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PatsPulpit/Richard Hill: The Dane Fletcher Experience

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Props to our friend Richard Hill for bringing up one of the guys we’re most excited to see after a year of experience and training in the Patriots system, Dane Fletcher.

Some things I’d like to add…

Fletcher’s role this year really began as a spy covering running backs in passing situations, and occasionally blitzing. This was his role for the majority of the year, though he actually did see some time in the 3-4 base defense at outside linebacker against the Jets in the 45-3 game. That will be something we’ll definitely go back and take a look at to see how he did.

Fletcher’s speed and long arms are definitely intriguing, though at 6’2" 244 he’s really not the ideal height for an OLB, but Richard is right, with some added weight he very well could be up to the task. The biggest thing for him would just gaining the strength necessary to “stack and shed” offensive tackles.

Rob Ninkovich is 6’2" as well but 255 and he’s able to do it, so height isn’t necessarily a deal breaker.

However what is lost in discussing a move for Fletcher to OLB is that first and foremost he looks like, at the very least, he will definitely challenge Gary Guyton as the top passing down linebacker next to Jerod Mayo.

Guyton had some big plays this year, but he also had some rough outings. Going into his fourth year he’ll really need to develop some consistency if he wants to keep his spot.

So even if Fletcher does not come back ready to stop the run at OLB, there should definitely be a role for him. Let’s remember he saw some significant snaps in the playoff game and that shows BB trusts him. He also had a tackle on third down that forced a punt in that game.

Fletcher as an OLB is certainly intriguing, but regardless of where he projects he looks like a solid football player that BB likes so there’s plenty of reasons to be excited about him.

And let’s not forget, he spits hot fire!

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXk

JJ Watt Highlights set to the Fletch theme? Oh boy!

In various mock drafts I’ve seen Watt go at 10th overall, I’ve seen him go 32nd overall. Impossible to say exactly what his ceiling or floor are at this point, but we’ll certainly have a better sense once we get accurate measurements on him and see how he tests. But he certainly has to be on the Patriots radar given his size and strength, whatever the exact numbers might be.

Just remember when it comes to the combine, it’s all ball bearings these days.

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/jj-watt-highlights-set-to-the-fletch-theme-oh/

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqJrjwjf55c

Here are some Robert Quinn highlights. Patsfans.com’s Derek Havens was a big fan of his on the podcast last night. These are especially interesting since he’s going up against one of the top tackles in this years draft class Anthony Castonzo… who has a similar name to an ex-girlfriend of mine so if I refer to him as such that is why.

I think all of us can agree we’d love to see a big, pass rushing terror in the mix for the Patriots, I just don’t know if the Pats will want to spend the pick to go up into the top ten to get Quinn. Why did Oakland pick this year to not be one of the ten shittiest teams in the NFL?

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/here-are-some-robert-quinn-highlights/

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The record speaks for itself. After missing the playoffs in his first season at New England he made the playoffs eight of 10 years — winning the AFC East each season, including five straight — and reached the Super Bowl four of those times. Oh, yeah, he also won three Super Bowls in four years. He was the first coach to go 16-0, the first to win 14 or more regular-season games four times and the only one to win 21 straight regular-season games. He just completed a season where his quarterback became the first unanimous MVP, where he was named the game’s Coach of the Year and where his team led the league in regular-season victories … again. Oh, and did I mention he’s won at least 10 regular-season games the past 10 years and has the best winning percentage among current head coaches with 100 games of experience? So he lost his last three playoff games. Big deal. Tell me another coach you’d trust in one game. In fact, every time he meets a league MVP in the playoffs, he beats him … and let me count the ways: Kurt Warner in 2001; Peyton Manning and Steve McNair in 2003; Manning in 2004; LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006. Belichick is 14-5 in the playoffs with New England, 3-1 in Super Bowls and a three-time Coach of the Year winner. He doesn’t just make it to the all-decade list; he makes it to the all-time one, too, a slam dunk as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Clark Judge on BB

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-record-speaks-for-itself-after-missing-the/

Howe: Highlights from Devin McCourty at The Hall

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Howe: Highlights from Devin McCourty at The Hall

This was last week but I just stumbled upon Jeff Howe’s article with some highlights I had not heard. You should check them all out, but here was one of my favorites:

McCourty said his favorite interception this season came on Thanksgiving against the Lions, which was the most impressive, in my opinion, because he outleaped wide receiver Calvin Johnson for the ball. McCourty mentioned how flat the Patriots played in the first half and how they kept saying they needed to do something to turn the tide. Then, McCourty went over to safety Brandon Meriweather and said they need to stop talkingabout making a play and actually make a real play. On the next series, McCourty recorded the pick, and it sprung the Pats on a 35-7 run to finish the game. He said he was just proud to do something to energize the team and push them toward a victory.