PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

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[I]n talking to Revis, his teammates and the people closest to him, the feeling is Revis Island will be making a more permanent landing in New England. Revis likes playing for Bill Belichick. He likes the Patriots’ no-nonsense approach and professional environment. He likes the guys in the locker room. He likes competing for Super Bowls. “It’s been everything he thought it would be,” a source close to Revis said, “and more.”

For Darrelle Revis, it’s all about the winning – Sports – The Boston Globe

https://www.patspropaganda.com/in-talking-to-revis-his-teammates-and-the/

So the run game really has not been a strength of ours this season; which the Ravens game showed. We’ve generally been able to get away with it because the passing game is really good and the defense is strong as well. Here are my questions: 1) Why do you think it hasn’t been great? More on the backs or the line? 2) What do you think we can do to make it better for the Colts game and (hopefully) the Super Bowl? 3) What can we do to make it better next season?

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It’s accurate, as you can see below. Certainly the injury to Ridley did’t help and then all the rotation along the offensive line was bothersome. This are really issues to examine closer this offseason because I don’t know the simple answer. 

I mean, they’re still in the top half of the league, so it’s not like they were awful. Really, on the defensive side of the ball, we’d have taken 14th in DVOA in any ranking, but the bar has been set so high, Top-10 the last eight seasons, it was hard not to notice a dip.

My initial feeling is that it comes back to the interior offensive line and just needing to upgrade one or both of those spots. I like Stork long-term, but I think they can do better than Wendell/Connolly and wished they had taken more substantive steps last offseason.

Then it comes back to just finding a better early-down back, and I’d guess that might include Ridley on a prove-it deal and a significant draft pick to compete with Blount.

In spite of all this, if Ridley had stayed healthy, they’d probably be a few spots higher and we wouldn’t be quite so concerned, but it is something to look at this offseason.

Are you noticing a full-scale sense of urgency, not just from the obvious viewpoint of Patriots fans, but also from past players seemingly calling out this specific team to get another SB now? (Notable quotes from Ty Law, Tedy Bruschi, etc. this week.) It’s like they know the window is closing and this is the best chance in a while for their boy Brady to get no. 4. That’s how much these guys still love the Pats and Brady. It’s kickass to see!

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To be honest, it hasn’t really stood out to me. I think I felt it moreso in 2011 when they hadn’t gotten close since 2007, plus there was the Myra Kraft memory that amplified it a bit.

I know Brady is close to the end, but I’d actually expect them to be even better on offense next year considering LaFell with a full year under his belt, Gronk with a full offseason where he’s not rehabbing, Tim Wright with a full offseason in the playbook and, hopefully, some reinforcements along the offensive line.

Yes, there is always a sense of urgency when you get to this point. So many things need to go your way just to be in this spot of hosting the conference championship, but I still think this team has a couple more runs in the Brady/Belichick window in them.

It’s hard not to get anxious when they’ve been so close the last four years, especially considering this is the most talented defense they’ve had since 2007 at least, and who knows how things will go with Revis this offseason, one of the biggest key pieces of it.

But yes, it’s great to see the support they’re still getting from the old guard and I’m sure those guys are itching for a Super Bowl just as much as we the fans are. Remember, another Super Bowl win for TB/BB will do as much for the dynasty’s legacy as it will for the current team.

How much do you think having Stork out will effect the line? They seemed to hold up pretty well against the Ravens when he went out and that was on the fly. They have had a whole week to work with a new o-line rotation.

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Because of Wendell’s experience at center I’m not super scared. The interior of the line has been slightly concerning all season long and if you had to lose one of those three starters, Stork would probably be the one I’d pick. Kline has some good experience this year so it’s not like we’re throwing some undrafted rookie in there.

The interior offensive line wasn’t a strength to begin with, so they’re going from slightly concerning to slightly concerning. They can win with this group.