New England Patriots Links 11/28/09 - Weekend Leftovers

by Marima on Nov 28, 2009 9:56 AM EST in News Comment 18 comments

Patriots players and staff distributed food baskets filled with turkeys and Thanksgiving fixings to over 200 families in need at Morgan Memorial Goodwill.

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Bill Belichick feels that Isaiah Stanback’s background as a quarterback helps him as a receiver.

"I think one of the advantages he has is that he understands what the quarterback’s looking at. I think he has a better-than-average feel for how to come open, when to come open on certain routes and what the quarterback’s looking at," Belichick said. "For anybody that’s played quarterback, you know it doesn’t really help you for a receiver to come open when either you can’t or you’re not ready to throw him the ball."

Tully Banta-Cain on getting pressure on Drew Brees.

"It's huge. He's on fire right now. If you don't have any water to put it out, he's going to keep burning you up. Sorry for the analogy. But I think anytime you have a threatening quarterback like that the only way to beat them is pressure, and obviously the guys on the back end behind us doing the job and vice versa. We definitely have our hands full with him and everybody he has to go to."

Shalise Manza Young points out an upcoming Brady milestone.

Not only is Brady close to passing Drew Bledsoe as New England’s all-time passing leader, but he is also close to hitting 30,000 yards for his career. Coming into Monday night’s game, Brady has 29,495 yards is 163 yards shy of Bledsoe and 505 yards shy of the 30k mark.

TEAM TALK

Erik Scalavino notes Isaiah Stanback is learning while contributing; plus news and bits from Friday's practice.
Patriots-Saints Injury Report for Friday.
Patriots Locker room quotes for Friday.
John Cockrell Friday Out-Takes: Things that make you go "Duh".
Patriots Today Getting set for a Monday night tilt. (10:19 min. video)
Patriots All Access: Sights and sounds from a victorious locker room vs Jets. Steve goes one one one with AFC Defensive Player of the Week Leigh Bodden. Scott Zolak gets Coach Belichick's take on the undefeated Saints. He also breaks down the Saints weapons on The Belestrator. (41 min.)

LOCAL LINKS

Chris Gasper asserts that a win over the Saints would substantiate the Patriots' season, while the Saints want to prove that its impressive 10-0 start is not a statistical mirage.
Adam Kilgore says the most difficult stragetic decision for the Patriots defense Monday night might be how much to blitz Drew Brees.
Adam Kilgore notes the offensive versatility of lineman Mark LeVoir.
Chris Forsberg feels the Patriots' defense knows that it has something to prove against the Saints.
Ian Rapoport notes Leigh Bodden credits his time with Romeo Crennel, the former Patriots defensive coordinator, with transforming him from a reserve to a star.
Albert Breer notes Isaiah Stanback feels privileged to have played with and been tutored by future Hall of Famers Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.
Mike Reiss questions whether the Patriots defense will use its base 3-4 alignment or a sub package with extra defensive backs against the Saints.
Albert Breer wonders how the Patriots will tackle the O-Line, as Sebastian Vollmer sat out two days of practice with a head injury, Matt Light returned and Nick Kaczur wasn't with the first offense.
Mike Reiss offers the transcript of his weekly online chat.
Adam Kilgore reports the league will fine neither Mark LeVoir for his punishing block on Jets cornerback Donald Strickland nor Strickland for his vow to retaliate against LeVoir.
Albert Breer says the Patriots could very well be in Detroit for Thanksgiving next year.
Mike Reiss Football Journey: Ron Brace.
Boston Herald Patriots Notebook: Running back Fred Taylor - no limp or brace - made his first appearance in front of reporters Friday; Sebastian Vollmer sat out of practice; Derrick Burgess and Tully Banta-Cain talk about the need to disrupt Drew Brees; Terrence Wheatley is itching to play.

NATIONAL NEWS

Ron Jaworski (ESPN) Depleted secondary leaves Saints vulnerable.
Tedy Bruschi and Mike Reiss (ESPN) Bruschi's breakdown: Pats-Saints game has great matchups.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Final Word: AFC East.
Aaron Wilson (Nat'l Football Post) Roethlisberger having second thoughts about playing; reportedly has concerns about suffering another concussion.
Mike Reiss presents ESPN's Patriots-Saints prediction roundup.

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Comments

Does anyone else think...

…that utilizing these ex-QBs in the WR position is preventing us from developing our actual WRs (ie: Tate)? I feel like this will only hurt us in the long run.

by The Hill on Nov 28, 2009 11:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

There’s a reason why people call Edelman Wes Jr., Tate wasn’t going to develop much this year anyway because he hasn’t fully recovered from his knee injury and is now on IR anyway, and Stanback hasn’t played enough to claim he’s taken snaps away from anyone.

Look for Tate to complete his recovery over the next couple of months and learn the system over the offseason. He’ll line up opposite Moss next year, with Edelman and Stanback rounding out our receiver corps.

by RSNexile on Nov 28, 2009 12:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Or we will draft a new one with our 12 picks

Jack of all trades-Master of None.....

by Peter Chung on Nov 28, 2009 1:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

what about wes welker???

you dont think he will still be with the pats next year?>?

by matthewmafa on Nov 28, 2009 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i think he forgot to mention wesley

by mathew.40 on Nov 28, 2009 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

:o

by patriotguy2 on Nov 28, 2009 5:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No, I didn't

Welker doesn’t line up across from anyone. He’s the slot receiver. So you have a starting lineup with Moss, Welker, and Tate, and Edelman and Stanback round out the receiver corps.

by RSNexile on Nov 28, 2009 5:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

sometime he lines up across from moss.

sometimes moss is in the slot as well, just to confuse people.

by patriotguy2 on Nov 28, 2009 9:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I feel like the distinction is irrelevant

Whether Edelman played QB in college, or whether Tate was a standout WR who isn’t seeing as much time on the field now, is secondary to the most important question: What gives you the best chance to win?

If the guys who are drafted as WRs contribute at the WR slot, that’s where they should play. But often guys who were good WRs at lower levels of competition find that their place is more as a special teams gunner, or a kick returner, etc. Similarly, a guy who was a great QB in college, for whatever reason, may find himself to be more suited as a pass catcher in the pro game.

A guy’s past is his past — and it’s his future with the Patriots that’s important. I don’t view Edelman as anything but a Pats WR. If and when Tate cracks the lineup with consistency, whatever position he is at is how I’ll view him.

by jctsai12 on Nov 28, 2009 3:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts...

…are that because we’re so focused on developing these ex-QBs into slot WRs that we’re missing out on big play receivers who just need some reps.

by The Hill on Nov 28, 2009 6:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They're not taking slots away

Edelman takes special team reps as a returner, so even if they didn’t use him as a WR, he’d probably make the team. Stanback is the guy who would fill in as an emergency QB, so even if he didn’t make the team as a returner, he’d probably be in the practice squad or the team as the third QB.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.

by Comedic.Sans on Nov 28, 2009 6:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No, the NFL is littered with great WRs who are ex-college QBs

Hines Ward, Anquan Boldin, and Antwaan Randel El are Pro Bowlers all, so it’s possible to convert a college QB (or part-time QB) into a great WR.

Throw in Matt Jones, Arnaz Battle, Patrick Crayton, Drew Bennett, Randy Hymes, Ronald Curry, Rasheed Marshall, and then the Pat’s own Edelman and Stanback, and it isn’t exactly unprecedented to fill out your WR battery with ex-QBs, either.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.

by Comedic.Sans on Nov 28, 2009 6:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess you're right...

…I just think that out of the people you’ve listened, only Ward and Boldin are top class WRs. I just want a top class WR and those really only come from players drafted as WRs.

by The Hill on Nov 28, 2009 6:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

True, but they didn't use a top-pick on Edelman or Stanback, either

getting a servicable WR/KR/PR guy from a 5th round pick and a serviceable WR/QB via a minimum free agency deal is a pretty good return. Neither were drafted/signed to replace Moss, they were there to add value as bit-part guys. Edelman’s a very good pickup, considering the last few years 5th rounders either didn’t make it through camp, or didn’t make it through more than one season. Tate’s the longterm option, and they can always take some guy in free agency/trade/next year’s draft if necessary.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.

by Comedic.Sans on Nov 28, 2009 7:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs