Pats Pulpit

GAME THREAD: New England Patriots v. Miami Dolphins, Foxboro, MA, Sunday November 8, 2009, 1:00pm

2009-11-08T17:52:47Z

It's a balmy 66 degrees and sunny at Gillette Stadium today, as your 5-2 New England Patriots prepare to host the 3-4 Miami Dolphins, a fierce intra-division rival who is playing better than its record. Beer is cold, crowd is hot.

Let's have at it: Go Pats!

New England - Miami Inactive List

2009-11-08T17:35:20Z

New England - Miami Inactive List

From Mike Reiss: Here are today's inactives for the Patriots:

LB Eric Alexander
OL Rich Ohrnberger
CB Jonathan Wilhite
WR Julian Edelman
DE Jarvis Green
OT Matt Light
RB Sammy Morris
RB Fred Taylor

Quick thought: Not much suspense this week considering the Patriots classified five players as out earlier this week. Ohrnberger has yet to play this season, while Wilhite missed practice this week due to illness. Kyle Arrington, signed this week off the practice squad, is active today.

Inactive players for the Dolphins:

QB Tyler Thigpen
RB Kory Sheets
LB Channing Crowder
OT Andrew Gardner
OT Lydon Murtha
WR Patrick Turner
LB Quentin Moses
DT Jason Ferguson

Sunday Fish Fry Part 2: Man the Longboats! Patriots offense v. Dolphin D

2009-11-07T23:36:34Z

More photos » by Matt Dunham - AP

New England Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson (84), left, crosses to score a touchdown game at Wembley. Pats' tight ends could play a key offense role against the Dolphins this week. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

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The Dolphins will let you score. Well, they won't let you, but teams do seem to rack up the points on Miami. Even teams with rookie quarterbacks who ultimately lose. Miami allows just over 25 points per game, good enough for 23rd league wide and a tie with Jacksonville.

Their D ranks 18th overall when adjusted for strength of schedule. Not horrid, I guess, but not scintillating either. Since playing Buffalo, the Phins have surrendered 27, 46 and 30 points (Jest, Saints, Jest). But the question tonight isn't "how good is Miami generally," but rather "How good will Miami be against New England?" On paper, at least, the answer is "not good."

According to Football Outsiders, Miami has the worst pass defense in the league against Tight Ends. They're quite good against other receivers, but simply cannot seem to locate that skinny-looking lineman when he runs out for a pass. On a per game basis, they allow almost seventy yards receiving to the TE. That's a lot.

Sticking for the moment with FO's system, New England has one of the best tight ends in the league right now and two in the top 30. Ben Watson ranks 6th overall in his value over a replacement player. His per play value over an average player ranks him first in the league. While Chris Baker doesn't rank as high as Watson overall, both players suffer in the rankings somewhat because they aren't used all that often. Expect that to change on Sunday. Note, however, that Watson is listed as questionable.)

For the first time in its history, Miami is now starting three rookies in its defensive backfield. Young cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Sean Smith have been thrown into the fire this year, and have been described by Coach Tony Sparano as forgetful youngsters. In other words, they're cocky SOB's who remember their successes and instantly forget their mistakes. Perfect CB material, but young is young.

At the safety position Miami entered the season with maturity, and could have felt about as good as any team about the two rangers. Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson were expected to be steadying hands on the tiller. The high-priced Wilson struggled, however, and Sparano boldly elevated rookie Chris Clemons against the Jest, the same week Davis got the full time nod due to WIll Allen's season-ending injury.

The upshot? Mark Sanchez went 20 of 35 for 265 yards. Ouch. Still, as the Phaithful will quickly remind you, they won. (Thanks, boys.) Although Smith was drafted to handle the tall guys, Cotchery torched him and now he gets Moss. There's no one in the league who can cover Welker.

Why they won is mostly to do with special teams (about which more briefly). But let's not rush to phase three. Our running game is average; their run D is average. (Though FO ranks our run game a defense-adjusted seventh, so it's more effective than given credit for.) But like I said in Part I, running isn't going to be the whole story and when Miami is on defense it isn't going to be half of the story. Injuries are why.

Nosetackle Jason Ferguson and old friend Channing Crowder are both listed as questionable for the game. Coach Sparano states confidence in Crowder's replacement, Reggie Torbor, but NT understudy Paul Soliai would be making his first start. (Bonus: Joey Porter still tender in the hamstringal region.) But those aren't the injuries I'm most interested in.

I know Matt Light doesn't have many fans anymore. But no one does very well against Jason Taylor, which is a left-handed way of saying Light does as well as anyone. Light will sit with a bum knee and rookie Sebastian Vollmer will get his second start. He did pretty well in his first shot of big playing time against Tennessee, but struggled against an underwhelming Tampa Bay from time to time. On Sunday he'll confront the toughest competition he's ever faced.

How he performs may well determine the outcome of the game. Just as safety play by the Patriots will key the defense, I think that our offensive success rides on how well Vollmer handles Taylor -- or fails to. Miami has been very frank about the need to get pressure on Tom. Indeed, it's the only way they'll likely accumulate enough of an edge to win (more, again, below). Expect them to bring the house.

Finally, the "more." The Jets dominated the game in every category last week, yet still came up short. Key plays by the defense were a big reason -- including one from JT -- but the numerical advantage came on the feet of Ted Ginn. The Patriots absolutely must contain him in the return game. If things are going well, GInn is going to get the ball a lot. New England can not afford to let him do a lot with it.

That's all I've got time for and I'm sorry. Blogging from the road isn't a joy, but I'll be back in time to watch the game tomorrow. Add your own analysis in the comments and thanks to you all for helping Marima and me keep the place warm for MaPatsFan. Family issues are front and center for him right now, so let's all hold him warmly in our thoughts. I'm sure we'll have him back before long.

Enjoy the balance of your weekend -- see you at Game Time!

Sunday Fish Fry, Part I: This Chowda not "Dolphin Safe," but pulling in the nets no easy task

2009-11-06T23:00:34Z

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather (31) with a pick-6 in London two weeks ago. Disciplined play from the safety position will be a key this week against Miami Dolphins. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

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Well friends, we're in it now. With the bye week in our rear-view, the true meat of the schedule is here. In what promises to be an absolutely brutal five week stretch, New England will face, in order: Dolphins, Colts, Jets, Saints and Dolphins. If that doesn't look like a sphincter-clenching run through the briar patch of the AFC, then you must know something about football that I don't. Or you're clueless and at this point I'm prepared to go with that. Other than the Steelers, the Pats will have played the class of the Conference by the time all is said and done, plus the best the NFC has to offer. Right now, we're 1-1 against better teams, with a squeaker over Baltimore and an overtime heart-breaker at Mile High (I hate playing in Denver).

High School, college or pro, the best teams discipline themselves to focus on only the next game. It is for the fan to agonize and prognosticate over what the future holds. But that's all part of the fun and the media are more than happy to help us along. Below the fold, I've swiped wholesale Tim Graham's first half/second half graph, analyzing the relative strength of schedules for the AFC East. Under the heading of "it figures," the 'Phins have the easiest road the playoffs. The hardest row to hoe belongs to your New England Patriots.

Take a gander, but this week we face the first game of our annual series against Miami. Since that's what's on the menu, let's get out our tartar sauce and lobster bibs and look at how to catch some Phish. Part I is a look at the Dolphins on offense and some of the challenges they pose.

(Note: Part I may also be the only part I get to, as I need to be on the road this weekend. But if it isn't, I'll be taking a look at the Miami defense in Part II.)

AFC strength of schedule: Weeks 9 through 17
Team	Opp. record	Opp. win pct.
New England Patriots	38-28	.576
Indianapolis Colts	38-29	.567
Kansas City Chiefs	35-31	.530
New York Jets	30-27	.526
Baltimore Ravens	34-31	.523
Houston Texans	29-28	.509
Oakland Raiders	29-28	.509
Denver Broncos	32-33	.492
Buffalo Bills	28-29	.491
Tennessee Titans	32-34	.485
Jacksonville Jaguars	32-25	.478
San Diego Chargers	31-34	.477
Pittsburgh Steelers	30-35	.462
Miami Dolphins	30-35	.462
Cleveland Browns	25-32	.439
Cincinnati Bengals	29-38	.433
AFC strength of schedule: Weeks 1 through 8
Team	Opp. record	Opp. win pct.
Cleveland Browns	38-20	.655
Miami Dolphins	33-19	.635
Tennessee Titans	32-19	.627
Oakland Raiders	34-25	.576
Cincinnati Bengals	29-22	.569
Baltimore Ravens	29-22	.569
Kansas City Chiefs	27-24	.529
Denver Broncos	26-25	.510
New York Jets	29-30	.492
Buffalo Bills	28-31	.475
San Diego Chargers	23-28	.451
Pittsburgh Steelers	23-28	.451
New England Patriots	22-29	.431
Houston Texans	25-34	.424
Jacksonville Jaguars	21-30	.411
Indianapolis Colts	17-33	.340

The two-headed monster: Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. Coming out of Auburn, Ronnie Brown weighs 230 pounds. He's not slow, he doesn't shy away from contact and he's smart with the football. That's a good thing, because in the catPhish offense, he's the guy that makes ballhandling decisions. He'll throw, too. He's only 1 of 4 this year, but that one went for over 20 yards.

Unlike a team might do if it were running the 'cat as a gimmick, Miami will frequently pull quarterback Henne off the field altogether, rather than splitting him out wide. They do this for a couple of reasons: first, it discourages the corner blitz -- a quick way to stuff up the 'cat if you're asking a QB to get in the way. Second, because they trust Brown to throw the occasional pass, defenses can't load up against the run. They have to honor the pass at least a little bit.

That puts Brown on the field with Ricky Williams along with a full compliment of blockers.

The attraction of the single wing for most amateur teams that run it is the misdirection piece. It lets you move the ball effectively against bigger or faster defenses by using their superior ability against them. You can line up with a smaller line, or slower backs, and still grind out yards by getting defenders to chase players instead of staying home and playing their assignments. That's one way it works.

The other way it works is by taking that misdirection piece and complimenting it by smashing you in the mouth at the same time. That's what Miami does. As Vince Wilfork said, "They're not trying to trick you. They're going to try to run the ball." Their two-fisted, body-blow approach to running the ball is balanced with the much-maligned Ricky Williams.

I will say straight out: I am a fan of Ricky's. There are two reasons for this: First, when it came about that Ricky likes the reefer, the cry that went up condemning him was so loud and so strident that you'd have thought that he beat his girlfriend. Or obstructed a murder investigation. Or broke a teammate's jaw. Except all that he did was a) smoke weed and b) admit that maybe football isn't the most important thing in the world. In fact, it might not even be the most important thing in Ricky's world. Second, Ricky fought with and overcame social anxiety disorder, in public. So anything he does in the way of paying back the 'Phins on his contract, rehabilitating his image, or being a success, I'm willing to celebrate.

via blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com

Plus, he brings the wood. Ricky is averaging 5.4 yards per carry right now, more than he ever has. He's also catching the ball, with 15 receptions for an average of 12.3 yards per catch. As Belichick said, "I think either one of those backs could be the back for anybody." The Jets, the Saints and the 'Phins are the only teams that run more than they throw. They aren't fooling around.

The obvious implication is that you have to stop the run. At times, the Jets and the Saints had eight men in the box to do that. Can the Patriots follow suit, and will that work?

Phlying Phish: We all know Chad Henne is young. He's starting at least a year ahead of schedule, and he's struggling a little bit. But one thing that he has which Chad Pennington does not is a cannon. Henne can air it out if he gets the chance. We know our pass rush has been anemic, and we know that Miami has a good offensive line. Who is catching Henne's passes?

The Patriots match up well, in my opinion, against the Dolphins pass-catchers. The Dolphins' two leading receivers are Davone Bess and Greg Camarillo, with Ted Ginn Jr. in the number three slot. Ginn's troubles with route running and catching (you know, the two things receivers do) have been mentioned before. He's probably the most explosive return man in the East, though. Bess has had similar trouble of late, with two fumbles and a dropped ball in the last two games. Still, if Henne has a go-to wideout, it's probably Bess.

Don't sleep on Brian Hartline. He's only got 10 catches, but they've gone for 157 yards -- highest average on the team. He's the kind of gut-punch white slot receiver that always seems to kill us (see, Stokley, Brandon).

Patriot Pride: Defense used to be the name of the game in New England, forget what you heard from the press. During the second Super Bowl Run in 2003, New England enjoyed one of the finest defenses to play the modern game. That unit grew old as the offense matured and later days have seen lots of fireworks, but no championships. I believe the defensive side of the ball is on the way back.

There has been an enduring impression, created over the past few years, that the Patriots defensive backfield is weak. That is no longer true. I expect to see Brandon McGowan playing close to the line -- perhaps getting a "shadow Ricky" assignment -- in his key run support role. The Patriots will rotate corners through according to matchups, down and distance, and who seems to have the hot hand. I'm going to predict that UConn's own Darius Butler pulls down another pick and that Brandon Meriweather does at least one thing that blows your mind (in a good way).

That leaves the front of the house, and what is still something of a soft underbelly. I hope that someone shows that to the fellas, 'cause they're going to have to man up this week. If you grew up watching the Dolphins of Dan Marino, as I did, you'll remember a team with a questionable running attack and an erratic defense. Well, this is not your father's Miami Dolphins. These guys aren't going to carry the fight with the pass -- they want to run it down your throat.

The Patriots have been good against the run, but only when they're concentrating. The front 7 have yet to put together a complete game in that way, and every team we've played has seemingly had at least one drive where they ran through, over and around our guys. We can't have that this week, which makes it an even tougher time to lose Jarvis Green. Pryor, Wright and probably Brace are going to have to step up and match Wilfork and Warren.

I'm not worried about Mayo, but I am worried a bit about our outside linebackers. There isn't one among the five of them (Banta-Cain, Burgess, Ninkovich, Thomas and Woods) who hasn't had some trouble setting the edge this season. I think Ninkovich and Banta-Cain have been the most consistent in that regard, but maybe this is finally Thomas's week to show us the real deal. I hope so, because you don't want to see Ricky Williams get into the flat.

Special Note: Tyler Thigpen can throw and run, and Pat White can run and throw. If you're looking for the Dolphins to launch a surprise on the league by slashing the Pats like they did last year, I'd look for more passing out of the catPhish. White could be dangerous on some of Williams' sweep-style plays, particularly if he pulls up and chucks it. Vice versa for Thigpen out of Brown's customary slot. He's not averse to running outside the tackle.

Overall, I think this game will come down to our safeties. The Dolphins are going to break off their share of runs. The key will be to limit big plays and that goes to discipline in the middle of the secondary. Run-force is a critical role for the secondary as a whole, but a misdirection running attack is a great opening act for play-action passing. If Meriweather and McGowan can keep everybody on the same page while making their own correct reads, the Dolphins will eventually screw up. You can't win it all with a run game -- since the invention of the forward pass, no one has. Dan Henning has shown that he won't stick with it anyway, even if it's working. If our safeties have solid outings, we'll be able to keep the score down.

Then it will be up to our offense to hang up some points.

(For the record, I hadn't yet read Bruschi's Breakdown when I wrote this up. In it, he tips safety play as a key.)

Cole: Why are there so many bad teams around the league this year? Belichick: Here’s the only t...

2009-11-06T20:33:19Z

Cole: Why are there so many bad teams around the league this year?

Belichick: Here’s the only thing I’ll say: I think to have a really good team in this league, you have to make a lot, a lot of good decisions. You have to have a lot of good people, players, coaches, whatever. You need a lot of those. Conversely, to not be competitive, you would have to have a lot of bad decisions. One bad decision is not going to do it, one bad player is not going to do it, one bad coach is not going to do it. You’re going to have to collectively, over a cumulative period of time, make a long series of bad decisions and accumulate a lot of players who are substandard for their position. There have to be a multitude of things that go wrong.

Cole: Because you can keep yourself average for a long time?

Belichick: That’s the system. If you don’t have good players, you have money to spend on players. If you have a bunch of good players, you eventually run out of money and you can’t keep them all and somebody else gets them. That’s the system, it keeps everybody average. We’ve seen teams be really good just on coaching. We’ve seen teams be competitive with just a few good players.

Q&A with the Hoodie. An excellent interview with Yahoo!'s Jason Cole, the kind of peek under the hoodie that makes you hope he writes it all down at some point.

The media are going to focus on the juice, things in here like "everybody is available at the right price." But even the context of that quote reveals the complexity of managing a roster. Comedic.sans had some excellent points about this in comments the other day, and they were borne out perfectly in the quote above.

There's more -- what makes a quarterback, what makes a team, competition, priorities. It's a jam-packed quick-shot -- go forth and read it.

Mad props to bforce3, whose fanshot scooped this and I failed to see it. Well done, Pulpiteer.

Pryor Experience: Rookie Myron Pryor logging time, clogging the line

2009-11-06T15:15:18Z

More photos » by Tom Hevezi - AP

New England Patriots defensive tackle Myron Pryor (91) battles Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Jeff Faine (52) at Wembley Stadium. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi)

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Homegrown in Wormtown, Pats watchers looked forward to Springfield and Worcester product Ron Brace (by way of Boston College) making a big splash as a highly rated rookie. But while Brace has progressed, it is the unheralded rookie from Kentucky, Myron Pryor, who finds himself keeping the line warm for starters as the Patriots most reliable new substitute. With Jarvis Green about to go under the knife, the spotlight turns to shine more directly on the quiet kid from Louisville.

Pryor is low-slung at six-feet-one, and carries a solid 310 pounds. Belichick has described him as "kind of stocky." Yeah Bill, he's stocky. Pryor's size makes him nearly a matched set with all-league noseguard Wilfork, or it would if the 6-2 Wilfork were anything close to his listed 325. If Vince Wilfork is 325 pounds then I'm an Abercrombie torso model (I'm not). Active for 6 of the Patriots' 7 games so far (all but the opener with the Bills), Pryor has accumulated 9 tackles (5 solo) and a forced fumble -- very solid numbers for a second-string rookie.

This will be Pryor's first taste of a complex run-game like that which the Dolphins present, an attack carried by two of the finer running backs in the league. He also will be challenged by one of the more aggressive offensive lines in the AFC, keyed by the Jakes: center Grove and tackle Long. Grove was specifically brought in to handle the beasts of the east -- Wilfork and Kris Jenkins of the Jets. But it won't be the first time Pryor has had to face down a challenge.

One of the best highlights from the 2008 college season was Pryor's rumbling return of a fumble for a touchdown against Louisville (below). According to his defensive line coach Rick Petri, Pryor's first words at the sideline were "Damn, I'm tired. I'm outta air." Under the circumstances it was a pretty joyful complaint coming from a kid who struggled his whole life with asthma. As a child, he spent hours bound to a mechanical nebulizer. Only recently has he been able to ditch the inhaler, as well.

Myron was a lucky kid: asthma can be tough to handle and it poses a greater threat of adverse health effects - including hospitalization and death - to African Americans than to other demographic groups. Pryor has noted the support of a tight family and his faith in pulling him along on his route to the NFL.

With the departure of Original Patriot Richard Seymour and the injury to Green, we will have a chance to watch Pryor grow in the role. With any luck -- and the tutelage of one of the finest lines in the league -- the "stocky" kid will emerge into a bookend worthy of Wilfork's example.

"310 pounds of glory"

New England Patriots Links 11/06/09 - Dolphins Coach on Single Covering Randy Moss Last Year: "That didn't work out so good."

2009-11-06T14:41:49Z

Vince Wilfork ready for some smash-mouth football.

View full size photo »

Shalise Manza Young notes Jerod Mayo says discipline is the key to stopping the WIldcat.

Asked on Thursday what his thoughts were after that initial play, Mayo smiled.

"Um…call a timeout," he said, laughing. "I know we came to the sideline and Bill (Belichick) just told everybody to calm down and made a couple of adjustments, but unfortunately they didn’t work out that day."

It didn’t help that even Mayo mentioned that tackling was a big issue for the Patriots in that game.

Mayo and the Patriots did a much better job the second time around last season, and they know what is required for them to be successful again on Sunday.

"I wouldn’t say patience; I would say discipline," the defensive captain said. "If everybody does their job, I feel we’ll be OK."

Ron Borges captures Vince Wilfork's feeling that this will be a physical fight to the finish against Miami.

"One thing is sure, we’re gonna have to tackle," Wilfork said yesterday of the task that awaits Sunday in facing the NFL’s third-most productive rushing attack, one that attacks not only with Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams but often with both of them in the hybrid, Wildcat offense that undressed Wilfork and his teammates when first unveiled a year ago. "They want to run the football. That’s the challenge for us. On Sunday, you’re gonna see a big-time match."

"We’re going to have our mind right," Wilfork said, smiling broadly. "That’s my style of game. They’re not trying to trick you. They’re going to try to run the ball."

"They’re strong, they can move, they’re powerful and they want to be physical," he said. "If we don’t have our mind right it’s going to be a long day for us, but I think we understand how we want to play this game. We’re looking forward to it and I’m sure they’re looking forward to it."

TEAM TALK

Erik Scalavino Bodden, Wilfork welcome Wildcat test; Wed news and notes from practice.
Erik Scalavino Mayo downplays his Wildcat experience; Thurs news and notes from practice.
Thursday Press Conference: Bill Belichick (12:43 min. video) plus Transcript.
Patriots-Dolphins Injury Report and Thursday practice participation. Ty Warren (ankle) and Benjamin Watson (back) were limited in practice.
Patriots Today: Dolphin breakdown, Hannah's hit and more. (8.53 min. video)
Locker Room Uncut: Welker, Thomas and more. (4.19 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

Ian Rapoport focuses on quiet rookie defensive lineman Myron Pryor, who may see even more playing time on Sunday as the line's top sub.
Monique Walker reports Ty Warren's week off made him stronger.
Tedy Bruschi (ESPNBoston) Don't underestimate the Dolphins. Patriots' opponent defined not by Wildcat but by toughness.
Christopher Price lists Five Things to watch for Sunday afternoon.
Ian Rapoport notes Belichick's frustration with how the refs are calling, or not calling, the wedge rule on returns. Check out the quick clip of this non-call of an obvious illegal wedge on a Bucs return against the Panthers.
Mike Reiss fires off eight questions with rookie WR Brandon Tate, talking about his experience so far.
Mike Reiss offers some sights and sounds from Gillette Stadium Thursday.
Mike Reiss presents Dan Dierdorf's thoughts on Patriots-Dolphins.
Mike Reiss puts up the transcript of his weekly online chat from Thursday. Lots of good insight here as usual.
Boston Herald Patriots Notebook: Mayo notes the Wildcat isn't the issue, it's stopping Ronnie Brown; Sammy Morris could be back in 2 weeks; Jonathan Wilhite missed practice because he was sick; Friends Tom Brady and Jason Taylor will turn into rivals again on Sunday.
Boston Globe Patriots Notebook: Ginn's speed needs special attention; Wildcat has been spotted before; injury update.
Ian Rapoport talks about how the Patriots are vigilant in keeping a very real threat at bay: the Flu.
Jim Lazar makes his weekly picks. Pats over Fins 34-14.

NATIONAL NEWS

Tim Graham (ESPN) AFC East's most YACtacular players.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Belichick dissects Williams, aka the Wildcat.
Vic Carucci (NFL.com) Wildcat might have been tamed, but formation still has claws.
Peter King (SI) Weekend Pickoff. Hmmmm. Brady, Chad Henne. Henne, Brady. In Foxboro. I can't see Miami winning. Pats 27-22.
Don Banks (SI) Behind the Browns debacle: Kokinis lost power struggle with Mangini.
Dan Pompei (NBC Sports) What's next? Favre wins MVP and Colts falter. Bold predictions for season's 2nd half include Bucs winning and Vick shining.
Michael Lombardi (Nat'l Football Post) Tavern talk: Lerner says Mangini will be back; Can Texans beat Indy?
Dennis Dillon (Sporting News) Confluence of influence: NFL coaches praise mentors.
Adam Schein (Fox Sports) Boom or bust: Jason Taylor should win comeback award.
Gil Brandt (NFL.com) 9 Matchups to watch this Sunday.
Kerry J. Byrne (CHFF) The decline of QB sacks in the NFL.

VIEW FROM MIAMI

David J. Neal (Miami Herald) Sunday's game all about Miami matching wits with Patriots.
Mike Beradino (Sun-Sentinal) Miami Dolphins look to continue strong play against Tom Brady.
Omar Kelly (Sun-Sentinal) Phins Wrap: Where is New England's weakness?
Andy Kent (Dolphins.com) Taylor and Brady very familiar with each other.
Mike Beradino (Sun-Sentinal) Bill Belichick hates thought of preparing for Jason Taylor.
Armando Salguero (Miami Herald) A Wildcat wrinkle the Dolphins should consider.
Mike Beradino (Sun-Sentinal) Joey Porter insists he doesn't play dirty. Bet he was one of the three that voted for Rodney Harrison.
Jeff Darlington (Miami Herald) Joey Porter readies for hated opponent.

Ted Ginn: Not even the best receiver on his college team (but very, very fast)

2009-11-05T22:00:35Z

Just to get it all out of the way up front: I know it's an amateur clipset and there's nothing scientific about it. But I'm going to ignore that and use it as one piece of evidence from a field of evidence that includes what I saw while watching Ginn on television in his college days and what I've seen of him (and his soon to be revealed former teammate) since they've entered the pros.

On that reel, there were 10 returns, 4 designed runs, and 8 pass plays. 36% of the time, what Ginn does best does not involve catching passes. That was true at the Old Horseshoe, and it has been true in the NFL. Yet he was drafted as and continues to be pushed as a wide receiver. But he has always been lazy in his route-running, and he's never been spectacularly sure-handed. It is his blazing speed (and it is eye-popping) that makes the personnel men drool, and continues to tantalize the Dolphin faithful.

Ginn's blinding speed had a tendency to overshadow a slower man, but one who was -- and is -- an overall more valuable football player. Granted, he's been playing under a better system in his professional life. But even at OSU, he was a better route-runner and a more reliable pass-catcher. Don't worry, patsfans. You'll have another chance to see him live this year, all too soon:

"My feelings toward New England go back further," Porter said. "It goes back to my Pittsburgh days....

2009-11-05T17:58:18Z

"My feelings toward New England go back further," Porter said. "It goes back to my Pittsburgh days. I felt a certain way, after some things came out, way back when I was in Pittsburgh, some AFC championships I lost to them, couple times. Come to figure out a few months later why we lost. So yeah, I have a natural hate for them. Period. And that’s just gonna be with me forever."

Porter was critical of the Patriots in the wake of Spygate two years ago, and after some tap-dancing around it, he was asked directly: Do you feel like it cost you rings?

"We do this every year around this time when I do this conference call," Porter said. "You know exactly what I’m talking about. And they know exactly what I’m talking about. And that’s not gonna change."

Joey's Hate is Natural, and That's a Good Thing

New England Patriots Links 11/05/09 - Brady, Patriots Up for Miami Challenge

2009-11-05T14:46:49Z

Vince Wilfork (75), Brandon McGowan (30), Ty Warren and head coach Bill Belichick laugh as the team stretches before practice.

View full size photo »

Vince Wilfork on the challenges posed by the Miami Dolphins' offense.

“We put a lot of pressure on ourselves, just to be accountable,” he replied. “When you step on the field, you want to make sure you play at a high level. And this week is a challenge. The Dolphins run the ball well, they have a real explosive offense, good offensive line, good backs, a quarterback who doesn’t make mistakes. So, we need to do a good job of controlling the game up front.

“They’ll do what they do. They want to run the football. That’s a challenge for us up front. If we don’t have our minds right, it’s going to be a long day for us again. It’s another division game, and we want to get out of it with a win.”

Bill Belichick talks up the Miami running backs, Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown.

[Ricky Williams has] got good power. I think Ronnie Brown is the more powerful of the two, but they're both strong, they're both big. They have to be 240, 235 [pounds] - whatever they are. They're strong. They break a lot of tackles with their lower body. Ricky's fast. He's done a good job on the outside plays [and] the screens. He catches the ball well, as Brown does, too. I think either one of those backs could be the back for anybody. They have two of them and they use them both a lot. They run the ball as much as anybody in the league and they try to wear you down in the fourth quarter. I think either one of them could probably do it by themselves and they both have. And together it just puts more stress on the defense, whether they're both in there at once or not.

Only one guy can carry the ball, but fresh backs, running hard with that kind of skill are better than guys that are getting worn down a little bit. But those two guys could go all day and they run hard. They break a lot of tackles, make a lot of yards on their own and they have a good offensive line, too, don't get me wrong. They get them started and those guys break tackles and they pile up the yardage.

Tom Brady talks about what he could have learned about the team from the last two games.

When we execute well, we produce points, we move the ball, we get first downs. When we don't execute well and we don't move the ball, we don't convert on third down, we don't get the ball in the red area. If you're a quarterback, and you drop back, and you have guys open and overthrow them by about five yards, you know you're not going to score points. That's understanding plays that we had where we haven't done what we're coached to do. That's just not the way you can play football. In times that we go out and execute well, like what we did against Tennessee, what we did against Tampa, we scored points. I think it's just a much more concerted effort in practice and the concentration to get those things done.

TEAM TALK

Erik Scalavino Leigh Bodden and Vince Wilfork share their thoughts about this week's opponent; plus news and notes from the locker room and Wednesday's practice.
Wednesday Press Conferences: Bill Belichick (22 min. video) and Tom Brady (13:19 min. video) Plus Transcripts.
Patriots-Dolphins Injury Report and practice participation.
Patriots Today: Wednesday update from Gillette Stadium. (7:27 min. video)
The Hall at Patriot Place launches its weekly program schedule.

LOCAL LINKS

Albert Breer talks with Alex Guerrero, Brady's personal trainer, who detailed Brady's intense rehabilitation program and provides the answer as to why our confidence in Brady is well placed. Neat story.
Shalise Manza Young notes the Patriots have tougher competition ahead than what they've faced the last 2 games.
Ian Rapoport doesn't know which Tom Brady will show up on Sunday, noting he was pedestrian in the first five games.
Mike Reiss reports the Patriots empty set is full of opportunities.
Adam Kilgore notes Bill Belichick sees Parcells' imprint all over this Dolphins team.
Mark Farinella talks Tuna and the Dolphins.
Mike Reiss observes Ty Warren and the DL face a huge challenge in Miami.
John Beattie says Chad Henne has developed on the fly in Miami.
Christopher Price reports the Patriots recognize their Scout Team stars.
Shalise Manza Young reports Joey Porter still laughingly blames Belichick for his AFC Championship game loss when he was with Pittsburgh.
Albert Breer repeats Joey Porter's comments about his 'natural hate' for the Patriots and his denial of being one of the dirtiest players in the league.
Adam Kilgore reports that Vince Wilfork is pumped for this type of game. "I like that they want to hit you in the mouth," Wilfork said. "That's the type of player I am. It's my style of game."
The Jarvis Green Foundation will host its 3rd annual Wine Tasting Gala Friday, November 6th. Proceeds benefit single working mothers in disadvantaged, low-income areas affected by tragedy.
Herald Patriots Notebook: Stephen Gostkowski talks about the kicking game vs. Miami; Wilfork talks about Dolphins' center Jake Grove; Practice updates.
Christopher Price offers the Press Conference Transcripts of Tony Sparano and Joey Porter.

NATIONAL NEWS

Jason Cole (Yahoo! Sports) Adalius Thomas shoots down strike talk rumors, calling a ProFootballTalk report "a flat-out, bald-faced, capital-letters lie."
Mike Lipka (STATS) Dolphins-Patriots Preview.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Who makes the playoffs from the AFC East?
Tim Graham (ESPN) Patriots enjoy that 'empty' feeling.
Gregg Rosenthal (NBC Sports) A look back on some of the standouts and lowlights from the season’s first half.
The Huddle (USA Today) With another Super Bowl win, would Colts edge Patriots and Steelers as team of the decade? Ridiculous.

[To be updated later...]

Big Fish: Jake Long Leads Miami Youth Movement

2009-11-05T14:00:33Z

by Bill Kostroun - AP

Miami Dolphins' Ted Ginn Jr. (Booo!) returns a kick for a touchdown against the New Jersey Jets (Yaaaay!) during the third quarter at Giants Stadium last Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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In the history of the NFL draft, only three offensive lineman have been picked first overall:

In 1968, the Minnesotta Vikings made young Ron Yary the first pick. Coming from Chicago by way of Cerritos Junior College and USC, Yary anchored the right side of the Vikings' line for 14 years. Over a 15 year NFL career, Yary missed only two games due to injury. He was a seven-time pro-bowl selectee and would be enshrined in Canton in 2001.

In 1997, Orlando Pace was taken in the first slot by the St. Louis Rams. Pace came roaring out of Ohio State as the hands-down best offensive lineman in that year's draft and, by some writerly lights, one of the best young tackles in a generation. Starting 13 games in his rookie year, Pace is now under a 3-year agreement with the Bears in this, his twelfth season. Like Yary, Pace has been selected to seven Pro Bowls and, like Yary, will one day be given a very ugly yellow jacket to go with a bronze bust of his head and a place in the Hall of Fame.

via assets.espn.go.com

Finally, in 2008 the Miami Dolphins made Jake Long from the University of Michigan the third offensive lineman chosen first overall. They also made him the highest paid offensive lineman in the game, with a five year, $57.75 million contract, $30 million guaranteed. He started immediately, helping to lead a resurgent Miami to an 11-5 record and the AFC East title. In his first year, he started every game and played in the Pro Bowl as an alternate selection.

Long's selection was the first big move by the Sparano-Parcells partnership, and it represented a commitment to youth that paid immediate dividends.

In all, the Dolphins have 24 players on their roster with two years or fewer in the NFL. And they play:

Chad Henne, QB; Davone Bess, WR; Donald Thomas, RG; Long; Brian Hartline, WR; Vontae Davis, CB; Kendall Langford, DE; Sean Smith, CB; Ted Ginn, WR/KR; and Dan Carpenter, K, all start or see significant playing time. That's half of the offense and a third of the defense, plus the kicker and a guy who, while he still can't seem to run routes or catch passes, managed to return two kickoffs 200 yards for two touchdowns in New Jersey last week.

In 2008 the Young Fins rode the surprising introduction of the so-called "Wildcat" to media acclaim though, as detailed by Cold, Hard Football Facts, it was pinpoint passing by underrated Chad Pennington that made it all hum. With a season-ending injury to Pennington (brittle hardly begins to cover it) the 2009 Wildcat has seemingly lost much of its bite. Miami stumbled out of the gate, dropping its first three in a row before beating hapless Buffalo and scoring two wins over the fraudulent New York Rex (thanks, gents).

These wobbles are perhaps to be expected from a young club with a young new leader, as it tries to sort its identity in a competitive division with inbred franchises that all hate each other. To be fair, the Dolphins have lost to some very respectable teams. The Falcons, the Colts and the Saints are not to be sniffed at. All three of those teams were pressed by the feisty Phish to their respective limits.

Anyone watching the tilt with the Saints will have been impressed by an opportunistic Miami defense and a spirited and resilient offensive unit. The "O" was at its best when Jake Long and company were paving roads with golden helmets and fleur-de-lis. Wildcat or pussycat, Miami's run game is legit. They average 4.5 yards per carry (5.4 when running the old single wing) and have racked up enough running yards to rank 4th overall. (New England's run defense is, shall we say, a bit porous at 14th league-wide.)

The Miami team that pressed New Orleans ripped into the Jets (in an odd scheduling arrangement, only two weeks after their first meeting) with special teams success, again led by a youngster -- this time Ted Ginn. Given the Patriots' uneven performance in coverage, it was a sobering sight. (Our coverage unit ranks 20th in average yards per opponent's return.)

Keeping with the youth movement in South Beach, we'd be remiss not to tip the tri-corner in the direction of Henne. He isn't lighting up the highlight reel by any stretch. But as a young guy who wasn't slated to start until 2010 at the earliest, he is settling into the role. His biggest trouble on the field has been a sustained case of the dropsies in the receiving corps. (Besides, Henne's all they've got before Pat White. White's a project for now, but don't sleep on him. He's got a rifle arm and in spite of all the yak about his potential as a runner, he's a more complete passer than people give him credit for.)

There is plenty of promise in the Sunshine state. Luckily for us, "promise" is a word which, like "potential," better describes what is missing than what is there. This young team is mistake-prone. Where it isn't young, it sadly lacks discipline. Joey Porter and Channing Crowder continue to lead the league in the "losing your cool and costing your team 15 yards at the worst possible time" category.

Perhaps more unsettling to the Phins Phaithful is the questionable play-calling and game management of Dan Henning, OC and playcaller for Tony Sparano's men. When then-65 year old Henning was fired by the Panthers following the 2006 - 2007 season, he was heavily criticized by fans and media for being overly conservative in his play-calling. In what might be considered a reaction against that label, Henning installed the single-wing in Miami. Ironically, it could be argued that this was the ultimate in conservatism, as the single-wing had its hey-day when Henning was in high school. Nevertheless, the catPhish have made for some exciting times and entertaining football. For a year at least it was also associated with winning football as Miami won the east.

This year, however, the Wildcat doesn't surprise anyone. It's still effective -- yielding a respectable 5.4 yards per carry -- but the shine is off the apple and no longer dazzling the eyes of the defense. With Pennington sidelined, the pinpoint passing of last year's run is largely gone, showing the difference between a leading game manager (Pennington) and a quarterback for whom the game must be managed (Henne).

Yet confusingly, Henning has kept the pattern fresh -- even when some regularity might be of help. Miami was giving New Orleans all the Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams it could handle and more. But as the second half dawned, Henning turned to his young gun, bizarrely engaging Pro-Bowler Brees in a shootout with a first year quarterback. He was in a back-alley brawl, bashing a flashy foe with two big bats, but he picked up a BB gun and dared Drew to draw: Dumb, Dan. (Needless to say, I gave him a "D.")

Nevertheless, there can be no denying that the Dolphins are stockpiling the young talent. Jake Long should be the poster-child for that movement, a brilliant draft choice and a very solid cornerstone for the franchise's future. As Henne develops, one thing he won't have to worry about is what's going on behind him. That's peace of mind worth paying for. The Miami youth movement will certainly pay dividends as the young shoots mature. But without the steady hand of old head Pennington, 2009 isn't looking like 2008.

Youth will be served, but not this Sunday: Patriots 28, Dolphins 13.

New England Patriots Links 11/04/09 - Wright Ready to Replace Green; Truth About the Wildcat

2009-11-04T15:30:38Z

Patriots versatile sack-leader Mike Wright.

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Kerry Byrne gives the Cold Hard Football Facts about the WIldcat: None of it matters. It’s all bells, whistles and BS.

The Wildcat is, at the end of the day, little more than window dressing that shades the eternal truth of pro football over the past 70 years: The team that wins the passing battle wins the game.

The Dolphins of the past two seasons aren’t the exception to this rule, as Wildcat advocates contend. They are the proof of this rule.

The 2008 Dolphins didn’t enjoy unexpected success because they ran the ball so well. The 2008 Dolphins enjoyed unexpected success because they suddenly passed the ball so well. Here’s the proof:

• The 1-15 Dolphins of 2007 averaged 4.0 YPA running the ball — 16th in the NFL.
• The 11-5 Dolphins of 2008 averaged 4.2 YPA running the ball — 15th in the NFL.

So, the much-improved Dolphins of 2008 barely improved over the awful Dolphins of 2007 in their ability to run the ball. They were mediocre running the ball each year.

But take a look at Miami’s passing game from 2007 to 2008:

• The 1-15 Dolphins of 2007 averaged 5.9 YPA passing the ball — 30th in the NFL
• The 11-5 Dolphins of 2008 averaged 7.4 YPA passing the ball — 7th in the NFL.

The much-improved Dolphins of 2008 showed a dramatic improvement in their ability to pass the ball. In fact, this improvement in Miami’s passing game was probably the greatest statistical story of 2008. But it was a story that barely got mentioned in the hype that surrounded the Wildcat.

TEAM TALK

New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins. Broadcast info, series history, player connections and more.
Erik Scalavino says Jarvis Green's surgery might mean more playing time for Mike Wright; plus news and notes from Tuesday's practice.
Patriots signed TE Rob Myers to the practice squad after placing Robbie Agnone on 'Practice squad/Injured' with a shoulder injury. Myers, 6-4, 240 pounds, originally signed with the New York Jets as a rookie free agent out of Utah State in April of 2009.
Ask PFW: Back from the Bye.
First annual Special Olympics Flag Football State Games held at Gillette Stadium last Sunday. More than 250 Special Olympics atheletes from 4 states competed in games, football skills and cheerleader competitions.
Patriots Today: Back from the Bye (9.39 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

Ian Rapoport reports last year, the Wildcat averaged 6.4 yards per carry. This year, it’s down to 5.4. New Orleans set the blueprint. Whenever Brown was in the shotgun, defensive backs blitzed off the edge with "corner fires."
Karen Guregian focuses on Mike Wright, a jack-of-all-trades having played tackle in four-man fronts and right end and nose tackle in three-man fronts, and leads the team with four sacks. He has been the backup for Green and will be primed and ready should his number get called Sunday.
Mike Reiss reports Mike Wright is ready to fill in for Jarvis Green. It's not often that a team can lose a starting DE and replace him with a player who has a team-high sack total.
Jeff Howe notes the Patriots are well versed in late-season success.
The Herald offers a game-by-game breakdown of Miami’s success, or lack thereof, with the single-wing style formation in 2009. Interesting.
Mike Reiss lists Ten Things to know about the Miami Dolphins.
Karen Guregian notes every Patriots' special-teamer is studying up on Ted Ginn Jr.
Christopher Price says Patriots want to make sure Ginn has no more happy returns.
Adam Kilgore reports that over the past five games, the Patriots have adjusted their offense and made themselves more balanced.
Mike McDermott notes the Patriots may get a shot at ending two teams' dreams of perfection.
Robert Lee finds the Patriots are traditionally successful in November and December and hope to keep it going.
Mike Reiss notes the Patriots' kickoff coverage will be tested against Miami on Sunday, and looks at the core special teams personnel.
Mike Reiss looks at where the Patriots rank in key statistical categories through 8 weeks of the season.
MIke Reiss says Ty Warren is feeling good about his ankle.
Steve DeOssie presents his mid-term Patriots Report Card. Still some work to do.
Christopher Price answers his weekly reader mailbag and deconstructs the Wildcat.
Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag, kicking off with talk about preparing for the Dolphins.
Boston Herald Patriots Notebook: Patriots OL focused on elite pass rushers Joey Porter and Jason Taylor; Matthew Slater has been practicing at Safety, but also was seen at receiver; Seven players were absent from practice;

NATIONAL NEWS

Michael David Smith (Pro Football Talk) Ward, Porter, Haynesworth called NFL's dirtiest.
Jerome Bettis (SI) Inside the NFL: 49ers headed in right direction, no camp costs Crabtree.

VIEW FROM MIAMI

Almando Salguero (Miami Herald) Can Dolphins give Brady another difficult day?
Mike Beradino (Sun-Sentinal) Dolphins-Patriots: Key matchups.
David J. Neal (Miami Herald) Unsung defensive linemen Randy Starks and Paul Soliai came up with stellar performances in Sunday's win over the Jets.
Barry Jackson (Miami Herald) QB Pat White has work to do before Dolphins' caution lifts.
Ethan J. Skolnick (Sun-Sentinal) Making playoffs this year would be even greater feat for Dolphins.

Should Edgerrin James wear a Patriots uniform?

2009-11-04T01:39:18Z

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

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It's midway through the season and, yet again, the New England Patriots are facing the second half of the season with a depleted backfield. Sammy Morris is listed as doubtful; Fred Taylor recently had ankle surgery and best guesses have him returning by the end of the season, if at all. That leaves Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis: a guy struggling to emerge, a third down specialist, and second year man who earned his stripes last season. With Sammy and Fred, we at least had a chance of establishing a ground threat and making opposing defenses think about our backfield. Without those 2, I don't think our backfield is taken seriously at all.

This brings me to Edge, aka: Edgerrin James. Edge has had an amazing career. His 7 years with the Colts set him firmly as one of the best backs in the NFL. His first 2 years with Arizona were similar, but his star began to fade in his third with the Cardinals. Seattle Seahawks picked him up for 2009 and promptly released him after 7 games. Why?

The Seahawks' decision to sign veteran running back Edgerrin James made sense when Seattle was expecting to immediately contend for an NFC West title.

James apparently became a luxury the team couldn't afford once it struggled to a 2-5 start, particularly with Justin Forsett backing up the promise he showed during the preseason (minus that fumble Sunday).

Seattle's decision makes perfect sense. If they're not going anywhere and will, most likely, not contend for a title, why not give more playing time to other backs who could end up being the future of the franchise? It makes sense for the Seahawks to jettison him, but would it be prudent for NE to pick him up? Here's a few thoughts as to why it makes sense: a) Edge comes cheap, about $1 million cheap, b) we're in desperate need of veteran depth at running back, c) see "b".

I am not jumping for joy at having to pull a 31 year old back to our team in the middle of the season. In fact, I'm hurling over the prospect. But what's a team to do? As recently as this Monday, the Patriots have worked out 3 backs, reports Chris Gasper of the Boston Globe. Not one of these 3 have the career stats Edge has, nor the experience.

Is Edge washed up? Who knows. He's not a long term solution, but could he provide much needed depth for a faltering running game?

Poll

Should the Patriots pick up Edge?

The Dolphins hate the Jets. Maybe they don't have the warm-and-fuzzies for the Patriots either, but...

2009-11-03T20:50:28Z

The Dolphins hate the Jets. Maybe they don't have the warm-and-fuzzies for the Patriots either, but if you talk to the Miami players, it's pretty clear that their feelings toward the two teams aren't in the same ballpark.

When I asked Ronnie Brown about the Jets, he said that, "Yeah, I don't really like them too much." With the Patriots, Brown said, "the respect factor is there."

Miami seeking breakthrough

Jarvis Green has Knee Surgery - Out 2-4 Weeks

2009-11-03T16:19:30Z

Jarvis Green has Knee Surgery - Out 2-4 Weeks

Patriots DE Jarvis Green underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a menicus injury last week, according to a league source.

The decision to have surgery was made based on having Green ready for the season's stretch run. By having it done now, the Patriots will likely have Green back by early December.

Green already has started all seven games this season at defensive end. He's in the final year of a five-year contract he signed prior to the 2005 season.

Update (10:59 a.m.): A source put the timetable for Green's return at 2-4 weeks. While he's likely out for this week's game against the Dolphins, the possibility exists he could play in Indianapolis against the Colts.

Green is already walking on the surgically-repaired knee.

New England Patriots Links 11/03/09 - Brady Feeling Great; Ty Warren Ready to Play

2009-11-03T15:15:36Z

Ty Warren raring to go for Sunday's game.

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Bill Belichick evaluates where the team is right now and where they need to be.

Well, we need to be better in a lot of areas, and that’s always the case so, yeah … we looked at some of things we’ve done, trying to find ways to improve it. Certainly, the red area is always a good place to start, on both sides of the ball. And third down — even though statistically, we’re not bad, we could be better there. Score more points. Give up fewer. Keeping the ball in third-down situations. Two-minute. Our special teams, always better coverage. Explosive plays in the return game. The running game, the run defense. All … you know — everything.

Tom Brady talks about how he feels and how long he'll play the game.

I feel like, I guess I’m 31 now – no, 32 – I feel the best I’ve ever felt. At quarterback, typically, like I said, guys retire due to injury at the quarterback position. A lot of other positions retire because they can’t run anymore. That’s what the game comes down to for 90 percent of the other players. For the quarterback, running is not the issue. I was slow to start, and I’m slower now, and I’ll be slower 10 years from now, but so is Favre, and so is Peyton Manning. With all these guys, no one can run. No quarterbacks can run. Marino couldn’t run. Elway couldn’t run when he got older. Steve Young become more of an in-the-pocket passer as he got older. Montana.

Assuming my arm feels great, there aren’t a lot of other things that are going to keep me from wanting to be out there and wanting to play. Five or six years ago, my arm would hurt every day throwing the football. I always used to think, man, how can I play and always have my arm hurting? Now my arm never hurts. So, like I said, I really understand my arm. It’s something every quarterback should learn. I know how many throws I can make. I know how to get it in shape for the season. And I know how to maintain it during the season. Even when a guy like Haynesworth falls on my shoulder. That could have been pretty significant. But because I think my arm is very flexible, it’s very loose in a good way, it’s able to withstand those sorts of things. If that’s always the case, then I’ll just keep playing until I have my social security if we have that left here in 30 years.

TEAM TALK

Erik Scalavino notes the Patriots are using their extra time coming off the bye week to prepare for Miami and their trend-setting offense.
WEEI Patriots Monday: Tom Brady (31:15 min. plus Transcript), Ty Warren & Vince Wilfork (27:45 min. plus Transcript), and Bill Belichick (30:45 min. plus Transcript).
Monday Conference Calls: Bill Belichick (15:50 min.), Nick Caserio (8:15 min.), and Dean Pees (9:48 min.) Plus Transcripts.

LOCAL LINKS

Karen Guregian considers the playoff implications of Sunday's game against the Dolphins, and says the Patriots can deliver a knockout blow.
Albert Breer says there's nothing new about talking Dolphins, and one of them is named Joey Porter.
Shalise Manza Young notes the Wildcat can be a problem, but it is not the only problem Miami poses.
Christopher Price likens the 2008 Wildcat to a blockbuster that no one saw coming, but adds that the sequel always struggles to live up to the original.
Mike Reiss notes New England is entering a key five game stretch.
Adam Kilgore lists three keys to stopping Miami.
Adam Kilgore offers Three Questions for Sunday. Will Randy Moss be single covered? Will Chad Henne show up? And, Why don't defenses drill the QB when he splits out wide in the Wildcat?
Chris Gasper notes the Patriots have a lot to feel good about as they return to work after the Bye.
Mike Reiss analyzes how the Patriots offense has reshaped its identity in the wake of the failed Joey Galloway experiment. Now it's a more balanced attack.
Christopher Price offers some highlights from the Patriots Brain Trust back to work from the bye.
Mike Reiss offers the Patriots plan for the week, with today being the first official practice for the week. Players were at Gillette on Monday for lifting and conditioning.
Christopher Price mentions the steady stream of free agents being worked out at Gillette over the past 10 days or so.
Mike Reiss notes the Patriots worked out two running backs and two tight ends on Monday.
Ian Rapoport explains why LB Pierre Woods is against flossin'.
Boston Herald Patriots Notebook:: Belichick preps team for Wildcat; Dean Pees says there's nothing wrong with Ron Brace, they'll fit him into the lineup when they need him; Brandon Tate impressed in his London debut, even though he ran the wrong route on the interception; Brady's feeling really good; Ty Warren is ready to play.
Boston Globe Patriots Notebook: Patriots unafraid of the Wildcat; Belichick very aware of Ted Ginn Jr.'s speed and abilities; Dean Pees talks about Myron Pryor vs. Ron Brace; Ty Warren ready for Sunday.
Jim Donaldson reports that football, not baseball, is the true 'National Pastime'.

NATIONAL NEWS

Tim Graham (ESPN) Rodney Harrison breaks down the Pats schedule.
Tedy Bruschi (ESPNBoston) After Bye, Patriots will see Denver copycats.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Patriots playoff chances hinge on division. Merrill Hoge lays out what the New England Patriots must do over the final nine games to get back to the playoffs. (45 second video)
Don Banks (SI) Saints have realistic chance at 16-0. New Orleans should be 10-0 when it next plays before the Monday night cameras, against visiting New England in Week 12.
Sean Leahy (USA Today) Do high-scoring Saints have a realistic chance of matching Patriots 16-0 mark?

VIEW FROM MIAMI

Greg Cote (Miami Herald) Noisy Jets gone, Pats next for Dolphins.
Ethan Skolnick (Sun-Sentinal) Miami Dolphins: It's okay to peek at the playoff picture.
Jeff Darlington (Miami Herald) Tedd Ginn Jr.'s role under review: How do you get the most out of Ted Ginn?
Harvey Fialkov (Sun-Sentinal) Tony Sparano: Dolphins' offensive woes will be addressed.
Andy Cohen (Dolphins.com) Dolphins succeed with unique formula.

Miami Dolphins coming to town, New England Patriots back to work after bye

2009-11-02T23:11:49Z

More photos » by Hans Deryk - AP

about 1 month ago: Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards (5) is sacked by Miami Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor during an NFL football game in Miami, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Hans Deryk)

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You may ask, "MPF, why dost thou adorn this Patriots blog with an image of Sir Jason Taylor?" Many reasons. a) He NARROWLY became a Patriot, b) he gives Tom Brady and Matt Light fits, c) he's a class act, and d) he's quite the dancer. Seriously, I wrote during the off-season that I thought Jason Taylor belonged in Miami. That's where his family is from, he's an active member of his community, and he deserves to retire where he spent most of his career. This is what Taylor recently had to say:

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- You all saw Jason Taylor racing down the field for a 48-yard touchdown off a fumble recovery today, a pivotal play in an important AFC East game.

Now imagine Taylor doing that in Patriot colors. It almost happened after Taylor was cut by the Redskins during the offseason.

"We talked with them, with the organization, and with Bill (Belichick)," Taylor told the Globe. "My heart was in Miami, my family was in Miami, so it was important for me to try to stay there. But if it didn’t work out in Miami, then I probably would’ve been there."

Belichick has an interesting way of recruiting free agents. I can picture the guy, with a little notebook, writing down the names of players that give him fits. Jason Taylor is one of them. He's a perennial thorn in Matt Light's backside while the offensive lineman works to protect Tom Brady's blindside. When Taylor left the division for the Washington Redskins, Brady and Light were practically jumping for joy:

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.--Tom Brady said he was ecstatic to see pass-rushing defensive end Jason Taylor traded out of the AFC East, from the Miami Dolphins to the Washington Redskins.

"I think [Patriots left tackle Matt] Light and I popped a cold beer when we saw that transaction," the quarterback said here today. "We were the two happiest guys in the NFL.... We were hugging each other."

Now they're cracking a cold one saying, "Oh boy..." But Taylor isn't all we have to worry about. The Dolphins have become league experts at the Wildcat. Other teams have tried it, including New England, but Miami seems to have the personnel to make it happen. It's not a trick. It's not a play. It's an offensive scheme that forces defenses to prepare for it. Why it's so troublesome could be the fact that so many plays can be run out of it. Or, it's essentially putting a "QB" in the backfield who can run his butt off. At any rate, Belichick had this to say:

The thing is, no matter how effective or ineffective the Wildcat is on Sundays, opposing defenses must devote significant time to prepare for its subtleties. The Patriots will need to decide how much take time out of their normal preparation to account for the Wildcat.

"That’s always a tough decision," Belichick said. The Dolphins’ use of the Wildcat "varies from game to game. It’s not always used in the same percentages. The better it’s going, the more you’re going to see it. There’s other times where they make you spend time defending it and don’t use it all that much. The most important thing is that we’re sound on it and we’re prepared for it, so if we get it, we at least know how to play it and the different thing that come out of it."

Remember when Miami unleashed the Wildcat in Week 3 of the 2008 season? I do. I was there and was promptly banned by Marima and JohnHannahRules from attending another game (must've thought I was bad luck). I have since redeemed myself after attending the 2009 MNF season opener against the Bills. At this point, there's an enormous amount of film on it, but the Patriots still have to spend time preparing for it or risk getting caught flat footed.

There's much more to chat about, but that'll come in due time. We have a division rival to prepare for, one that has kindly dispatched the Jets twice. I was a Phins fan for both those games because I think Rex Ryan is a pompous loudmouth who makes excuses when he loses and rubs peoples noses in it when he wins. The definition of classless. At any rate, we have some football to talk about with our friends at The Phinsider. BOOM BABY!!

New England Patriots Links 11/02/09 - Goodbye to the Bye, Gearing up for the Fins

2009-11-02T14:40:27Z

Bill Belichick answers questions for the media before the weekend break.

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Tom Brady reveals one of the motivational tools used by Bill Belichick.

Q: "Bill Bashing" - I've got to talk about that. Junior Seau said you're not a part of the team until you'd been "Bill-Bashed". He said it even happens to Tom Brady, but he said to ask you about it. Have you been "Bill-Bashed" before?

TB: Yeah. Randy calls it "You Tubed." We have practice on a Wednesday or a Thursday, and there you are the next morning on the big screen. You get in there pretty excited on a Wednesday morning or a Thursday morning, and then there're 30 plays of myself and Randy [Moss] and Wes [Welker], and he's going ‘What do you guys think you're doing here? This is you know what...' and using a lot of words I can't use here. He's tough on us, and I think it's for a reason. He always has a purpose in what he does and he's a very smart man and he's a great coach. He's just trying to motivate us to be the best we can be.

Bill Belichick talks about making good use of the Bye week.

Q: Is that basically what you do - self scout and throw out what's not working and get some guys up to speed, especially some of your young guys and guys coming of P.U.P.?

BB: That's right. We have some young players that have gotten a little bit of playing time, but we will continue to give them more reps in the bye week. And [it] also gives us a little more time to prepare for Miami. They've played seven games, so we'll get a pretty look at them and that will take some work there for what they do and the problems they present. It always comes at a good time, but I think it's a good feeling to come back from London. I'm glad we weren't facing a regular week this week after the trip back across the ocean.

No question. Yes, we'll have to work on [the Wildcat.] That's one of the unique things that they do and we'll be able to get a little bit of a head start on that.

TEAM TALK

Patriots All Access Transcripts (From the episode that aired Oct. 30th, on WBZ.) Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
John Cockrell Friday Out-Takes: LJ gets DQ'd in KC; Blooper Reel and more.

LOCAL LINKS

Albert Breer notes the Patriots didn't even play yesterday but they still came out winners anyway.
Adam Kilgore reports that at 32 and coming off a major knee injury, quarterback Tom Brady says his arm feels better than ever.
Monique Walker says that at 23 years old Jerod Mayo is a true leader and wise beyond his years.
Adam Kilgore focuses on the Patriots' reconstructed secondary.
Karen Guregian reports Tom Brady has moved up in the NFL rankings to third in passing yardage (2038), and the Pats (198 pts) are third behind the Vikes and Saints in scoring.
Mike Reiss' Blog: Patriots burned with the Wildcat last year; Pats gain separation in the AFC East; Focus on Brett Lockett; Mid-Season Awards; Leaders in Special Teams Tackles; and much more. Too many to list.
Karen Guregian awards some Bests and Worsts from the first seven games of the season.
Mark Farinella looks at where the Patriots stand at this juncture in relation to the AFC East and the Conference, noting the killer stretch they have over the next five weeks.
Shalise Manza Young looks back at the team to this point and offers her own superlatives, high school style.
Albert Breer says it's unusual in the NFL that a team will rotate players in and out at corner, yet the Patriots have mixed playing-time patterns with Leigh Bodden, Jonathan Wilhite, Darius Butler and Shawn Springs the last four weeks.
Michael Hurley notes Tom Brady reveals one of Bill Belichick's coaching secrets, and it's all on film.
Ian Rapoport has a terrific piece about Pierre Woods' trek from the raw streets of Cleveland to the plush carpet of the Patriots locker room. Men like Ted Ginn Sr. are the real heroes of this world.
Jeff Howe reports Wes Welker's production keeps growing with his understanding of the game.
Nate Dow notes in 33 regular season games as a Patriots, Junior Seau tasted defeat only 3 times. A look at his tangible contributions suggests his value goes far beyond his stats.
Ian Rapoport discusses the intense Jets-Fins game at the Meadowlands and the hate within the AFC East.
Shalise Manza Young gets Up Close with Kendall Simmons.
Steve Buckley offers an excerpt from his book about 2007, "Wicked Good Year - How the Red Sox Patriots and Celtics Turned the Hub of the Universe into the Capital of Sports."
Christopher Price plugs the Joe Andruzzi Foundation as it hosts the second Annual New England Celebrities Tackle Cancer at Christina’s Monday night in Foxboro. (For ticket and event information, click here.)
Boston Herald Patriots Notebook: Kevin Faulk still a focal point; Brandon McGowan is the team's leading tackler with 43; Logan Mankins talks about his false start penalties, blaming mental errors.
Albert Breer notes Jason Taylor briefly considered signing with the Pats. "I have immense respect for Bill and Tommy,’’ Taylor said. "Like I said, if it didn’t work out in Miami, that’d definitely be a place I’d go, based on those two guys.’’
Mike Reiss catches us up with how the former Patriots are doing with their new teams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Tim Graham (ESPN) Rex Ryan bewildered by loss to Dolphins. Ryan not gracious in defeat.
Peter King (SI) MMQB: Favre, Favre, Favre and the Favreity, Favre-Favres. Plus some NFL stuff.
Don Banks (SI) Snap Judgments: Cowboys turning heads, Ravens 'D' stars and more from Week 8.
Mike Florio notes the recent Congressional sniffing around the NFL, "Given the whole health care thing and the war in Afghanistan and the economy in the crapper... doesn't the government have better things to do?"

Sunday games open thread: the Patriots bye week edition

2009-11-01T17:40:16Z

Ugghh, no Patriots football. Miami vs. NYJ will be the one to watch for me. A Miami win will drop the Jets to 4-4 while bringing the Phins up to 3-4. That seems ok to me. Go Phins? I need a shower...

MPF is back

2009-11-01T17:35:07Z

First, an apology for not contributing and writing as much as you folks deserve. Family issues have taken priority and, to be honest, sapped the creative writing vein that I depend on; I would be less of a son had I not walked away for a bit, however. Many times, I sat down to write, but couldn't muster the brain power to "carry the water" as JohnHannahRules so aptly states.

I'm back and will be ready to blog the daylights out of our upcoming matchup against Miami. The Phinsider crowd are always entertaining, to say the least, and this purports to be a great divisional matchup.