Patriots Divisional Pre-Game Thread

[RedOctober3829]

@jeffphowe: Logan Mankins has a walking boot next to his jeans in front of his locker.

Any Patriots-specific news and notes leading up to January 11th can go here. Game analysis can go here once we know who the opponent is as well.

 

[DaughtersofDougMirabelli]

@jeffphowe: Logan Mankins has a walking boot next to his jeans in front of his locker.

Any Patriots-specific news and notes leading up to January 11th can go here. Game analysis can go here once we know who the opponent is as well.

 
100% chance that if he's hurt he'll play through it. One of the toughest guys in the NFL. 

 

[soxfan121]

Mankins is our generation's Jack Youngblood. I will not be surprised to find out he's playing on with a broken something. After he played through a torn ACL a few years back, I think he'd have to lose an entire leg before going on IR.

 

[bakahump]

I give him all the credit for being tough....the concern is if this injury makes him as shitty as he was in the SB against the Giants when playing on the bum knee.  If thats the case we MIGHT be better off with one of Dantes projects.
 
Bye is big.  I cant see how Mankins is too serious....he was back into the game when we had it pretty well in hand. Dude is tough but they would probably err on the side of caution if it seemed semi bad.  Sprain maybe.  Hopefully 2 weeks gives him and McCourty time to heal up. 
 
Did Dobson come back in after limping off?

 

[Stitch01]

Dobson never returned.

 

[mpx42]

Jeff Howe said he aggravated the stress fracture in his foot. That doesn't sound too good to me.

 

[DaughtersofDougMirabelli]

Jeff Howe said he aggravated the stress fracture in his foot. That doesn't sound too good to me.

 
Yet he was running 30 yards down field on a screen on one of his first plays back in the game. It'll probably hurt but he'll be out there.  

 

[bakahump]

I think he was Saying Dobson aggravated the stress fracture.  Mankins appears to be an ankle.

 

[mpx42]

Yeah, I meant Dobson. We'll know soon enough - if he's not on IR in the next day or two the team obviously thinks he might be ready to go in time.

 

[DaughtersofDougMirabelli]

Yeah, I meant Dobson. We'll know soon enough - if he's not on IR in the next day or two the team obviously thinks he might be ready to go in time.

 
Yeah my bad, Mankins' toughness has gotten me all fired up today. 

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Pats sign former Broncos PS Greg Orton: https://twitter.com/DougKyedNESN/status/418122117348327424

Orton has bounced around from AFL, UFL, and Broncos PS since 2008 (Collie may have had last shot with Pats).

 

[Super Nomario]

Pats sign former Broncos PS Greg Orton: https://twitter.com/DougKyedNESN/status/418122117348327424

Orton has bounced around from AFL, UFL, and Broncos PS since 2008 (Collie may have had last shot with Pats).

I think this is a practice squad signing (Pats had a spot open)

 

[lambeau]

Signing Orton probably is bad news about Dobson's aggravated stress fracture. At 6'3 1/2" BB may be thinking he can catch end zone fades. Almost made Broncos, but sprained his ankle.

 

[Super Nomario]

Signing Orton probably is bad news about Dobson's aggravated stress fracture. At 6'3 1/2" BB may be thinking he can catch end zone fades. Almost made Broncos, but sprained his ankle.

Not necessarily. Reiss is reporting Orton to practice squad, not 53-man roster.

 

[lambeau]

I just think he can imitate AJ Green for now, but he may get promoted if we need a tall red zone option--a position of need w/o Dobson or Gronk, as good as Hooman can look.

 

[crystalline]

Think they try Thompkins in that role with Dobson out? Or just throw the fade to Solder?

 

[lambeau]

Orton probably has 9-10 inches on Thompkins in catch radius betwwen height and vertical leap and wingspan.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Sweats/shells practice today. Per Patriots beat writers Mankins, Dennard, Dobson, and Boyce missed practice.

Anyone else think Orton was picked up to replace Dobson in case he's IR'd?

 

[RedOctober3829]

Devin McCourty was given full clearance to return to action on Monday after his concussion eight days earlier against the Ravens. 



McCourty, who made a limited practice appearance last Friday, was back out at Patriots practice on Wednesday. McCourty missed the regular-season finale against the Bills. McCourty speaks in some detail about the NFL's concussion protocols on Quick Slants Wednesday night at 8 p.m.



http://www.csnne.com/blog/patriots-talk/mccourty-concussion-given-full-clearance

 

[Toe Nash]

Good. They have weathered a ton of losses but I think McCourty would be the proverbial last straw. He's such a great tackler and limits big plays. Maybe he just stands out because of Gregory but that probably reinforces my point.

 

[lambeau]

I wonder if the power running game will continue? Blount looked like Frank Gore over the left side behind Staley and Iupati--we'll need that in the SB.
 
The spread shotgun may have become too predictable without the TE's. While SF, Seattle, Phila run 45-47% snaps off the option, we ran 30-35% aginst Denver, Carolina, and Cincy.
 
I particularly like the 2 TE 2 WR set with Brady under center for the flexibility to run/pass. One of Blount's TD's came off that formation.

 

[Super Nomario]

I wonder if the power running game will continue? Blount looked like Frank Gore over the left side behind Staley and Iupati--we'll need that in the SB.
 
The spread shotgun may have become too predictable without the TE's. While SF, Seattle, Phila run 45-47% snaps off the option, we ran 30-35% aginst Denver, Carolina, and Cincy.
 
I particularly like the 2 TE 2 WR set with Brady under center for the flexibility to run/pass. One of Blount's TD's came off that formation.

I think the 2 TE / 2 WR set does not have good run / pass flexibility with current personnel. The Patriots have 2.5 receivers Brady can trust - Edelman, Vereen, and Amendola the half. The 2 TE / 2 WR group usually doesn't have Vereen or Amendola on the field, which makes it pretty easy to shut down in the passing game.

 

[lambeau]

They sure prefer 3 WR sets--but almost always throw in them. I think they trust Thompkins pretty well, but I guess the element of surprise doesn't make up for the lack of a third option.
 
The 2 WR set in the first half was Dobson and Edelman; I'd guess Thompkins gets those snaps now because for whatever reason Amendola seems limited--groin still?

 

[Super Nomario]

They sure prefer 3 WR sets--but almost always throw in them. I think they trust Thompkins pretty well, but I guess the element of surprise doesn't make up for the lack of a third option.

Yeah, this is the problem. The 3 WR set with Vereen in the backfield and Dobson / Edelman / Amendola gives the best options for passing, but Vereen is averaging something like 4 carries for 14 yards in the games since coming back from wrist injury. The 2 TE (or 1 TE, 1 FB, 1 HB) set with Blount or Ridley is good for running, but the passing options are lousy.
 
I don't know if they really "prefer" 3 WR sets. Aaron Hernandez, um, didn't work out, and Gronk missed the first six weeks. They ran a fair amount of 2 TE when he came back, but then Hoomanawanui got hurt and missed three games. By the time he got back, Gronk was on IR. So they haven't really had the personnel to run a lot of 2 TE stuff this year.
 

The 2 WR set in the first half was Dobson and Edelman; I'd guess Thompkins gets those snaps now because for whatever reason Amendola seems limited--groin still?

Amendola's injury seems to be part of it, but they also seem to be trying to get a traditional "X" receiver going at one of the spots rather than the all-midget attack of recent years. Amendola and Edelman have pretty similar skill sets.

 

[lambeau]

I wonder if we will be able to run if we get the Bengals. Even without Atkins our left side will face Michael Johnson and James Harrison. Ugh.

 

[Corsi]

Also, Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf will be calling the #Patriots Divisonal Round game for CBS on Jan 11. Nantz and Simms are going to Denver
 

https://twitter.com/BenVolin/status/418777561624084481

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

I wonder if we will be able to run if we get the Bengals. Even without Atkins our left side will face Michael Johnson and James Harrison. Ugh.

 
As I recall they were running pretty well in the first matchup, but Ridley was in the doghouse and didn't play, then Blount fumbled near the red zone and they only ran the ball a handful of times in the 2nd half (18 carries total including 1 for Edelman). Seems like pretty poor playcalling in retrospect given the conditions. I was on the road for most of this game so someone who watched it may have a different recollection.

 

[mascho]

Austin Collie re-signed.  

 

[RedOctober3829]

Same four players missing from practice today as yesterday(Mankins, Boyce, Dobson, Dennard).  They are practicing outside in the shit weather too.  Love it.

 

Phil Perry ‏@PhilAPerry 6m
Mankins, Boyce, Dobson and Dennard all missing from snowy practice inside Gillette
 

.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Somebody is going to IR.  Erik Scalavino says that all 8 practice squad players were present at practice ALONG with Austin Collie.  My bet is that either Dobson or Boyce is going to IR with the strong possibility that it will be Dobson.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Practice Conditions today per Matt Pepin of Globe.
 

 

[Stitch01]

Somebody is going to IR.  Erik Scalavino says that all 8 practice squad players were present at practice ALONG with Austin Collie.  My bet is that either Dobson or Boyce is going to IR with the strong possibility that it will be Dobson.

Id agree its one of the two, but Id guess Boyce unless Dobson's injury is so severe he's not going to get back anyways. I think Collie will play over Boyce in a playoff game given Boyce's lack of reps in the offense during the season and Blount cementing his job as a kick returner.

 

[Toe Nash]

Practice Conditions today per Matt Pepin of Globe.
 
 

Not sure the exact nature of the drill but nice job Hightower of confirming the "too slow" criticism

 

[Reardon's Beard]

Love that Collie is back. The few plays I remember him making were always key, and it will be nice to know we have some depth at the back end. No doubt Edelman, Vereen, and Amendola will continue to be the favorite targets.
 
I'm assuming Thompkins is healthy?

 

[Mystic Merlin]

Per Reiss, Boyce to IR.

 

[Van Everyman]

Bummer as he showed some moves but this is definitely preferable to Dobson going down for the season. Of course that could still happen.

 

[Stitch01]

Reasonably good news under the circumstances as they must figure Dobson has a chance to get back during the postseason and he's more valuable than Boyce at this point IMO.

 

[Section15Box113]

As much as I'd like to see Boyce develop further, the playoffs aren't the time.  I'd been on pins and needles fearing that the countermove was Dobson.  As VE says, far better to have #17 there for the stretch run.
 
Fine with this as long as the Orton PS signing isn't Dobson insurance and both wind up on IR. 
 
(Can't believe I'm considering the potential loss of two rookie WRs to be the nightmare scenario at this point!)

 

[Saints Rest]

Not sure the exact nature of the drill but nice job Hightower of confirming the "too slow" criticism

I look at it as Hightower is just as fast as Talib!

 

[Super Nomario]

As much as I'd like to see Boyce develop further, the playoffs aren't the time.  I'd been on pins and needles fearing that the countermove was Dobson.  As VE says, far better to have #17 there for the stretch run.
 
Fine with this as long as the Orton PS signing isn't Dobson insurance and both wind up on IR. 
 
(Can't believe I'm considering the potential loss of two rookie WRs to be the nightmare scenario at this point!)

I have a hard time believing a dude they just signed off the street is going to pick up the offense quickly enough to be a factor in the next few weeks. I think they would bring Branch back first.

 

[amarshal2]

I have a hard time believing a dude they just signed off the street is going to pick up the offense quickly enough to be a factor in the next few weeks. I think they would bring Branch back first.

 
I don't know.  What if he's only there for the red zone?  It's been a real concerning area of struggle that would warrant the usage of a roster spot for a "specialist", IMO.  Branch is not going to help anybody in the red zone.
 
Edit: red zone might be too generous.  Perhaps inside the 10 or 15?

 

[Shelterdog]

I have a hard time believing a dude they just signed off the street is going to pick up the offense quickly enough to be a factor in the next few weeks. I think they would bring Branch back first.

 
100% agree.  The new guy is a big body for practice;he ain't playing.

 

[SoxinSeattle]

Also, Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf will be calling the #Patriots Divisonal Round game for CBS on Jan 11. Nantz and Simms are going to Denver

:barf:

 

[Super Nomario]

 
I don't know.  What if he's only there for the red zone?  It's been a real concerning area of struggle that would warrant the usage of a roster spot for a "specialist", IMO.  Branch is not going to help anybody in the red zone.
 
Edit: red zone might be too generous.  Perhaps inside the 10 or 15?

I see this as extremely unlikely. They barely even use Dobson in the red zone (just 9 targets, 4 catches, 2 TDs), and he knows the offense. It seems like a bad percentage move to throw passes to a guy who has never caught an NFL pass and who doesn't know the offense in playoff games in some of the highest-leverage situations just because he's tall.
 
The practice squad is the practice squad. Signing guys to it isn't necessarily a reflection on the health or status of the active players at the position, and I think that's especially true of guys like Orton signing late in the year.

 

[crystalline]

I see this as extremely unlikely. They barely even use Dobson in the red zone (just 9 targets, 4 catches, 2 TDs), and he knows the offense. It seems like a bad percentage move to throw passes to a guy who has never caught an NFL pass and who doesn't know the offense in playoff games in some of the highest-leverage situations just because he's tall.
 
The practice squad is the practice squad. Signing guys to it isn't necessarily a reflection on the health or status of the active players at the position, and I think that's especially true of guys like Orton signing late in the year.

 
It's also just one of many recent practice squad transactions recently.
 
They just swapped out a practice squad offensive lineman and signed an RB.
 
Also an RB swap a few days ago.