I love playing around with Football Outsiders statistics, so I've decided to look at the player pages of each notable Patriots player and see who they most favorably compare to in terms of their one-year similarity score. Let's see if you can guess who would go where! No cheating!

Also, questions to consider:
1. What does this tell you about last year's team?

2. Where do you think we will see improvements next year?

3. Did any comparisons surprise you? Positively or negatively?

There may be a certain former player lurking the WR list as well.

Also, there will be no OL, because there aren't similarity scores for OL.

Post any guesses or general thoughts in the comments section! This should be fun.

QB: 2007 Peyton Manning, 1998 Eric Kresser 

RB: 1999 Anthony Johnson, 2009 Justin Forsett, 2009 Ahman Green, 2001 Stacey Mack

WR: 2010 Jacoby Ford, 1994 Quinn Early, 1992 Mark Didio, 1998 Chris Calloway, 2005 Andrae Thurman, 2003 Ricky Proehl

TE: 2003 Brian Kozlowski

And, how unprecedented was our usage of tight ends this year? Get this:

2010 Aaron Hernandez, 2010 Rob Gronkowski

DL: 2003 Hugh Douglas, 1997 Bryan Robinson, 1997 Alonzo Spellman, 2005 Shaun Smith, 2009 Tommy Kelly,2004 James Lee, 2001 Reggie McGrew

OLB: 2009 Aaron Kampman, 2007 Jay Richardson, 2006 Ben Leber, 2004 Eric Ogbogu

ILB: 2004 Jamie Winborn, 1997 Cornell Brown, 2007 Patrick Willis, 1997 Tom Tumulty

CB: 2004 Quentin Jammer, 1999 Emmanuel McDaniel, 1997 Monty Montgomery, 2009 Johnathan Joseph

S: 2010 Eric Berry, 2010 Reggie Nelson, 2009 James Butler, 2004 Gerome Sapp

In general, I have nothing but respect for what Pro Football Focus does. In terms of statistical dissemination, there is no better source at laying out information in an easy-to-organize fashion. I did not purchase Pro Football Focus this past year, but I am considering to do so for next season just because the kind of information that they disseminate is difficult to find elsewhere.

However, despite this positive impression of their statistics, I still had a major problem when I read their reasoning as to why Tom Brady should be ranked the 33rd best player, and the 6th best QB, in the 2010 NFL season. I understand the perspective that they are coming from, but in some cases they are simply incorrect in their rationalizations.

I will now compare Brady to all of the quarterbacks ranked above him in PFF’s rankings: Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers. Let us see if the assertion that Brady was the sixth best quarterback in football actually holds up when pressed to true statistical analysis.

Continue reading this post »

The draft has come to an end and, as the Patriots brass filed out of their draft room, they could be proud with the class that they put together. In a relatively weak group of prospects, they found a potential future stud at left tackle, a cornerback prospect with a lot of upside, two talented running backs, a possible heir to Tom Brady, an offensive guard who fell due to injury questions, a blocking tight end with versatility as a long snapper, a potential pass rusher and a special teams player. However, now the real question comes to light: how has this draft affected the landscape of the New England Patriots? Here are my thoughts, position by position, of how this draft has changed the team heading into (hopefully) minicamps and training camp in the near future.

Quarterback

The Talent: Tom Brady, Jonathan Crompton, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett

The Likely Scenario: By all accounts, the Patriots should be willing to carry three quarterbacks for the next season. There is absolutely no way that Mallett would make it onto the Patriots practice squad, and Hoyer is too valuable as a backup to let go without some form of compensation. I think that Hoyer getting traded is a possibility, albeit unlikely at the moment. Perhaps at the end of the season the team can accrue some value for him. At this point, however, it is likely that the team will keep three quarterbacks. Crompton will be PSed or cut.

The Potential Surprise: I think that Bill Belichick likes Ryan Mallett a lot...and I think that Mallett could be the heir. I do not think that Bill has the intent to trade him away. Bill has an interesting family background, including a son of his own who has gotten into legal troubles in the past. I think he sees a lot of his own son in Mallett, and I suspect that he will push Ryan to the brink to try and get him to succeed...and, eventually, he well could.

Running Back

The Talent: Kevin Faulk, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Sammy Morris, Stevan Ridley, Fred Taylor, Shane Vereen, Danny Woodhead

The Likely Scenario: The Patriots will probably take five backs with them to the regular season at this point in time. I would be a bit surprised if Kevin Faulk, a traditional Belichick favorite, is shunted aside so quickly. Morris and Taylor have not been 100 percent for a while; I expect that both will be cut. Green-Ellis will get some much needed help in the backfield in the forms of Vereen and Ridley, while I think Woodhead may be used in some more versatile sets than last season. Both he and Faulk have the capability to split out as wide receivers, and it would not be surprising if they played similar roles for this season. If Faulk is cut, it will be a bittersweet ending to a great career in New England. Ridley and BJGE will compete for powerback carries, and I think there is room for both to get their touches. However...

The Potential Surprise: I think Shane Vereen will start from Day 1. He has the blend of size, speed, and vision to assert himself from Day 1. He may be the best pure running back that the Patriots have had since Corey Dillon, and he also has a lot of versatility. His ability to play all four downs as well as his hands and vision in the screen game make Vereen a deadly weapon in the Patriots scheme. I think that, if he is utilized fully, Vereen could be a top 15 fantasy option in the NFL this coming year. He is certainly a sleeper in PPR leagues. 

Wide Receiver

The Talent: Deion Branch, Julian Edelman, Taylor Price, Matthew Slater, Brandon Tate, Wes Welker

The Likely Scenario: The Patriots have a plethora of weapons in the receiving game: Branch, Edelman, Price, Tate and Welker each bring different things to the table. The player who I am most excited about is Price; I think that, with a good camp, he could vault into the starting role over Tate due to his combination of size and speed. Tate also has an opportunity to make a huge step forward in his development. Either way, both will be called upon to provide a deep threat opposite the heady Branch and the stellar Welker and Edelman. Slater may stick as a special teamer, but that depends on the development of Malcolm Williams as a gunner.

The Potential Surprise: Do not be shocked if Wes Welker is traded away. There are not any rumors about deals circulating, but Welker may be a bit redundant with Edelman in tow, and this would be the time to gauge his value to the rest of the NFL. I do not expect Welker to be traded simply because he is a better fit in the Patriots offense than he would be in any other scheme, but there is always a chance that Bill sees a team willing to overpay and bites on an offer.

Tight End

The Talent: Alge Crumpler, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Lee Smith

The Likely Scenario: All four should make the team: I think that Smith sticks as a fourth tight end, a special teamer and a long snapper. Gronkowski, Hernandez and Crumpler are a really great trio, and the young talent should only improve over time.

The Potential Surprise: Smith could end up overtaking Crumpler's role by the end of the season. He has pretty soft hands and a strong work ethic. Crumpler will be the ultimate mentor for Smith, but he could eventually lose his job to him in the process. Smith has a lot of upside as a Crumpler type TE.

Offensive Tackle

The Talent: Nick Kaczur, Mark LeVoir, Matt Light, Steve Maneri, Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer

The Likely Scenario: First thing's first: Matt Light has been a tremendous player for many years in New England. However, I am thrilled that an heir has risen to take over the position. Nate Solder has some technical issues, but he is in a perfect situation in New England. I think he and Sebastian Vollmer should be a great tandem for the future, with Nick Kaczur lurking as a backup.

The Potential Surprise: That Solder/Vollmer tandem could start sooner rather than later. Do not be surprised if Light does not return to Foxboro and Solder is thrust directly into the spotlight. Light may find greener pastures somewhere with more job security, and I think that, if the lockout ends soon, Solder could get the preparatory time necessary to start by the beginning of the season. His main issue is technique: that is not too difficult to teach. It may be a bit of a learning process for him, but I think he is capable of having an instant impact.

Interior Line

The Talent: Marcus Cannon, Dan Koppen, Logan Mankins, Rich Ohrnberger, Quinn Ojinnaka, Ryan Wendell

The Likely Scenario: Cannon is a great piece of depth to add to this offensive line, and Connolly proved himself last year to be a capable guard. Mankins, if resigned, is one of the best at pulling and manipulating defenders from the guard position, while Koppen is, at the very least, an adequate starting option at center.

The Potential Surprise: Ryan Wendell has some hidden value on this team: I think he could be an opening day starter. If Mankins leaves, he would almost certainly slide into the right guard role. However, and possibly more importantly, I think that even if Mankins returns there is a gaping hole on the Patriots offensive line: the center position. It would not surprise me if Connolly ended up starting Opening Day at center with Wendell at right guard. Koppen simply has trouble handling power rushers nowadays. He's a good player, but Wendell could help the Patriots line reach its full potential.

Defensive Line

The Talent: Ron Brace, Brandon Deaderick, Kyle Love, Myron Pryor, Marcus Stroud, Gerard Warren, Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, Mike Wright

The Likely Scenario: I put both Warrens on this list, but Gerard is probably gone when Ty returns. Still, I think there is a lot of potential in this unit. Four of the main rotational players have been in the league for three years or less, and I think all of them could have major steps forward this season. There is also a veteran presence in Stroud and Wright, and the stalwart leader in Wilfork. I expect all of these guys to get time on the defensive line and form a really intriguing, fresh rotation. T. Warren's re-emergence will help this team progress as well.

The Potential Surprise: If I had to put odds on one slightly under-the-radar guy claiming that end spot opposite T. Warren as his own, it would be Kyle Love. There are a lot of talented players on the defensive line for New England, but Love was the only one to my recognition who was able to get a consistent push and was a factor in both the running and passing games last season. Ron Brace could take a huge step forward as well, but I have some faith in Love. I think he could be a very good player if he continues to develop.

Outside Linebackers

The Talent: Tully Banta-Cain, Markell Carter, Jermaine Cunningham, Dane Fletcher, Eric Moore, Marques Murrell, Rob Ninkovich

The Likely Scenario: There is talent at this position: over the last half of the season, the Patriots were second in the NFL in sacks. I think that Jermaine Cunningham has the potential to make a huge jump this year. He has a lot of physical ability and could be the elephant of the future that so many Patriots fans dream about every night. He was sort of the forgotten man last year, but provided a great push and got his hands on the quarterback multiple times per game: now he just has to work on finishing sacks. Banta-Cain, Carter, Fletcher and Ninkovich all should contribute to the rotation as well. All are good athletes and I think that Fletcher is very underrated: he was very good in a pass-rushing role last year. However...

The Potential Surprise Eric Moore may end up starting next season opposite Cunningham. He is a big body and impressed against both the run and the pass this past season. He was sort of shoehorned into the playbook three-quarters of the way through the season and still produced. He has the athletic measurables that Coach Belichick would look for at the position, and he may have earned a long-term stint with this team due to the way that he has performed.

Inside Linebackers

The Talent: Gary Guyton, Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Tracy White

The Likely Scenario: Dane Fletcher also fits at this position: he proved to be quite a dynamo as an inside linebacker this past year. However, the main stalwarts are Mayo and Spikes, with Guyton acting as a supplemental coverage player. All three have their strengths and weaknesses, and this may be a bit of a watershed year for Mayo. He is the leader of this budding, young defense, and, plain and simple, he needs to make at least a few more plays. Having Spikes for a full complement of games will help, but Mayo is the key to this defense: when he was at his best last year against Buffalo and Miami, this team was scary.

The Potential Surprise: Mayo may garner another Pro Bowl nod, but Brandon Spikes is going to gain notoriety as the intimidator for this team. Had he played a full slate of games last year, he would have been second among linebackers in terms of stuffs. He is a beast against the run and his flaws are covered well in the Patriots defense. I am hoping that he continues to improve and, eventually, the duo of Mayo and Spikes could become the most feared in the NFL

Cornerbacks

The Talent: Kyle Arrington, Darius Butler, Leigh Bodden, Ras-I Dowling, Devin McCourty, Jonathan Wilhite, Malcolm Williams

The Likely Scenario: The selection of Ras-I "The Destroyer" Dowling basically means that Wilhite and Butler have numbered days to prove their worth or be shipped out. Wilhite is closer to the guillotine than Butler is, but I do not expect either to be cut outright: Bill will undoubtedly shop them for picks in the preseason. Williams offers special teams value along with coverage skills, but I am not sure if he will end up making the team. As constituted, Bodden will probably end up being the slot defender since neither McCourty nor Dowling have experience in that position. I expect all three to be regulars in the lineup. However...

The Potential Surprise: I think that Dowling plays everywhere. Cornerback, safety, slot corner, you name it, he can do it. Dowling could have the largest impact of any rookie on this team next season, and he has the skillset to grant a ton of flexibility to the coaching staff regarding formations and personnel packages. Dowling has the potential to be a Charles Woodson type of enforcer in the NFL, and I think that he will be used in a similar fashion.

Safeties

The Talent: Josh Barrett, Sergio Brown, Pat Chung, Brandon McGowan, Brandon Meriweather, Jarrad Page, James Sanders

The Likely Scenario: The Patriots have tons of flexibility at this position, and I expect a good amount of attrition to take place. Chung, Meriweather and Sanders seem to be the major players here. I think that Dowling could get some snaps at safety as well: he provides a good insurance policy should the Patriots not wish to keep Meriweather after this season. The safeties were below average last year in terms of coverage metrics: however, I think that there is reason for optimism here. Why do you ask?

The Potential Surprise: I think that Chung will, unlike last year, not have to cover guys man-to-man. This was the biggest weakness for the Patriots last year: Chung was simply incapable of keeping up with wide receivers. I still have nightmares of Blair White owning him in the Colts game. Dowling will give the Patriots flexibility to make Chung into more of a rover, a much better role for someone with his skillset. Chung could blow up due to Dowling.

Special Teams

The Talent: Stephen Gostkowski, Matt Katula, Zoltan Mesko

The Likely Scenario: Gostkowski and Mesko will stay, and kick well hopefully. Mesko will also play outside linebacker, return punts, split out wide in some receiver sets and run a special play designed for him called "Bow To Your Emperor," where he will split out wide, come in motion, take the hand off from Brady and run an option left, with the opportunity to pitch the ball if he feels sympathy for the defensive players who would hypothetically have to attempt to tackle him (or, in the case of Mesko, bounce off him harmlessly as he steamrolls to the end zone.)

The Potential Surprise: I think that Lee Smith could unseat Katula. His value as a long snapper is very apparent, and Katula was brought in due to his comfort level with Shayne Graham. Smith could certainly take over snapping duties.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The 21st team that I did for this project was the Chiefs. Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to Tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The 20th team that I did for this project was the Buccaneers. Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to Tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The 19th team that I did for this project was the Giants. Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to Tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The 18th team that I did for this project was the Chargers. Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to Tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey all!

So, some of you may remember that I used to post some stuff over the past couple of seasons. Unfortunately, this past fall was laden with a ton of drama and dumb choices that greatly hindered my time/ability to post on here. Luckily, I have rectified things and stuff is going great as of now, so I wanted to share some stuff with all of my guys at Pats Pulpit.

First of all, I'm doing a new Youtube series: I'm looking at the draft propensities of every single NFL team. I just did the Patriots video -- here is the link. Feel free to check it out, and if you ever want to talk, Tweet me @Ethanhamm.

Also, I wrote a long piece about the Patriots draft propensities in relation to this year's group of draft prospects. I figured I would repost it here for your enjoyment. Please comment and tell me what you think!

Hopefully I will be posting here more in upcoming weeks, nice to be back!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUARTERBACKS 

The Patriots have, of course, had the luxury of a franchise quarterback for most of Coach Belichick’s tenure. However, that does not necessarily suggest that quarterback is seen as a throwaway position by the front office. Since 2000, the Patriots have drafted six quarterbacks, a relatively large number over such a span. They also signed two rookie free agents, Matt Gutierrez and Brian Hoyer, who ended up making the team’s final roster as rookies. The Patriots seem to value their own means of evaluating quarterbacks more than the mainstream’s perspective. In recent drafts, they have taken gunslingers who were a bit off the radar when it came to typical draft boards. They also have shown a willingness to take platoon quarterbacks: Matt Cassel and Brian Hoyer are examples of this. The Patriots also seem to value mobility, as all of their quarterback selections (except, arguably, Brady) were touted for their mobility coming out of college. 

In terms of the quarterback talent in this draft class, the Patriots have a bunch of options. I could theoretically see them look longingly at the quarterback position in Round 3, a period where they have traditionally taken risks in the past. Colin Kaepernick and Ricky Stanzi probably will not slip to that point (if they did, both would certainly be strong possibilities for the Patriots), but a player likeAndy Dalton could prove to be enticing. He may be a tad small for their system, but he has the leadership and mobility to be an interesting long-term project. The Patriots also could look toward Big 10 talent for their selection: both current rostered quarterbacks are from the great conference. An intriguing late-round sleeper is Scott Tolzien of Wisconsin. The guy is a born winner, he has a really good work ethic, and he has a decent floor along with a fairly high ceiling. He was not the most impressive physical specimen in college, but he could be well-worth a sixth round pick. 

RUNNING BACKS 

The Patriots could definitely use some youth at the running back position, but at the moment it does rest in capable, if not good, hands. BenJarvus Green-Ellis is a reliable ball carrier who had upwards of 1,000 yards this season. Whenever the Patriots got over 100 yards on the ground, they won the game; this trend has been clear for years now, and makes Ellis’ emergence even more timely. I still think that an upgrade from BJGE to a more dynamic runner would not hurt the team, but I am happy with him starting in the backfield at the moment. The Patriots have not drafted a running back who has weighed in at less than 200 pounds in the past ten years. However, they signed one this past season: Danny Woodhead. Oddly enough, with him at the position I feel that the chances of the team taking ANOTHER back who is so light is even less. Woodhead is an absolute demon all over the field, and I see him holding onto a spot in Foxboro for a nice, long time. This one-two punch is young and talented; however, with the bevy of washed-up veterans behind them, a third option could be a possibility in the later rounds of this draft. 

So, who could the team look at to supplement their ground attack? I don’t see the speed backs even factoring into the conversation; what I look for with Patriots runners is versatility and viability in the passing game and pass blocking game as well as the power run sets. I don’t see them looking at an early round running back, other than possibly Ryan Williams of Virginia Tech if he slips enough. Otherwise, I think that they would target a back later in the draft, paying special attention to versatile, bigger guys. Alex Green of Hawaii is an interesting physical specimen at the position. He has good explosiveness, is apt in pass-protection, and has a lot of versatility to his game. Some other options include Georgia Tech’s Anthony Allen, USC’s Stanley Havili, and UCONN’s Anthony Sherman. Sherman, especially, would be a likely target. He has great versatility and showcases a surprising amount of athleticism for a man his size. Plus, he’s a local player: running backs coach Ivan Fears attended the UCONN Pro Day, where Sherman was sure to impress. It will be interesting to see how they address the position in the draft.` 

WIDE RECEIVERS 

This is the hardest position to project for the Patriots over the past ten years. They have run the gambit with receiving prospects, from long, lanky sprinters to small, compact route-runners. The Patriots have had a pretty good record of drafting (or trading draft picks for) wide receivers in the last decade. From Randy Moss to Wes Welker to Deion Branch to David Givens, there has been no shortage of great pass catchers to grace Gillette Stadium. Even more interesting is the diverse body types that the Patriots have brought in at the position. The Patriots have only had five rookie wide receivers over the past decade that have measured in at under six feet tall, yet Branch was a Super Bowl MVP and Julian Edelman looks like a future contributor. I would set the baseline for the Patriots at around six feet tall, maybe a little above or below. I would also consider that, for this year, unless the Patriots absolutely love a certain prospect, it would be almost a necessity for that man to be special teams. Branch and Taylor Price are non-factors in that respect, and Welker is being phased out as the punt returner in favor of Edelman. Tate and Jules both factor into that aspect of the game. It will be interesting to see what happens with the Patriots at this position. 

First of all, I have heard the rumors swirling about the Patriots trading up for a wide receiver. If trades are allowed in this draft I would think that it is a slight possibility, but it would go against every single trend that we have seen in the past. I WILL say that A.J. Green seems like the exact type of prospect who could be up their alley at the position. It will certainly be interesting to see what happens. Later in the first round, Torrey Smith would fit as a developmental-type of prospect, and he does have value as a returnman; however, he might be a tad bit redundant with Brandon Tate on the team. Still, he cannot be taken out of the equation. Leonard Hankerson reminds me a bit of Chad Jackson coming out of school, so he’s a possibility for sure, although he does not have the special teams acumen that could be necessary to be considered. Jerrel Jernigan and Titus Young are both dynamic players, but they may be a tad small and/or overvalued for the Patriots. Still, neither pick would surprise me immensely. Ex-Cornhusker Niles Paul, as a prospect, reminds me a bit of Taylor Price insofar that he has great physical gifts but was underutilized in an anemic passing offense. I could see him being an extremely viable third round pick. Other late round prospects at the position include Jeremy Kerley of TCU, Cecil Shorts III of Mount Union, and Greg Salas of Hawaii. I especially like Salas; he has a lot of upside as a big body on special teams as well as a receiving prospect. 

TIGHT ENDS 

I love our tight ends. Last year, I made the point that we liked TEs who were around 6 foot 3 and 245 pounds, and we got one in Aaron Hernandez. Then, we also stole the goliath also known as Rob Gronkowski. These two players, along with Alge Crumpler, make up as good a trio of tight ends as there are in the NFL. I cannot wait to see Gronk and Hernandez develop over time; I believe that they could be as good as any tandem of receivers, whether out wide or inside at tight end, in the NFL if they work hard enough. The unique Patriot offensive system that was constructed around the athleticism of these two tight ends will only get better as these young players improve. I am excited to see what happens next. 

In terms of draft possibilities, I don’t see tight end being high on the Patriots’ list. However, if they decide to go for one, I could see them look at a bigger tight end who could learn under Crumpler and eventually succeed him as a bigger, blocking option at tight end. Andre Smith of Virginia Tech or Chris Farmer of Villanova could be interesting options. If the Patriots stay more in-line with past tight end propensities, D.J. Williams or Julius Thomas could round out quite the fabulous young trio at the position. However, I fully expect tight end to not be addressed, at the very least, until the fifth round of the draft, if it is made into a priority at all. 

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN 

I am going to lump all of the offensive linemen together because, at some positions, there are not enough observations to really make a clear decision as to what the decade’s trend could be. The Patriots definitely have their own brand of offensive lineman though, and it is pretty obvious what they like. They want intelligent guys who can block the sun and know where to place their hands. Size matters to an extent but it certainly is not a deal breaker. The Patriots do tend to view 6 foot 4 as a baseline for tackles and 6 foot 2 as a boundary for guards and centers; anything equivalent or upwards seems to work for them. However, what is more important to them seems to be value. If they see an offensive lineman that they really like, they will try their darndest to get him. They basically traded Ellis Hobbs, a proven cornerback, for Rich Ohrnburger, a guard who some teams did not even see as a draftable prospect. They drafted Logan Mankins in the first round of a draft when most analysts saw him as a third round pick at best. They drafted Sebastian Vollmer a full three rounds earlier than some projections. It always seems to work out for them in the end. I know this is the same explanation that I used last year, but it really seems to hold true on a consistent basis. The Patriots have a certain brand of offensive lineman that they target, and not much can make them deviate from this norm. 

In this year’s draft, I see the offensive line being a need for this team, and I expect some selections to be made that reflect this need. Most specifically, I feel that this is a very strong class for interior linemen, and I would not be surprised if the Patriots plucked one or two of the big guys in the early portion of the draft. The Patriots love versatility from their interior linemen, so that could raiseStefen Wisniewski’s stock in their eyes. He is a mauler, has great hands, and would start for the Patriots immediately. He has a rare blend of size and strength, and he could immediately take over for the withering Dan Koppen. Rodney Hudson, if Wisniewski is passed up, could be intriguing at the top of the second round. He’s probably a bit more of a "Patriots-type" player than Wisniewski is as well; he has Koppen’s exact measurables. There is a lot of depth in this class as well, with guys like TCU’s Jake Kirkpatrick, Missouri’s Tim Barnes and Slippery Rock’s Brandon Fusco looming in this class. The Patriots have a lot of options at the position; I would have Barnes as the most likely pick at this point, followed by Hudson and Fusco. All three fit their paradigm perfectly. 

Some other offensive linemen to keep an eye on include Baylor’s Danny Watkins, who has a Nick Kaczur-esque versatility and style of play, Lehigh’s Will Rackley, who has a very intriguing game and seems like an intelligent, heady talent, and Jah Reid of Central Florida, a guy who reminds me a bit of Sebastian Vollmer in terms of his underrated nature, on-field mean streak, and overall ability. I think that Watkins is certainly a likely pick if he slips; the Patriots have made a living on choosing slightly more mature players on the offensive line like Vollmer and Kaczur. He is someone to watch out for in the second round. Overall, I think that if the Patriots do go offensive line in the draft, they may go from the inside-out, and spend multiple picks on the unit. 

DEFENSIVE END 

The Patriots were one of the first teams in the NFL to convert to the now en-vogue 3-4 defense. On the backs of large defensive linemen like Anthony Pleasant and Bobby Hamilton, they started their dynasty based on their nasty defense. Since then, a funny trend has occurred; in the past decade, each year that they drafted a defensive lineman in the first round of the draft (Richard Seymour in 2001, Ty Warren in 2003 and Vince Wilfork in 2004) they have won a Super Bowl. That’s a trend that should continue this year. The Patriots value 3-4 defensive ends similar to other teams that run the scheme. They look for big players, usually in the 6 foot 4 range, who weigh 300 pounds or above. They tend not to like smaller players at the position, unless they constitute great value in the later portions of the draft. They look for guys who focus on stopping the run more than rushing the passer, though a combination of these two factors would be ideal. 

The Patriots value 3-4 defensive ends highly, so it would be no surprise if they took one early in the draft. I’m not sky high on Muhammad Wilkerson as a prospect, but I do concede that he could be a possible pick for the Patriots in the draft. I personally like Jarvis Jenkins of Clemson a lot more as a prospect, and I think he has a solid chance of being selected by New England. He gets good push on every snap and is a really solid overall talent. Lawrence Guy from Arizona State is another potential fit. He has the size and explosiveness to be an ultimate fit as a 2-gapping defensive end. If the Patriots do choose to trade up (something, as I have said before, which is unlikely), then I could see Marcel Dareus being a possible target for them. A couple of super-sleepers at late round projects: 6 foot 7 Charlie Bryant of Memphis, Ricky Lumpkin of Kentucky and even Kenrick Ellis, the absolute behemoth from Hampton. 

DEFENSIVE TACKLE 

The Patriots, when it comes to nose tackles, are all over the map. One thing they appreciate, though, is leverage. They do not draft guys over 6 foot 3, but then again there are not a lot of teams in the NFL that do so either. The Patriots also seem to have a nice range of weights and heights at this position, from the gargantuan Vince Wilfork to the small Dan Klecko, who became a Gillette Stadium darling before he was cut. 

With Wilfork in tow, I do not think that defensive tackle will be such a pressing need for New England. However, if they were to look at one later in the draft, Cornell Banks of Fresno State could be a possibility. He’s a big body and a bit slow, but he is stout at the point of attack and could at least fill in occasionally as a depth guy on the defensive line. Someone with a bit higher upside at the position is Ole Miss’ Jerrell Powe, who could be an intriguing depth-based third round pick. He has exceptional explosiveness, but some character issues. He could be a risk pick in the mid rounds. There are other possibilities here as well, but I doubt that defensive tackle will be of utmost importance during the draft. 

INSIDE LINEBACKER 

Inside linebacker is, by far, the easiest position to translate to at the professional level. You can do an adequate job as an inside linebacker by basically being able to run laterally and make a tackle. The Patriots had not taken an inside linebacker on the first day of the draft until 2007, when they picked Jerod Mayo. Brandon Spikes was a second round pick for the Patriots last year, and played very well in limited action. The Patriots look for heady players who can fill a diverse number of roles. Usually, at this position, they will be willing to wait until after the draft unless a great talent somehow slips. 

This year, I do not see a ton of inside linebackers who would appeal to the Patriots. They probably will not draft one this year; they have an overflow of depth at the position. However, if they were to take an inside linebacker, they could do a lot worse than Jeff Tarpinian of Iowa, a project player who could be a nice physical presence on special teams. 

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER 

The most famous Patriot necessity of all is the "tall 3-4 outside linebacker." This may be the year where Coach Belichick finds that "elephant" he once had in Willie McGinest, that supremely athletic physical talent who can both put his hand down and rush the passer from a standing-up position. The Patriots like linebackers around 6 feet 4 inches tall, but this is not a necessity. They can be a bit smaller: they just will not be valued as highly as the longer players. The Patriots OLBs need to be able to set the edge against the run game. Pass rush is certainly preferred, but by no means essential according to the philosophy behind this defensive scheme. 

This may be the year where Coach Belichick can pick the elephant that he so craves. Three players in this draft class, Miami (FL)’s Allen Bailey and Iowa’s Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard, have the sort of physical ability to play OLB in this scheme. From a personal standpoint, I’m not a huge fan of Clayborn; however, he would seem to have the versatility to be a possible long-term answer at the position. I need to watch more tape on his hips though. Ballard is a physical freak who would be a long-term project. I think his value could rise closer to the draft, and he’s certainly a possibility at the pick, but I’m not sure that he would transition too well. Bailey is the type of athlete who would be fearsome standing up; I think he could be an interesting project in the second round or so. He has a lot of potential; he just needs some help in putting it all together. If there was an elephant in the past three years though, he is it. Full discretion: I was not sold on Bailey until recently, but after watching some more tape, I saw the potential that he has. He could be special with enough time to develop. 

Aldon Smith is a bit of an idealistic option at this point, but I could see the Patriots trade up to get him. Ryan Kerrigan also has upside as the 17th pick, although he may not slip that far and he is slightly limited from an athletic standpoint. I can see Justin Houston being a really viable pick as well. He is a perfect schematic fit. Some possible later picks include Arizona’s duo of Ricky Elmore andD’Aundrae Reed as well as Rice’s Cheta Ozougwu. I would not be surprised if the Patriots pair up a larger guy (like Bailey) early with a smaller selection (like Ozougwu) in the fourth round of the draft, similar to their pairing of tight ends last year. Regardless, this will be an interesting story to watch during this year’s draft. 

CORNERBACK 

There are two sides to the debate about the cornerbacks on this team. On one hand, the Patriots have not drafted any cornerbacks over 5 feet 11 inches or 200 pounds in the past decade, both of which are pretty amazing. However, they have also signed two cornerbacks via free agency in recent years, both of whom are 6 foot 1. Leigh Bodden and Kyle Arrington buck the drafting trend. This makes me think that speed is a bit more important than size when evaluating talent for New England, although I still will not mock any corner over 5 foot 11 to the Patriots this year. 

There are some options for the Patriots at this position. However, many of them will be around later in the draft. The only cornerback I can see them taking in the first two rounds is Miami (FL)’sBrandon Harris, and I find that to be doubtful. I see them being more patient and looking at some of the later round guys instead, if they decide to address the position at all. Some potential prospects include Brandon Hogan of West Virginia, Ramon Broadway of Arkansas, and Josh Thomas of Buffalo. A rookie free agent to keep an eye on is Reggie Rembert of Air Force; I do not think that he will be drafted, but he has a ton of versatility and the Patriots might sign him to a Futures deal. 

SAFETY 

The Patriots tend to draft safeties that weigh over 200 pounds and are around six feet tall. They could need help at this position. They have a lot of young talent, but I doubt that Brandon Meriweather will be back past this season (if there even is a regular season) and James Sanders is not a great safety despite his timely interceptions. I do think that Pat Chung has a boatload of potential; he has to improve in coverage a bit though. He was only average, if a bit below, this past season. 

This year, there are a couple of guys I can see the Patriots target. Rutgers alum Joe Lefeged intrigues the heck out of me. He has value on special teams and is an ex-teammate of Devin McCourty’s. I could honestly see Lefeged go in the first two rounds; he could even be a shocker pick at the end of Round 1. He has the type of versatility that would make Coach Belichick drool. I’m not sure of his draft stock at the moment, but it would not surprise me at all if he ends up being a Patriot. However, if the Patriots decide to bide their time instead and go for a different flavor of player, Nebraska’sDeJon Gomes, Villanova’s John Dempsey, and South Florida’s Mistral Raymond all make sense to varying degrees. This will be another interesting story to watch in this class. 

MOCK DRAFT 

Finally, here is my extremely tentative, no-trades mock draft that will almost certainly change. No explanations here; if you want some, I'd be happy to answer questions. Full discretion: I expect them to trade around a bit; I do not value my first pick as highly as I place him here, although I do think that he will be the Patriots first pick in the draft at this point in time. As I wrote, though, this mock will undoubtedly change over time. Even now, I am playing tennis between Justin Houston and Allen Bailey with that first round pick; I could see either happening. 

1. Allen Bailey, OLB, Miami (FL) 

2. Danny Watkins, OG/OT, Baylor 

3. Jarvis Jenkins, DE, Clemson 

4. Joe Lefeged, S, Rutgers 

5. Tim Barnes, C, Missouri 

6. Greg Salas, WR, Hawaii 

7. Cheta Ozougwu, OLB, Rice 

8. Scott Tolzein, QB, Wisconsin

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The 16th team that I did for this project was the Jaguars. Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to Tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The 14th team that I did for this project was the Rams. Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to Tweet me at Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The 13th team that I did for this project was the Lions. Here's the link. I apologize in advance for the camera lag, I don't know why that happened. That is not indicative of most of my videos.

If you have any questions, feel free to tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The 12th team that I did for this project was the Vikings. Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The 11th team that I did for this project was the Texans. In this video, I discussed a surprise first round selection, some drafting trends and some other prospects who could be schematic fits.

Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The tenth team that I did for this project was the Redskins. In this video, I discussed some drafting trends, some personnel observations, and enumerated upon some of my favorite draft prospects for the Redskins. 

Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The ninth team that I did for this project was the Cowboys. In this video, I discussed some Cowboys drafting trends, predicted who they would take with the ninth overall pick, and discussed some tics that Jerry Jones has when projecting talent.

Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The eighth team that I did for this project was the Titans. In this video, I discussed some Titans drafting trend and brought to light some interesting patterns in past drafts. I also name some possible sleeper picks of theirs. Ever heard of Derrick Nix? You will have after this video!

Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The seventh team that I did for this project was the 49ers. In this video, I discussed some Niners drafting trends, predicted who they would take with the seventh overall pick, and brought to light some interesting patterns in past drafts, as well as look towards the future vis-a-vis what Harbaugh could do in SF.

Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The sixth team that I did for this project was the Browns. In this video, I discussed some Browns drafting trends, predicted who they would take with the sixth overall pick, and brought to light some interesting patterns in past Holmgren drafts.

Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The fourth team that I did for this project was the Cardinals. In this video, I discussed some Cardinals drafting trends, predicted who they would take with the fifth overall pick, and brought to light some interesting patterns in past Rod Graves drafts.

Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The fourth team that I did for this project was the Bengals. In this video, I discussed the Bengals new offensive strategy, who they may take with their first round picks and some overall drafting trends, among other things. If you wish, watch it.

Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am doing a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

In this video, I discussed the Bills' defensive strategy, who they may take number three overall, and some overall drafting trends, among other things. If you wish, watch it.

Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your NFL fan friends in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

Hey guys!

So I am starting a new long-term Youtube series where I am analyzing every team's draft propensities. I think that, in some cases, draft analysts project their own opinions onto what teams do in the draft, and I am trying to remove that aspect from my analysis the best that I can (though, of course, it cannot be completely divorced from opinion.)

The first team that I did for this project was the Panthers. In this video, I discussed the Panthers' new defensive strategy, who they may take number one overall, some overall drafting trends and a possible trade up candidate in the second round, among other things. If you wish, watch it.

Here's the link.

If you have any questions, feel free to tweet me @Ethanhamm. That's probably the best way to ensure that I answer your queries, though I will be around here as well. Also, feel free to comment wherever/however you wish, I am looking for feedback. I'll be doing a different team every day, so keep your Bronco fans in the loop! And enjoy guys, I hope you find it a bit enlightening and interesting.

So this is a new thing that I started on the football forum which I moderate which I thought I could bring to Pats Pulpit.

I have NFL Rewind. Give me something to watch. I will rewatch it for you when I have time to do so and give you a full analysis of it. 

Want to settle a forum debate? Prove someone wrong? Double check to see if a player was open on a certain play? Just give me the word and I will watch it. 

Three guidelines: 

1. Only up to three plays at a time per poster. Longer projects can be done if time warrants. DON'T BE VAGUE. Give me something concrete to look at.

2. Be patient, I'll try to get to everyone. 

3. You can discuss the plays in this thread, but don't scream at me. I will give my unbiased opinion on whatever is necessary; if you don't like it, that's your problem. 

And...go :).

The Patriots defense looks to be on the upswing if the Baltimore game is any indication. The young players seem to finally be getting into their grooves, and the future looks bright on the defensive side of the ball in Foxboro.

However, to be frank, before this week no one has had confidence in the Patriots defense. The Patriots are currently 30th in the NFL in total defense and last in the NFL at stopping opponents on third down, giving up conversions at a 49 percent rate. The numbers are not so pretty.

The defense looks better now, and the players will hopefully continue their upward trend. However, this got me to thinking how I would rate the Patriots players thus far? Who has been the most effective cog on the defensive side of the ball, and who needs to step up their game.

By using statistics available on Brian Burke's Advanced NFL Statistics website (a must click for any football stat buff), I took the mean of various win probability formulas (read: how a player can impact a game positively for his team, whether on the offensive or defensive side of the ball), averaged them, and made a list. I tweaked it just a bit due to my own subjective evaluations...and voila! Here are your top 11 Patriots defenders this season, with a little write-up dedicated to each.

via cdn.bleacherreport.net

11. CB Kyle Arrington

To be completely fair, Arrington probably did not expect to be starting the season either. However, the numbers are not pretty. He tries hard, but he is in the bottom quartile of cornerbacks in most, if not all, statistical categories. Heck, Darius Butler has slightly better metrics than him. I'm not saying that Butler has been better this season, but one thing that is clear is that Arrington is simply not that good. His win probability added is really low, and his estimated points added puts him just above the bottom quarter of the league for that statistic. He is not the worst possible option, but the team certainly could do better. He is better suited as a nickel corner, not a starter.

Continue reading this post »

via www.beyondbadminton.com

Here's a quick review thus far of our 2009 NFL Draft picks! Sorry I have not written much lately...I've been really busy. Here's to a good game against the Ravens! I'll be there in person, rooting the Pats on.

Continue reading this post »

Warning...this is a long read.

I attended this week's Patriots/Ravens game, and I have to say it was quite entertaining to say the least. Both teams played well and I was very impressed by many components of the Patriots. However, there were some other things that perturbed me to say the least. 

I will try to go unit by unit here...so i will start with the gunslinger himself. Tom Brady had a slightly better game than most will give him credit for. In the first half, he had at least four passes dropped by receivers. He certainly was not perfect, but then again, the first half was far from a bright spot for anyone on the team. When it counted, though, Brady delivered.

One of the most interesting plays of the game, in my mind, was the deep ball to Tate on first down from midfield in the fourth quarter. I personally liked the call, a lot. That play will sit in the minds of teams for weeks. It shows that the Patriots are willing, and able, to stretch the field vertically. Lardarius Webb happened to have great coverage on that particular play, but that does not mean it was unnecessary. It may have been one of the reasons that the game went to overtime, but it was important all the same.

Read the rest of the review after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

I'm going to be conducting an interview for my radio show (The Sports Rundown; 95.5 WBRU Providence) with Football Outsiders co-founder Aaron Schatz. 

If anyone has any questions, feel free to post them here and I'll add them to my repertoire. Of course, I will post the podcasted interview in full here once it is up. 

The interview will be done on Friday, so feel free to post any questions you may have until then! Thanks!

EDIT: Here's the Schatz link! Please post comments.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/807535089aa7d24e/

via cache.boston.com

Today was not a good day to be a Patriots fan.

The offense, which looked solid for a half, was unable to move the ball at all on a Jets defense that was missing its best player. The defense, on the other hand, was only too willing to let beleaguered gunslinger Mark Sanchez have a massive day. Added up together, the Patriots are now on the bus home to Gillette 1-1 on the season and in third place in the AFC East.

There is a lot of work to be done. After the jump, read on about why the Patriots lost this week...and what they can do to improve in the future.

Continue reading this post »

via cdn1.sbnation.com

Usually, I am not one to get ridiculously confident for games. I know that I am about to pull a jinx, but to be frank, I do not care. I'm not going to mention the "w" word, if it saves any grace. I will not say that the Patriots will destroy their New York rivals next week with all of the power and ferocity of a pride of lions tearing across the savannah.

However, I do think that the Patriots match up very well with this iteration of the Jets. My opinions of this game were only cemented with this past weekend's events, as the Patriots crushed the Bengals 38-24 (I stopped keeping count after the Tate kickoff return for a TD; the game was over at that point, and the Patriots reverted to soft zone coverage the rest of the way) and the Jets looked pitiful against the Ravens, losing in their home opener 10-9. Mark Sanchez, also known as "The Golden Boy," was a whopping 10 for 21 passing, accounting for 74 yards. The offense was unable to move the ball at all and the defense, while decent, also was exposed in the secondary as Joe Flacco and Anquan Boldin abused Antonio Cromartie and rookie Kyle Wilson, ignoring right cornerback Darrelle Revis.

At the end of the day, from top to bottom, the Patriots should have many favorable opportunities against the Jets. I expect quarterback Tom Brady to be hungry and raring to go against a defense that, while athletic, has flaws. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, this defense should do just enough to get to Mark Sanchez. At least, I hope so.

Now for a slightly more in-depth look, here are five keys for the Patriots next week against the Jets after the jump.

Continue reading this post »