PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Coffin Corner: (TB) 12 Reasons I love this Sunday.

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Chapter 1 (of 22): “The Suspension Begins”

1. The NFL loves “The’s”. We’re relentlessly reminded of The Catch, The Comeback, The Fumble, The Drive, The Commissioner and now, they have added another “The” to their pantheon of the absurd and miraculous: The Suspension. (That link courtesy of the great, Fitzy).

It’s been hanging over our heads like the ‘light’ that popped up on the dashboard a month ago, only if the future of humanity was at stake not a new transmission. As the tacky, trolling ESPN clock counts down to the moment when TB12 races out of the tunnel with two baby lambs in his hands and revs the engine of the New England Patriots suped-up offense. So let’s pull into the service station, get rid of the “glowing wrench” and move on to football.

Speaking of wrenches, when Brady’s story is told, starring Matt Damon, they can just insert this footage to tell the story of his suspension negotiations:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sCWkBPML4E

‘He put three punishments on the table: the 4-game suspension, a game, or a public confession.’

As George Herbert brilliantly said: “The best revenge is living well.” So let’s live well. Also let’s take some Goddamn revenge! Here’s how we start:

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Can Jimmy Garoppolo Defy the Odds and Lead the Pats in his Four Games as a Starter?

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As we all know by now, New England Patriots starting quarterback Tom Brady will sit out the first four games of the NFL regular season. On the heels of that controversial ‘Deflategate’ saga, backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo now steps into the spotlight left by his future Hall of Fame teammate. Some diehard Pats fans are questioning Garoppolo ability, and are worried that he will choke in the spotlight.

Every NFL fan understands how the first handful of regular season games are essential to a team’s success. For the Pats, these four games could easily make or break their playoff chances, which is why there will be a significant amount of pressure on Jimmy Garoppolo. This is a new scenario for both the team’s backup QB and the fans, as New England hasn’t opened a season without Brady as the starter since 2001, when Drew Bledsoe was still at the helm.

Apart from being a quick-releasing, good-looking quarterback out of Eastern Illinois – who generally played well during his brief stints as backup QB in his rookie year – what else do we need to know about Jimmy G? First off, if Garoppolo plays like he did in the preseason against the New Orleans Saints, then we could see the Patriots go at least 3-1 in the first four games. Ultimately, for number 10, there are a lot of factors to consider, and head coach Bill Belichick might play a major role.

The Boston Globe reported how Bill Belichick got Jimmy Garoppolo up to speed way before the finality of the now-infamous ‘Deflategate’. What’s important, for now, is to focus on the task at hand and what lies ahead, as well as deflecting all the outside interruptions. “Distractions that demand our attention appear more numerous than ever before in human history,” according to an infographic entitled ‘Improving Concentration and Focus’ which explores several studies on the subject. In other words, the battle starts way before the Pats hit the gridiron, as the challenge lie with how Jimmy G handles the pressure and negates the odds stacked against him.

The prop odds for the New England Patriots’ record for the first four games of the 2016 NFL season are at: 4-0 (+1150), 3-1 (+180), 2-2 (+145), 1-3 (+335), and 0-4 (+1500). With three of the first four games played at home versus the Miami Dolphins, the Houston Texans, and the Buffalo Bills (the lone away game against the Cardinals in Arizona), it’s more likely the Jimmy Garoppolo and Pats will start 2-2. If history suggests something significant with the aforementioned record, then maybe – just maybe – we can repeat what happened in Super Bowls XXXVIII and XLIX.

For now, let’s just wait and see how Jimmy G fares amidst the attention, the distraction, and the pressure.

Breaking Down What Eric Rowe Brings to Patriots

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eric rowe patriotsMatt Patricia and the Patriots defense have a shiny new toy to play with in second year corner Eric Rowe. Mike already gave a great breakdown on Rowe’s acquisition, but I’m addicted to making GIFs and wanted to take a closer look at New England’s newest player.

When watching tape on Rowe, one thing that immediately stands out is his size. Listed at six-foot-one, Rowe has at least two inches on every corner currently on the roster. As Mike noted, Rowe should provide the Patriots an option in match-ups with larger receivers and maybe even tight ends. Additionally, I think Rowe’s size makes him a better option in run support than any of the current corners on the roster.

Against the Lions, Rowe was forced into action in the second quarter after an injury, and was given the tough assignment of  matching-up with Calvin Johnson on the outside. A tall task for any NFL corner, let alone a rookie. Yet, if I dare say so, Rowe looked pretty damn good against Megatron. Take a look for yourself.

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PatsPropaganda AFC East Rivals Preview

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The AFC East has been dominated by the Patriots for the past 15 years (aka the Brady/Belichick era), to a degree that hasn’t been otherwise seen in NFL history. The Patriots won the division title in 13 of those years. The two losses, to the Jets in 2002 and the Dolphins in 2008, came down to tiebreakers.

That doesn’t mean that division titles are always all but guaranteed, that division games aren’t still typically a bit tougher than non division games (math on that at the end of the article), or that we shouldn’t pay attention to what is happening with those other teams in the offseason.

Let’s take a look at the coaching staff of each team, the biggest “skill” names on each side of the ball (non offensive linemen, basically), and some of the offseason moves they’ve made.

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Patriots Week 1 Scouting Report: Arizona Cardinals

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Alright I got something for you guys. Every Wednesday we’re gonna drop a thorough scouting report here at PatsProp and I will be your sherpa guiding you through our opponents this year.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Cardinals aka “The Dirty Birds”.

Week 1: at Arizona Cardinals (Tickets)

Sunday, September 11th,

8:30pm EST, NBC

Indoors

Opponent/Patriots Stats:
Cardinals: 0-0 (13-3 in 2015, lost to Panthers in NFCCG)
Notable Games: None yet.
Common Opponents: None yet.
Recent games vs. Pats: Week 2, 2012 aka, “Ye Olde Time of Kevin Kolb as a Starter.” Cardinals win 20-18

[table id=16Cardinals /]

Notable Players

CARSON PALMER QB (2015 stats): 35 TDs 11 INTs 4,671 yards, 63.7% Completion

DAVID JOHNSON RB (2015 stats): 125 carries, 581 yards (4.6 avg), 8 TDs 4 fumbles, 36 catches, 457 yards

LARRY FITZGERALD WR (2015 stats): 109 catches, 1,215 yards (11.1 avg), 9 TDs, 2 fumbles

MICHAEL FLOYD WR (2015 stats): 52 catches, 849 yards (16.3 avg), 6 TDs, 0 fumbles

PATRICK PETERSON CB (2015 stat): 35 tackles, 8 passes defended, 2 INTs, 1 Forced Fumble

CHANDLER JONES ED (2015 stats): (who looked better in Pats navy 95 than Cardinal red 55 but anyway…) 44 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 4 Forced Fumbles, 1 INT

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Patriots Trade for CB Eric Rowe

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Of course the Patriots weren’t done wheeling and dealing after Labor Day weekend, finalizing a deal today that sent Josh Kline and a 4th-round draft pick to the Eagles for cornerback Eric Rowe.

Rowe was the 47th overall pick in 2015 and is a bigger defensive back at 6’1″, 215 pounds. He played free safety his first three years at Utah before moving the cornerback as a senior. Here’s some of the scouting report from NFL.com on Rowe:

Tall cornerback with long frame. Has the ability to disrupt wide receivers off the line of scrimmage and can mirror them out of their release. Jams and disrupts shallow crossers. Will throw his body around in run support if needed. Solid tackler. Attacks ball at catch point and makes it hard for receiver to finish the catch. Was a three-year starter at free safety before moving to cornerback this year. Can break hard on throws in front of him. Instinctive in zone with ball skills to match.

Rowe’s length and ability to play press-man coverage has some teams excited while his ball skills have other teams interested. He doesn’t always play to his timed speed and a team will have to figure out whether or not he’s a safety or a cornerback, but he should come off the board on the second day.

Rowe’s a really interesting addition to a secondary we already looked at as stacked. But they can certainly use the skillset that Rowe has, which is unique but still fits the mold the Pats desire in their defensive backs these days.

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New England Patriots 2016 Game-by-Game Prediction

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I’m not really big on predictions, but barring something huge new england patriots 2016 predictionhappening (and I won’t even mention what kind of huge) the Patriots’ season will come down to one final play in the playoffs.

If they make that final play, whether it’s coming from behind or getting that final stop, there’s a good chance they’ll be Super Bowl champs.

That’s how good, and how much of a well-oiled machine Bill Belichick’s team is at this point of his tenure.

The schedule is a difficult one and you must embrace that challenge, because if you spend all season just waiting for the playoffs, there’s a good chance you’re going to miss all the fun football games.

If 2007 taught us anything, it’s how much you must cherish the regular season, even with it’s ups and downs, even with injury attrition, all of it. Then the playoffs roll around, you hold your breath and hope the bounces go your way.

Here’s one blogger’s loose prediction of how 2016 could unfold.

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