Mike Dussault's New England Patriots fan blog

Just about anywhere you look these days you'll hear the pundits and bloggers say the Patriots need to improve their pass rush this off season, and as Pats fanatic I have to agree. Sure, the secondary was raked across the coals more than once this year, but I believe one or two players could make the entire Patriots defense look a lot better than they did in 2009.

The Patriots D was split almost evenly in 2009 between a base 3-4 (or 4-3 the first half of the season) and sub-packages. The most common passing down subpackage we saw early on was one with Derrick Burgess, Tully Banta-Cain, Mike Wright, and Jarvis Green as down lineman. Their job was to apply pressure and they were just so-so.

Later we saw a new sub-package that Patriots nation was excited to see, dubbed the Five and Dime. While at first it seemed like this new subpackage, with five linebackers and six defensive backs, was a throwback to the early dynasty days when Coach Belichick was known for innovative defenses designed to confuse opponents. In reality the Five and Dime was more of an attempt to generate pressure because the earlier pass rush subpackages were not generating enough.

Continue reading "Patriots Defense Only a Pressure Player Away"

Today soon-to-be Free Agent Vince Wilfork went on WEEI in Boston and said, in a 320-pund nutshell, that he wants a long term deal or he wants to be free to seek one elsewhere. The Patriots informed their free agents that they would contact them in early February so the fact that Wilfork hasn't been contacted yet should not be a red flag.

However Patriots fans are well versed in situations like these. Bill Belichick always does what is best for the Patriots, and in his 10 seasons with the team the Wilfork situation could be the most intriguing decision Belichick has had to make.

On paper it seems like a long term contract for Wilfork should be a no brainer. Wilfork was originally saddled with a six year deal that many would say he outperformed. He never held out, never made a scene or became a distraction. he was the consummate professional through all six years of his deal.

Continue reading "Wilfork Decision a Major One for Belichick"

As we sit here on January 21st it seems like the 2010 NFL season is a lifetime away. There will be many moves made between now and the start of training camp, and probably even more made between training camp and the opener in September, so while it is both foolish and presumptuous to predict what will happen over the next seven months it will make me feel somewhat better seeing what needs to be addressed.

First things first. It is absolutely imperative that Vince Wilfork is re-signed, preferably to a long term deal that keeps him with the Patriots for the next four years. I don't know how you can justify not locking up Wilfork long term. I drink the "In Bill We Trust" Koolaid as much as anyone but here's a guy who is a consumant professional, playing what is the most important position in the 3-4 defense, and is the best player at a position you're already thin at. Wilfork and Mayo should be the foundation for the Hoodie Pats D version 2.0. Wilfork must be retained, even if by the dreaded Franchise tag.

Continue reading "2010 New England Patriots Defensive Off-Season Preview"

As hard as it is to think about anything other than this weekends playoffs game against the Ravens I'd like to take a quick look back on a somewhat lackluster 2009 season.

We knew coming in that Tom Brady's return was the headline for the start of the 2009 and really that was just about the only really great thing that happened all year. If you were there on opening night (like I was) you probably saw the best game of the season. In the moments after Brady pulled off his greatest 4th quarter comeback of his career all seemed right in the world for the Patriots.

We didn't yet realize how much the Pats were truly starting over on defense. We didn't know Adalius Thomas was going to such a non-factor. We didn't know Joey Galloway would soon not even be on the team. We didn't know how hard it would be for this team to win on the road. We even thought Ben Watson was finally ready to break out.

Continue reading "A Quick Look Back at the 2009 Patriots Regular Season"

So you can probably feel the universal glee from all those who cover the NFL and loathe the Patriots that SI's Team of the Decade is struggling right now. As impressive as the 2007 Patriots were it has set an unattainable precedent that will not (and should not) be met again.

And that's fine. We can talk about turnover on the defense... a lack of leadership, pass rush, or pass coverage.. Tom Brady's rust... the lack of a viable third receiving threat. Look, you can pick any excuse you want, and there are plenty of them to choose from. But that's not the Patriot way.

This morning Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, Derrick Burgess and Gary Guyton were late for an 8am meeting at Gillette due to snowy conditions and Belichick sent them home. It's not like BB wouldn't have done the same thing in the middle of September, but right now, in mid-December, after losing 3 of 4, it was the right chance for Bill to turn the screws on this Patriots team a bit.

Continue reading "Rumors of the Patriots Demise Run Rampant"

Miami has historically always been a tough place for Tom Brady and the Patriots to win a game, and this week will provide just the test the Pats need. Miami is never a pushover, despite the fact that they will be missing RB Ronnie Brown, the heart of the offense, NT Jason Ferguson, the heart of the defense,  and Jake Grove, the center signed almost specifically to deal with Vince Wilfork.

Due to these key injuries it's likely the Pats will win this game, and in doing so getting their first true road win of the year. In December. Yikes.

A game like this is exactly what Doctor Hoodie ordered for the Patriots. They need a win that can jump start their push to the playoffs. Finishing off the Dolphins in Miami, almost guaranteeing another AFC East title, could be just the kind of win that could turn the Patriots season around after Monday night's debacle in the Superdome.

Continue reading "Win at Miami Just What Patriots Need"

Wow, the weeks after the Patriots lose are certainly depressing. This is the 4th time in 2009 that I've found myself entering a football-free bubble. When the Patriots win I pretty much watch every bit of football news I can get my eyes on. Everyone loves to hear all the commentators glow over their team.

But after a loss there are only a few things I can bring myself to watch. First and foremost is listening to Tom Brady and Bill Belichick's interviews from WEEI that are posted as podcasts on Monday and Tuesday respectively. Nowhere else will you find Coach Belichick more open and relaxed. Sure you still get some of the standard responses: somethings were good, some things were not so good... we've got to coach and play better...

But generally the Coach is willing to go into a little more depth about the games. Win or lose I never miss either appearance. Hearing their voices reminds me that it's a long season with ups and downs, and certainly no one takes losses harder than them.

Continue reading "Patriots Turn the Page to the Miami Dolphins"

Seems to me like many Patriots fans out there aren't quite as depressed by last night's debacle as they were after the loss to the Colts. Around this time every year you start to really know how good your team is, or isn't. The Saints are good. Really good. The Patriots are not.

It has been easy to coast off of the success the Pats have had earlier this decade. Beating them meant a lot to the Saints, but New Orleans would be wise to not get too high off this win. This is not the 2007 Patriots that they beat.

But I am no longer concerned with the Saints. Let's talk about the Pats. We've all seen games over the years where Brady isn't getting any time in the pocket and the Pats end up losing. See vs. the Jets in 2006, the Super Bowl in 2007, even the first Jets game this year. Matt Light and Stephen Neal were being worked back in after having missed some time, and they were clearly not quite ready to handle a challenge like the Saints at the Superdome just yet. The O-Line is the least of my worries though. We've seen these games before, and they are fixable.

Continue reading "Picking Up the Patriots Pieces"

This week we've got a new feature we're calling "Donning the Hoodie", where yours truly will step into the role of Bill Belichick and lay out a game plan of how the Patriots might game plan against their opponent.

The Patriots are a versatile team, capable of adapting each week to attack their opponents biggest weakness. This week's opponent, the Miami Dolphins, present a number of challenges, the most obvious of which is their Wildcat offense. Miami also bears the hallmark of any Bill Parcells team, they are big and physical. So how will the Patriots attack and defend the Dolphins, our thoughts, Hoodie style below.

DEFENSIVE GAMEPLAN

As always, it all starts with defense. Even without Jarvis Green the Patriots have a number of versatile defensive lineman. We all know the number one threat is the Dolphins running game, out of the Wildcat or a regular formation, so our number one goal is to shut down Ronnie Brown and Rickey Williams and make Chad Henne beat us through the air.

Continue reading "Donning the Hoodie: Patriots Defense vs. Dolphins Offense"

Earlier this week I placed the over/under on when Joey Porter would open his big fat mouth and talk some smack to the Patriots at Thursday 12:01am and was confident in playing the under. I was right. Wednesday 3:30pm EST was when Porter fired his first, and unlikely last, salvo.

Here's a little nuggest from Ian Rapoport from the Boston Herald via Twitter: "Joey Porter says he's hated the Patriots since Steelers title games. 'Then I come to find out why we lost. You know what I'm talking about.'"

So yes he went to the uninformed well of Spygate to explain why he hates the Patriots. The trials and tribulations of the media witch hunt was well documented here on the blog. Yes we are biased because we worship at the alter of the Hoodie, but we also are firm believers in things called 'common sense' and 'logic'.

Continue reading "Of Course Joey Porter Had to Bring Up Spygate This Week"