June 2012
1 tag
“My job right now, with me being a rookie, is to be a sponge. Learn everything...”
– Chandler Jones
Jones talks with Sirius at Play 60 - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston
1 tag
“I get a big kick out of the perception publicly — all the media, and...”
– La Russa on bond with Belichick - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston
1 tag
1 tag
Patriots Today - Two Pats help guide NFL rookies →
Good stuff here from McCourty and Slater. I really like Matthew Slater now, just never let him return another kick in his career please BB.
1 tag
“If it doesn’t involve the team, winning, or us at the New England...”
– Ridley on Belichick
Stevan Ridley: ‘Edge I’ve never had’ - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston
1 tag
4 tags
Patriots defensive improvement hinges at one...
Mike Wright was one of the unsung heros of the Patriots defense from 2008 through a good part of 2010 until his concussion problems started. His numbers from that time frame won’t jump off the page at you until 2010, when he put up an impressive 10.7 pass rush rating (via ProFootballFocus.com) through the first eleven games.
Wright never missed a game in that three year span before the...
3 tags
1 tag
“Bruschi makes the case for choosing a silver trophy over a bronze bust. Bruschi...”
– For Bruschi, choice between Super Bowl ring and HOF is a “no-brainer” | ProFootballTalk
1 tag
“You know what? I’ve thought about it,” said Harrison, responding to a question...”
– It Is What It Is » Rodney Harrison: I had calls from teams asking me to come back and play after I retired
opinionatedyankee asked: What number do you think Hightower will take? A lot of the 50's seem to be taken, but that 45 will bug me. :/
1 tag
1 tag
“Wes Welker’s average depth of target actually jumped up 1.9 yards from...”
– Average Depth of Target - Football Daily Dose - Rotoworld.com
How did I know there was going to be a Patriot in the short depth of target list and not one in the “deep threat” category?
2 tags
I liked him in 88 better...
Jersey number update: WR Brandon Lloyd switches from 88 to 85.
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) June 27, 2012
3 tags
New England Patriots Fans Should Embrace the Hate... →
Here’s a little flashback to an early Pats article I wrote shortly after I started blogging. I don’t know about you guys but I’m still embracing the hate.
1 tag
“Even as Buffalo continues to improve, New England remains the clear favorite in...”
– Offseason Breakdown: New England Patriots | Audibles
1 tag
Boom!
The Patriots will be back on the practice field one month from today for the start of training camp: bit.ly/LNdupB
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) June 26, 2012
1 tag
“Of all the players near the bottom, the biggest concerns would be Vince Wilfork...”
– Three Years of Pass Rushing Productivity: Defensive Ends | ProFootballFocus.com
This x10. I can’t beat the “we need interior pass rushers to help spell Vince” drum any louder. Please Pryor/Fanene or anyone bring it this year (and stay healthy).
1 tag
1 tag
“I think they need to be able to throw the ball down the field. Not just short,...”
– Rodney Harrison Believes Peyton Manning Will Not Lead Denver Broncos to Super Bowl, Thinks Patriots Can Repeat as AFC Champions - New England Patriots - NESN.com
Sensing a theme today? Do the Pats need to stretch the field more? Is that why they lost those four games last year?
No question you...
1 tag
“I know Bill Belichick. He’s a built a young team, an aggressive team, a...”
– Rodney Harrison Believes Peyton Manning Will Not Lead Denver Broncos to Super Bowl, Thinks Patriots Can Repeat as AFC Champions - New England Patriots - NESN.com
“The Jets play in a division without an explosive offense. Even New England...”
– Anonymous NFC Scout
Rob Ryan vs. Rex Ryan: Who will lead better defense in 2012? - NFL.com
I guess you don’t need an explosive offense to dominate then.
1 tag
“Bill Belichick really likes seeing how NFC South teams practice. That’s the...”
– Report: Bucs, Patriots talking about joint practices | ProFootballTalk
There wasn’t enough time last year to do these joint practices but Belichick loved what he got out of them in 2010 so it makes sense he’d do them again.
1 tag
1 tag
1 tag
“The Patriots’ re-signing of safety James Ihedigbo appears to be another sign...”
– Quick-hit thoughts around NFL & Pats - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston
1 tag
“Same goes for Guyton, whom the Patriots made no effort to re-sign. After being a...”
– NFL painted itself into box with bounties - Sports - The Boston Globe
And here I thought double gizzle just stunk every year…
1 tag
“We’re talking about Bill Belichick here, who, he’s very, very smart in terms of...”
– Ihedigbo talks of return on Sirius - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston
1 tag
1 tag
1 tag
Patriots re-sign safety James Ihedigbo - Extra... →
This year’s Patriots training camp is going to be an epic thunderdome battle at so many spots. I don’t envy the coaching staff’s task of cutting down the roster, though I’m sure injuries will make it easier in some spots unfortunately. At least they’re prepared to deal with them no matter where they strike (cough except defensive tackle…)
Basically, beyond...
1 tag
“The main reasons I feel McCourty is primed for a bounceback season are: 1)...”
– Digesting some chat leftovers - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston
1 tag
NFL opens Pandora's Box by offering All-22 tape to... →
Great take from Michael Lombardi on the release of All-22 from the NFL.
Ultimately I think that this will be an excellent thing for the development of the NFL, not only for the fans who thirst for more X and O knowledge like myself, but for the game itself.
Wanting to learn more about the complex chess match that takes place on the gridiron (coupled with a psychotic love of the Pats) is what got...
1 tag
NFL 2012: Receiving Corps Power Rankings |... →
Yup….
1. New England Patriots (A ) The Patriots head into 2012 with a receiving corps that is head and shoulders above all others in the NFL. Not only do the Patriots have the best slot receiver in the league in Wes Welker and arguably the most dangerous tight end in Rob Gronkowski, they also have incredible depth. Perhaps the best way to understand their depth is just to consider out that...
1 tag
1 tag
Life on the Roster Bubble: Thoughts from a Former... →
Really good read from Ryan Riddle, and although it’s a tough quote about BB below it’s worth pointing out how the Pats consistently have undrafted rookies make their team. Did Dane Fletcher, Gary Guyton, Brandon Deaderick, or any of the other UDFAs who not only made the Patriots but contributed feel like “human sled dummies” too? One way or another they overcame it, and I...
1 tag
TFB on Call Me Maybe
SI.com: Are you aware that someone this week made a video of you singing Call Me Maybe?
Brady: Someone sent it to me this morning.
SI.com: What did you think?
Brady: I've had a lot of ridiculous haircuts. That's what I realized.
1 tag
“The biggest question in Foxboro will always be what if Tom Brady goes down with...”
– Right way to build roster depth? Patriots, Steelers, Bears, Cowboys, Lions do it best - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy
1 tag
Building a better sub defense →
Yet another example from Reiss of why nickel is the new base. As you can see from the percentages below the Pats had extra DBs on the field for more than 50% of the snaps against all AFC East rivals, including almost 92% of the time against the Bills.
Bills — 126 of 137 (91.9 percent)
Dolphins — 95 of 144 (65.9 percent)
Jets — 71 of 126 (56.3 percent)
The biggest difference...
1 tag
“When you walk onto this field and it’s lined, and you see the end zones and the...”
– BostonHerald.com - Blogs: The Blitz» Blog Archive » Tedy Bruschi hosts football clinic, still feels rush of running onto Gillette Stadium field
Miss you, Tedy…
1 tag
“After unleashing a prolific two-tight passing game, what do the Patriots do...”
– AFC offseason grades: Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos join New England Patriots at head of class - NFL - Sporting News
2 tags
Does Patrick Chung deserve a long term deal?
I was one of the first people to be on the Patchung bandwagon but I’m having mixed feelings about him these days and all the talk of him potentially deserving of a long term lucrative deal has left me scratching my head. There’s no question he has the leadership and work ethic that is vital to the Patriots but his injury history and average-at-best play makes me think this has to be a...
1 tag
NFL's best tight end: Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy... →
It’s a good thing “Off-Field Domination” wasn’t a category or Gronk would’ve won walking away. I know everyone will be up in arms that Graham will be ranked above Gronk in the NFL Top 100 but I really don’t care much about arbitrary lists like that. There is not a football guy out there who wouldn’t take Gronk over Graham. Period.
1 tag
2 tags
Dowling key to Pats Defense?
Interesting tweet from Greg Bedard today:
On @GreshandZo I said Dowling is the key to the defense this yr. I meant as far as them improving. Wilfork is always the MVP
— Greg A. Bedard (@GregABedard) June 19, 2012
There’s no doubt Ras-I Dowling has become one of the most talked about players on the Patriots. He was the first player selected on day two of the 2011 draft when many thought...
1 tag
1 tag
“A few of you have asked why the Patriots would even want Ballard, seeing that...”
– LaDainian Tomlinson second only to Marshall Faulk among modern-era RBs - Peter King - SI.com 