Patriots Resume - Tom Brady

What if New England Patriots' head ball coach Bill Belichick required resumes from his players - what would those look like?  We take a stab at them, in alphabetical order...

Dear Coach,

Are we on to 2015, or what?

I hope I can lift my arm after typing this freaking resume - I had forgotten how repetitive and redundant resumes could be.  But now that I think about it, that's kinda what you like: thorough, consistent and meticulous.

That's how we prepare for a game, and it does carry over - but once the game starts, my competitive nature takes over and I turn into - dare I say - the mythical gunslinger.

Now, I know that the quarterbacks you've dealt with before have been of the gunslinger variety - Kosar, Bledsoe and now me, and you've unceremoniously dumped both of the others much to the loud chagrin of the Browns and Patriots' faithful, respectively - but, as it turns out, those were the right moves as Kosar was declining in skill and Vinny Testaverde was an ascending talent - and I had already taken over for Drew and you wanted to avoid any more distraction in the form of a quarterback controversy...

...and you've had to coach against some of the best gunslingers there ever was, like Favre, Kelly, Marino and Elway to name only a few - but it is obvious that you respect the mentality of the gunslinger, a quarterback that will stand tall in the pocket and risk taking the big shot while firing downfield into a tight window.  You're not one for gadgetry, per se, you like the old-school blood-and-guts style of play.

You've often referred to the 1976 Patriots' team as perhaps the most complete and best team in franchise history, and I've watched as you've tried to build these recent Patriots' teams in that image - but it looks as if the 2015 version is going to be as close as you've come to replication: big bruising running back, dominating tight end, a group of top shelf possession receivers and a big, nasty offensive line...

...ferocious front seven on defense backed up by a deep group of safeties on defense.  That team had a young Mike Haynes leading a group of no-name corners, but who's to say that Malcolm or Logan or Robert can't have a similar impact?  Not me.

The only difference is that I'm no Steve Grogan, perhaps the toughest bastard that ever played the position, but I try.  Grogan could run, I just ooze. But he stood tall in the pocket and delivered the ball at the risk of pain.  The guy had to play with a freaking neck roll after rupturing two vertebra in his neck.

By the end of his career, Grogan still stood tall in the pocket, scars all over his knees from five knee surgeries and screws inserted at the top of his fibula - hell, he played two seasons with a useless broken left hand.

Grogan was the model, the prototype.  The relentless gunslinger that epitomized toughness and competitive spirit.  He didn't set many records, but his toughness keeps him in the hearts of Patriots' fans everywhere, and when my career is done, I hope that Patriots' fans have a place in their hearts for me, a throwback with an old-school mentality.

I don't want to be remembered for that ridiculously long list of accomplishments on my resume below, and I don't want to be remembered for the awards and accolades.  My lone wish is that the football world remembers me as a tough bastard who stood tall, fired bullets and won my share of shootouts with grit and determination.

I want to be remembered as a gunslinger - the best, someone that fans generations from now will know only as a dirt-chewing champion, and all the rest be damned.

Sincerely,

Tom

Resume'

Education: 

University of Michigan

Work Experience:

2000 - Present - New England Patriots
                           Regular season: 7168 Pass Attempts, 4551 completions (63.5 avg.), 53,258 yards
                           392 touchdowns, 143 interceptions, Passer rating 95.9
                           470 rushing attempts, 823 yards (1.8 avg.), 14 touchdowns
                           Playoffs: 1085 Pass Attempts, 682 completions (62.9 avg.), 7345 yards
                           53 touchdowns, 26 interceptions, Passer rating 89.0
                           70 rushing attempts, 100 yards (1.4 avg.), 5 touchdowns

Awards:

2014 - Super Bowl Champion
2014 - Super Bowl VLIX Most Valuable Player
2014 - AFC Champion
2014 - Pro Bowl Selection
2013 - Pro Bowl Selection
2012 - Pro Bowl Selection
2011 - AFC Champion
2011 - AFC Offensive Player of the Year
2011 - Pro Bowl Selection
2010 - NFL Most Valuable Player
2010 - 1st Team All Pro Selection
2010 - Pro Bowl Selection
2010 - NFL Offensive Player of the Year
2010 - AFC Offensive Player of the Year
2009 - Pro Bowl Selection
2009 - NFL Comeback Player of the Year
2007 - NFL Most Valuable Player
2007 - !st Team All Pro Selection
2007 - AFC Champion
2007 - AFC Offensive Player of the Year
2007 - Pro Bowl Selection
2007 - AP Male Athlete of the Year
2007 - Bert Bell Award
2007 - Sporting News Sportsman of the Year
2005 - 2nd Team All Pro Selection
2005 - Pro Bowl Selection
2005 - Sports Illustrated Sportsman of  the Year
2004 - Super Bowl Champion
2004 - AFC Champion
2004 - Pro Bowl Selection
2004 - Sporting News Sportsman of the Year
2003 - Super Bowl Champion
2003 - Super Bowl XXXVII Most Valuable Player
2003 - AFC Champion
2001 - Super Bowl Champion
2001 - Super Bowl XXXVI Most Valuable Player
2001 - AFC Champions
2001 - Pro Bowl Selection
1997 - NCAA National Football Champion

NFL Records:

* - denotes current streak

Most games 145+ passer rating - 13
Highest completion percentage playoff game - 92.9
Most passing yards, quarter - 252
Most TD passes as a visitor, season - 29
Most games 3+ TD passes, season - 13
Most TD passes, Season - 50
Most consecutive home games with TD pass - 47*
Most consecutive games 3+ TD passes - 12
Most passing TDs, quarter - 5
Most consecutive passes without an interception - 358
Most consecutive passes to start career without an interception - 162
Most consecutive games 200+ yards without interception - 11
Most consecutive games 250+ yards without interception - 10
Most consecutive games 300+ yards without interception - 8
Most consecutive games 350+ yards without interception - 6
Most consecutive games with 1+ TDs without an interception - 11
Most consecutive games with 2+ TDs without an interception - 9
Most consecutive games with 3+ TDs without an interception - 4
Most consecutive games with 5+ TDs without an interception - 2
Most games 1+ TDs without interception, season - 14
Most games 2+ TDs without interception, season - 11
Most games 3+ TDs without interception, season - 8
Most games 5+ TDs without interception, season - 3
Most games 20+ completions without an interception, season - 10
Most games 30+ completions without an interception, season - 5
Most games 30 pass attempts without an interception, season - 10
Super Bowl most passing attempts, career - 247*
Super Bowl most completions, career - 164*
Super Bowl most completions, game - 37
Super Bowl most completions in one half, game - 20
Super Bowl most passing yards, career - 1605*
Super Bowl most touchdown passes, career - 13*
Most playoff games, career - 29*
Most playoff games as starting quarterback, career - 29*
Most playoff games won, starting quarterback - career - 21*
Most playoff touchdown passes, career - 53*
Most playoff passing yards, career - 7345*
Most playoff passes attempted, career - 1085*
Most playoff passes completed, career - 683*
Most division titles for a starting quarterback - 12*
Most Conference Championship game appearances as a starting quarterback - 9*
Most Conference Championship games won as a starting quarterback - 6*



Personal Information:

Born - August 3, 1977 at San Mateo, California
Height - 6' 5"
Weight - 225

Website

Tom Brady Player Page - Foxborough Free Press

Patriots Resume' - Brandon Bolden

What if New England Patriots' head ball coach Bill Belichick required resumes from his players - what would those look like?  We take a stab at them, in alphabetical order...

Dear Coach,

Going in to this season, I can see where I have my opportunity to finally make a big impact on offense.

Through my first four years on the team, I've evolved into what you like to call a "Core Four" special teamer, meaning that I play on both kickoff receiving and coverage teams, and also punt receiving and coverage teams.  But I am much more than that, and I intend to compete for carries on offense as well.

Especially as the passing back, as I have great hands out of the backfield and am a capable pass protector.  Shane is gone and I know that the competition for his role in the offense is going to be epic as you still have White, Gaffney, Cadet and Lewis vying for the spot - but I'm even more than that, anyway.

You could call me a four-down back - in fact, you have:

"He plays on all four downs. He's a good early down back, a good third down back and a good fourth down back - one of our best special teams player, certainly one of our best offensive special teams' players along with Slater.  He's a very valuable guy, fills a lot of roles, smart, doesn't need a lot of reps and he has a lot of experience."

As you pointed out in that quote, I have the size and durability to run between the tackles, surprising speed to make the corner and I've already mentioned the hands - but if I don't get the opportunity to make my mark on offense, I really don't have much to complain about as you respect my special teams play enough to have already extended my contract through next season, giving me a nice little pay raise in the process.

So if you decide to remain with the status-quo, I'll be ready if someone goes down, content to know that you respect me as much as I respect you.

Sincerely,

Brandon

Resume'

Education: 

University of Mississippi (Ole' Miss)

Work Experience:

2012 - Present - New England Patriots
                           139 carries, 634 yards (4.6 avg.), 6 touchdowns
                             25 receptions, 171 yards (6.8 avg.)

Awards:

2014 - Super Bowl Champion
2011 - Named best all-purpose running back in SEC

Personal Information:

Born - January 26, 1990 at Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Height - 5' 11"
Weight - 220

Website:

Brandon Bolden Player Profile - Foxborough Free Press

Patriots Resume' - LeGarrette Blount

What if New England Patriots' head ball coach Bill Belichick required resumes from his players - what would those look like?  We take a stab at them, in alphabetical order...

Dear Coach,

Some people call me and enigma, some refer to me as a cancer in the clubhouse, while still others count me as a time bomb that could go off without warning - but to be honest, I really don't know what I am except a running back.

I understand where the labels come from, however.

I never really took academics seriously, which cost me scholarship offers coming out of high school despite rushing for 1000 yards in each of my three seasons as a starter.  I ended up having to go to a Junior College to improve my academic standards to qualify for Division I colleges - proving my worth on the football field as well, gaining 1000 yards in each of my two seasons as the bell cow and earning my status of the top Juco running back in the nation.

Heavily recruited by a number of big-time college programs, I went to Oregon with a promise that I would be given all of the carries I could handle - but when I instead had to split carries, my attitude and performances suffered - even though I ran for 1000 yards - and then I was suspended twice by then coach Mike Billoti for not attending workouts or class.

Then your buddy Chip Kelly took over and reinstated me, but then suspended me again after punching out that Hout fella after our game at Boise State - it took a while but Chip allowed me back on the team, but my college career was basically over, and I was never a factor again.

Going undrafted, I ultimately ended up on Tampa Bay's roster and became the lead back, rushing for almost 1800 yards in my first two seasons with the Buccaneers, but again became indifferent when the Bucs drafted Doug Martin, forcing me to split carries once again - and after a dismal 2012 Season where my attitude found me on the bench, the Bucs traded me here.

You know all of this, but I have to know why things are ok here.  Why am I ok with splitting carries when I never was before?  Why do you and I get along when I've had trouble with almost every coach I've played for?

People that are enigmatic, selfish and troublemakers don't do well here, yet you traded for me.  Even after I left for Pittsburgh with the same promises that I got from the coaches at Oregon, got busted with pot and then pulled the ultimate sign of disrespect to that organization by walking off the field before the game was over, you gladly brought me back.

I'm still splitting carries, but I'm ok with that here.  Is it because you are first coach that never lied to me, the first coach who actually cared enough to look me in the eye and tell me exactly how things are, and the first coach who didn't care what other people said about me?

I know my role and I accept it, because there is no grey area, no promises and no animosity or talk of the past - all you ask is for players to do their job, and I'm not the first wayward son who found a home here, nor the first player who would run through a brick wall for you - because you respect your players enough to be honest with them, and that's all I really needed.

Sincerely,

Blount

Resume'

Education: 

East Mississippi Community College
University of Oregon

Work Experience:

2010 - Tennessee Titans (PS)
2010 -2012 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
                      426 carries, 1939 yards (4.6 avg.), 13 touchdowns
                        21 receptions, 164 yards (7.8 avg.)
2013, 2014 - New England Patriots
                       Regular season 213 carries, 1053 yards (4.9 avg.), 10 touchdowns
                                                   6 receptions, 59 yards (9.3 avg.)
                                                  17 kick returns, 494 yards (29.1 avg.)
                       Playoffs 76 carries, 361 yards (4.8 avg.) 7 touchdowns
2014 - Pittsburgh Steelers
                       65 carries, 266 yards (4.1 avg.) 2 touchdowns
                         6 receptions, 36 yards (6.0 avg.)

Awards:

2014 - Super Bowl Champion
2014 - New England Patriots' career playoff rushing touchdown leader
2007 - Junior College All-American

Personal Information:

Born - December 5, 1986 at Madison, Florida
Height - 6' 0"
Weight - 250

Website:

LeGarrette Blount Player Page - Foxborough Free Press

Musket Reloaded - Part 2: Patriots' Running Game Built On Youth, Heft

Legarrette Blount is the only returning Patriot running back with any tangible experience

They called him "Sweet Feet" in college.

James White even has the moniker as his twitter handle, but had little opportunity to live up to the nickname in the 2014 season, as he essentially redshirted on the active roster, but in the opportunities he did receive, the results were mixed.

Inexperience and lack of quality game reps was one reason why, but the biggest obstacle for White's success in the Patriots running game was the zone blocking scheme that the team employed, which plays to the strengths of someone like, say, LeGarrette Blount, who is exceptional at identifying where the cutback lanes are going to open up.

He did it at the University of Oregon, and with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and then again with the Patriots the past two seasons, strange as that journey has been.  But White came from a system in Wisconsin where he followed a one-cut Wall Blocking scheme performed by nasty and overly large human beings.

Wall blocking is something like a zone blocking scheme in that any uncovered linemen, meaning that they are not being mirrored by a defensive player, will either double to the inside to drive defensive linemen out of the running lanes or will quickly reach the second level to deal with the Mike 'backer. What makes this scheme different from a zone is that all of the covered linemen initiate drive blocks.

So when White got the ball at Wisconsin, all he had to do was identify which lineman was uncovered and cut into that hole with a full head of steam.  When the play went to the left, it was usually off-tackle for the smallish (5' 10", 205) White, gliding through the hole - but when the play went right, White planted and exploded upfield utilizing a "Hop cut", initiating a hop step, and when his right foot hit the turf, the amount of torque generated had White on the second level often before his linemen could get there.

When that happened, he simply displayed a variety of open-field moves that helped him average over six yards per carry in college, including the meanest stutter step this side of Barry Sanders, and when the ball comes to him over the top, in the flat or on the wheel, he has excellent hands and, obviously, the elusiveness to pick up good yards after the catch.

But there is a reason why running backs from Wisconsin have traditionally had a tough time following up their college careers with productive pro careers, and much of it has to do with the Badgers' program being a grind-it-out, power running entity, based almost solely on the size and nastiness of the offensive linemen, and not so much who is in the backfield at any given time.

White shared duties in with Melvin Gordon in college, together racking up well over 3,000 yards - and before that he was splitting carries in high school with Cincinnati Bengals' running back Giovanni Bernard.  In fact, White has never been the guy anywhere he's played, so it's wise to not look at him as anything but a passing back...

...which is not to discount either his talent, nor what the passing back means to the New England offense, as it plays a significant role in the concept driven scheme.  White has shown that he has the intestinal fortitude to carry the ball in the tall timber, but given how defenses in the AFC East have some of the best run-stopping units in the NFL, the inside pounding will fall to a different cast of characters.

With a philosophical shift to the hybrid Wall Blocking scheme prompted by both the improvement of the defenses of the other divisional foes, and by the availability of Belichick's drive blockers in the draft, new life has been breathed into the running game - as has the Dark Master's decision to let the former tandem of power back Stevan Ridley and passing back Shane Vereen kick rocks to other destination.

What remains is a mixture of power and potential, but with only one running back having any sort of protracted experience in the offense.

Patriots' fans have already experienced Blount, who is a different cat than most, his syrup-on-waffles style through the hole more suited for the zone blocking scheme, of which the Wall scheme incorporates some key attributes - flowing along the line in search of his cutback lane, which he somehow manages to squeeze through more often than not.

What happens after that is a defensive back's worst nightmare, Blount in the open field and building up to top speed while looking for someone to run over - in effect, a 250 pound "Bumble", corners and safeties and trailing linebackers bouncing off of him.  People tend to discount Blount as a one trick pony, but that one trick makes him one of the most effective four minute offense backs in the league.

Third-year man Jonas Gray could be a comparable talent, but last season he was like a UFO on a radar screen - blasting onto the scene like a bat out of hell for a brief glimpse and then suddenly disappearing just as quickly.  Granted, much of that had to do with the Patriots re-acquiring Blount off of waivers from the Steelers, which probably means that his status on the Patriots' roster is far from decided...

...particularly if redshirt sophomore Tyler Gaffney performs in camp that way he did in his senior year at Stanford.  Of all Patriots' running backs, Gaffney is the one player who has the combination of size, speed, pass protection skills and solid hands to become a lead back, eventually, if not this season.

Gaffney is an unknown quantity, as he spent all of last season on the Patriots' injured list after being plucked off waivers by Belichick.  Projected to be a third round selection in last season's draft, he fell all the way to Carolina in the sixth round, as questions about his commitment to football and his relative inexperience of being a lead back in college came into play.

Both questions arising from him leaving school after his junior year to play baseball in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system, then returning for his senior year when he flat went off on the Pac-12, rushing for 1700 yards and 21 touchdowns in his only season as a starter.  At 6' 0" and 220 pounds, the duck-footed Gaffney looks a lot like Seattle Seahawks' runner Marshawn Lynch in the open field and at times in college looked just as difficult to bring down.

Needless to say, the competition at running back in training camp will be interesting, what with Gaffney trying to carve out a spot to split time with Blount, while Gray and free agent signee Tavaris Cadet - late of New Orleans - try to do enough to latch onto what should be a fourth and final spot on the depth chart, fifth if one stops to consider that Brandon Bolden should stick on the roster as a running back in spirit only, as it is his special teams' play that makes his spot valuable.

As touched upon in the first part of this series, New England managed a pedestrian 3.9 yards per carry as the offensive line was forced to rely upon try-hard types in guards Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell to flank rookie pivot Bryan Stork.  Both Connolly and Wendell are under-sized scrappers, neither of whom should still be on the Patriots roster when the season starts.

Connolly, who is still floating around in free agency limbo, likely won't be re-signed as rookie Shaq Mason is the favorite to assume the right guard spot while Wendell may have to endure being cut in camp with fourth round pick Tre' Jackson penciled in at left guard - and all together with Stork, suddenly the Patriot's interior line looks physical and nasty tempered...

...and the fact that Jackson played alongside Stork at Florida State for a couple of years probably means that there is already chemistry between the two, which also means that the only real spot on the line with an unknown quantity is Connolly's old right guard position, but if Mason's reputation of being a violent run blocker manifests, this could be the best offensive line that the Patriots have had in years.

Particularly with twin towers Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer bookending, and swing tackles Marcus Cannon and Cam Fleming providing extra bulk in New England's six lineman sets, these behemoths should be able to mask any struggles from the rookies while they ply their trade the Patriot way.

Given all of this, it's not difficult to see both what Belichick has envisioned and that the running game is headed into uncharted territory with an almost complete youth movement, but with potential and the resultant excitement that change can bring.

This is the second installment in a multi-part series focused around the philosophies of the offense and defense as it pertains to the building process.  Part three will focus on the offensive line, and how the Patriots have the making os some epic camp battles on the interior...

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