As we wind down into the final week of the dreadfully long Patriots off-season it’s time to give out some awards and make some camp predictions. Let us bid the off-season of Gronk a fond farewell as we are proud to present the PatsPropaganda Patriots Off-Season/Pre-Camp Awards.
Best Team Move: Locking Up Gronk Long Term
Ensuring that Gronk is a Patriot for the prime of his career was a move that will ensure long-term offensive success. He could be the biggest piece in aiding the inevitable transition from Brady to the next guy.
Worst Team Move: Failing to Lock Up Welker Long Term
It takes two to tango, but failing to come to a long term agreement with Welker makes it likely this is his last year in New England. We’re used to contract battles like this, and sadly this will just be the latest indispensable Patriot who gets dispensed of before we the fans are ready.
Player Addition Most Likely To Bust: Chandler Jones
The sudden and over-the-top love for Chandler Jones in the final days before the draft surprised more than a few pundits, even coming from respected voices like Mike Lombardi and Mike Mayock. Even today some fail to see what made Jones a first round pick. He should be brought along slowly, but he’s going to need to at least flash something this year. I am most curious to see Jones in pre-season action, because from what my uneducated eyes have seen I’m not sure he’s a true impact player.
Player Addition Least Likely To Bust: Brandon Lloyd
Things are never a slam dunk with the Patriots until they did what everyone thought they would and acquired Brandon Lloyd. So far in OTAs Lloyd has been as-advertised, drawing praise from Tom Brady and flashing in ways Ochocinco never did. If he stays healthy he will be a deadly addition and fill a major need by challenging defenses on the perimeter.
Best Under-The-Radar Addition: Trevor Scott
Scott is your prototypical Pats free agent signing. Flashed some versatile potential for a perennial loser before getting set back by an injury. Now he’s healthy and plays a position of need. He’s one of my favorites to be a major impact newcomer this year.
Undrafted Rookie Most Likely to Make 53-Man Roster: Justin Francis
There’s always at least one and I have to go with what the beat guys observed in OTAs, especially Bedard, on this one. But from the sound of it, Francis has a lot of what the Pat lack. Most obvious is his ability to rush the passer on the interior, but also the versatility he has to play in multiple spots along the line.
Most Likely to Get Injured in Training Camp: Joseph Addai
I refuse to believe the guy who scored the game winning TD in the 2006 AFCCG against us is going to be a Patriot this year. Let’s just go the safe route and have him get hurt the second week of camp. Plus I could never give a Patriot I actually like this award.
Most Likely to be Most Improved: Stevan Ridley
I think Ridley puts the fumblitis behind him and becomes a back who can play any down. Without much of any off-season last year he did pretty well. Now with a full off-season he should really blossom.
Worst Off-Season: (tie) Gronk’s Shirts/Brady’s Hair
Hard to pick one or the other here. Gronk’s shirts were consistently disregarded and destroyed, while Brady’s hair kept making odd choices that put it in the line of fire. I look forward to hearing nothing more about either of these things.
Most To Prove: Jermaine Cunningham
It’s well documented how Belichick had his eye on Cunningham for a long time before drafting him. He showed some potential in 2010 but last year it was a Murphy’s Law year. Scheme change, injuries, and poor performance put him in a rough sophomore slump that has some calling him a long shot to even make the roster. I still think he has something to add to this team, but he’ll have to stay healthy and take a big leap forward.
Player Most Needed Healthy: Sebastian Vollmer
It’s one thing to replace one tackle, and Solder should have that covered, but if Vollmer is banged up again this year it’s going to put some serious question marks along the Pats offensive line. Marcus Cannon isn’t a disaster and could possibly be pretty good, but suddenly having two second-year guys on the edges of your o-line is never something you can be totally comfortable with. A healthy Vollmer would give the Pats a level of continuity that they’ll really need for an offensive line facing significant changes/questions.
Biggest Question Mark: Ras-I Dowling
Can he stay healthy? How good is he really? No Patriot has more questions surrounding him than Ras-I. First and foremost is he just needs to stay healthy, which is easier said than done. But if he can do that he has a chance to make the entire Pats secondary better. He could be starting game one, or end up cut or on IR again. I have no idea.
Tightest Camp Battle: Donte Stallworth vs. Deion Branch
When you break it down I think these two guys are neck and neck for a roster spot. Stallworth’s a little more of a burner, Branch is a little more savvy. I give a slight edge to Branch unless he’s lost any more of his quickness.
Breakout Star of 2012: Stevan Ridley
Ridley finally should give the Pats a homerun threat in their backfield, something they really have never had during Belichick’s reign. We can expect Brandon Lloyd to do great thing, but Ridley should be the player that everyone is talking about this year.
Comeback Position of the Year: Fullback
There’s no guarantee that either Spencer Larson or Tony Fiametta will make the roster but it’s nice to see some traditional fullbacks back on the Pats roster. I don’t think it signifies any real philosophical change for the Pats (as much as I wish it did), but both guys are interesting players that would bring a new wrinkle both in short yardage situations and even in passing ones.
Most Needing to Stay Healthy: Patrick Chung
There’s a lot on the line for Chung this year as he enters the final year of his rookie deal being the de facto leader of an oft torched secondary. No doubt he’s the Pats best safety, but just how much will the Pats be willing to spend to lock him up long term? Staying healthy is key, and not an easy thing to do for a player who plays where and how Chung does. His health could go a long way toward determining how much improved the defense is. Let’s remember every year Rodney Harrison stayed healthy the Pats went to the Super Bowl and that’s where Chung is playing now.
Best Rookie: Dont’a Hightower
I don’t know how Hightower will be used but I think he’ll be used a lot and give the Pats a lot of flexibility in their linebacking corps. Look for him, Ninkovich and Spikes to have a battle royale in camp to determine who plays where, but I think when the dust settles we’ll see more and more of Hightower. It’s hard not to be excited to add one of the best players off one of the best defenses in college football. He has to help, right?
Guy Not Named Brady We Can’t Afford to Lose: Vince Wilfork
I considered almost not writing this but it has to be said, I’m not sure what happens if Big Vince goes down for any period of time. He’s the key to the entire front 7, and where the defensive game plan starts. How well could the Pats get by with Gerard Warren, Kyle Love, Jonthan Fanene and Brandon Deaderick? I shutter even thinking about it. Let’s stop even talking about it.
The “No Expectations” Award: Shane Vereen
We forget Vereen was drafted before Ridley. No one knows exactly how he fits in, though it seems clear he’s fast and can catch. Is he good enough to make Woodhead irrelevant? That remains to be seen, but no other player has more limited expectations that Vereen, which is insane for a second round pick.
The “Super Tough” Award: Logan Mankins
As I’ve said before, if Belichick calls you “super tough” I don’t expect a little ACL tear to prevent you from coming back for the opener. I think Mankins should be out there day one and hopefully it’s not a down year for him because we certainly can’t afford that.
