New Jerod Mayo highlight video up from Mike Vaz. Mayo’s speed really was something else, didn’t always ensure he made the play but he was always around the ball. If I had to pick the best play of his career it would have to be the game-sealing interception against the Redskins in 2011 that’s at the 3:14 mark.
Videos
America’s Game: 2003 Patriots
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5acS3_ySd8
Little something to watch on this dead-of-the-offseason Saturday, the 2003 Patriots episode of America’s Game. I couldn’t quite believe what was happening before my eyes with the 2003 team. Yes, the 2001 Patriots had a magical ride, but that one Super Bowl didn’t erase all the feelings of inevitable doom I had acquired growing up as an 80’s/90’s Patriots fan.
The 2-2 start only reinforced that but then the Pats started winning and winning and they didn’t lose again until October of 2004. But they were never dominant. There was never a moment of believing the Patriots were unstoppable, they just were. After it was all said and done, the 2003 probably had the best defense of the Belichick era. Biggest thing was being healthy at the end. The entire defense was just at their peak and everyone brought something to the party. Things started falling apart in 2004 with injuries and the inevitable decline of the defense. That’s when Brady and the offense took center stage.
But the 2003 team really embodied all the legends we’ve come to embrace about the Bill Belichick Patriots. And it was even the first season BB donned his infamous Reebok Hoodie.
Logan Ryan Highlights and Look Back
Yesterday I put up some Malcolm Butler highlights with some discussion about his 2015, today it’s his counterpart Logan Ryan‘s turn. Ryan had a great rookie year with five interceptions in 2013, but got knocked down the depth chart in 2014 with the arrival of Revis and Browner. Over those first two years and into the preseason of 2015 Ryan just couldn’t seem to find consistency.
There were plenty of people who were ready to cut him after watching him get torched in the 2015 preseason. At that point it looked like Tarrell Brown would start opposite Butler, but then Brown goes down and Ryan suddenly finds his consistency and becomes a solid starter on the outside when we were wondering if his ceiling was any higher than a backup slot receiver.
Now you look at it and Ryan has 11 interceptions in his first three years, including four last year. The Pats seemed to like him against the bigger receivers and it’s hard to argue he could’ve done a much better job against Demaryius Thomas facing him twice. Still it feels like many aren’t quite sold on Ryan. I’ve even seen some draft need boards listing cornerback near the top of the list.
I’m not sure if the Patriots can retain both Ryan and Butler past 2017. Certainly Butler should get a deal first to set the ground floor for Ryan. I’m also curious to see how Darrell Roberts fits into the equation this year after flashing some playmaking ability in 2015 camp as a rookie.
Ryan has cemented his place as a solid homegrown starter but one who could bolt for greener pastures in 2017.
Bleacher Report/Frenz: Dion Lewis’ Health Is Critical in Complexion of New England Patriots Offense
Good read from Frenz on Dion Lewis, who gave us possibly the most unexpectedly exciting seven-plus games from a running back in Patriots history. He also gave us maybe the biggest buzz kill of the season when he tore his ACL against the Redskins in a non-contact situation.
Just fascinating how Lewis, who had been kicking around the league and dealing with injuries for a few years, could suddenly show up, seamlessly fit into the offense and look like the second coming of Barry Sanders. There’s no question if Lewis remained healthy this would’ve been a totally different and more multi-dimensional offense in the playoffs, and one that would’ve been nearly impossible to stop.
Like most previous season ACL injuries, Lewis will likely be brought along slowly, but having James White already locked in is good insurance to manage Lewis’ snaps. I’d take the same approach they took with Gronk in 2014. Slowly bring him back with the goal of having him healed and raring to go by late December.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdZJk1xtU00
Source: Dion Lewis’ Health Is Critical in Complexion of New England Patriots Offense | Bleacher Report
Malcolm Butler 2015 Highlights
No one really knew what the Patriots had with Malcolm Butler heading into 2015. Of course we knew he made one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history (along with a couple other impressive pass breakups before that), but to the casual fan it was easy to think Butler could be a one-hit wonder who would fade back into the unknown.
The thing about Butler though was that he was making plays on the ball from the moment he stepped on the field in training camp in 2014. Every single practice report had Butler always around the ball and that’s a skill that can’t be taught. Behind the scenes, Butler had shown enough in 2014 for Bill Belichick to believe the Super Bowl hero could be the Pats’ best corner in 2015 and he was right.
When the Patriots declined options on Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, and then also dumped Alfonzo Dennard and Kyle Arrington it seemed like a head scratcher. Personally I was pissed because I just couldn’t believe the Patriots would go back to more zone-heavy defensive coverage. It’s just not practical in today’s NFL, yet most of the pundits simply assumed it to be the case without a “shutdown” corner like Revis.
Well Butler (and Logan Ryan) proved them all wrong. They allowed the Patriots to primarily stick with the Cover-1 Man Robber coverage, with Ryan usually taking the bigger receiver and Butler taking the other, often faster one. The thing about Butler in his first year as a starter was that he gave up very few uncontested catches. Anything he gave up, the ball missed his hands by mere millimeters. Some might knock Butler for that, saying that he needs to work on his hands, but it’s truly the sign of a special corner. He’ll start picking off those passes soon enough, and that’s if quarterbacks keep throwing at him.
And another great sign, was even when Butler gave up a big play, he always bounced back.
Add in his feisty, competitive gameday attitude and fearless tackling, and it’s not a stretch to say Butler is the best young cornerback the Patriots have had since Ty Law. Now with more experience he’ll be even more prepared to face the game’s best wide receivers. The sky’s the limit for Butler and there should be a new contract coming to him in the next year.
2015 Patriots Highlight Video For Your Hump Day
I gotta be honest, I didn’t love this season. Of course there were plenty of highlight moments, mostly by Gronk and Dion Lewis, and seeing this young homegrown defense really take a significant step forward was exciting to see but were there really any epic, unforgettable games outside of finally getting a win over the Giants? Beating the Colts was nice and a better game than many expected, and torching Rex in Buffalo Week 2 was fun. But once the injuries started in Dallas Week 5 each week became about hanging on long enough to get healthy.
Thinking back I’m not sure I remember much of anything about Jags, Titans, Redskins or Texans games. Still, the 2015 Pats did what they always do, fight to the end with everything they had. It was just one of those seasons where it didn’t quite hit epic mode very often.
Nothing wrong with some Pats Highlights on an Offseason Saturday, Right?
These early weekends of the offseason are just the worst. Football is over and we’ve got miles and miles to go before we get even a drip of new action. So why not just post a nice video with some highlights to ease the pain a bit?
