Eight days until we see the unis, here are the cleats..
https://www.patspropaganda.com/eight-days-until-we-see-the-unis-here-are-the/
nfl
Fullbacks back on the radar for Patriots
Per the Boston Globe’s Greg Bedard the Patriots signed fullback Tony Fiametta today. The Patriots haven’t gone into a season with a true fullback since 2008 with Heath Evans, leading many to believe that the fullback position was dead in New England’s offense. Instead, they used a combination of offensive lineman and tight ends in short yardage and goal-line situations over the past three seasons.
Fiametta replaces Lousaka Polite and joins newly signed Spencer Larson as the newest two fullbacks on the Patriots roster, so are the Patriots reviving the fullback in their offense?
None of them are going to replace BenJarvus Green-Ellis’ production, though some of his short yardage carries could possibly go to a fullback, especially in those 3rd or 4th and 1 calls.
A fullback would also help the transition for a spike in carries for Shane Vereen and/or Stevan Ridley. It’s not uncommon for the NFL’s leading rushers to take great benefit from a reliable fullback such as Vonta Leach and Lorenzo Neal. Both Leach and Neal have paved the way for some of the most successful ground games of the last decade.
But perhaps the easiest answer to the question is that with the loss of Green-Ellis and likely retirement of Kevin Faulk, but three young talented running backs who need to get carries, it’s a better use of a roster spot on someone who brings something new to the party.
If you were to bring in a new halfback he’s either going to take carries from Ridley, Vereen, or Woodhead, and at an expensive free agent cost, or he’s going to end up being a waste of a roster spot. It’s far more likely that the current three halfbacks on the roster can co-exist in harmony (on the field) with a fullback who might even make them better, while also giving another dimension to the Patriots backfield.
Of course this leaves the Patriots with Danny Woodhead as the only (somewhat) proven running back on the roster. Are Ridley and Vereen ready to show why they were second round picks? The Patriots certainly need to give them the ball to find out, but it’s not often a position on New England’s roster is so unproven heading into the season.
In hindsight the Patriots never gave up on the fullback position in their offense, it’s just the combination of personnel and available players never quite lined up for one to be valuable to them over the past few years. Some of that was Green-Ellis’ reliable, hard charging ways, some of it was Sammy Morris, and some of it was the collection of offensive linemen who had the athleticism to play fullback for the 2-3 snaps per game they needed.
I don’t see this is as a philosophical shift for Belichick, moreso a way to maximize roster diversity while also gaining a complimentary piece for his young running backs.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis says good bye to the fans. We always got a special place in our hearts for you!
https://www.patspropaganda.com/benjarvus-green-ellis-says-good-bye-to-the-fans/
Trevor Scott a versatile fit for Patriots
With Andre Carter still recovering from a torn quad and Mark Anderson a new member of the Bills, the pass rush solutions the Patriots found in 2011 won’t be back in the same capacity in 2012.
While I expect Carter to re-sign once he can prove his health, the loss of Anderson leaves the Pats with a hole at designated pass rusher, and while Markell Carter should be an interesting player to keep an eye on, I believe that newly signed Trevor Scott could be an even better fit for the Patriots than Anderson.
Scott isn’t one of the heralded Patriots signings. He signed a one-year deal which means he will have a lot to prove if he wants to stick around this season, much less into 2013 and beyond.
Scott entered the NFL in 2008 with the Raiders and demonstrated some solid pass rush skills playing as a sub at both left and right defensive end. He finished the year with five sacks and nine QB pressures in just 233 snaps, including two sacks of Matt Cassel against the Patriots in week 15.
In 2009 Scott started the season off again as a sub player at right end. In week 12 he was moved to a full time starter at linebacker where he racked up 15 of his 28 total tackles in just 5 games. He finished the year with seven sacks and ten QB pressures.
In 2010 the Raiders began to use Scott in different spots every week. Before tearing his ACL in his tenth game of the season he had already racked up 19 QB pressures. He played left and right end and weakside linebacker, and was generally solid in both run defense and pass rush no matter where he was playing.
Upon his return from injury in 2011 it seems like Scot was no longer a significant part of the Raiders plan. He was used solely as a sub defensive left end and his statistics fell of a cliff. Patriots fans are well aware of the drop off a player can have in his first year back from an ACL injury (see Brady, Welker), so it’s safe to say that played a part in Scott’s drop off. But the coaching staff also no longer used him in a variety of roles which seemed to benefit his play most.
When you look at Mark Anderson’s numbers before coming to the Patriots they are very similar to what we’ve laid out for Trevor Scott, however never before had Anderson played linebacker like Scott. In a perfect world I’d love to have both Anderson and Scott on the Pats in 2012, but if Anderson does walk Scott seems like he’d be a good candidate to replace what Anderson did, and perhaps do it even better in some spots.
This is not to say that I expect Scott to come in and put up ten plus sacks with the Pats right off the bat. But what I do see is a versatile player who played well in a number of different roles for the Raiders, and at 6-05, 255 he’s the ideal size for a Patriots outside linebacker. He should also be back to form being two full years removed from his ACL injury, and he’ll have something to prove with the Patriots being on just a one-year deal.
Scott will surely be a player to keep an eye on when training camp rolls around.
If the first three days of free agency told us anything, it’s that the wide receiver position is considered more valuable than ever. Six of our top 10 free-agent receivers are already signed, while several others have been picked up or given new contracts. Traditional thinking has long been that a good offense needs a playmaking star at No. 1 receiver, a reliable possession target at No. 2 and a darting third-down maestro in the slot at No. 3. But look closer at the transactions this week and you’ll see that these roles are becoming less relevant.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/if-the-first-three-days-of-free-agency-told-us/
Patriots sign safety, free agency plan emerging
The Patriots announced their second and third outside Free Agent signings today, finalizing a three-year pact with former Chargers Safety Steve Gregory, and defensive tackle Marcus Harrison.
Gregory was San Diego’s starter at safety in 2011, and while that’s not exactly a compliment, he played a lot of snaps and also has special teams experience.
Gregory and Harrison join Jonathan Fanene as the newest Patriots, while the team is also reportedly scheduled to meet with safety Laron Landry, wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez and DE/OLB Trevor Scott.
The Pats free agency plan is slowly becoming apparent: adding depth in the defensive front seven and at safety, while also kicking the tires on a wide out like Gonzalez. There’s no question the Pats lack depth at these positions and they are strategically rounding out the roster to protect themselves.
Fanene makes sense as the first singing as he projects to be the much needed situational pass rusher alongside a hopefully healthy Myron Pryor. For two seasons the Pats have lacked a true interior pass rushing threat due to injuries to Pryor and Mike Wright, forcing them to use Vince Wilfork in passing down situations, which is not his strength.
Most fans calling for pass rushers might not have realized it when Fanene signed, but he could be a significant part of the answer to the pass rush problems that have plagued New England, especially against the three-step drop passing game. The impact of a quality interior rusher is often understated, but against a team like Buffalo who like to get the ball out quick, interior rushers are invaluable. Especially one who can cause disruption like Fanene is known to do.
As always the Patriots are rounding out their roster at the positions they most lacked depth with mid-level veterans who may be devalued due to injuries or lack of playing time and/or opportunity. The aim is to go into the draft without a glaring personnel need. There could still be a talent need, but the base of competition at each position should be set.
PatsPropaganda & Frenz Podcast live at 11am EST!
Today Frenz and I welcome Wes Bunting of National Football Post to discuss some draft prospects with Patriots potential. Tune in live or catch it on Itunes immediately afterwards.
Listen to internet radio with PatsPropaganda on Blog Talk Radio