PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Analysis

6.5 Patriots Things to Watch vs. Panthers

by

 

Yes, most football writers only do five things to watch for each game, but for this preseason contest I’m taking my blogging game to the next level. That’s right, you not only get an extra thing to watch, you get a half of one too!

The third game of the preseason is always the highwater mark of the summer before the real bullets start flying. We should see Jimmy Garoppolo into the third quarter, along with the starting defense. Though there won’t be any gameplanning (thanks coach), it’s still a chance to see (most of) our best versus (most of) someone else’s best, so it’s an intriguing game.

Just one reminder, even for this kinda-important third preseason game, all that really matters tonight is that no one gets a season-ending injury. I’ll take Garoppolo looking terrible and the defense getting lit up over anyone (on either team) going down with a major boo boo. That’s really the only thing that can stand between the Patriots and another deep playoff run — a key injury.

So let’s get through this one, stay healthy, wrap things up with a meaningless game next Thursday against the Giants and get the train rolling for the regular season.

Here are the 6.5 things I’ll be watching closely.

[Read more…] about 6.5 Patriots Things to Watch vs. Panthers

Report: Patriots Trade for Barkevious Mingo

by

patriots barkevious mingo

Big trade today as the Patriots acquired 2013 6th-overall pick Barkevious Mingo for a 2017 5th-round draft pick.

Mingo hadn’t lived up to expectations in Cleveland, like so many before him. This offseason he bulked up, adding 20 pounds, getting up to around 260 pounds. That extra weight should help, and at least shows some dedication. Cleveland didn’t pick up his fifth-year option this offseason, so he’ll be a free agent next year.

He had five sacks as a rookie, but just two in 2014 and none last year. He ended up playing mostly special teams in 2015 which of course adds to his value in New England.

[Read more…] about Report: Patriots Trade for Barkevious Mingo

5 Questions Looming Over Patriots

by

One week from today the Patriots will play a mostly meaningless last preseason game, relying primarily on the 23 players who will either be on the practice squad or the street shortly after.

But there are still plenty of questions looming. Position battles to be won. Final roster spots to be claimed. Make no mistake, the 2016 Patriots are still far from set.

Yes, tomorrow will be a fascinating test (despite the lack of gameplanning as BB pointed out this week) and the competition is still tight at a number of spots.

Here are five areas that will have to be figured out in the next eight days.

[Read more…] about 5 Questions Looming Over Patriots

Stork, Washington Latest Patriots Casualties

by

Significant news this morning as the Patriots released (PM update: traded to Redskins) Bryan Stork, their third-year center who started Super Bowl 49 for them. I can’t say this is a total surprise, as earlier this week I projected Stork to be cut with David Andrews winning the starting center job. This was one of the most interesting starter battles in training camp.

Stork showed a lot of promise as a rookie, but has had four concussions (at least) in his first two years. He was also a little unpredictable, taking a unnecessary swing at one of the Bears last week in joint practices and getting kicked out of practice. When the Patriots jettisoned Logan Mankins, Stork brought hope that another bearded mauler would rise from the ashes. In 2014, he largely lived up to that.

But ultimately Andrews was just the more steady of the two, staying healthy and under control. Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald also reported that Andrews was Brady’s favorite of the two. So now the job is Andrews, and he’ll be backed up by Josh Kline and perhaps rookie Ted Karras who has also taken snaps at center.

The Pats also cut Nate Washington, which could be packaged with the Donald Brown cut from earlier this week. Both players were the kind of free agents the Patriots give chances to, to see if maybe they can find some magic in New England near the end of the career. Neither could and both were jettisoned with enough time to potentially catch on with another team.

Things are starting to shape up as the Pats’ roster now stands at 79. They’ll have to get down to 75 on August 30th, but have some flexibility should they want to bring anyone in for a look before then.

Patriots Cutting Vets, Sheard Out 2-4 Weeks

by

The crappy injury news from Sunday has spilled over into the week as Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald is reporting that Jabaal Sheard has a sprained MCL and will be out 2-4 weeks. That would put his return somewhere around the season opener in Arizona on September 11th, but is there really a need to rush it? Your season isn’t made in Week 1, especially to an NFC opponent.

Now it looks like Chris Long and Trey Flowers could very well be starting against the Cardinals, which I’d kind of enjoy. I’d love to throw a young promising defensive end like Flowers into the fire like that. See what he’s got. However without Sheard I think it makes even more sense to keep Anthony Johnson. You’re going to need every pass rusher you can get and I think Johnson looks more disruptive than Geneo Grissom ever has as an interior rusher.

Granted it was just one game that Johnson flashed. He’ll need to show up this week too, but without Sheard his chances of making the roster seem slightly better.

Afternoon update – Sheard was at practice today, but with the conditioning group, not a full-go. Positive sign regardless. He should probably be ready to go for the opener.

[Read more…] about Patriots Cutting Vets, Sheard Out 2-4 Weeks

Tuesday Patriots Catch-Up

by

It’s that time again for a random bunch of Pats notes that I’ve been kicking around or getting into arguments about. With so much in motion at this point in the preseason, it’s impossible to cover everything in every article we put up, so here’s some catch up thoughts as we are just 19 days away from the opener.

— Few people pointed out that I was crazy for leaving Vincent Valentine off my 53-man roster so let’s talk about that a bit. First, I have to disclose that I didn’t get the pick then and I don’t get it now. Not that I don’t understand picking a guy because of the Planet Theory, but when you have two pretty well-paid veterans that are roughly the same amount of huge, not to mention a first-round pick from last season who will rarely leave the field and Valentine was already looking uphill at any kind of significant role this season. Then add in that my untrained scouting eye just wasn’t all that impressed with him from the crappy YouTube highlights, nor has he done much of anything to stand out in two preseason games, nor can I recall a single mention from any training camp practices. So yeah, I see a big body that’s hard to find but that’s about all I’ve seen so far. No, he probably won’t get cut, but does anyone want to bet he gets an “injury” sometime in the next two weeks. A red shirt year this season, then see what happens with Branch/Knighton next year and then the time might be right for Valentine.

— DJ Foster and Keshawn Martin were back in full pads on Monday and they’re two guys we should keep a close eye on over the next two weeks. I have Martin as pretty much a roster lock (Yes, I caught some flack for this too on my 53-man). Why? Because he’s a serviceable backup to Edelman and Amendola, can return kicks/punts, and did show some progress in his first year in New England. Martin’s just a classic BB player — no one’s that impressed with him but he sticks around because he can do a lot of things pretty good. The Pats also gave him a two-year, $3 million contract last year. They wouldn’t throw that money around to a JAG.

[Read more…] about Tuesday Patriots Catch-Up

53-Man Patriots Roster Projection 2.0

by

With yesterday’s injury news on Shaq Mason, Sebastian Vollmer and Dion Lewis, along with two preseason games under our belt, it’s a good time to do a quick 53-man roster projection. The unfortunate bonus of having injuries like those popping up is that they potentially open up two more roster spots. Vollmer and Lewis can remain on the PUP list, costing them a minimum of the first six weeks of the season, but allowing the Pats to hang on to a couple guys they might’ve had to cut.

It’s also important to note that at this point, Monday August 22nd, the Pats have two open roster spots. So additions could be coming that will make these 53-man roster projection a little tougher. And even with the extra spots there’s still some tough decisions.

Here’s where I”m at with the R

[Read more…] about 53-Man Patriots Roster Projection 2.0