like they've been kicked in the gut while they were already down - but Tom Brady's departure and the media attention it's getting is masking the real story, that being their defense is being stripped down to bare bones, with only the essential core players remaining.</div>
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NFL Network rubs it in by showing every single Super Bowl appearance by Brady in their entirety, all while scrolling his name constantly across the bottom of the screen. It's nothing personal. Just the biggest news story during a period when it is needed most, even if the distraction is for a few seconds of anger, it's worth it. It was inevitable, Brady leaving. In fact, in my estimation, it came three years too late.</div>
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But that is for another time, very soon, but not now because it doesn't matter anymore. With Brady hogging the headlines, the story of how head coach Bill Belichick is going to have to build his 2020 incarnation of the Patriots has been overlooked. The roster has been stripped of so many core players that the offseason philosophy has been reduced to that of what almost all other teams have endured during the past two decades.</div>
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Because during that span, the Patriots haven't had to make wholesale personnel moves in so many different positions as they are faced with this season, what with both of their Pro Bowl quality outside linebackers and their Big Nickel safety gone to other teams.</div>
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In fact, the Patriots have lost so many impact players in the initial phases of free agency that it reminds me of a quote by the late, great Hunter S. Thompson, who once documented a trip to a doctor years back about excessive sweating, but when he told the doctor about his normal intake of illicit drugs and alcohol, the doctor responded by telling Thompson that they would wait for him to break down, then work with what was left.</div>
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That's what Belichick is faced with: Working with what's left and trying to add some pieces to at least be competitive - and maybe that's what Belichick really wanted to do in the first place. Maybe he wants to get away from the eternal chatter about how his success was not only tied to the head start he inherited from previous Patriots' coaches, but also the questions surrounding whether that success was tied in large part to Brady.</div>
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But it's not good enough to just go forward with a new quarterback surrounded by the same supporting cast, Belichick wants to build his team from the ground up. If he is successful and the Patriots somehow make the playoffs, maybe that would add to his already cemented in stone legacy.</div>
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Is that important? You bet, considering that, with six Super Bowl titles under their belts making him them winningest head coach and quarterback combination in football history, each has an opportunity to break away from the generation-old question as to whether the Patriots' dynasty was the result of Belichick's coaching or Brady's play. Really, it's a combination of both, but now that Brady is with another team with a chance to make that argument go in his favor.</div>
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It's a dumb argument, but when gearing down to the end of two certain Hall-of-Fame careers, neither man want's the question to go unanswered.</div>
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Brady will have the easier route to success, going to a Tampa Bay team that is loaded on offense and with an improving defense, while Belichick has to build off a core roster that is the most aged in the league and has lost several key players.</div>
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That is not a recipe for success, at least not short-term, but defying the odds with innovative game plans is exactly what Belichick does, and exactly the challenge he wants. Brady wanted elite weapons to throw to, and that's exactly what Tampa provides him.</div>
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There are some that felt like Belichick was limiting Brady last season by surrounding him with rookies and cast-offs, and maybe he was. He certainly did very little to replace retired tight end Rob Gronkowski, while letting proven talent at receiver leave in free agency. He did bring in Antonio Brown to catch passes from Brady, but the troubled Brown lasted only two weeks in Foxborough before being released.</div>
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Still, Brady was certainly good enough to win with the cast that he had, but injuries along the offensive line doomed the offense. That wasn't Belichick's doing, but it made Brady look ordinary and even below par - and it didn't help that Brady bitched and bristled about the anemic offense and essentially shut down the passing game by hesitating to throw to the aforementioned rookies and cast-offs.</div>
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So Brady whined and Belichick became even more tight-lipped than ever, and all the while team owner Bob Kraft, already hiding from the media due to being implicated in a massage parlor sting, said nothing. Certainly there were private conversations between all parties and all had plenty to say - but we'll never know the level of animosity.</div>
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In the interim, fans and media around the country are looking for someone to blame for Brady packing up and leaving Foxborough.</div>
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Some blame Belichick for not appeasing Brady with weapons. Some blame Brady for his publicly negative attitude and dour expressions. But the real culprit is Kraft, who considers Brady as one of his kids, and refused to allow Belichick to trade Brady three years ago and keep the one-time heir apparent, Jimmy Garoppolo.</div>
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Had Belichick been allowed to deal Brady to San Francisco instead of Garoppolo, it goes to figure that Brady would have garnered at least a first round draft pick, and the Patriots would be rolling forward with no questions about the quarterback position and with a roster that played to his strengths.</div>
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Some would argue that the Patriots wouldn't have their sixth Super Bowl title in that scenario - which is the goal, after all - but who's to say that Garoppolo wouldn't have been able to pull that off?</div>
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We'll never know, but what we know now is that the Patriots have to move forward without either, leaving second-year, seldom-played Jarrett Stidham as the quarterback and, due to Belichick's desperate wheeling and dealing last season to provide Brady with targets he would actually throw to, a significantly reduced stock of draft picks...</div>
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...not to mention (though I will), that Brady's defection carries a $13.5 million dead money hit on the Patriots' salary cap - not crippling, but almost. The result has been a mass exodus of core players in free agency, as the Patriots just cannot afford to offer them the contracts that other teams can, and have.</div>
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The only way that Belichick could respond to this significant handicap was to start dealing players to other teams, sending Big Nickel safety Duron Harmon to Detroit for a mid-round draft pick, and there is probably more players on the way out in the same manner.</div>
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That process is still in it's infancy, and it will interesting to see how it turns out. But one thing is for sure: The Patriots will look much different this season.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-33439012471187185502019-11-19T07:08:00.000-08:002019-11-19T07:08:14.220-08:00Brady Frustrated Over Lack Of Offensive Production; Calls Out McDaniels?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">18 November, 2019</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Tom Brady is less than
enthused about the New England Patriots' win over the Philadelphia Eagles on
Sunday evening. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Bill Belichick was
thrilled - as are all of the Brady detractors in the Boston-area media, but for
very different reasons. Many are trashing the certain Hall of Fame quarterback
for not only his performance against the Eagles, but for his dour attitude in both
his post-game presser and on his weekly radio show appearance on Monday
morning.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Belichick, the eternal
grouch, positively beamed as he stood on the podium following the game, joking
around about Julian Edelman's passer rating and discussing the merits of ice
cubes on sore shoulders after the receiver's scoring pass for the Patriots'
lone touchdown.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">But Brady, the
glass-half-full, politically-correct optimist, slouched in his stylish parka at
the lectern, his beard bordering on standard depression trim and with
rummy-looking red eyes that translated his emotions without him having to utter
a word - which is what nearly happened anyway, as Brady uttered one sentence
replies to media questions.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The student, it appears,
has become the master.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">At issue, is his apparent
displeasure with both the ultra-conservative play calling from offensive
coordinator Josh McDaniels and the pass catching weapons that he's been given
to mete out the aforementioned play calling. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Who really knows? Not me,
but I know that I was frustrated with the play calling on Sunday. I mean, how
many times can you call a screen play that the other team has sniffed out every
time before you realize that another plan of attack is needed? How many times
will you lose yardage on toss sweeps before you realize that the bad guys are
defending the edges like a pack of rabid badgers?</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Those two things are
related, don't you know. The Eagles' defensive game plan was apparently to
ground New England's screen game, which meant dedicating resources to the edge,
which is why when the Patriots ran that toss sweep, there were plenty of green
shirts waiting for the runner.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The majority of Brady's
passes were sent outside of the hashes - again, where the Eagles were
concentrating. So it's no wonder that when Brady went over the middle, he found
guys open and hit on a decent play or two. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In the red zone offense,
the Patriots threw the ball on three consecutive plays when presented with a
goal line situation instead of trying to mix it up with a power run or two, and
ended up with a field goal. This also speaks to an apparent lack of trust in
the running game, when the only way to build that trust is by practical
application.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The thing that is really
baffling is why Brady was sent on bootleg rollouts to the right. Talk about
telegraphing. Brady has all the athleticism of a sloth, so putting him on the
run to the flat puts him and the entire offense at a distinct disadvantage, and
the Eagles know that. They know he isn't going to tuck the ball and run with
it. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">They know that running to
the right hash reduces the space that his receivers have to operate in, and it
limits Brady's options. So the Eagles stuck with their assignments and covered
everything, knowing that there was only one thing that is going to happen once
Brady is out in space in the flat.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Sure, I get that they were
probably doing that to protect Brady against left tackle Marshall Newhouse's
turnstile act, but that's what's called <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">being dictated to</i></b> by the opposing
defense. And when that happens, seventeen points (or fewer) is what you get.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">On the bright side and
illuminated by the rays of sunshine emanating from Belichick, the Patriots'
defense recovered nicely from a slow start, made their adjustments on the fly,
and shut down the Eagles' offense for three full quarters.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">And Belichick <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should</i></b>
be happy about that. And so should Brady.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">But here's the thing: I
know from being a chef for more than three decades that there are times that
even when you create a successful dish, you can still be upset with the manner
in which it was produced, and want to make changes in the process. The result
will still be a phenomenal product, but you feel better about how efficiently
it was created.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Maybe that's what's going
on here. I don't know, but listening to Brady talk Sunday night and Monday
morning, that's the feeling I get when invariably reading between the lines. Of
course he likes the win, but he didn't care for the way they got it. Brady made
this very clear on his radio show appearance, saying that they need to figure
out how to generate more offense.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This is a departure for
Brady, as he rarely if ever calls out anyone in the organization, and is
usually upbeat and can find a silver lining in just about anything. His silver
lining in this scenario is also an indictment on the performance of the
offense, that is, his offense is now forced to ride the coattails of the
Patriots' excellent defense.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">That's hard cheese for
Brady to swallow, as for most of his stellar career he and his offense has had
at least an equal stake in the team's overall success. But now he feels that
his offense is simply taking what the opposing defenses are giving them instead
of pressing the issue and forcing the defense to actually defend.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Being dictated to is the
exact opposite of being aggressive, and Brady has the offensive structure to be
aggressive, but the play calling is not allowing for that. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">For years, McDaniels has
been built up as an offensive genius, solid play caller and is viewed around
the league as an attractive head coaching candidate with gonads the size of
coconuts </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">–</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> but something happened to him along the way, and Brady doesn't like it.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Those who have followed
this blog over the years know that I am hardly a fan of Josh McDaniels, and may
feel that my interpretation of Brady's disgust is influenced by it </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">–</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> and perhaps that
is true in small measure, but now it seems that when faced with problems,
McDaniels is folding like a cheap tent and allowing defensive coordinators to
dictate to him how his offense performs...</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">...and reducing Brady to
no more than a game manager, which is a level far below his pay grade and a
waste of such rich talent.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Get used to Brady being
demure and grouchy, because his countenance is not going to change until he is
allowed to be aggressive and take the game to the opposition. It may be that
Sunday's win over Philadelphia is just one of those anomalous instances where
McDaniels comes up with a stinker of a game plan. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It has happened before,
and the team usually rebounds the next game and McDaniels is back to being Boy
Wonder </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">–</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> but Brady's reaction to this particular game plan indicates that he feels
that it may not be one of those rarities, rather, that he sees no easy solution
or that his hands have been tied.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The Patriots have won
titles with less talent than they have now. They are getting as healthy as they
can be and are primed to run the table as far as Brady can take them </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">–</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> he just needs to
be turned loose and not tied down by conservative game planning and taking what
he wants and needs by force.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">That is the Patriot Way,
after all.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-32990718829601985512019-11-19T07:05:00.001-08:002019-11-19T07:05:06.349-08:00Patriots Top Eagles In Punt-Fest; Brady, Offense Seeking Answers<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">18 November, 2019</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The typical method of operation for the New
England Patriots this season is to survive their opponent's best shot early,
make the necessary in-game adjustments on the fly, then simply outclass them at
winning time.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Never has this m.o. been more stark and obvious as
it was against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday evening.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Patriots spotted the Eagles a ten point lead
in the first quarter, then the New England defense made their in-game
adjustments and shut down Philadelphia's offense the rest of the game. The only
thing missing from the equation is the part where the Patriots' offense was
supposed to outclass their opponent...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">...relying on three Nick Folk field goals and a
trick play for a touchdown to take an early third-quarter lead over the Eagles,
the Patriots' defense and special teams making that lead hold up to take home a
17-10 victory in a brutal slugfest at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Perhaps "slugfest" isn't the proper term
for what occurred between the Patriots and Eagles. Instead, given the number of
punts between the two, perhaps "snoozefest" would actually be a more appropriate
moniker to lay on the CBS Game of the Week, a three-hour sleeping pill
prescribed for the national television audience.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">It was like watching a bad prizefight, featuring a
series of horrible beatings to start the matchup, followed by a few jabs and a
lot of clinching in the corners in the late rounds with the good guys hanging
on to win on points.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The jabs came courtesy of the Patriots' defense,
which sacked Eagles' quarterback Carson Wentz five times and forced two
turnovers; The clinching on the ropes courtesy of punters Jake Bailey for New
England and Cameron Johnston for Philadelphia, pinning down their opponents in
their own territory in a field position battle.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Neither offense came close to even sniffing the
end zone after Julian Edelman connected with Phillip Dorsett early in the third
quarter on a double pass play for a touchdown - in fact, crossing midfield
after that point became cause for celebration before Wentz nearly connected
with Nelson Agholor in the back of the end zone on a final-play desperation
throw from the New England 35-yard line that would have potentially sent the
game into overtime...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">...which likely would have been more of the same
three-and-out. flipping of field position struggle that plagued both offenses
almost the entire second half – so, perhaps mercifully for the bleary-eyed
television audience, the desperation heave went incomplete.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">How bad was it? Bad enough to make Patriots'
quarterback Tom Brady look and sound like someone had just killed his dog
before the post-game press conference, his countenance clearly despondent after
completing just fifty-five percent of his passes, the longest pass play of the
night a dump-off to running back Rex Burkhead that went for 30 yards – not to
mention that the lone touchdown pass of the evening came off of the arm of
Edelman.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Brady had plenty to be dissatisfied with, from the
play calling to the execution – but the player he should be most disappointed
in is himself.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">While it is true that Brady took more hits than
Rocky Balboa while running for his life against the Eagles' monstrous pass
rush, it is also true that his game regressed as the contest wore on, choosing
to try and fit fastballs into tight windows, including a couple that should
have been picked off as he ignored open receivers on intermediate routes and
continually dumped off throws to his backs...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">...which netted him close to nothing as the
Eagles' defensive game plan obviously was to take away the screen game that is
a staple of the Patriots' offense and forcing Brady to target receivers that he
wasn't fully comfortable with.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">He again saw little help from his running game as
Sony Michel averaged a dismal 2.3 yards per carry and dropped two passes in the
flat. James White had the hot feet for the runners, averaging four yards a pop
and also converting a two-point conversion on the ground, yet White only saw
five carries for the entire game.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Burkhead didn't fare any better on the ground than
Michel did, but also fell victim to the play calling, as McDaniels called
numerous pitch plays to the left corner, which fell right into the laps of the
Eagles' game planners and gained no yards at all.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Yet the Patriots still found a way to win the game
and improve their league-best record to 9-1, good for a one-game lead over the
surging Baltimore Ravens for the top seed in the AFC, who hold the tie-breaker
over New England in light of their win over the Patriots two weeks ago.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The win over the Eagles followed a similar pattern
to their loss against the Ravens in that they spotted each team double-digit
early leads, then fought back to gain all of the momentum – the difference
being that New England didn't give up the ball on turnovers against the Eagles,
nor did they make the mental errors that crushed them in Baltimore.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The bottom line is that with a date against the
Dallas Cowboys looming next Sunday night that opens a three-game stretch
against some of the best the rest of the NFL has to offer, Brady needs to find
a comfort zone with his entire pass catching corps or they could lose their top
spot in the conference to the Ravens, who look unbeatable in Baltimore.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The good news is that neither the Cowboys, the
Houston Texans nor the Kansas City Chiefs have defenses good enough to cause
the amount of uncertainty that caused Brady to become skittish in the pocket
against Philadelphia – not to mention that on the other side of the ball, New
England sports the best defense in the league. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Can the Patriots ride that defense to another
title? Probably so, but the offense needs to contribute as well, and with the
offensive line being close to being incrementally better with left tackle
Isaiah Wynn set to return against the Cowboys, perhaps Brady will find time in
the pocket and the runner will find creases to run through.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Perhaps. But with head coach Bill Belichick living
by the axiom that his teams build up across the first few months of the season
to become what they are around Thanksgiving, the Patriots are a spooky good
defense protecting an offense that is still trying to find an identity – and if
they can't find that continuity and chemistry on offense, one can only expect
more ugly games like the last two...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">...and that probably won't make the nut.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Good Stuff:</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jake Bailey's right foot:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Bailey punted eight times for an average of 47.6
yards on each – not bad, but what that average doesn't tell you is that he
pinned the Eagles inside their 20-yard line six times, once just outside the
twenty and once more inside the twenty after a personal foul penalty on the
Eagles that took the ball half the distance to the goal line. If there is a
game ball to be had, Bailey was clearly the best weapon on the field for New
England.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Boogeyman Defense:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> After giving up 103 yards and ten points on the
first three series of the game, the New England defense yielded only 148 total
yards the rest of the way, forcing eight punts – including 4 three-and-outs
-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>forced a fumble and held Wentz to an
abysmal 11 of 28 for 149 yards, all but 40 yards of that coming on the final
two drives against the Patriots' two-deep zone designed to prevent any big
plays. Take away sack yardage, and Wentz threw for only 174 net passing yards
for the game.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Danny Shelton goes beast mode:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> The big boy is quietly having the best
season of his career, and against the Eagles, he had his finest game as a
professional, and did so loudly. Shelton had seven tackles, one sack, a
quarterback hit and a forced fumble. He was instrumental in the Patriots' performance
against the run, limiting the normally potent Philadelphia running game to 3.8
yards per carry.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Curious:</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">What was up
with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels rolling Brady out into the right flat
multiple times during the game? Brady is never better on the rollout than he is
standing tall in the pocket, as rolling out into the flat eliminates half of
the field and causes his receivers to try and gain separation in a phone booth.
To be fair to McDaniels, he most likely had that in his game plan to keep the
Eagles' blind-side edge rushers from getting to Brady before he had time to set
in the pocket, as left tackle Marshall Newhouse played as a matador for most of
the night. That said, there is hope on the horizon as starting tackle Isaiah
Wynn is eligible for return off the IR against Dallas.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bad Juju:</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Brady's trust issue with his receivers:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Brady has always been distrustful with
pass catchers that are new to him, particularly rookies, so it's not an anomaly
that his targets went primarily to Edelman and his backs – but once the Eagles
proved they could take away New England's screen game, he left himself<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>no options other than trying to fit rockets
into tight coverages to Edelman. Only six of his 47 passes went to rookies
N'Keal Harry and Jakobi Meyers, both of whom Brady seemed to ignore though they
appeared open in the pattern.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-8340931101396319452019-11-14T07:04:00.003-08:002019-11-14T07:04:26.661-08:00Patriots' Midseason Forum: Time Is Now For White, Harris To Stabilize Running Game<br />
<div align="right" class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">6 November, 2019</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">James White is the most talented and dependable
player on the New England Patriots' offensive roster.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">There is no caveat, no disclaimers. White is as
steady and consistent a player that coach Bill Belichick has at any skill
position. He can do it all. He'll run the ball right up the gut or try the
edge. He is a dangerous open field runner when receiving in the flat and he
wins against safeties and linebackers when split out wide. He is a willing pass
protector, putting himself between quarterback Tom Brady and rouge linebackers
on the blitz.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">He's always available and has never once put the
ball on the carpet in five-plus seasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is subtly elusive, wasting no movements, his signature move a wicked
toe drag, using it like a rudder to change direction on a dime. He doesn't
outrun many people, but he gets every inch there is to be had.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">So why isn't he the Patriots' lead back? The truth
is that in the Patriots' complex concept-based offense, he has been the lead
back for quite some time.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Not classically, mind you, but he gets lead back
snap counts as a dual-threat runner/receiver and is always toward the top of
the list for both targets and catches. He is so valuable in that role that
players like Sony Michel do most of the heavy lifting on early downs, leaving
the precision work to White on the later downs.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">But even that seems to be shifting towards White
and Rex Burkhead, as Michel has seen his snap count reduced exponentially with
each game. Michel appears to be mired in a Sophomore slump after a terrific
rookie season – and while there are many factors to consider as to why, the
most disturbing part of it seems to be a lack of intestinal fortitude on his
part.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">From opening night on, when he can't find the same
creases to run through that he enjoyed during the second half of last season,
his body language suggests frustration-induced indifference – even pouty. He
has been replaced by either Burkhead or White during critical stretches in each
contest, and while they are not getting much more than Michel on the ground,
their countenance hasn't been affected.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">It is true that injuries along the offensive line
have decimated the Patriots' running game template. It is also true that not
having Rob Gronkowski, Dwayne Allen and James Develin to ply their trade is a
major issue as well – but while Michel is typically getting only what's blocked
for him, Burkhead and White and even Brandon Bolden still manage yards after
contact.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Another issue is that while Michel has shown an
ability to work in the pattern as a receiver, his targets have been
non-existent after a bad drop on a perfectly designed screen play against the New
York Jets three weeks ago, with nothing but white jersies and green turf
between him and the end zone.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">It was a concentration drop that all players
commit at various times, but that drop combined with his dour attitude seemed
to be enough for head coach Bill Belichick to pull him in favor of a
combination of White and Bolden.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Since, White has gotten the lion's share of the
snap counts.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">We all know what White is capable of. Known by his
twitter handle “Sweet Feet”, White is as close to a big play back that the
Patriots have, and is as clutch as they come in got-to-have-it situations.
Hell, in Super Bowl 51 against the Atlanta Falcons, he was perhaps the best
player on the field, and came within a whisker of being named the game's Most
Valuable Player.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">But while White is fully capable of handling a
greater role as a runner, Belichick uses him sparingly in the running game,
preferring to spare him the beating that runners take between the tackles that
could potentially negatively impact his performance in the role he has shown an
overwhelming aptitude for, that being as a passing back.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Same thing with Burkhead, though his usage is
limited due to the fact that he's fragile, missing three games already this
season with a variety of ailments after missing significant time last season
for the same reason.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">So with Michel a basket case and White and
Burkhead not wired for the heavy lifting – not to mention Bolden being a
special teams standout that the team cannot afford to lose by injury – the time
has never been better for Belichick to look to rookie third-rounder Damien
Harris as his between-the-tackles, early down back.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
Harris has four
carries in the two games that he's been assigned to the 45-man game day roster,
and that was in garbage time. While exactly the same size as Michel at 5' 11”
and 215 pounds, their running styles couldn't be any different, as Harris is a
rough-and-tumble power back while Michel is a floater.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
Obviously, both
styles work in the NFL, but floaters like Michel need vision and patience, while
brutes like Harris just need the ball and a head of steam – and with the issues
along the offensive line in opening big holes, the choice of style is critical
for the success of the running game.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
It's time for
Harris to enter the fray.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-20346309045880497372019-11-14T07:01:00.003-08:002019-11-14T07:01:34.455-08:00Patriots' Midseason Forum: Best Secondary In NFL Allows Belichick To Employ Multiple Schemes<br />
<div align="right" class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">14 November, 2019</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">When Bill Belichick lucked into Rob Gronkowski in
the second round of the 2010 NFL draft, and then Aaron Hernandez two rounds
later, he not only unleashed the most terrorizing tight end-centric offense
that the league has ever seen, but they also showed the entire<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>football world how to combat it as well...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">...as he spent many high draft picks in search of
hybrid safeties with enough speed and size to hold their own against what
Belichick imagined would a growing trend in the league. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The point being that Belichick is so far ahead of
the curve, that he is the curve. Any move he makes either in personnel or
in-game expands the vacuum that exists between the Patriots and every other
team. He dictates to the other teams in the AFC East, to an extent, as to how they
view their draft boards, because as the old axiom goes, you build your team to
compete with the teams within your division.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">That goes for game planning as well. But the
monstrous tight end fad never really got off the ground, leaving the Patriots
with an enormous number of safeties on their roster and very few quality tight
ends to cover. So the Patriots did what they always do: Morph into whatever
they need to be to compete and win.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">New England typically had employed three safeties
as part of their Big Nickel package, reducing two of them down into the tackle
box to help with coverages underneath and up the seam, leaving their fastest
safety, Duron Harmon, to patrol the back end as the single high safety...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">...his combination of speed, instincts and geometric
knowledge and implementation of pursuit angles allowing Patrick Chung and Devin
McCourty to take on tight ends and running backs at the line of scrimmage. And
the Big Nickel is still a staple of the Patriots' defense, but is now
integrated into the amoeba looks.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The only thing that opposing quarterbacks know for
sure on the amoeba packages is that if they see Harmon 15 yards or more off the
ball, at least he won't be coming on the pass rush.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">But then there's that Cover-Zero package, wherein
the corners – usually Stephon Gilmore and Jason McCourty – the safeties and one
linebacker are all in man coverage, with no single-high safety at all. The idea
being that the defense bringing six pass rushers will force the receivers to
cut their routes short in order to show their numbers to the quarterback before
he gets killed.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">An offense like what the Patriots possess wouldn't
be as affected by the Cover Zero as most others would, simply because New
England employs a timing-based ball-control philosophy that sees the ball come
out of Tom Brady's hand quickly, and his receivers running abbreviated
crossers, out and return routes that move the ball in increments on an average
of about six-yards per completion, plus they have perhaps the best passing back
in the league who excels in the screen game...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">...while offenses like Dallas, Houston and Kansas
City employ are based on the vertical quick-strike philosophy, and would have
to make major adjustments on the fly – though all possess mobile quarterbacks
as well, the shadowing of which evens the odds in pass protection.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Against those teams, the amoeba or big nickel
packages would be more apt to result in success, as the amoeba would cause
confusion in protection package and the big nickel would provide natural shadow
coverage in case Dak Prescott, DeShaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes decided to the
tuck and run.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">But that's for Belichick to figure out.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Whatever he decides to do, he has tremendous depth
in his secondary to go along with perhaps the best starting four in the league.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jonathan Jones is a hybrid that can play corner or
safety. Terrence Brooks may be the heir-apparent at strong safety to the aging
Chung. Undrafted corner J.C. Jackson and 2019 third-round selection Joejuan
Williams are players that could be seeing a lot of playing time – perhaps even
starting – on other teams.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Covering receivers has been the least of New
England's few problems this campaign, and there is no reason to believe that is
going to change anytime soon.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-80421417365858575792019-11-14T06:59:00.003-08:002019-11-14T06:59:50.171-08:00Patriots' Midseason Forum: Aggressive And Talented Defensive Line Key To Second-Half Success<br />
<div align="right" class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">13 November, 2019</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lawrence Guy is everywhere, seemingly impacting
every play - and if he keeps it up, there may be some Pro Bowl consideration in
store, maybe even a spot with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Avengers</i>...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The ninth-year defensive tackle out of Arizona
State is in his third season with the New England Patriots, and his arrival via
free agency before the 2017 season was the first sign that Patriots' head ball
coach Bill Belichick was shifting his defensive philosophy to more of a 3-4
look - but the Arizona State product turned out to be such a load in the
running game that he now spearheads what the Dark Master calls an
"Amoeba" formation...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">...which isn't really a formation at all, rather,
it is a free-floating, shape-shifting entity designed to win before the snap of
the ball, causing much indecision on the part of the opposing quarterback and
center in trying to figure out blocking and protection schemes.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Often, the alignment will find just one down
defensive lineman with the other ten Patriots' defenders buzzing all around him
like fruit flies around an apple core, bobbing and weaving within five yards of
the line of scrimmage, giving the quarterback the impression that the Patriots
are bringing upwards of seven pass rushers.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sometimes they do, in what is commonly known as a
"Cover Zero" package, and sometimes they don't, but the quarterback
can never know for sure until either the pass rush is on him or the safeties
and linebackers fall back into zone coverage. Either way, the quarterback is
forced to process the chaos in front of him in a split-second, often times with
negative results.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">And the one constant along the line is Guy. Stout
enough to double-gap against the run and quick enough to penetrate the pocket
before the double-team can converge, the 6' 4", 315 pound Guy is the key.
He doesn't have amazing stats - just one sack and two quarterback hits to go
along with two runners thrown for loss - but his job is to disrupt the interior
of the offensive line to cause gaps for his teammates on the second level to
fill.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Disrupter. Kind of a cool name for a super
hero, which would please the hard-core fan of the Marvel Universe who has seen
every Avenger movie there is and will talk your ear off about them, given the
opportunity. In fact, on the rare occasion that he appears on radio shows, the
content of the interview usually evolves into a conversation about the Marvel
brand.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">When pressed, Guy will tell you that his favorite
Avenger is Thor, the hammer-wielding demi God whose main nemesis is his
brother, Loki, the God of Mischief - a perfect foil for the wise-yet-naive
Thor, whose quiet countenance and humble persistence is the glue that holds the
super hero clan together.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Patriots are no collection of super heroes,
but Guy is the glue that holds their defensive line together, and as a unit,
they usually triumph over their foes.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">A lot of what New England does defensively is
simply misdirection and sleight of hand, their smoke-and-mirrors approach
confusing their opposition into mistakes that have the opportunistic unit
leading the National Football League in takeaways and near the top in sacks and
in pass defense.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">But teams have started to figure out how to
neutralize the aggression inherent in the amoeba, spreading the formation thin
by lining up speedy receivers out wide and leaving Guy and his defensive line
companions Adam Butler, Danny Shelton and Deatrich Wise to hold the fort
against the run with little backup.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">That has been an issue, as the Patriots rank in
the bottom three of the league in yards per carry yielded - but with their pass
defense leading the NFL in yards per attempt, interceptions and touchdowns
allowed, they have been able to get away with their foes' success in the
running game.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">That didn't hold true against the Baltimore Ravens
before the bye and it won't hold true against upcoming opponents, all of whom
have the speed on the outside and quality, multi-tool runners in the backfield
- but it will be easier to defend the run against teams like Dallas, Houston
and Buffalo than it was against the Ravens, who run a perverted version of the
veer, a philosophy that perfectly counters the amoeba.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">All of that said, the Patriots' second half
opponents run offenses that could potentially still give the defensive line all
it can handle. Dallas has Dak Prescott running the show, either handing the
ball to the best runner in the league in Zeke Elliott, keeping it himself or
throwing to a dangerous group of vertical receivers. Houston has Deshaun Watson
and a resilient group of skill position players and Buffalo a devastating
ground attack...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">...while Philadelphia has tremendous weapons but
an offensive line besieged by injury and Kansas City, though a tough match with
league MVP Patrick Mahomes working his magic, a team that the Patriots seem to
have their number.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">But all the line can do is exhibit fundamental
football, the interior taking on double teams to make gaps for the linebackers
to plug and the edge defenders setting a hard edge to keep both runners and
passers between the tackles.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Ravens used the Patriots' aggressive scheme
against them, but the real issue in that game was the mental mistakes made by
the New England stoppers – giving life to three different Ravens' drives that
were initially stopped on third downs, but penalties extended those drives and
resulted in Baltimore touchdowns.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The mental errors are easy to correct – and if the
Patriots can eliminate them, their aggressive defense, known as the
“Boogeyman”, should be able to dictate their will against their remaining
opponents.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The key is a defensive line that also includes
edge-setters in Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins, disruptors all, and when free
to play to their talent, can shut down any opposing offense – and when married
to an offense that seems to be finding their stride with a key acquisition and
several players returning from injury, there is no reason to believe that New
England can't compete as a front-runner for yet another Lombardi Trophy.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-13926176417232791302019-11-14T06:57:00.003-08:002019-11-14T06:57:37.630-08:00Patriots' Midseason Forum: “Limited” The Keyword For Success Along Offensive Line<br />
<div align="right" class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">13 November, 2019</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lewiston, Maine 1:59am</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">I've been sitting here for two hours staring at my
computer screen, at a loss for anything comprehensible to write about the New
England Patriots' situation along the offensive line, especially in light of
the fact that they seem to be counting on a second-year player with all of six
quarters of real-time professional experience to stabilize the unit.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Isaiah Wynn is a fine player, and showed in those
six quarters that he really may be a legitimate left tackle when his lack of
height had most scouting departments projecting him as a guard coming out of
the University of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Georgia – but as of
now, he isn't anything, spending the majority of his first year-and-a-half as a
professional on the shelf with a variety of ailments.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Anyone who follows football knows that success on
offense starts with the big uglies up front that opens holes for backs in the
running game and provides protection for the quarterback in the passing game -
and it's not like they are mindless neandrathals that just aimlessly trudge
through folks and knock them on their carcasses.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Blocking schemes are just as complicated as any
other part of a game plan, and the linemen not only have to know where all the
other players on their team are supposed to be, but also have knowledge of
their foes' defensive alignments, and the individual skill sets of any player
they may have to mirror.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">So in a way, offensive linemen have to be the
smartest and most aware players on the football field,with the possible
exception of the quarterback - but the signal caller doesn't have to engage in
a sixty-minute street fight with very large human beings that are dead set on
killing the people they are blocking for.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Like most teams in the National Football League,
the Patriots employ a zone blocking scheme. The linemen have to be intelligent,
athletic and possess a mean streak to be successful in what amounts to a turf
war - but also graceful. It's almost like a ballet, all moving in tandem. A
offenisve line coach is mostly like a choreographer. For that very reason, an offensive
line must develop a working chemistry before it can be effective. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">For the Patriots, injuries have interupted that
chemistry.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">It's one thing to have to replace one lineman,
which New England had to do when center David Andrews developed blood clots in
his lungs in the preseason, and they were fortunate to have an in-house
solution to the most critical position along the line at the pivot in
third-year reserve Ted Karras.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Karras's insertion appeared to be seamless, aside
from some shotgun snaps that looked like big brown moths fluttering back to
quarterback Tom Brady that have impacted the timing of a couple of plays, and
they got by when right tackle Marcus Cannon went down with a shoulder injury in
the same game...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">...but since the apparently fragile Wynn hobbled
off the field against the Dolphins in week 2 with what turned out to be a case
of turf toe, newly-signed swing tackle Marshall Newhouse has struggled in pass
protection, the nine-year veteran giving up multiple<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>quarterback hits and sacks.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Newhouse was a college teammate of Cannon's at TCU
and, like Cannon, was known as a road-grading run blocker and played on the
right while Cannon started on the left. But in Foxborough, the script has been
flipped. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cannon is a mainstay at right tackle, is just a
couple of years removed from an All Pro selection and is still considered one
of the best strong side blockers in the league,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>while Newhouse, who won a Super Bowl with Green Bay, is on his fourth
team as a limited swing tackle...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">...limited because his lateral movement against
speed rushers is sub-par, which has been evident since Wynn went down. To
compound the issue, the Patriots have had to keep a potential pass catcher in
to help Newhouse on the edge, limiting Brady's options in the pattern.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">This is a situation in which the Patriots really
miss having retired tight end Rob Gronkowski on the field, who was a load to
handle in the running game and was an expert at chipping defensive ends and
wheeling into the short flat in the passing game - though current tight end Ben
Watson has shown the same abilities, but not at the level that Gronkowski
performed.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">But now Wynn appears to be ready to return to the
lineup, which if his limited film justifies what he is, he represents a major
upgrade on the blind-side edge which, given his limited body of work, tells
just how bad Newhouse has been – and his mediocracy at the position doesn't
just affect the edge, it filters over to the rest of the line.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Joe Thuney has been a warrior at left guard,
helping out both Newhouse and Karras in pass protection where he can act as a
second layer, but nothing can help them in the running game, where Newhouse's
lack of mobility and Karras's inexperience at the pivot has resulted in clogged
running lanes.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the right, guard Shaq Mason is having his worst
season as a professional, limited by injury and exasberated by injury to Cannon
and the absence of a decent blocking tight end. The tight end situation is what
it is, and will not be addressed this season, assuming that Gronkowski remains
retired. Same with the fullback position, where the Patriots have lost both
James Develin and Jakob Johnson for the season and have resorted to employing
linebacker Elandon Roberts as an impromptu battering ram in the short-yardage
ground game.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">That's quite a puzzle for line coach Dante
Scarnecchia to try and complete – impossible even, with a couple of pieces
missing.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">But Wynn's return and an upgrade in the pass
catching ranks will help, though it remains to be seen just how much.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372701664737184667.post-13433513764516973842019-11-14T06:56:00.002-08:002019-11-14T06:56:14.444-08:00Patriots' Midseason Forum: Receiving Corps Adding Layers To Eliminate Red Zone Struggles<br />
<div align="right" class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">12 November, 2019</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Lewiston, Maine, 1:23am</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In all of my years
watching the New England Patriots, I don't ever remember a newly-signed wide
receiver fit so quickly into the offensive flow as did Mohamed Sanu on Sunday
night.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The man absolutely floats
when crossing the middle of the field, and has a fine feel for the dead spots
in zone coverages, gets big, snatches the ball out of the air and immediately
turns upfield. In other words, the man is a fundamentally sound professional </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">–</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> a far cry from
what the Patriots have waiting in the wings, should he have not be traded for a
couple of weeks ago.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Not that there's not
talent in waiting, but the combination of rookies N'Keal Harry and Jakobi
Meyers have a grand total of four catches on the season, all of them by Meyers
as Harry was placed on the shelf with a bad hammy before the season even
started </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">–</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> but in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>practices and in the lone
preseason game he played in, Harry appeared to have come as advertised.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It's a really small body
of work to glean from when assessing what Harry could contribute when he
finally sees the field against the Philadelphia Eagles this coming Sunday, so
if Patriots' fans need a little scouting report on the rookie from Arizona
State, all they had to do is watch the Seattle Seahawks and their terrific
first-year receiver D.K. Metcalf beat the formerly undefeated San Francisco
49ers on Monday night.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Metcalf is similar in
size, route finesse and leaping ability, both specialize in spectacular catches
on the perimeter, back-shoulder and 50/50 balls. Both were projected late
first-rounders and while Harry squeaked onto the first night stage, Metcalf had
to wait until the next night to be taken in the second round.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">About the only thing that
either one really has as an advantage over the other, it is the fact that
Metcalf has been playing like a veteran and Harry hasn't played at all - but he
will be counted on to complete a pass-catching corps that has survived an
amount of turmoil that would cripple a lesser squad, and it may turn out to be
one of the better units that head ball coach Bill Belcihick has ever fielded.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Not going to argue apples
and oranges; I realize that he's given quarterback Tom Brady some pretty good
squads to work with in the past, but this is the first time since 2009 that he
knew that he absolutely had to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>give
Brady legitimate weapons on all three levels </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">–</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> and for one magnificent
week in September, he had just that, and the makings of a seriously scary
receiving corps.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">But Antonio Brown turned
out to be a megalo-maniacal sex fiend and serial drive-by tweeter, and was run
out of Foxborough on a rail, and then Josh Gordon flamed out. It got so bad
that at one point they could field only Julian Edelman and his cracked ribs,
and a couple of undrafted rookie free agents. It all turned out ok, though, as
running back James White and tight end Ben Watson chipped in.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">White is a staple in the
passing game out of the backfield and is second only to Edelman in both targets
and receptions, while Watson has a history with Brady and the Patriots, even
though it had been years since they had competed on the same team. The
familiarity of both with Brady and the Patriots' offensive system giving the
offense just enough of an advantage to get by on...</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">...but that wouldn't be
enough once New England reached the meat of their schedule in November, and
with Harry languishing on the IR, Belichick knew he needed something else to
bring his offense at least close enough to the level of the defense to survive
a six-game stretch against legitimate playoff teams.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">That something turned out
to be Sanu. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Working alongside All Pro
wide out Julio Jones in Atlanta, Sanu earned a reputation as a natural
possession receiver that complimented the speedy, big-play Jones, and gave the
Falcons tremendous layers on the deep two-thirds of the field </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">–</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> but with the
Patriots, who are a more ball control entity, Sanu becomes a
middle-of-the-field chain mover that compliments New England's horizontal
attack.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The offensive philosophies
between the two teams couldn't be more different, but Sanu's skill set fits
into any attack </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">–</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> which would explain why Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick was so high on
him coming out of Rutgers eight years ago with a reputation for finding the
sticks on third down and paydirt in the red zone...</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">...an area of the field
that New England has struggled in during the first half of the season, as they
have lacked the size in their receiving corps to win battles on fades and
end-line throws </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">–</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> but with Belichick sending a second-round draft pick to Atlanta for Sanu
and then activating Harry off of the IR, he suddenly has a red zone attack that
provides layers in short-areas.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">New England's passing game
isn't explosive as it's drawn up, but relies on their receivers and backs to
win off the line of scrimmage and show Brady their numbers within a couple of
seconds of the snap, then making the first defender miss to find the line to
gain.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">White does that on screens
and wheel routes with regularity. Edelman does so on return routes, and now
Sanu does it over the middle. Now if Harry turns out to be anything close to
Metcalf, they will be able to do so on the perimeter, which opens up everything
else.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Harry is as close to a
vertical threat that the Patriots' possess, though he doesn't have vertical
speed. He is a plodder with an insane wing-span and Spider-Man like hands,
which means that his skill set is perfect for their philosophy.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In fact, all of New
England's pass catchers are plodders, with the exception of Phillip Dorsett,
but are all crisp route-runners and tough as nails after the catch </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">–</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> and with Sanu and
Harry added to the mix, the red zone and perimeter shouldn't be such a struggle
any longer.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503088342375251394noreply@blogger.com0