BlogsTen Patriots for 2009: No. 7, WR Wes Welker
by MaPatsFan
on Jul 3, 2009 3:51 PM EDT
in News
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Here we go again; another "I love Wes" story from MaPatsFan. This will, no doubt, be the collective response from long time readers. They know, all too well, about my giant man crush for Wes Welker. In my humble opinion, he is one of the most influential New England players to put on a Patriots helmet in recent years. Many point to Randy Moss' 23 TD record and his many circus catches, but Wes is the chain mover, the guy grinding it out underneath, game after game.
We all know the history by now. Considered too short to by many colleges, he finally landed at Texas Tech where he went on to be one of there most prodigous athletes. Originally drafted by the Chargers in 2004, he was waived and picked up by the Dolphins in September of that year. After the 2006 season culminated in a very disappointing AFCCG loss to the Colts, Belichick went about the business of acquiring targets for Tom Brady.
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If you're looking to relive the Patriots' three Super Bowl championships this decade the NFL Network is giving you the chance this Fourth of July weekend. NFLN is airing a marathon of its Emmy Award-winning "America's Game" series.
The hour-long documentaries on the 2001, 2003 and 2004 Patriots teams will air on Sunday, at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively.
about 7 hours ago
MaPatsFan
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Patriots Links 7/03/09 - The 'Patriots Way': Will it work outside of New England?
by Marima
on Jul 3, 2009 9:24 AM EDT
in News
1 comment
Belichick's "one-voice" approach and tight organizational measures have worked to supreme success in New England. But that success has included two very important factors -- it's taken place under Belichick's direction and with Tom Brady at quarterback. Winning begat winning and with more winning came a more stringent faith in the way things are run in Foxborough.
Derek Zetlin asserts short, quick receivers might be key to NFL success.
Conventional wisdom says you need more size at the NFL wide receiver position. The numbers, however, hint otherwise.
Like its collegiate counterpart, professional football is transitioning to more of a speed-dominated game. Sure, 330-plus-pound defensive tackles are needed to nose the popular 3-4 defensive scheme, but that’s only to make up for a lack of size on the ends of the D-line, which have been replaced by more versatile (and speedier) outside linebackers. Look at the success of the Wildcat formation last season. The Wildcat’s fundamental principles are speed and spreading the field (much like the NCAA’s triple option), as opposed to the fullback-led I-Formation, pounding for every earned yard.
Adrian Hasenmayer (Fox Sports) ranks which teams are best positioned to not just survive, but flourish at quarterback in 2009. Patriots rank 6th in his opinion. His argument is off in mine.
The man is back, and all of New England can breathe sighs of relief. But what if Brady, the three-time Super Bowl champion, gets hurt again? Well, we scoffed at the Pats' chances last September when Mr. Perfect got injured because Matt Cassel — a dude who had not started a game since freaking high school. Then Cassel turned in a Pro Bowl season. Could Bill Belichick do it again with NFL mysteries O'Connell, Gutierrez and Hoyer? Highly unlikely.
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The Patriots today announced the practice schedule for the first week of training camp and the first seven days (Thursday, July 30 through Wednesday, August 5) will feature double sessions with practices scheduled at 9:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Practices are open to fans, but the schedule can change, particularly due to weather. The Patriots encourage fans to call (508) 549-0001 for the latest updates.
The morning sessions typically run 9:30-11:15 a.m., the evening from 3:45-5:30 p.m.
1 day ago
MaPatsFan
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Patriots Links 7/02/09 - Who Will Fill the Mike Vrabel Void?
by Marima
on Jul 2, 2009 9:23 AM EDT
in News
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Jeff Howe looks at who will fill the Mike Vrabel void.
Even though Vrabel’s exile seemed to have caused widespread panic across New England, the Patriots are still loaded at 10 other starting positions on defense. Not to mention, Pierre Woods and Shawn Crable should be more than ready to fill in. Vrabel, who turns 34 in August, has seen his skills diminish in recent years, but he was still more than capable on the field. He finished fifth on the team with 67 tackles last season, according to coaches’ film review.
Woods and Crable may be able to match Vrabel’s statistical production, but they can’t account for his leadership. That duty will fall in the hands of linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Adalius Thomas, along with a number of the other veterans on the defensive side of the ball.
Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa report on the renaissance qualities of the Patriots 2000 Rookie Draft Class.
First off, there’s defensive tackle Darryl Richard, picked in the seventh round of the draft, who earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech in three years and already has an MBA. Richard, BTW, is also an accomplished piano player. Show off . . .
Then there’s defensive lineman George Bussey, taken in the fifth round. He gave up a full scholarship to culinary school for a chance to kick it up a notch as a walk-on to the Louisville football team.
Top pick Patrick Chung, a safety from Oregon, loves to draw in his spare time. And snapper Jake Ingram, a surfer dude from Hawaii, is also a certified fork-lift operator. So he’ll never starve.
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Willie McGinest as a Patriot...again?
by MaPatsFan
on Jul 1, 2009 10:41 PM EDT
5 comments
I must own up to a soft spot for Willie McGinest. Joining the Cleveland Browns for the 2006 season, Willie spent 12 years prior on the Patriots. He was a monster at OLB, in the prime of his career and eating dirt long before Belichick arrived. He paid his dues and when he got his rings and decided to cash in, I had no problem with that. He deserved every good thing that came to him because he always gave everything to us fans.
Chris Gasper of The Boston Globe reports:
A source close to McGinest said today that the veteran linebacker would like to return for a 16th season and maintains a relationship with Patriots coach Bill Belichick, but there have been no formal talks aimed at bringing McGinest back to New England and no offer from the Patriots.
Willie is the man, no doubt. But this would largely be a sentimental move. Think Troy Brown and ask yourself, "Would Willie McGinest be good for the team?"
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Ten Patriots for 2009: No. 8, OLB Shawn Crable
by MaPatsFan
on Jul 1, 2009 5:31 PM EDT
in News
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Watching the 2009 NFL Draft, many of us thought, and rightly so, that Bill Belichick and Nick Caserio would grab a pass rushing OLB after sending Mike Vrabel to the Chiefs in a package deal with Matt Cassel. BZZZZZZTTTTT!! Were we wrong. When questioning the collective sanity of the Patriots organization, I often try to remind myself that they're much smarter than me about this business called Professional Football. After all, I wouldn't want Hoodie building Linux networks with hundreds of clients now would I? Scratch that. Belichick probably co-wrote Linux with Linus Torvalds during an off-season. Moving on...
I believe we have lacked a serious pass rush since the 2007 season and I don't think I'm alone in this belief. Mike Vrabel will always be one of my favorite Patriots, but I am of the opinion he began to lose a step in 2008. At 34, age is certainly a factor and the trade to KC was a good one for the Patriots, who were looking to get younger, and the Chiefs, who needed a veteran presence on the field and in the locker room.
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Pats’ Rookies Win Symposium Challenge
According to the Patriots, for the second year in a row the New England rookies won the "Ultimate Rookie Challenge" at the NFL Rookie Symposium in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The challenge, which takes place on the final day of the annual conference, comes at the end of a series of seminars on things like financial management, the personal conduct code, the league’s banned-substance policy and how to deal with the media, and is designed to test rookies in the material they learned at the four-day event.
2 days ago
NESilver
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