SB Nation - Gary Guyton

A Bad Week For Patriots Nation Just Got Worse...This Time It Involves Mascots and Prostitutes.

PSTIM1 — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 08:59:33 -0000

More photos » by LEFTERIS PITARAKIS - AP

I'll just go ahead and leave this one alone - feel free to submit your own caption in the comments.

First Bill Belichick causes an unnecessary media frenzy by sending home four of his player's for being late to meetings due to a snow storm, then it is disclosed that Tom Brady has suffered injuries to his ribs and finger and now...well now the Patriot's mascot has been busted in a prostitution sting! Hahahahaha - I guess when it rains it pours. Sucks to be you Pat's fans! I just pray that Sunday's game is uneventful and someone from the New England media has the balls to ask Belichick about the mascot, that would be priceless!

Poll

If You Heard That A Mascot Was Arrested What Would You Immediately Assume The Charge Was?

Send 'em packing - why Belichick was right

MaPatsFan — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:29:07 -0000

More photos » by Steven Senne - AP

11 days ago: New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick takes questions from reporters during a news conference at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009. Belichick praised the Carolina Panthers as the Patriots look for a way out of their slump. The Patriots are to play the Panthers in Foxborough on Sunday, Dec. 13. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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Not unlike Bill Belichick, I manage people for a living. Well, it's not a pro football franchise and I don't have a boat and millions... you get the point. Like Bill, I deal with performance issues, family problems, strange requests, and motivational stuff. Sometimes it's a lot of work to keep the ship sailing smoothly and sometimes it's not. When you have key people on your team who are mature and lead by example, it makes a manager's job that much easier. And sometimes you have problems.

I've seen it time and time again. Many managers are not professional managers. That is, they didn't STUDY to be a manager. In the environment I work in, a large Fortune 50 company, people rise to the top in a technical ladder and are then "promoted" to manager; the thinking is if they can build widgets really well, they can manage people to build widgets. If the newly minted manager doesn't take some sort of management training, the percentages are rather high that they will fail miserably. Why? Because managing people is less about keeping track of all the tasks they're doing and more about leading them.

One of the hardest skills to learn is delivering negative feedback. Very few people thrive on confrontation; most times we shy away from it, but if you don't do it in a timely manner, it can fester. Such is the case with the Adalius Thomas, Randy Moss, Gary Guyton, and Derrick Burgess. The transgression was slight - missing an 8am meeting on Wednesday morning by minutes. Some have stated a fine would be more appropriate, that taking 4 key players out of practice for a day is actually punishing the remaining players. Those "some" are wrong, IMO.

As I mentioned above, things have a way of festering, of spreading like a bad cold. A manager needs to nip these things in the bud quickly. Why? Because others notice. You may not think they do, but they most definitely notice. First, they feel like they're commitment matters, that showing up early for a meeting is recognized as a good behavior. People will respond to that and continue that behavior. Second, and most importantly, it sets a tone. It sets a tone of what is tolerated and what is not allowed. By publicly flogging a few, the many quickly realize what's acceptable. Most of the time, they will elevate their performance as a response.

Hunger, fire, whatever you want to call it, is a carefully cultivated asset; it's an intangible that is so important to an organization. Like a campfire, it takes work to keep the embers glowing and the fire roaring. Sometimes you need to discard that "green" piece of wood that's dulling the fire, robbing the nice, seasoned pieces. Sometimes you need to send a message. Sometimes you need to raise the bar.

Bill was right. Let something like that go and it festers, spreading to the rest. Set a tone and those that are smart enough to hear it will learn. Others will not. And they'll be gone.

Bill Belichick - Smart Move There Guy

PSTIM1 — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:59:28 -0000

More photos » by Stew Milne - AP

Bill Belichick would probably be more interested in having a voluntary colonoscopy than speaking with the media.

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The Patriots are in the heart of a playoff push, they need to be totally focused on making the post-season. At this point the last thing they need is distractions. That's why Bill Belichick's decision to send home Randy Moss and Adalius Thomas (and two other dudes) for being late to a team meeting is all the more dumbfounding. First of all he's pissed off two of his best player's, undoubtedly created tension in the locker room, and created a national story that the media will be all over. Seeing is Bill looks about as comfortable as a priest who accidentally brought his kids to a 2 Live Crew concert during press conferences you would think he'd do anything to avoid anything that brought on any type of media attention. We at Project Franchise think Bill is a great x's and o's guy but we now think that he might be one of those Rain Main type of retarded genius' who just knows football and doesn't really have the ability to grasp concepts that aren't related to the field of play - he surely has no clue how to dress. We can say that if our star player's were late because they were trapped in a snow storm we would dispatch our personnel to greet them at their car's with hot chocolate and blankets...Do you agree with Bill? Are we being too lax? Are you a "rule's are the rule's" person or are you a "best interest of the team" person?

Poll

Bill Belichick Sending His Stud Player's Home Was...?

New England Patriots Links 10/22/09 - Brandon Tate Ready and Willing

Marima — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:44:54 -0000

Rookie WR Brandon Tate finally ready, and more than willing to play.

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Tom Brady talks up the Bucs.

I mean, obviously, every team has its strengths and weaknesses, and every team is dangerous in its own way. This team has a lot of youth, but it has some playmakers on defense, especially in the secondary. We went through a lot of the stuff this morning and they can make a lot of plays. Similar to us, it's just the consistency of it. We're expecting them to play their best game - there's no reason why they wouldn't - so we're going to have to go out and do the same.

Bill Belichick talks up the undrafteds, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Gary Guyton.

[BenJarvus Green-Ellis] has been very impressive since the first time we had him here in rookie minicamp and then in the spring minicamps, kind of like how Gary Guyton was on defense. I'm not saying you don't expect anything… I mean, this guy was a good back, in a good conference, at a good school just like Gary Guyton was a good linebacker, in a good conference, at a good school, but they come in and start competing with your veteran players and even some of your younger veterans – second and third year guys – and they're right there with them or maybe even moving a little bit ahead of them and it catches your eye pretty quickly.

From no experience and no big hype coming in, they show up here and start making plays and start doing a lot of things that guys who supposedly are more talent or supposedly have more experience, they're doing them better [and] it kind of catches your eye. I would say Gary and BenJarvus both fell into that category last year and have continued to improve and progress through the entire time they've been here. It wasn't just a one hit wonder, quick shot at it. They started fast and they built on it and built it to a very high level.

Shalise Manza Young notes rookie WR Brandon Tate is itching to play and knows he must show both the Pats' coaching staff and Tom Brady that he can be counted on.

"I just (have to) try to get the coaches' trust so they can put me in the game," he said, adding that Brady was just as important to impress. "It is, because if Tom doesn't trust you he's not going to throw you the ball, so I'm just going to go out there and practice and just try to do everything right."

"I'm real happy. I feel comfortable, I have the trust back in the knee, I'm ready to go," he said. "I feel real confident in myself…If they give me the call, I'll be ready. It is the perfect situation; I'm just going to go out there, get the coaches' trust, get Tom's trust, and we'll see."

TEAM SHOTS

Erik Scalavino LB Adalius Thomas opens up about his deactivation from last week's game and what lies ahead for him and the Patriots. Pus, news and notes from the New England locker room and Wednesday's practice.
Patriots and Buccaneers announce the following player injuries and practice participation.
Wednesday Pressers: Tom Brady (9.32 min video) plus Transcript, and Bill Belichick (20 min. video) plus Transcript.
Patriots Today - Prepping for London (9:34 min. video)
Locker Room Uncut - Thomas, Mankins and WR intrigue. (3.31 min. video)
PFW TV Watch this edition as we discuss the Patriots 59-0 win over the Titans. Plus, we'll preview this Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium in London. (22.41 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

Karen Guregian looks at the benching of Adalius Thomas gamble by Belichick, and says it probably won't serve to propel him into playing like the guy the Patriots thought they had signed.
Monique Walker reports Adalius Thomas took the benching as a professional, "It’s not about me and Bill. We’re fine. It seems like y’all have a bigger problem with it than I do."
Ron Borges says being inactive is nothing new to Adalius Thomas, 'the most expensive free agent signee of the Bill Belichick era, which is a large part of the reason he was sitting at home while less well compensated players were playing football in the snow."
Kerry J. Byrne reviews the Patriots snow games and concludes Brady is the best QB in winter weather.
Mike Reiss notes Patriots third-string QB Isaiah Stanback is an offbeat option at WR and has experience at that position.
Robert Lee has a terrific piece on LB Gary Guyton - a humble, unlikely leader of the Patriots defense.
Tony Massarotti focuses on the steady ship that has been the New England Patriots since Bill Belichick's second year coaching the team.
Mike Reiss offers a Patriots penalty breakdown through week 6.
Boston Herald Patriots Notebook: Darius Butler joined the walking wounded with an ankle injury; Bucs head coach Raheem Morris is still looking for his first win; Jonathan Wilhite became a first-time father Tuesday with the birth of baby girl Kamryn; Tom Brady has never played football in England, but his cartoon self has. In a "Family Guy" episode titled "Patriots Games," Brady and the Pats play a team called the Silly Nannies in London.

NATIONAL NEWS

Tim Graham (ESPN) AFC East Underachiever: Terrell Owens. Rookie receiver Julian Edelman, a seventh-round draft choice the New England Patriots converted from QB, has six more catches than Owens in one fewer game.
Nolan Nawrocki (Pro Football Weekly) Examined all 32 NFL rosters and identified Ty Warren as one of 10 players who haven't received the recognition that they have earned.
Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) NFL: Week 6 - Audi Eye Opening Performance- Robinson breaks down the historic performance by Tom Brady and if this is the beginning of another great season.
Mark Woods (Britball media for ESPNBoston) UKPats ready to cheer on New England.
Jeffrey Marcus (NY Times) For Glazers, winning in one football is not as easy as winning in the other.
Peter Schrager (Fox Sports) Week 7 Cheat Sheet: NFL picks and predictions. Pats over Bucs 37-14
Aaron Wilson (Nat'l Football Post) Seymour didn't like how trade to Raiders was handled.
Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) NFL facing an international crisis.
Ross Tucker (SI) Too many 'victory Mondays' lead to losing Sundays for mediocre teams.

VIEW FROM TAMPA

Buccaneers.com Digging deep: The Bucs went back to work on Wednesday, preparing to face New England's explosive offense.
Ira Kaufman (Tampa Tribune) Bucs will be strictly business for game in London.
Joe Smith (St. Petersburg Times) Bucs will use different travel plans than Patriots for London showdown.
Ira Kaufman (Tampa Tribune ) Pats' coach Belichick wary of improving Bucs team. "When Bill Belichick finished his conference call with the Tampa Bay media Wednesday, it was unclear whether he was preparing for the 2009 Buccaneers or the 1985 Chicago Bears."
Anwar Richardson (Tampa Tribune) Morris keeps confidence amid growing fan unrest.
John Romano (St. Petersburg Times) Do not underestimate the sheer helplessness of this year's Buccaneers. (2.08 min. video)

"Did you know former owner Hugh Culverhouse once interviewed Bill Belichick to be his head coach? Culverhouse gave the job to Richard Williamson instead. Williamson went on to win 3 games in his only full season as an NFL head coach. Bill Belichick went on to win 3 Super Bowls as the Patriots head coach."

Junior's back, but why? New England Patriots sign Junior Seau

MaPatsFan — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:22:27 -0000

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

2 months ago: New England Patriots linebacker Junior Seau smiles during practice at the NFL football team's facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 14, 2009. The Patriots signed 40-year-old Seau, who is entering his 20th NFL season. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

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"In eight months, I’ve been working out for a chance to make a choice. The chance, I didn’t have control of. Bill had control of that. But the choice was to be prepared for that chance. So for eight months, I have been training to receive a chance, and to have a choice. And here we are."

This is why Junior Seau is back. In a sport so full of dopes and idiots, thugs and morons, in walks a man of honor who has earned respect in the locker room and on the field. Junior stays ready. He stays ready for the phone call that may come.

"Junior", says Bill.

"Yeah Coach", replies Seau.

"We need you."

"I'm there, coach. Whatever you need."

A man of honor.

I am not delusional. I'm not totally blind with a man crush on Junior Seau. The man's 40 years old. And, in a sport where careers can end before a player cracks his third decade, my eyes are open to the fact that Junior's contributions on the field may not be at the same level as a Jerod Mayo or a Gary Guyton. But he has value to Bill and that's all I need.

In a defense that's horribly thin at linebacker, Seau seems to be filler, a backup role player that might see 15 to 20 snaps on a good day. He knows the system and he's played with many of the best in that system (Tedy Bruschi anyone?). Is he the ILB that will stand arm-in-arm with Jerod and hold down the middle? I don't think so. Could he be the guy who jumps in every now and then for a Mayo/Guyton inside? Probably. More importantly, as he enters his 20th NFL season, Junior's been around.

He has a love for the game and a love for the players in it, specifically the New England Patriots. He's stated many times that this is the only team he'll play with and Belichick is the only coach he'll play for. He'll do anything for Belichick; the two trust each other that much:

"The best thing I do is I lean on Bill Belichick," Seau said. "And the reason I say that is that Bill doesn’t kick around tires and say, ‘I’m just going to go grab a guy that’s 40 years old off the surfboard and say come and join us.’ He has a plan. And his plan is something that we’re going to try and implement, whatever it may be.

Junior is a lot of things. Is he past his prime? Sure, and he knows it. But what he has that this team needs is a fire, a veteran presence at linebacker that we're missing. Maybe Belichick brought him back because he's the spark that this team needs.

One thing I know is that you can’t coach courage. You can’t. You give me an A, B gap, I’m going through there, until I break glass. I will go through the A and B gap until I break glass. And that’s what I do.

Can't coach courage. When so many are whining about their paychecks, Junior is talking about courage.

A man of honor.

Post Game Recap: New England Patriots defeat Baltimore Ravens, 27-21

MaPatsFan — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:41:33 -0000

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

2 months ago: New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss (81) is congratulated by tackle Nick Kaczur (77) after Moss caught a third-quarter touchdown pass, his first of the season, during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 4, 2009, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Ravens 27-21. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

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If you're looking for three words to sum up this game, "What a battle" does it for me. All week long, we blogged with our friends at Baltimore Beatdown, chatting about their #1 run defense (7th overall), Joe Flacco's performance to date, and how NE would have a tough time offensively. All of that was true. But, we did just enough to come out with a W. There certainly were mistakes on both sides of the ball, but I felt this game was the gritty matchup it advertised to be and we all had quite a show, if you ask me.

All week long I felt 2 things needed to happen: the defense needed to press Joe Flacco and Tom Brady needed to find that magical connection with his receivers. Both happened, to varying degrees. Nothing about this game was stellar from a statistical perspective, but the right things happened at the right moments to propel the team forward. So, onto the ups and downs.

I'm experimenting with the format a bit and decided "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" was just too hard to manage, so Ups and Downs it is.

The Ups

Defense - Overall, our defense looked really good, holding the Ravens to 14 points (the other 7 from a Tom Brady fumble and Ravens recovery in the end zone). Brandon McGowan and Brandon Meriweather were all over the field, making tackles and pressing receivers when needed. Gary Guyton is turning into a beast at MLB. It's definitely Jerod Mayo's job, but isn't it good to see Gary coming up in the world? In a 3-4, both Mayo and Guyton at ILB would be a strong, young partnership.
Tom Brady - 21/32 and 258 yards, 1 touchdown is not great, but it was good enough to march them down the field when they needed it. And tell me you weren't pumped to see Brady float that TD pass to Randy Moss! Brady correctly read that Moss was in single coverage and the defender was grossly out gunned. A thing of beauty.
Passing - Not one receiver, tight end, or running back cracked 100 yards in the air, but Brady did a masterful job of spreading the ball around where he needed to. Wes Welker had some nice catches in critical circumstances and Ben Watson continues to be clutch. One of the biggest surprises was how effective running backs were as receivers. In particular, Sammy Morris, often split wide, had 5 grabs for 35 yards.
Rushing - Our run game, as predicted, was nothing to write home about. 85 yards to be exact. But, Belichick used the ground game to unbalance Baltimore and guess what? You can have 2 yards rushing, but if they're for touchdowns, it doesn't matter. Did I mention 2 of our TDs were on the ground against the #1 run D? And Tom Brady had one of them no less!
Red Zone - 3/5 in the red zone is a heck of a lot better than 1/5 last week against Atlanta. All week we've been talking about efficiency in the 20 and we got it today. We all would like to see every trip result in 7, but the percentage is heading in the right direction.

The Downs

Laurence Maroney - Even in kickoff return duties, El Mo continues to struggle, dancing and bouncing off of blockers in front of him. 7 for 6 yards with a long of 5 is not good, no sir. It's especially not good when "old man" Fred Taylor has 7 for 25 and Tom Brady gets 5 for 11. I'm very close to calling Maroney a bust.
Tom Brady fumble - Protect.the.quarterback!!! Luckily, we had a 10 point lead at the time, but Matt Light got abused by Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs. In a close game, this could've been the difference between a win and a loss. Matt Light HAS to have Brady's back if he's going to work the left side (blind side).

A gritty, hard fought win. What are your ups and downs? What were you happy about? Has Brady shaken off the rust?

Five Questions For Three Patriots Blogger

Dave the Falconer — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:00:27 -0000

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

Bill Belicheck flinches at the thought of Patriots fans answering questions in an honest and straightforward manner. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

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No longer satisfied with the answers of a single blogger, I filled my pack with provisions and headed out into the foothills of Massachusetts. When I emerged, hours later, I had bagged three bloggers, all of them able to answer my arcane questions about the very nature of the New England Patriots.

I want to give a shout out to the fine folks at Pats Pulpit, NE Patriots Draft and Patriots Daily. It was great corresponding with everyone, and getting a variety of answers should generate a little more debate amongst you, the readers of the ~~best~~ most Falcons blog on the net. Check out all the answers after the jump.

Dave the Falconer: Have Tom Brady's struggles thus far been related to rust coming off an injury, or is there something else going on there?

MaPatsFan, Pats Pulpit: I think rust is a legitimate concern for us Patriots fans. Brady has said that he feels his mechanics are not quite what they used to be. I've also read, from Brady and his receivers, that they're still working on their connection. It's especially hard for Joey Galloway, our #3. It's easier with Randy Moss and Wes Welker considering the 2007 streak, but there's still a year's worth of stuff to make up.

NE Patriots Draft: I think it is rust, but more because of the lack of timing. Brady has looked a bit tentative at times, presumably due to the injury, but quick routes and dump-offs are being missed. That leads me to believe that after a few more games, the timing will click back in.

Patriots Daily: Rust is definitely a factor. However, he's still adjusting to the knee, and because of that, his footwork isn't what it needs to be. He's been throwing off the back foot more, and it has impacted his accuracy. He was also flattened by Albert Haynesworth in the preseason and injured his shoulder a little bit. It hasn't been mentioned too much as a problem, but you've got to think that the rust, the knee and the shoulder all are conspiring against him right now. I fear it may be a few more weeks before we see him back to his old self. A comparison often made around here is Peyton Manning last year. He struggled, and the Colts struggled in the early going because of his knee surgery, but he eventually put it together. We're hoping for similar results here.

DtF: I've had the chance to watch your running game quite a bit over the last couple of years, and I have to ask....is Laurence Maroney ever going to get it going? Do you guys need a true feature back, or does the committee approach work well?

PP: We've been hoping, for many years, that Laurence would breakout as that workhorse back we've all been looking for. At this stage, and given what I've seen, I don't see it happening. I think the backfield by committee approach is here to stay in New England. In 2008, we were #1 in the AFC East and #6 in the NFL; it seems to work for us.

NPD: I think Maroney is running very hard this year. He is taking a yard gain this year, where before he would dance and end up losing ground. He has had a few negative plays, but those were mainly the fault of our left tackle.

PD: Maroney has had injury problems, and some question his toughness. However down the stretch in 2007 and in the first two playoff games that season, he was everything you want in a running back. Last year he missed most of the season after injuring his shoulder. The Patriots seem to favor the committee approach just to try and limit the wear and tear on their backs. Fred Taylor looked good last week against the Jets, and I can see him getting an increased role this week. Sammy Morris had been their best back in the first half of the last two seasons, but wore down as the season went on. I think the Patriots are trying to keep them all fresh, while at the same time allowing them to play enough to stay sharp. It's a tough balance to achieve, especially when you're throwing the ball so much. I'm hoping you'll see a bigger commitment to the run until Brady can get his issues settled down.

DtF: If you were the Falcons, how would you defend against Randy Moss?

PP: Force him away from his sideline routes. He's a gazelle, not a jackrabbit. While he's learning to be the latter, he's much happier on routes that take a bit of time to get up to speed. Once he IS up to that speed, he's hard to catch. Turn him inside or under 10-15 yards and he struggles.

NPD: I would bump him at the line, and roll a safety over to his side all day. The Patriots haven't shown that they can stretch the field across from Moss, and the Jets used this tactic to perfection.

PD: Either a straight double-team, or a tight man-to-man coverage with safety help over the top. That seems to be the most effective, though Moss has made some adjustments by going over the middle more this preseason and regular season - more than I've ever seen him do. The Jets had success with Darelle Revis last week, but I'm sure it also helped that Wes Welker wasn't playing. If Welker is in the game, it's going to be tough for any defense to completely shut off Moss.

DtF: With Richard Seymour traded and Jerod Mayo hurt, how is your front seven looking thus far?

PP: As a 4-3, I'd say they're ok. I'm still waiting for a strong pass rusher to emerge; I thought Derrick Burgess would be that guy, but I haven't seen it yet. As a 3-4, I'm concerned with the back 4. We're really struggling to fill the ranks at ILB with Tedy Bruschi retired and Jerod Mayo out for 5 more weeks. I'm worried at this point.

NDP: After looking silly against the Bills and Fred Jackson, the front seven looked much improved against the Jets. Gary Guyton, filling in for Jerod Mayo, is the key to stopping the run this week.

PD: It's been decent. Mayo's injury hurt a lot more than the trade of Seymour. Mayo was to be the centerpiece of the defense, and a big reason why they were doing more 4-3 formations. The idea was that Mayo would be freed up to make plays all over the field. Gary Guyton has replaced Mayo for the time being, and though he led the team in tackles against the Jets, he had some struggles out there. Adalius Thomas was pretty much invisible last week, and that just can't happen. The run defense has been solid overall, with Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren still in place up front. The problem has been getting pressure on the quarterback, and that is where they need improvement. Mike Wright and Jarvis Green have been the primary replacements for Seymour, and need to get to the QB for the defense to be more well-rounded.

DtF: What's your prediction for the game on Sunday?

PP: My sense is this is the game Brady will come out. I've been listening to his pressers enough to know he's aggravated by his performance and will be working hard to make an impact this coming Sunday. However, the Falcons have a lot to play for, specifically dominance of the NFC South or, at the very least, stay tied with the Saints. I think this game could go either way, but it'll be very close: 24-21.

NDP: 27-24 Patriots in overtime. The Falcons are a great team, but I feel like they don't have the secondary to stay with the Patriot receivers. If they are able to get to Brady early though, Atlanta has the ability to win by double-digits.

PD: I really hate predictions, probably because I'm so awful at them. I don't see Brady solving all his problems in one week, so that's a plus for the Falcons. I hope there is a bigger focus on the running game, especially since the Falcons have lost Peria Jerry. Matt Ryan should have success throwing to Tony Gonzalez whenever he wants, but I think the Patriots defense will make a big play or two this week. The home field will mean a lot to the Patriots in terms of comfort especially for Brady and the offense. I see a pretty tight game here, maybe 24-17 Patriots.

Thanks again to everyone who participated! Here's to a great game on Sunday.

New York Jets Run Offense vs. New England Patriots Run Defense

John B — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:00:31 -0000

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

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It would be nice if the Jets could establish the run early and take a lot of pressure off their rookie quarterback. I think Bill Belichick will do whatever it takes to prevent that from taking place. The Pats will probably stick eight or even nine in the box to force the Jets to throw the ball. Mark Sanchez made the Texans pay and eventually forced them to respect his arm, which opened things late for Thomas Jones.

This is not a vintage Pats front seven, especially with Jerod Mayo sitting this one out. Mayo is vying with David Harris for the title of top young inside linebacker in the division. Mayo had 20 tackles on Thursday night in Foxborough back in 2008. That will leave Eric Alexander and Gary Guyton to man the inside. This leaves a pair of matchups as key. Nick Mangold against Vince Wilfork is always an elite battle. So will be Ty Warren against Brandon Moore and Damien Woody.

Jarvis Green is a quality starter, replacing the departed Richard Seymour at defensive end. The Bills broke some runs going after him. I wouldn't expect the Jets to test him much. Gang Green loves to run right to Warren's side, away from the left, where D'Brickashaw Ferguson's limitations in the run game are a factor. The Jets are going to challenge Wilfork and Warren, sending Tony Richardson and pulling Alan Faneca to the side often. If they can control the pair up front and hit the second level, there will be favorable matchups and opportunities for Thomas Jones to break big gains. This will force safeties Brandon Merriweather and James Sanders to call the box home. Merriweather and Sanders are going to spend time in the box, but if the Jets run effectively, Bill Belichick will have to play there more than they want. It will open up a lot for Mark Sanchez, and the rookie looks like he can exploit it. Of the outside linebackers, Adalius Thomas is very good against the run, but Tully Banta-Cain and Derrick Burgess are strongest against the run. Pierre Woods did have a big game against the Jets last season.

I expect Brian Schottenheimer to have a few tricks up his sleeve. Plenty of gimmick looks out of the Seminole formation and perhaps some run-pass options for Brad Smith to try and catch the Pats off guard. The Jets had some success out of an option look with Smith two years ago.

I'm thinking this game comes down to Mark Sanchez. I see the Pats doing everything they can to stop the run. If New York establishes the ground game early, it could be a really really fun day for the New Yorkers.

New England Patriots 53 man roster - some thoughts

MaPatsFan — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:04:36 -0000

by Stephan Savoia - AP

7 months ago: New England Patriots head football coach Bill Belichick looks over his rookies during football minicamp at the team's practice facility in Foxborough, Mass., Friday morning, May 1, 2009 (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

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We stay with 2 QB's, LB is a bit weak, TE will be a position to watch, OL is stacked on the interior...let's break it down position by position (props to NESilver for his comment in this thread)

Offense: 25

QB: Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer (2) - Odd we keep only 2, but that could change when the season starts.
RB: Laurence Maroney, Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, BenJarvus Green-Ellis (5) - Solid group.
WR: Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Joey Galloway, Greg Lewis, Saim Aiken, Julian Edelman (6) - Break out the air raid sirens. Edelman looked like "Little Welker".
TE: Benjamin Watson, Chris Baker, Michael Matthews (3) - Like this group, Matthews is a big man which must mean "blocking TE". Baker has good hands which we haven't seen in NE TE's for a long time.
OL: Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal, Nick Kaczur, Sebastian Vollmer, Rich Ohrnberger, Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell (9) - Deep on the interior, Vollmer is the next stud.

Defense: 25

DL: Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, Jarvis Green, Ron Brace, Mike Wright, Myron Pryor (7) - Liking the depth, glad to see Pryor make the roster
DE/OLB: Derrick Burgess, Tully Banta-Cain (2) - Can you say, "4-3?" I knew you could. Here comes the pass rush.
LB: Adalius Thomas, Jerod Mayo, Gary Guyton, Pierre Woods, Eric Alexander, Rob Ninkovich (6) - Might be considered a little thin, possibly why NE is experimenting with a 4-3.
CB: Leigh Bodden, Shawn Springs, Jonathan Wilhite, Darius Butler, Terrence Wheatley (5) - Wheatley barely hung on to his spot. I hope a "shutdown corner" emerges.
S: Brandon Meriweather, James Sanders, Patrick Chung, Brandon McGowan, Matthew Slater (5) - Good group, although Slater will, most likely, be IR'd.

Specialists: 3

K: Stephen Gostkowski - What can I say? One of the best kickers in the league. A machine through the uprights and consistently boots kickoffs into the endzone.
P: Chris Hanson - Game changer. Massive hangtime and very good accuracy.
LS: Jake Ingram - Many laughed when Hoodie drafted Ingram. The rookie wins the long snapper battle.

Injured Reserve

OLB: Shawn Crable - Depressing. The dude can't catch a break.
RB: Chris Taylor
OL: George Bussey - Adds depth for next year.
LB: Tyrone McKenzie - Looking forward to seeing him inside for 2010.

Poll

What do you think of the roster?

Lovin' it!

524 votes

Too early to tell.

722 votes

Hate it.

66 votes

1312 votes | Poll has closed

5 Questions with NE Patriots Draft

Ed Valentine — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:00:13 -0000

Yeah, you might even get the idea this post was a glorified excuse for showing off a photo of a New England Patriots cheerleader showing off the 2010 swimsuit calendar. Am I really above that? via cachemediasrv.patriots.com

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Trading questions with bloggers from rival teams is always enjoyable. We do that a lot around SBN. Today, though, we are going outside the network for a Q&A session with NE Patriots Draft. I take no credit -- they approached me. Anyway, here is the result of our Q&A.

Big Blue View: Are you worried about Tom Brady's shoulder? Or, are you buying the company line that he just has a bruise and that everything is wonderful?

Patriots Draft: I'm sure that Tom Brady will be listed as probable until the end of time, but I really don't think it is a big problem. He might be hurt, but since he was practicing on Monday, he doesn't seem to be injured.

BBV: Another Brady question (the last one, since I am making myself ill asking them). From what you can see is he fully recovered from his knee injury, or will there be any lingering effect on his mobility, willingness to get hit, anything like that?

PD: Luckily, Brady wasn't that mobile to begin with. Rather than relying on running, he uses small shuffles in the pocket that even my grandfather can duplicate. Judging by his statement that he "wanted to get blown up" in the pre-season, he is ready to get hit.

BBV: Tedy Bruschi just retired. Not really a question, but give me some thoughts on what Bruschi meant to the Patriots the last several seasons. Also, some thoughts on whether this team will miss him on the field.

PD: Tedy has been instrumental in keeping this team focused over the last few turmoil-filled years. While his skills were waning, his coaching career was just beginning. His leadership and intensity (along with Mike Vrabel) will be missed greatly, although Gary Guyton and Jerod Mayo have proven to be superior players on the field.

BBV: Obviously, the starters won't play much -- if at all -- Thursday night. Give us some players we should watch for during the game, particularly guys we might not really be familiar with.

On offense, take a look at WR/KR Julian Edelman -- the 7th round former QB has been channeling Wes Welker in the preseason, and should make the team as a special teams player and 5th WR. Defensively, Pat Chung can really hit. I would imagine that Chung will see some significant time in the safety role on Thursday night. The Oregon grad has been a bit tentative in coverage, but has been good in run support.

BBV: Here is one my favorite questions. If you could take one player off the Giants and put him in a Patriots uniform who would it be? Why?

PD: At first blush, I would take Eli Manning and give him a clipboard. All joking aside, I think that Mathias Kiwanuka would be a terror as an OLB in the Patriots 3-4, and a SLB in their 4-3. His low center of gravity and versatility would be a great fit in New England.