By John Sarianides  The Patriots bolstered their secondary this off-season by signing free agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore to a $65 million dollar contract. The move was surprising considering the Patriots unwillingness in the past to give cornerbacks long term, big money contracts. Bill Belichick opted to give Gilmore the big money contract instead of restricted free agent Malcolm Butler. The Patriots tried to trade Butler but couldn’t get a deal…

By John Sarianides The Patriots added some much needed speed and depth to their linebacking corp this off-season when they drafted outside linebacker Derek Rivers out of Youngstown State and signed veteran inside linebacker David Harris. Both should make a difference in 2017, especially Harris who brings a wealth of experience to the Patriots defense. For years, Bill Belichick ignored developing linebackers, instead opting to sign veterans who have experience….

By John Sarianides The Patriots bolstered their defensive line this off-season with additions of defensive ends Kony Ealy, Lawrence Guy and Deatrich Wise.  All four players will have the opportunity to contribute right away to a defensive line unit that has been inconsistent in recent years, particularly when it comes to rushing the passer. The Patriots only had 34 sacks last season.  Here is our scouting report on the defensive…

By John Sarianides Football season is here! NFL training camps open up this week.  1. NFL training camps open up this week. Where did the last five and a half months go? Time flies. 2. The Cowboys and Cardinals have already reported because they are playing in the Hall of Fame Game in two weeks. Is it just me or do the Cowboys seemingly play in this game every other…

By John Sarianides The Patriots offensive line was much improved in 2016 thanks to the return of long time offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. Scarnecchia brought experience and stability to the offensive line meeting room and it paid off. It also helped that Scarnecchia settled on a starting five and stuck with them.   Some of the credit for the turnaround has to go to the players as well. The emergence…

By John Sarianides The success of the tight end position in the Patriots offense in recent years has rested on the health of Rob Gronkowski. If Gronkowski is healthy, the Patriots are virtually unstoppable offensively.  Gronkowski only played in eight games last season thanks to a herniated disk in his back. The injury isn’t career threatening but it will impact Gronkowski in terms of how he plays the position moving…

By John Sarianides Boston College was picked to finish seventh in the ACC’s Atlantic Division in the pre-season conference poll. What is up with that? I get that the Eagles have questions at quarterback, but seventh? Really? With several key starters returning at running back and wide receiver and a loaded front seven defensively, you would have thought the Eagles would have been picked to finish in the top five…

By John Sarianides To say the Patriots are loaded at wide receiver would be a major understatement. The addition of Brandin Cooks gives the Patriots the one thing have been lacking in recent seasons. A vertical threat that can take the top off of a defense. Cooks will bring that element to the Patriots offense and he will fit in nicely with Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan and Malcolm…

By John Sarianides Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher made a pretty bold statement at ACC Media Day on Thursday. Fisher proclaimed that the ACC is the premier conference in all of college football.  Normally I would shake my head and write some type of scathing rebuttal but I agree with Fisher. The ACC is the premier conference in college football. There are just as many national title contenders in the…

By John Sarianides The Patriots revamped the running back position this off-season adding veterans Rex Burkhead and Mike Gillislee to a group that includes James White, Dion Lewis and D.J Foster.  The Patriots like to rotate their running backs and they use them in a variety of ways depending on the opponent and the game plan. It will be interesting to see how Burkhead and Gillislee fit into this crowded…