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Pretty exciting weekend, wasn't it? Some interesting things to take a look at, and some very exciting prospects were added. This is gonna be a lengthy one, and one I have to do on my mobile, so please be understanding of what should be frequent typos.
I think that I see some real objectives outlined by the Patriots in this draft, and from here on out I will switch over to the vernacular.
1) We must become more tough, both physically and mentally.
- McCourty really telegraphed this intent early. There were less physical players available when they were drafting. Indeed, likely more athletically gifted players were pretty abundant. What I love about McCourty is his incredible physicality and dedication to the team. He screams championship Patriot DB. Like many, I was a bit confused initially with the selection. After a bit of research, the selection made a ton of sense. I saw a highly agile, highly physical, highly competitive player. Then consider his fit in respect to the current DB's. Bodden and Butler both are of this ilk. Agressive, physical, highly agile guys who can flat out ball. They're going to be playing a lot of press this year, which is indicative of a more agressive concept with the front defenders.
-Spikes. Thank you Dawkins, they drafted a Mike!!! This was the most critical, most overtly glaring weakness from the past few seasons. I say this because unlike pass rush, the Mike cannot be schemed to create. Spikes is a violent, big, vocal leader. Mayo is a prototypical Will, and now they have their prototypical Mike. The run game will improve tremendously, and Mayo will be able to utilize his pursuit ability now. For the first time since Ted Johnson I think the backers will out physical the interior Oline. The physicality of a defense is usually dictated by the Mike and SS. With Spikes and Chung now in place, I am geeking hard about the coming mentality of this defense.
- Gronkowski you freakin meat stick, I love you. Meathead tight ends are on of the best things about football. Watch his run game use in AZ. Jet cracks, knocking the heads off of backers, burrying ends. The spread is killing the physicality of football, and it follows that it comes from the offense first. Gronkowski is great in the passing game, but his blocking is highly underrated. A physical TE can assert the will of an offense onto a spread defense. If strawman O'Brien can figure out motion blocking, this kid will be decleating backers. Especially those of a certain dome team known for the undersized pursuit defense.
2) Add players who know how to win championships.
- Consider the three Meyer recruits. All national champions. All SEC champions. All players who dealt with the pressure and challenges of complacency during their careers. All individuals who know how to focus and dedicate themselves to a singular pursuit. I love this thought process.
- Cut Thomas. 'Nuff said.
3) Create unity through restraint.
- Belichick is building with his men. Screw Marshall, screw Tomlinson, screw Dansby, screw all the high priced free agents. Belichick has these men assembled because he knows they are good. He believes in them like they should believe in themselves. Have you guys read the papers? Apparently we're a team of underachieving scrubs and don't care about building areas of need. F*ck that, men. You in this room are the only ones who can help yourselves, and you're better than those prima donna ****ies the others brought in. Football players are all about ego and galvanization. Give this to them with your actions and make them believe in you by showing how you believe in them.
This team has the pieces in place and the clear iniative to regain their signature heart and toughness. What happens with them will happen, but the direction and iniative are clear. They are getting tougher, their pride is coming back, and they are everybit as pissed off as the rest of us. Can you feel it? The attitude is exuding from this team. For the first time in several years this team feels like the Patriots. And they're pissed off.
I think that I see some real objectives outlined by the Patriots in this draft, and from here on out I will switch over to the vernacular.
1) We must become more tough, both physically and mentally.
- McCourty really telegraphed this intent early. There were less physical players available when they were drafting. Indeed, likely more athletically gifted players were pretty abundant. What I love about McCourty is his incredible physicality and dedication to the team. He screams championship Patriot DB. Like many, I was a bit confused initially with the selection. After a bit of research, the selection made a ton of sense. I saw a highly agile, highly physical, highly competitive player. Then consider his fit in respect to the current DB's. Bodden and Butler both are of this ilk. Agressive, physical, highly agile guys who can flat out ball. They're going to be playing a lot of press this year, which is indicative of a more agressive concept with the front defenders.
-Spikes. Thank you Dawkins, they drafted a Mike!!! This was the most critical, most overtly glaring weakness from the past few seasons. I say this because unlike pass rush, the Mike cannot be schemed to create. Spikes is a violent, big, vocal leader. Mayo is a prototypical Will, and now they have their prototypical Mike. The run game will improve tremendously, and Mayo will be able to utilize his pursuit ability now. For the first time since Ted Johnson I think the backers will out physical the interior Oline. The physicality of a defense is usually dictated by the Mike and SS. With Spikes and Chung now in place, I am geeking hard about the coming mentality of this defense.
- Gronkowski you freakin meat stick, I love you. Meathead tight ends are on of the best things about football. Watch his run game use in AZ. Jet cracks, knocking the heads off of backers, burrying ends. The spread is killing the physicality of football, and it follows that it comes from the offense first. Gronkowski is great in the passing game, but his blocking is highly underrated. A physical TE can assert the will of an offense onto a spread defense. If strawman O'Brien can figure out motion blocking, this kid will be decleating backers. Especially those of a certain dome team known for the undersized pursuit defense.
2) Add players who know how to win championships.
- Consider the three Meyer recruits. All national champions. All SEC champions. All players who dealt with the pressure and challenges of complacency during their careers. All individuals who know how to focus and dedicate themselves to a singular pursuit. I love this thought process.
- Cut Thomas. 'Nuff said.
3) Create unity through restraint.
- Belichick is building with his men. Screw Marshall, screw Tomlinson, screw Dansby, screw all the high priced free agents. Belichick has these men assembled because he knows they are good. He believes in them like they should believe in themselves. Have you guys read the papers? Apparently we're a team of underachieving scrubs and don't care about building areas of need. F*ck that, men. You in this room are the only ones who can help yourselves, and you're better than those prima donna ****ies the others brought in. Football players are all about ego and galvanization. Give this to them with your actions and make them believe in you by showing how you believe in them.
This team has the pieces in place and the clear iniative to regain their signature heart and toughness. What happens with them will happen, but the direction and iniative are clear. They are getting tougher, their pride is coming back, and they are everybit as pissed off as the rest of us. Can you feel it? The attitude is exuding from this team. For the first time in several years this team feels like the Patriots. And they're pissed off.
