Category Archives: MVN

Patriots still working to solidify outside linebacker spot

Posted on August 3, 2009 by jamie

Every year as the head coach of the New England Patriots, Belichick has tweaked, retooled and overhauled various areas of the offense and defense and so far this year is no different.

Bill Belichick has never been an idle person when it comes to preparing his football teams to win games. With the eighty roster spots becoming a hot commodity when working through different offensive or defensive football plays, however, the Patriots have not done much at outside linebacker since trading Mike Vrabel.

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Q&A: 5 questions with Mining the Gold Rush

Posted on October 3, 2008 by beth

I had a chance to chat with Samuel Lam from MVN’s Mining the Gold Rush about the 49ers, a team which the Patriots rarely see. He also asked me 5 questions about the Patriots, which you can read here. Here are my 5 with Samuel Lam:
Jamie: What skill set has J.T. O

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No offense, Patriots need to work together

Posted on October 3, 2008 by beth

The New England Patriots are not in desperate times, but they do need to take desperate measures in order to improve upon their recent performance and overcome the loss of Tom Brady.
Randy Moss’ recent comments there are ten other players on offense to help QB Matt Cassel, couldn’t be more true. The lack luster performance versus the Dolphins, was not a result of Matt Cassel’s play as much as it was the entire team being in a ‘funk’ and looking a bit lost.
The offensive line was continuously under pressure and gave up five sacks and could not open up a hole for the running game to be established. Once the Dolphins built up a big lead the pressure was on Cassel to win it in the air.
This week the Patriots face a San Francisco defense that was not able to apply much pressure to Dree Brees and also allowed Duece McAllistar and Reggie Bush to combine for over 100 yards rushing and a touchdown.
The Patriots should do just as well with Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, Lamont Jordan and Kevin Faulk, but hopefully better if they also move out of the backfield and can run the short routes on pass plays.
San Francisco also gave up over 350 yards in the air and three touchdowns as

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Posted in AFC East, Bill Belichick, Boston Sports, Buffalo Bills, Kevin Faulk, Miami Dolphins, MVN, New England Patriots, New England Sports, New York Jets, Patriot Act, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Game Previews, Randy Moss | Leave a comment

Patriots moving forward

Posted on September 18, 2008 by beth

I have to admit up front that I am one of the fans that ciriticized Matt Cassel and was looking for him to be bounced off the team when training camp broke.
I figured Matt Gutierrez had done enough to show he was as capable as Cassel to back up Tom Brady. Plus Cassel was not impressive last year or during this year’s training camp.
Cassel had to go or so I thought…..
It is true Cassel is no Tom Brady. Although Brady is who he is today, I liked the fact

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Posted in AFC East, Bill Belichick, Boston Sports, Brandon Meriweather, Buffalo Bills, James Sanders, Jerod Mayo, Mike Vrabel, MVN, New England Patriots, New England Sports, NFL News, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Roster, Patriots Training Camp, Peyton Manning, Randy Moss, Robert Kraft, Rodney Harrison | 2 Comments

Patriots training camp updates and pictures

Posted on July 25, 2008 by beth

The boys at PFW in Progress are blogging live from

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Posted in AFC East, Bill Belichick, Information Sources, MVN, New England Patriots, New England Sports, NFL Network, NFL News, Patriot Act, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Training Camp, Robert Kraft | Leave a comment

Should the Patriots be concerned about their QB situation?

Posted on July 25, 2008 by beth

In the AFC East, more then one team has a question regarding their quarterback situation.
The Patriots are the only team with a true and valuable starting QB on their roster -Tom Brady. Behind Brady there are more questions then answers with three untested youngsters in Matt Cassel, Matt Gutierrez and rookie Kevin O’Connell.
The Patriots have had four QBs (ahem – Tom Brady) taking up roster spots in the past, it does not seem likely that 2008 will be the same case. The Patriots will definitely will keep at least one of the backup QBs, but is there a need to keep all of them? Two out of three?

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Posted in AFC East, Bill Belichick, Boston, Boston Sports, Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, MVN, New England, New England Patriots, New England Sports, New York Jets, NFL News, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Roster, Peyton Manning, Robert Kraft | Leave a comment

Patriots need help on the Inside

Posted on July 22, 2008 by brent

When Adalius Thomas signed with the Patriots last year shortly after the Pro Bowl, it was hailed as one of the biggest signings in Patriot history.

To take a look back in early 2007, the Ravens play a 3-4 base defense, like the Patriots do. Everyone on the planet took notice of Belichick schmoozing with Thomas at the Pro Bowl (which Belichick had to participate in as AFC head coach because his team lost the AFC Championship Game), and sure enough, the subsequent rumors became reality when Thomas signed on with the Patriots on March 2.

Thomas played outside linebacker at
Baltimore, whereas the more urgent linebacker need for the Patriots was at inside backer. With Tedy Bruschi aging, Mike Vrabel better suited at outside backer, Junior Seau hurting but still wanting another shot at helping the Patriots in 2007, there had yet to be anyone out there to have†succeeded Ted Johnson. One had to hope beyond hope that Thomas was as versatile as Belichick said he would be. Would Thomas be able to fit into Belichick’s defensive scheme, even though Thomas achieved his success in
Baltimore as an outside backer?

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Posted in Bill Belichick, Boston Sports, Mike Vrabel, MVN, New England Patriots, NFL Free Agency, NFL News, Patriot Act, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Draft, Patriots Roster, Robert Kraft | 1 Comment

Patriots training camp calendar

Posted on July 21, 2008 by beth

As the opening of training camp draws near, we want to provide you with as much information as possible. Here are the training camp details from Patriots.com:

TRAININGCAMP
SCHEDULE
7/24

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Posted in Bill Belichick, Boston Sports, Information Sources, MVN, New England Patriots, New England Sports, NFL News, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Training Camp, Robert Kraft | Leave a comment

Patriots have defensive problems cornered

Posted on July 20, 2008 by beth

The

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Posted in AFC East, Bill Belichick, Boston Sports, Brandon Meriweather, MVN, New England, New England Patriots, New England Sports, NFL Free Agency, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Roster, Patriots Training Camp, Robert Kraft | Leave a comment

Safety secured for Patriots

Posted on July 19, 2008 by beth

When we look at different positions on the Patriots defense, one area that will be stronger in 2008 is the safety position.
Rodney Harrison returns with one year left on his contract, but is healthy and able to start from the first day. James Sanders started at free safety in 2007 and had a solid performance, but may be challenged for a starting spot in training camp by Brandon Meriweather.
Meriweather should be concentrating on his role at safety rather then cornerback and safety as he did last season in his rookie year. If he does well in training camp he may be starting come opening day. Definitely starting mid-way through the season.
Veteran Tank Williams joins the roster at safety and has practiced as an additional linebacker in special situations. Although Williams may not be the same type of player as Harrison, I look forward to see how he is used by new coach Dom Capers.
Special teams player Ray Ventrone may get a chance to break the roster and find time rotating in the line-up, but this may be his last year of opportunity with the Patriots.
Undrafted rookie Mark Dillard is also trying to make the roster, but he may be lucky to make the practice squad.
I see Capers and even Harrison challenging the other players to step up and play a more physical game in coverage and moving up in the box to help make tackles and blitz more often.
So why is safety a strength in 2008?
The only real loss from 2007, was Eugene Wilson. Wilson was a known starter and fell out of favor due to too many missed plays as well as injuries. He finished the season rotating into different packages or not playing at all.
Wilson was a bit of an enigma, as he played well his first season having converted from cornerback to safety and replaced Lawyer Milloy to start the season next to Harrison. Wilson helped the Patriots win a Super Bowl that same year.
Since then Wilson has lacked the confidence, leadership and health worth giving him a contract extension. Wilson is now playing cornerback for the Bucs.
IN BILL WE TRUST!!

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Posted in AFC East, Bill Belichick, Boston Sports, Brandon Meriweather, James Sanders, MVN, New England, New England Patriots, New England Sports, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Roster, Robert Kraft, Rodney Harrison | Leave a comment