Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Titans and Tight-Endage on Thanksgiving Eve: New England Patriots Talk with ClazzyClare — 11/24/21

Episode Date: November 25, 2021

As the New England Patriots prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, host Mike D’Abate welcomes Clare ‘ClazzyClare’ Cooper to discuss this upcoming Week Twelve matchup, the chances that tight end Jonnu Smith has a break-out game against his former team, and the duo share some Thanksgiving thoughts.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.StatHeroStatHero is the first of its kind Daily Fantasy Sports platform where it’s YOU vs. the HOUSE in head to head fantasy matchups - winner take all. Sign up for FREE - RIGHT NOW - at StatHero.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON for a One Hundred Percent Deposit Match. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello to all of you, Foxborough faithful. You are now locked into the Lockdown Patriots podcast. Happy Thanksgiving Eve, everyone. It is Wednesday, November 24th, 2021. And even though it's Wednesday, not Tuesday, it's still time for a little Tennessee Titans tight-endage talk here on your daily home for news notes and analysis

infused with the occasional opinion on your six-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. Thank you so much, Foxborough faithful, for joining me here today on this Thanksgiving Eve episode of the pod. Whether you're listening to this while traveling or already settled into your Thanksgiving destination, thank you for making Locked On Patriots your first listen every day. Remember, Locked On Patriots is free and available on all platforms.

And today here on the pod, we have a very special treat for you because joining me from across the pond is a voice, an accent, and a giggle that you all know very well. She's becoming a staple guest here on the Locked On Patriots podcast, and I, for one, could not be happier to welcome her each and every week, not just to talk tight endage, but anything and everything related to Patriots football. She is a phenomenal columnist for PatsPropaganda.com, the esteemed third voice of One Patriots Place, alongside our good friends Thomas Murphy and Steve Balistrieri,

and also a special contributor and columnist for Full Press Coverage Patriots, where she hosts her very own podcast, A Claire Perspective. And folks, I tell you each and every week, the podcast just keeps getting better and better. Subscribe, download, wherever you get your podcasts. Claire absolutely delivers a great listen each and every time. So without much further ado, I welcome in the Baroness of Blockers, the Queen of T.E., the Empress of Tight Endage, and of course, the Countess of Clas herself from West Midlands in the UK, Claire Colazzi.

Claire Cooper joins me here on this Thanksgiving Eve episode of the pod. Thank you so much for joining me today, Claire. Welcome back to Locked On Patriots. Oh, you're welcome. Thank you so much for having me once again. Well, you know, you've become a fixture here on Locked On Patriots over the weeks and our listeners definitely love it. The numbers bear that out.

I always love being able to talk football with you. It's one of my favorite things about this job and about being able to host a podcast like this is the truly great people I get to interact with on a daily basis. The fans, the guests here on Locked On Patriots. We always try to maintain that family atmosphere and you want to make it seem like you are sitting down talking ball with the people that mean the most to you. And that's something that I really am blessed to do each and every day. And I'm glad to be able to welcome you here on Lockdown Patriots this weekend. Again, like I said, it's really working out well from all sides.

So as long as you would like to keep coming back on a weekly basis, we'd definitely love to have you. And it's Thanksgiving, folks. So, you know, Claire is going to be looking to give thanks for a very certain position that we all know she is very, very much an expert on. But we're going to be talking about a lot more than that today. Claire, for the first time since 2019, the New England Patriots sit in first place of the AFC East. And there's a lot of football left to be played. So I don't want to get ahead of ourselves here, but there's a level of excitement in Foxborough that I haven't seen

in quite a while. Didn't see it all year last year. Really, I mean, I haven't seen it since before the New England Patriots lost to the Tennessee Titans in Tom Brady's final game in Foxborough in 2019. So, or technically 2020, but it was the 2019 season. When you look at this team, the way it's currently constituted right now, Claire, again, first place in the AFC East, third place right now in the conference overall, look at what this team is going to be capable of doing. How do you see this all shaking out for the New England Patriots this year? what are your thoughts on their playoff push well as you mentioned uh third in the AFC and top of their division at the moment but there's a lot still to come as you mentioned there may not be a lot of

games necessarily when you look you know we're way past the halfway mark now so there's like we've got six games left to uh to play but I think one thing is that's not just kind of AFC wide but league wide is just the the inconsistency that we have seen this season in regards to everybody I mean so many teams have lost to teams that you wouldn't imagine that they'd lose to which on the flip side is teams have won against teams that you wouldn't imagine that they'd lose to, which on the flip side is teams have won against teams that you wouldn't imagine that they would win to. I don't think it's just Patriots Nation that's seeing this. I think this is a league-wide strange year of inconsistency sort of for every team.

And sort of on that, then hopefully the Patriots will be able to cash in, shall we say, on the inconsistency that's been plaguing the teams this year. I mean, I know that we'll talk about the Titans in a little while, so I won't really touch on that significantly. But with regards to sort of the future for the Patriots for the rest of the season, I think one of the big keys is that's going to make an impact is is the Bills now the Bills seem to kind of be falling apart a little bit recently and I know that you can say well you know it's only one game two games kind of thing and they

could easily pull it back and I'm not saying that they can't I mean you know I don't want to slate any Bills fans that might be listed it's just that if they do seem to crumble and the Patriots do seem to find their footing even more, then it's going to be very, very different. And that's because we've got two Bills games. And as I said, those two Bills games to me are the key. I know they're playing the Colts and the Jags and the Dolphins that kind of thing and the Titans this weekend but I think the the Bills games are what maybe Patriots fans maybe even you know I don't want to sort of talk for a speak for everyone but maybe

the what they're most concerned about because how good the Bills looked up until recently and you know they were top of the division for for considerable while so that to me is where we will see the significance and where we see the difference as to what's going on yeah granted it's well that's obvious because if the bills suddenly get better then they'll go back in first place and then it will be the Patriots looking for maybe a wild card position to move into the playoffs but I think it sort of holds a key with regards to the games of the Bills against the Patriots as well so I mean as I said it's it's really hinky league-wide I mean did you ever imagine that the Washington

football team not only would beat the books but they would then beat the Carolina Panthers and I think that's quite considerable that the um the washington football team beat our old quarterback and our oldish quarterback so i feel like it's a bit of a shame that we haven't got an actual proper game against the washington football team this year because i would really like to see if they could beat matt jones because then you know would they get the trifecta of Patriots quarterbacks or would they not or would Matt succeed? So I'm kind of a little bit disappointed that we haven't got that game, that we had the pre-season game.

And I don't think the pre-season game really counts because it wasn't a game that we sort of utilised Matt Jones. So I don't think the pre-season counts in that respect. So just going off on a little bit of a tangent there. It was just something that I found really curious um how they built how they beat sorry the books and and then the Panthers and I think you know that's really summing up this year um you know considerably is how teams are just sort of beating teams you wouldn't expect and everyone was slating the the Texans for being um how they say in Boston

a dumpster fire um but they got they beat the bills didn't they so it was like wow just yeah everything's just a little bit weird and a little bit hinky and nothing to even say about how the Patriots got have got their first rookie quarterback in such a long time. You know, their number one pick first rookie quarterback, really, should I say, in a long time. So I think 2020 was weird with COVID, with restrictions and things like that. And I just think 2021 has not succeeded in being any less hinky, but for completely different reasons, in all fairness. Just the way that everyone's being everything so just so strange it really is I mean if you think about it and I'm glad that you mentioned uh you know the inertia of these teams that really just you know

what's driving them now you know and how these teams are being able to pull off these wins Washington is a perfect example being without Chase Young for a number of you know, and how these teams are being able to pull off these wins. Washington is a perfect example, being without Chase Young for a number of, you know, games and whatnot and their difficulties. They really, I think, underachieved for the better part of the year. A lot of people were very disappointed that this defense didn't show up the way it did in 2020. They're showing up in 2021 now, and all of a sudden they're looking like a team that Ron Rivera really has playing well and at the top of its

game. So to be able to take out both Carolina and Tampa Bay is definitely something to raise an eyebrow about without any question. And there are some good similarities to bring in there. But when it comes to the AFC, you're absolutely right. There right now isn't that dominant team at the top of the division. The Tennessee Titans, they fall to the Houston Texans. That was a surprise. Oh, 13. No, that's what I meant.

That was going to happen. Yeah. My apologies. I said the Texans beat the Bills and I meant the Texans beat the Titans. I'm so sorry. I did not catch that. I did. I'm a very, very, very bad host there.

I apologize for those that did. I apologize. I completely screwed up all my all my notes there. Yes. And it was OK. Don't worry about it. There was there. You know, things up all the time. It's part of what we do here on Lockdown. That's why your family, Claire, you can put the feet up. Relax. No worries. It's a very, very laid back environment here in lockdown. No, I'm kidding, folks. But no, I mean, the Colts, you know, at that point, coming in, putting a beat down on the Buffalo Bills, 45 to 15. Buffalo is still a formidable team. And I'm cautious to Patriots fans all the time that say, oh, they're exposing themselves up their trash. We knew it. We knew Josh Allen couldn't do it. We knew this wasn't there. Patriots got the division, wrap it up, put it in a bow and put it under the Christmas

tree. Not going to happen. Folks, Buffalo is still a very formidable team. New England can win this division without any question. To tell you the truth, I think they're probably in the best position right now to win the division because they can control their own fate. But at the same time, do not expect the Buffalo Bills just to go quietly into that good night. The first game that these two teams are playing is in Orchard Park. It's a

Monday nighter. That's going to be a hotly contested contest. No question about it. Patriots need their A game. If they don't have it, Buffalo is going to make them pay for it. But, you know, you bring up a very interesting point, too, in that when these teams go out and take the field each and every day, it really is a must-win situation every week, not because of the statistics and how things shake out with the schedule. And oh, I know they're not mathematical must-wins right now, but if you want to keep pace and you want to be on top of your game and continue on with the same type of trajectory that you're on right now, you need to be on top of your game and continue on with the same type of trajectory that you're on right now, you need to keep that momentum going.

And the only way to do it is to keep winning. And the Patriots have a very tall task this weekend facing the Tennessee Titans. And we'll talk about those Tennessee Titans in just a moment. But before we take our leave from stories that are lingering from week 11, Claire, you knew we were going to talk tight endage when we brought you in. It's just one of the things that we do here. It's contractually obligated. Claire's on tight endage talk.

You know it, and you're the best at it. So that's why also we're doing this. I know you love to talk about Hunter, and I love to talk about Hunter Henry as well. He's been very good. He's been everything is advertised. Mostly everything is advertised when it comes to a blocking tight end, the prototypical wide tight end, his ability to be a threat in the red zone.

Hunter is really developing a great chemistry with Mac Jones. We've talked about it several times here on the pod, but a name that elicits some different reaction from Patriots fans is Jono Smith. And I had the opportunity to write about Jono a little bit yesterday, knowing that this is going to be a game that probably has been circled on his calendar. Although Jono's downplaying it. And he spoke to the media yesterday, did not make a big deal out of it, but you know, this is something that's going to be on his radar in his former team, the Tennessee Titans. Jono's season has not gone quite as one would have hoped, including, I guess, Jono himself.

210 yards on 22 targets, only one touchdown. Four carries for 20 yards out of the backfield. He's been used a lot more as a run blocker. He really has been deployed in that area a lot more than the Patriots, I guess, had originally envisioned him to. Just as an example, on Thursday night against the Falcons, Smith was only deployed on seven routes, but he aligned on 22 run blocking snaps. So they're using him a lot more in run protection.

And I love Johnner's game, but you would think that his skill set would be better off used as a weapon in the open field when you look at Jonu and what he's done so far Claire do you think that right now he may be on the cusp of something and if he is is this the perfect game to try to unleash him and show the rest of the league what this team can do with two very capable tight ends to be honest with you I don't think it's my opinion this is you know this is just based literally on my tight-ended opinion is I don't think it's about unleashing him I don't think that is the key here I mean unfortunately Jonu he's a casualty of injuries this this this

year I mean Gronk didn't have Gronk didn't have to take a year out because just of a few cuts and bruises I mean the tight end position is known for its brutality and that's why all the all the kind of the big names the guys that are up there with the big numbers are the ones that have to take significant time out with injury I mean some of some of the top names that you'd put out, Ertz, Kittle, Kelsey, they've all had significant injury time lost, significant time lost due to injury even. And I mean, so Smith's lack of time on the field

can possibly have a knock-on effect with his connection with Matt Jones, his utilisation of him in plays consistency is key we all know this this is kind of this is like screamed out this is Bill one of Bill's mantras you know his consistency is key and that is really difficult thing to produce when you're in and out of the training room because of injury now this is not a slight against Smith because injury is something that isn't you know really you can't really call that kind of thing we know that he's a good tight end he's a big athletic guy and I think it's just

really result of very unfortunate situation of the very in and out with his injuries the one thing that's that's quite interesting um because we know that Hunter's been out with injury as well so you could say well you both have. Firstly, Hunter hasn't had quite the in-out inconsistency that Smith had with his injury. Hunter was out of the hold of pre-season and he said himself, as I know we've mentioned before, that losing that time was significant. It took him longer to gel within to the team with Mack

because he didn't have the pre-season games in the team. Now, Jonu did, but unfortunately, it was still a bit of an in and out situation and the one key thing that I think may be the difference is Hunter's gelling really well and we know this we've talked about this and not to go over it and and yes I adore it but Hunter plays the same position that he did for the Chargers, that very much kind of run block tight end, you know, the wide tight end, the very traditional tight end. So he had to learn, obviously, the playbook and stuff like that. But he was still called upon. He is still being called upon to play the position that he's very used to playing. And I think in Smith's case case it's a little bit different now I know the Patriots as you mentioned are utilizing him differently um but but similar to

to maybe the Titans were because he's he's he's that much of a different kind of tight end player but it's a role that is very very varied so he's coming to a new a new offense he's coming to a new coaching staff a new way and he's having to learn that as well as the being in and out with injury and sort of deal with the the different setup of that and play different roles in that respect as well with regards to running the ball blocking that kind of thing so I think some of it is it's a big ball of of kind of differences that he's having to deal with and being in consistency being with the injury that really weighing him down so I don't actually think um the point that you're making if it's a breakout I don't really think we're looking at an individual that's suffering from not being unleashed, if you like, into the offense.

I think it's really him sort of being plagued by the injury and the and the roll on effect that that injury can cause with regards to the consistency in the team. And once he's gotten some time and been fortunate that he's you know he's recovered he's healed that kind of thing I think that is when we're going to see a the unleash the breakout of Smith because I don't think it's got anything to do with the opponents or how the Patriots want to utilize him I think it's just a case of time and consistency within the organization and as soon as he gets a bit more of that I think then we're going to see Johnny Smith, the true Johnny Smith, the player that they saw when they signed him, the player that a lot of fans are kind of waiting for because on him and not really utilizing him just yet until they want to I think it's more of the the bigger picture that that's making the difference in regards to that and so I don't think that this game really would be that in inverted commas

breakout game that they're using simply because he's been a bit in and out recently with the shoulder injury so I think it's more to do with we'll see him at his full capacity when he is back at his full capacity very well said very very well said and that's exactly the point that I've been trying to hammer home and then I did try to hammer home on the piece that I wrote yesterday and I think you articulated it perfectly this is not a player that needs to be unleashed this is not a player that needs to start earning his keep. I see that an awful lot. And I think that's an unfair criticism of Jono.

Look, Josh McDaniels talked about this on Monday when he addressed the media. And he was asked specifically about Jono Smith and his productivity. And Josh really went into detail about how the tight end of when involves so many different things it's run blocking it's pass receiving it's pass protection there's alerts there's motions there's things that you have to be able to pick up and learn and when you have to do all of those things well it's a learning curve for a player that's never been in this environment and never been a part of this type of a complex offense to be able to go ahead and to do it and to do it well right out of the gate. Hunter has assimilated himself into New

England's offensive scheme for one very good reason. You hit the nail on the head, Claire. He ran a very similar system and a similar role when he was with the Chargers. It's one of the reasons why I always loved Hunter Henry's game and thought he would translate so perfectly into what the New England Patriots do, and you're seeing that. But even Hunter had a little bit of a learning curve at the beginning, and he wasn't fitting into that scheme right off the bat. It does take a little bit of time, no matter how familiar you are or how cerebral of a football player you are,

it takes a little bit of time, and Josh mentioned that as well. There's NFL vernacular out there that people use all the time, but in the New England locker room, it's a little bit different. And if you're not used to that and that changing pace of the offense from one week to the next, finding a way to attack the defense's weaknesses or protect their own, that's something that's going to take a little bit of time. So for anyone that's getting on John O'Smith, think about that and think about what he's going to take a little bit of time. So for anyone that's getting on Jonu Smith, think about that and think about what he's trying to learn and trying to absorb and put into practice.

There's still a lot of great football left in this kid. He's got a great attitude. He spoke to the media yesterday and was very forthcoming about the fact that he's not worrying about his role. He's facing whatever the team needs, but he knows there's still a lot left to go and he's working hard to do it every day. So give a lot of credit to Jonu for stepping into a new system. And I think he's going to be just fine, but very well said, Claire. I thought that was perfect and exactly what we needed from the Empress of tight endage. That's why she's the

expert. Don't let her fool you. She starts off, oh, this is just my opinion i could be wrong it's not necessarily correct yeah her opinion is valued in this situation uh for one very good reason because she's very good at what she does there is always a blast there's a lot of fun i just wanted to add the other thing that may be significant it may just be spitballing um but it may be significant is hunters is down on a three-year contract but johnny is on a four-year contract now i know obviously players don't necessarily play at their contracts it's something either but it may be significant to look at the fact that they've took that extra year with johnny knowing that they were utilizing him in such a variety of positions that the first year with him,

obviously they couldn't foresee his injury, quite frankly, but the first year with him was going to be a little bit of a learning year, a development year, a growing within to the offence year. And because of that, they put him on a longer contract, knowing that they wanted this guy in the system and just needed that little bit more time out of him because it would take that little bit more time to get him kind of how he wants to be and how they want him to be so that might be it might be absolutely nothing to do with that whatsoever but it might be just a little bit of an indication of well they knew that it was going to take some time and because of that they put him on a longer contract

knowing that they wanted him that bit longer because it would take that little bit longer to get the full Johnnie Smith out of him maybe absolutely that's a good point as well and you know you make a good point about players not wanting to play for a contract or to their contract you know be in the moment uh you know, play for the day, the week, don't play for the year or the years beyond what's on your contract. But we're all realists. And at the end of the day, it's a business and you have to understand exactly what your goals are going to be.

And the team has to understand what its goals are going to be as well. And there is a reason why these contracts are structured the way they are. So that definitely could have something to do with it. But at the same time, it'll be interesting to see how John who looks to line up against his former teammates, who he knows will be ready to play in this game, made the comments yesterday that Mike Grable and that team will be ready to come in. But John was also very careful to say he'll be ready, and so will the Patriots for this upcoming Week 12 matchup at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Folks, we always love when the Countess of Class herself comes and lends her expertise, whether it be through tight endage,

whether it be through evaluating the Patriots' playoff push. In just a moment, we're going to start to turn our attention to the Tennessee Titans and that Sunday matchup. What are Claire's thoughts on the subject? And also, we'll wrap it all up and bring it all home today with Claire's thankful moments for Patriots Nation. What do I mean by that? Find out when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. Locked On listeners, we're back and better than ever.

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Don't forget to use the promo code NFL100. From football, basketball, boxing, right to your favorite Vegas casino games, don't wait to take advantage of all the amazing offers available for the 2021 season. Bet online, the fastest and easiest way to bet all of your favorite sports. Bet online, your online sportsbook experts. Patriots fans, the Empress of tight endage, the Queen of TE, the Baroness of blockers, the Countess of Clasper herself, Miss Clasie Claire Cooper joins me here on the pod today in this Thanksgiving Eve episode of Locked on Patriots. And Claire, we all have a lot to be thankful for as Patriots fans.

And we're going to get into what Claire is thankful for in Patriots Nation in just a moment. However, the Patriots do have a game to play on Sunday. And even though Thanksgiving weekend is a time where a lot of us here in the United States are able to take some time off, relax a little bit. Anybody in the NFL realm is still boots to the ground, hard nose, and it's not a day off. It is no days off when it comes to that. The Patriots technically will have the day off, but they'll still be preparing in some way, shape, or form. This is going to be a pivotal game for the New England Patriots. Obviously, if they pick up the win, they would need the Baltimore Ravens to lose as well, but if the Patriots pick up the win, it gives them the chance to get into the driver's seat for the top spot in the AFC.

Tennessee is still a very formidable team for all of the injuries that they've sustained, especially the Derrick Henry most prominently. This is a team right now that can still beat you in so many ways. A very strong defensive front good secondary um surprisingly a running game that has maintained its ability to run the football i'm not saying it's anywhere near as good with derrick henry out of the lineup folks but they're still running the ball effectively they haven't completely fallen off and at the end of the day ryan tannahill is kind of that enigmatic quarterback that no one really wants to give the credit to, but he's been solid. He's been excellent as their quarterback. So when you look at the Tennessee Titans quickly, as we look ahead, what are your thoughts on this team and

what concerns you when it comes to what the Patriots should be looking for in their opponent on Sunday? Well, significantly, as you mentioned, the Titans are a tough team they're a mentally tough team and we know that you know they've got good coaching as well as good players the thing that sort of strikes me in regards to the titans is how dependent they were on derrick henry now that guy is you know he's a brute he's a machine. Their running game was formidable. And I think it's just concerning that the loss of him has kind of really rotated down the productivity of the Titans. Now, I know you mentioned that they're still good, and I'm not saying that they're not,

but they are coming off a loss now. And so I just think that they aren't looking as the Titans should be looking sort of thing. My concern for them, not as a Patriots fan, sort of just kind of like as an as an NFL fan, is the I'm surprised that they released Peterson with with regards to Henry being on being injured and then releasing their kind of, you know, their other running back. It just seemed I was I was I was perplexed at that of you know their other running back it just seemed I was I was I was perplexed at that you know in all fairness and there might be reasons that I'm

just not known because I only follow the rest of the NFL kind of very loosely Patriots is my thing sort of thing so I was surprised to see that and and because it also kind of accentuates the weakness that they've got with regards to who they do have for their running game are quite new to the team I mean you've got um Hilliard is with a concussion so he's uncertain at this point but there's also a running back Foreman he was so I noticed our research he signed in week nine so that's showing that he hasn't had a significant time with the team so to me that it feels like they've made the the weakness that they've got a little bit worse and losing Derek Henry is a big weakness for them because they were a big run game team and and obviously we all we

kind of all know that really so I mean to be so dependent upon one player and then to lose that player I think not to flip it over but I think this is something that the Patriots do well fans wanted like the wide receiver one and I can see why but I think that the Patriots have been very clever in the way they spread the ball around significantly now people you could argue well they spread the ball around because they have to because they don't have that wide receiver one that kind of thing but I think it's a little bit more than that because to me it looks like when you've got such a significant player as the as the Titans have got in Henry the the team is very resting upon that individual shoulders and and that's why we've sort of seen the drop off from them and to me it's it's a bit like a wall so Derek Henry is the is the key player in that

team and you remove you remove that brick and the wall crumbles now with the Patriots they their offense is built and it is kind of built differently as there isn't that one only significant brick so when you remove a significant player you know a particularly good player the wall doesn't crumble because the it's built differently and so that their running game didn't kind of wouldn't drop off when they had Damian Harris out they you know Romandre Stevens set sort of that kind of thing so and I think this is really something that the Patriots have the organization do well that we're seeing other teams throughout the league not just the titans are losing their kind of very one key player

and it's bringing the rest of the team really down and and to not have that dependency um i think actually when you look at something like this when you look at a season like this is is key uh the the panthers i know obviously we're not talking about them, but their loss of McCaffrey, it really brings their run game down. So that's another significant, it feels like a team that's dependent upon one brick, if you like. And to me, the Patriots aren't quite like that. And I think that's a major positive. So I know that when people kind of aspire for this year, what we want, the wide receiver one, we want this key explosive player. Hang on a second. If you have one significant significant player you don't spread the ball around and I think that then

becomes a weakness when that individual is is injured and I think although you don't obviously look to injury you don't plan your your season on injury these things happen and especially with with kind of like running backs like Derek Henry, so powerful, throws his body in so much that it feels inevitable that those individuals are going to be injured. So I think the Patriots kind of want to exploit the weakness. We will need to pressure Tannehill because it feels like he's still looking for Henry and he still needs him. You know, he's kind of his go-to guy, his safety blanket.

So if the Patriots can sort of put the significant pressure on him so that he's not in his comfort zone so he's having to think more because he hasn't got that one guy that he automatically goes to you know that one handoff that he automatically does then I think you know that that's where it's going to be but the defense have been so great in the Patriots that I think if they can step it up if they can can carry on this run that they've got going, then I've got to say I wasn't considerably concerned about the Atlanta game for no real reason. I didn't actually have a reasoning behind it. I know they're without some of their significant players as well.

So and we've always beat Atlanta kind of thing. But I wasn't really, you know, as it was getting closer and people were getting concerned and it was like actually you know what I don't know why but I'm not concerned and I think I've got a bit of the gut feeling about this as well so I just really hope that I'm not wrong now because I'm gonna get hate mail on it but yeah I just think that the Patriots are on this role so if they can just carry on bringing it the way that they're bringing it and you know you kind of see no reason why they wouldn't, then I think this game's in the bag, to be honest with you. Well, at this point, it could be interesting that you say you think this game's in the bag. I'm going to sound like that.

No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. But I think you've outlined a very interesting point. I mean, the Patriots are hitting the Titans at the right time. There is some little bit of upheaval. I mean, the release of Adrian Peterson did surprise me because Peterson has been relatively effective in trying to come in and do what Henry has done. Definitely not equating what the two do. Eric Henry is arguably, if not unarguably, the best running back in the league. There's no question about that.

And no one's even saying that anyone comes close, in my opinion. But at the same time, you have to have some sort of competent run. And obviously, the Titans have a lot of faith in their backfield, and we'll see if that strategy does pay off. They made a couple of minor signings. You have to think that maybe Golden Tate coming in, I'm not sure if he's going to be in town active enough to be able to make a contribution in this game. That's a practice squad signing. You have to think he's going to eventually be elevated. Golden is someone that has given the Patriots difficulties in the past.

One of the big reasons why a lot of people thought Bill Belichick would eventually sign Golden Tate was because he did give him difficulties in the past. And Bill has always gone on that level. If these guys can play well against you, why play against them? Just, you know, sign them up and put them on your team. So there's a lot to digest when it comes to the Titans. And we'll continue to break that down here on Locked On Patriots offensive defensive strategies. Claire has kind of set the table quite nicely for us.

And speaking of setting that table, Thursday here in the United States is Thanksgiving. And of course, we all have our Thanksgiving memories. We all have our Thanksgiving, you know, traditions and family and food. And, you know, the unbelievable that side dishes here in Thanksgiving have really dominated the news cycle when it comes to other England Patriots lately whether it's Mac Jones not liking pie or Matt Judon not liking macaroni and cheese I mean there's just there's so much that's going on right now you know Devin McCourty tried to be the voice of reason yesterday up at the podium, but it's all, it's dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria. But we'll keep it on football for a little bit. Anyway, Claire,

when you look at being thankful for the franchise that we both cover, we both, you know, work in this realm, but we're both fans at heart. And that's one of the great things about being able to cover a team that you grew up or that you loved for so long. You look at them with more critical eye, but there's still that fan at heart. And I don't care what anybody says. I don't think it makes you a poor journalist. Figure it of you. I'm not coming at you. It doesn't make anyone that does this a poor journalist or a biased journalist or anything of that nature. I find myself being more objective

and more critical of a team that just, you know, 10 years ago when I wasn't in this business, I never would have been critical of them the way I do. But there are things to be thankful for as a Patriots fan. When you look at this team right now, when you look at being a Patriots fan, what are you most thankful for for the New England Patriots okay I need to do this in two sections now because I need to do what I'm thankful for as a fan with as you said the organization and then I need to do a little bit of just being thankful as a fan so I'm going to touch on that obviously towards the end but the first thing the to answer the question that you've actually asked is in regards to the team itself um thankful that I have access in the UK now in

all fairness but just picking out points obviously just like we're all thankful that I have access in the UK now in all fairness but just picking out points obviously just say we're all thankful that football's back we're all thankful that we're able to watch it I know we had it in 2020 and I think we're all thankful for that as well used to have some normality in life that was such in chaos and I think it's still a little bit of it it's kind of shifted into this year as well I don't think 2021 is in inverted commas a normal year so I think amongst the chaos that life is I think to be thankful just to just have the football that we're able to watch you know first first and foremost I'm very thankful as a Patriots fan for Mac's success now I know that's a given in all fairness but I'm

thankful for his success his success in a way of the kind of the haters wanting to hate on him and i i was an individual that kind of wasn't sure if they were going to take a quarterback wasn't sure which one they would take because i didn't expect them to take some of the the ones that went kind of one two three anyway um and i wasn't exactly fussed when and when it kind of transpired that they could take mac i was actually very excited and when they did obviously even more excited so I think that this guy integrated the Patriots way the most and he's showing to be the best quarterback at the moment and I'm very thankful for that because I think he deserves that and I think that it it gives him the right to be able to say you know that the Patriots kind of are back and they've got this this rookie and they took a

chance and it was worth it so it kind of quietened the haters down a little bit of you know if he hadn't have been able to sort of integrate so quickly we'd have seen a lot of negativity towards the Patriots and oh you know you're no good without Brady that kind of thing so I'm really thankful that he got to play immediately, that Bill played him immediately and his talent is coming out immediately. And so I'm thankful for that as a Patriots fan, more so to stop the hate rather than, yeah, it's great that we've got success. Obviously, as a fan, you want your team to be successful. So that's like a twofold thing. I'm thankful for Hunter Henry because I finally get some proper tight end leads. Now, I'm still a big Ryan Eazer fan.

I don't actually care what anybody says. I saw the good in that guy. I saw what he, those little flashes of what he was good at. But he didn't have what Hunter Henry has. And finally, I've got some proper tight end leads that on a game day, I can tweet out, that's my guy getting a catch. And people retweet it and people comment on me and saying, can tweet out that's my guy getting a catch and people read it and people comment on me and saying is can somebody check on Claire please just make sure she's okay and

Henry's got a touchdown that kind of thing so I've got to be thankful from my tight end this perspective of that because he he was the tight end that that when they signed him he was kind of the one that I was thinking because he's more the traditional tight end so he's more you know in in that sort of aspect than Smith is in all fairness so he was kind of going to be the guy that I was thinking because he's more the traditional tight end so he's more you know in in that sort of aspect than Smith is in all fairness so he was kind of going to be the guy that I went to because he plays the position more so that I go to so I'm very thankful for him and as a little extra David Andrews I know he's a fan favourite the fact that he came back this year that he did sign I know there was a little bit of a we weren't really sure if they if they were going to bring him back because of the loss of Tooney and it wasn't sure if they'd get Tooney and Andrews back or one or the other or either so I'm really glad

that he came back because he has provided us with some magic moments this year and particularly as I think I've mentioned on this show but I know I mentioned on One Patriots Place the when Mac got hit late in that one game and I can't remember which game it was now because I'm so bad but Mac got hit really quite late and Andrews turned around and the look on his face and the way that he just played it was like if you can find someone the way that that looks at you the way that David Andrews looks at Mac Jones, then you're golden in all fairness. So I'm thankful for him as well because he's Teddy Bear, who I think, yeah, got a big soft spot for him this year. So in all fairness.

But that's my kind of team answer. That's what I'm thankful for particularly. I'm thankful for the whole team as well and the defence being brilliant, you know, that kind of thing. But those three are my kind of key guys this year, if you like, that I want to say that I'm thankful about. The other thing that I want to say is that I'm thankful for, and I hate to sound really mushy and that kind of thing,

but I am, I'm thankful for Patriots fans because you guys have taken me into being part of the family. And then my voice is going to wobble now, I'm so sorry. You've taken me in and even though I'm like across the pond it hasn't mattered to anybody the fact that I'm from the UK that I didn't grow up with with football you know that it's not kind of in my genes as such but I've still been accepted by a kind of patriots nation if you like for want of a better phrase and to be accepted in that I'll never be able to express my appreciation to all of you out there kind of thing that have done that that have made

me feel part of something um so I'm really thankful for basically for all of you guys that are listening I am I'm really thankful particularly obviously the people that connect with me and just as a final personal note I do need to kind of say that I am thankful for you Mike and I know people are going to think oh well she's on his show but Mike gave me my first opportunity back when he was with full press coverage Patriots him and Ian Glendon took a chance on me for somebody that was from the UK that hadn't got an extensive knowledge of the Patriots just had an extensive passion shall we say so I'm thankful for you guys for taking that chance. And obviously the individuals that I get to work with, Steve and Murph, who all you out there who listen to the show know of Steve and Murph and One Patriot's

Place and stuff like that. So I'm thankful that they took me on as well to be the third voice of One Patriot's Place. And also to Mike Dissot and Tom over at Pat's Propaganda for headhunting me and taking me on and saying, do you want to write for us? Because, you know, that it's loads of fun representing Pats Propaganda over there. So I hate to be the kind of smushy person, but I am. I'm genuinely thankful for Patriots Nation because I don't think I think without you guys, without you, I don't actually think I'd have got through the last couple of years so I just want to say thank you to everybody well Claire I can definitely tell you from a Patriots fan perspective from a Patriots media perspective we're all grateful for you and the reason why we have taken you in and the reason why fans respond to you and the reason why the media has responded to you and I thank you for the the reason why fans respond to you and the reason why the media has

responded to you and i thank you for the kind comments that you made about ian and myself we didn't take a chance on you claire we saw something in you um and i truly mean that uh that was really i think on the cusp of of becoming something great and i still see that in you each and every day whether it be the work that you continue to do for full press coverage, the great work that you do for that great company. And my good friend Ian Glendon, who I know is very appreciative of your work, but also Pat's propaganda and seeing you take under that mantra that was headed by Mike DeSalle for so many years. And Mike did such a great job with that site. And now Sean, you know, taking, you know, the ball and then running with it and the guys that are doing a great job with that site. And now Sean, you know, taking, you know, the, uh, the, the ball and then running with it and the guys that are doing a great job with that site, you continue to do that. Claire perspective, I assure you is one of my favorite listens. Uh, and I truly enjoy

that. I'm a subscriber, I'm a fan. And each and every time you put out a podcast, it's always, always top-notch material, but there's a realism to you as well. And that's what draws people in. You're yourself. You give everything of yourself in terms of being able to provide the best content that you can, but at the same time, you have a realism, a genuine nature, and a likability to you that just makes you someone that people would like to interact with. So on behalf of Patriots fans all over, I can't speak for every Patriots fan, but I can speak for myself and any Patriots fan I've ever had the chance to interact with. We appreciate you. So we thank you for joining us and bringing your level of expertise from the UK here to the United States,

here to the New England Patriots fan base. And we're better because of it. And folks, you're going to continue to hear the Countess's voice and giggle on these airwaves for quite some time. Locked on Patriots will soon be announcing some very exciting upgrades coming in 2022 and things are really going to develop with this podcast. So stay tuned for that. But I encourage you to continue to stay tuned to everything. Claire does well on this Thanksgiving weekend, my friend, I am very much thankful for you, for your wisdom,

your counsel and your appearance on today's pod. We look forward to talking ball with you again here very soon next week, preferably in the meantime, continues to stay safe, stay well, have a great weekend. And just thank you for all you do here for, for locked on Patriots. We appreciate you. Oh, thank you. And thanks everybody for, for being patient with my little ramble there. I just wanted to make sure that I touched upon everybody and let you all know that I am truly, genuinely thankful for being able to be part of this wonderful thing that we've

got going on. So, yeah. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. Absolutely, folks. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. yeah happy thanksgiving everybody absolutely folks happy thanksgiving everyone and just before i take the record button off claire i wasn't going to let you go without weighing in on the topic of conversation that's on everybody's mind here in new england when it comes to thanksgiving who's more wrong in their thanksgiving take over here is it mac jones not liking pie or is it matt

judon not liking mac and cheese which is more egregious to the countess of class oh wow me personally um is actually the pie but I mean I love Matt Jones we all know that I love Matt Jones but I do actually really like pie as well so the fact that he doesn't like pie I've very concerning I'm not I don't agree with Matt Judon but I can kind of take or leave um mac and cheese because I'm not a huge cheese fan so you know that's a kind of unfair sort of situation really but the whole pie thing it's you gotta have I mean sheesh that's what I'm looking forward to tomorrow is pie I mean I can't I know I'm in the UK and I don't kind of celebrate it the way you

guys do and can in all fairness but there is there will be a roast turkey dinner in my house with stuffing, green beans and mashed potatoes, in all fairness. So that's definitely going to be there. And there's got to be pie and there's got to be more than one pie as well. You can't just have one pie. There's got to be a choice of pie. So, yes, the pie thing I have I have a mild issue with. It's not enough for me to kind of need to break up with him. I love Matt Jones kind of thing. I can I can deal with these kind of small issues of him not liking parties so you know the kid's good you know he hasn't he hasn't got to be concerned in that respect but yeah in all fairness I'm definitely of the yeah Max Wong in in this situation you get another commonality what a big surprise that we get along so well, Claire.

I mean, really, we share so much in common when it comes to all this. I completely agree with you. I mean, I'm of the ilk, too. I'm a mac and cheese guy. I do like it, but it's not the end-all, be-all. Of course, being Italian-American, you know, pasta's more designed for a little marinara,

a little, you know, a little bolognese. Well, you know what? Well, that's a conversation for another day. I'll get my Patriots pies on here at the end of the week, and we'll talk a little bit about some of the better uses for pasta. But, no, all kidding aside, I do like mac and cheese. I think everybody, well, most people do, except for Matt Judon. I'm not going to argue with Matt because, first of all,

you don't argue with Matt Judon. And, second of all, you know, everybody has everybody has their their, you know, their their their preferences. And that's fine. But, yeah, I find I find Max dislike of pie a little little disconcerting. I may have to have a word with a rookie on that one. But no, kidding aside, folks, Claire weighs in. It's it's better to like pie than it is to like mac and cheese. And on that note, folks, say farewell to you. If you're listening to this on your travels or right before your Thanksgiving

dinner, on behalf of Claire Cooper and myself, have a very happy, safe, healthy Thanksgiving. Take the time to really enjoy what matters. Take the time to really reflect on what matters, your friends, your family, your blessings. Count them instead of your curses when all possible. And please enjoy your Thanksgiving. And thank you once again for making Locked On Patriots your first listen each and every day. Remember, Locked On Patriots is free and available on all platforms. On behalf of the Countess of Clas herself, I'm host Mike DeBate.

Thank you for tuning in today. Have a great Thanksgiving. And we look forward to talking ball with you again here on Locked On Patriots very soon.