PatsBlog: A Patriots Blog

Well after a long absence with the start of school and moving and other stuff, I’m back to update this website… for good.  So, we’re 2-1.  Not bad.  Nice comeback over Buffalo, nice avoiding the comeback over the Jets, and the Broncos game was pure ugly.  Here is my report card for their okay over the last few weeks:

Quarterbacks:  B+  Well, Brady didn’t look too good in games one and two.  But in our loss to Denver, with the running game struggling, Brady put on a pretty good show.

Runningbacks: A-  This looks like the best group of runningbacks we’ve had in a long, long time (as Bill Belichick timidly points out).  Despite struggling in game 3, the Dillon/Maroney combo has done great and will continue to do so.

Fullbacks: C  Haven’t gotten many reps.  Evans failed to score on a one yard try, but made a crucial 3 yard 1st down on 3rd.  Pass still isn’t back, Mills hasn’t played.

Receivers: B  Brown has looked like his old self, Brady started hooking up w/ Gabriel in game 3, Jackson looked good in his debut (game 2), and Caldwell has played good and consistent.

Tight Ends: A-  Watson has faired well, hauling in 11 grabs in the first three games.  Graham has made a few nice catches, and Thomas looked good on his 29 yard scamper in week 2.

O-Line: B+  Hasn’t given Tom Brady a lot of protection (see his two fumbles against Buffalo), but the run blocking has been superb.  Rookie tackle O’Callaghan has played very well to this point.

D-Line: A++++  The emergence of Ty Warren (24 tackles, GW safety).  The stuffing of Vince Wilfork.  The dominance of Richard Seymour.  Is there anything else to say?  Best d-line group I have EVER seen, period.

Linebackers: A+ Colvin and Vrabel managing the outside spots as usual, with some nice pass rush as well.  Bruschi has returned in spectacular form.   Plus, can Seau make another Pro Bowl?  With 26 tackles through 3 games, its looking like he might.

Cornerbacks: B  Ellis Hobbs has had some troubles, Asante playing very well.  Too bad Randall Gay is out for the year (please, someone, how did this happen???)

Safeties: B  Haven’t done anything great, but look, RODNEY IS BACK!!!  We’ve got one of the best safety tandems in the NFL, and I expect it to stay that way.

Kicker:  C   Two blocked kicks on four attempts.  Vinatieri has 3 blocked kicks in his career (not including playoffs).  But, he made his first pressure kick and I think that he will be a very good NFL kicker, if not better than Vinatieri.

Punter:  A+  Miller is just having a great season.  You can credit our week one victory to him.  If he keeps it up, Hawaii is not far away for this guy.

The Patriots cut veteran placekicker Martin Gramatica yesterday.  Thank god we cut Gramatica!!! Stephen Gostkowski in my opionion 100% better then Gramatica.  He should be able to help the Patriots alot in pressure situations.  His kicking looked amzing in the pre-season game against the Arizona Cardinals.  Lets hope he can continue that success in the regular season.  Gostkowski (Gos-tow-ski) has a lot of pressure filling the role that Adam Vinatieri kicked for along time.

This weeks report card includes game 1 of the preseason, plus performances in practice.

QB: C+  Tom Brady has had some off the field issues, Cassel wasn’t great, still no number 3

HB: A+  Great 1-2 punch with Dillon & Maroney, Faulk doing his thing, Patrick Cobbs emerges

FB: B-  Pass still out, Evans too slow, but Mills put on a show with 5 rec. for 75 yds.

WR: D  Branch holding out, Jackson injured, no one else is stepping up

TE: B-  Graham mostly injured, Mills just came back, Watson performing well

OL: A-  Koppen back, O’Callaghan taking over at RT, Light in midseason form

DL: B+  Injured getting healthy, LeKevin Smith stepping up, Mike Wright doing well

OLB: A-  No injury problems, Banta Cain doing well, Vrabel will stay outside with addition of Seau

MLB: B  Bruschi out, but Seau comes in, when everyone’s back, we will have a good bunch

CB: A-  Competition is strong and consistent, and how about Willie Andrews doing a little of everything

S: A-  Hawkins, Wilson, Jones, and now Harrison is back and almost 100%

K: A  No missed field goals, Gostkowski pushing ahead

P: A-  Miller had a pretty good preseason opener

A+ Performers: Willie Andrews, Garrett Mills, Patrick Cobbs, Laurence Maroney, Corey Dillon

Word is in from Mike Reiss of Boston.com: the 37 year old LB Junior Seau is officially a Patriot.  Terms of the deal were undisclosed.  I’ll check back in when I have more information.

UPDATE:  Seau signed a deal for $1 million over 1 year, as was expected. 

Even though this is late, I still wanted to get it out there.  Before Seau, the Pats hosted linebackers Jamie Sharper, Orlando Ruff, and Chris Claiborne.  Of these three, I am most intrigued by Jamie Sharper, the former All-Star.  Sharper could really help us out, but if we sign Seau, do we need him?  My thought is that we will only sign one linebacker, and it will be Junior Seau.

Linebacker Jamie Sharper, who visited the Pats earlier this week

Okay, this one is from packersnews.com:

“Eighth-year pro Martin Gramatica, who has looked good in the New England Patriots’ camp after being out of football last season because of an abdominal injury and a 27-for-45 slump on field goals in 2003 and 2004. He’s likely to be cut because the Patriots’ fourth-round draft pick, Stephen Gostkowski, has started camp well and looks like an elite kicker in the making. “

I was at first not believing it but then again, Gostkowski has started taking the majority of the kicks in practice, and has been making all of them.  Gostkowski should win the job, but I’m not sure if Gramatica will be cut just yet.  By the way, what a perfect picture for the post.

QB:

Matt Hasselback

WR:

Steve Smith

Larry Fitzgerald

Santana Moss

RB:

Larry Johnson

Brian Westbrook

TE:

Antonio Gates

Kicker:

Jason Elam

Defense:

Giants

I am looking forward to this fantasy season!!!

Preseason Report:

Rookies: The only rookie I would draft from the Patriots is  Laurence Maroney because I know he is going to play!!!!  Chad Jackson is not a good pick because he has been injured for so much time.  Gostkowski isn’t the best pick because he is unproven, even though he is the best rookie kicker.  He is an option in some Yahoo! leagues.

Top Players

1. Tom Brady- I would draft Tom Brady as a BACK-UP because of Deion Branch’s hold out.

2. Laurence Maroney - Doesn’t have the wear and tear that Dillon has and will get carries

3. Corey Dillon - Will get the goal line carries giving him a lot of fantasy points.

4. Ben Watson - Has speed and ability to have a breakout year and be a top TE.\

5. Deion Branch - only if he comes out of his holdout

Sleepers

Laurence Maroney, Daniel Graham

Overrated

Reche Caldwell, Corey Dillon

***Now with Tom Brady ”being linked to balco by having a phone conversation breifly”  (according to Greg Anderson, former trainer of Giants Slugger Barry Bonds), Brady’s fantasy value will go down. 

Ross is our newest staff member at PatsBlog.  Ross will provide fantasy opinion and analysis on all of the Patriot’s players.  Who’s rising, falling, sleepers, etc.

Junior Seau retired officially at the San Diego Charger’s training facility on Monday, or did he?  Seau said he was still capable of playing in the NFL, but that he wasn’t “needed”, only wanted.  He also said that he wanted to win.  Well wouldn’t it work if he came to us?  Well maybe it will.  A source from San Diego reported that Seau is visiting with us and may sign with us on Friday.  With our depleted linebacking corps, we could really use this 12-time probowler.  Seau was originally in contract negotiations with the Redskins, but feeling he wasn’t going to be utilized enough, Seau rejected the deal and chose to retire.

ESPN Video Report: http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/ivp/index?id=2553103