SB Nation Boston - All Postshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2013-05-21T14:41:16-04:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/current/2013-05-21T14:41:16-04:002013-05-21T14:41:16-04:00Boston, New York rivalry driving prices up
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<figcaption>Jared Wickerham</figcaption>
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<p>New York and Boston are the fiercest of rivalry cities. From Bucky Dent to the Bloody Sock, each city has tasted its fair share share of victory and defeat. With three series this month, May has been, and continues to be, one of busiest chapters in the history of the rivalry. With the Knicks victory over the Celtics, New York has notched one on-the-court victory thus far. Regardless of what happens in the other two series, however, New York is virtually assured to win the off-the-court battle of the box office. In the month of May, New Yorkers are paying $365 to see their teams play while Boston fans are shelling out an average of $265. Below is a breakdown of each series.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2657265/NY_Boston.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2657265/NY_Boston.png" class="photo" alt="Ny_boston_medium"></a> <br id="1369161835830"></p>
<p><b>Celtics-Knicks NBA Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (Knicks Win 4-2)</b></p>
<p>A generation of Knicks fans are still waiting for their first taste of championship glory, and as a result, demand was up for their recent-ended postseason. For the Eastern Conference NBA Quarterfinals, the average price for Knicks home games was $518, or 153 percent more than the Celtics home average of $205. Interestingly, Knicks fans only paid a 14 percent premium compared to regular season prices vs. Celtics fans 105 percent premium. This is due in large part to the fact that the Knicks had the highest regular season average ticket price in the NBA, while the Celtics had the eighth-most expensive season average.</p>
<p><b>Bruins-Rangers NHL Eastern Conference Semi-Finals (Bruins Lead Series 2-0)</b></p>
<p>For the first time in since the 1973, the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nhl/new-york-rangers-tickets" rel="nofollow">Rangers</a> and Bruins face off in playoff hockey. Both teams had dramatic seven-game series in the quarterfinals, and fans are excited about their teams prospects in a wide-open Eastern Conference. Despite their two losses in Boston, the average price for Game 3 at MSG has risen 20 percent since the series started to a current average of $480, and a get-in price of $219. The average price in Boston to see one of the games at TD Garden is $388. For the first two games, the average price was $289, and those that ponied up got their money's worth. With the possibility of a series clincher, the last two games have an average price of $514.</p>
<p>Bruins fans are paying a 49 percent premium to the regular season average price for the four games at TD Garden, while Rangers fans are paying a 74 percent premium for the three games at MSG. The current average price for a Game 7 in Boston, if necessary, is $593, and you'll pay $288 just to get into TD Garden. If it gets that far, though, the average price could easily break $650, as fans lose all sense of fiscal responsibility at the prospect of the next great New York-Boston moment.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox-Yankees: (5/31-6/2 at Yankee Stadium)</b></p>
<p>Baseball is the one sport where fans in Beantown pay a premium over those in the Big Apple. With only 37,400 seats, Fenway Park has the smallest capacity of any baseball stadium, which is a big part of why Red Sox tickets are consistently more expensive than the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tiqiq.com/mlb/new-york-yankees-tickets">Yankees tickets</a>. The upcoming series at Yankee Stadium has an average price of $144 compared to an average price of $208 for the July leg of the rivalry in Boston. Despite all the press about the Red Sox sellout streak coming to end, the Red Sox are exceeding expectations and that has helped keep prices high.</p>
<p>According to Ace Tickets CEO Jim Holzman, the interest in <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.aceticket.com/boston-red-sox-tickets/">Red Sox tickets</a> is better than expected. "A strong start, a likable team and lower prices have all contributed to healthy demand early in the year," said Holzman. To be precise, ticket prices are up 19 percent this year compared to the same time last year, and if the Red Sox are still in the race come July, prices will likely continue to rise.</p>
<p>Not to be outdone, however, Yankee fans are paying 27 percent more than the 2012 average ticket price, as the ragtag team sits, somewhat unexpectedly, atop the AL East. For real drama, though, May baseball can't compete with September. Between September 6th and 15th, the Yankees and Red Sox play six times, and the average price for those games is 38 percent higher then the two series in May and July.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2013/5/21/4352446/boston-new-york-rivalry-driving-ticket-prices-upSB Nation Partner2013-04-22T09:46:55-04:002013-04-22T09:46:55-04:00Rhodes mocked to Pats
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>New England needs help in the secondary after having so many problems guarding teams last year. </p> <p>In <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/4/22/4250052/2013-nfl-mock-draft">SB Nation's latest NFL mock draft by Dan Kadar</a>, cornerback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/87393/xavier-rhodes" class="sbn-auto-link">Xavier Rhodes</a> of the Florida State Seminoles has been chosen by the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New England Patriots</a> at No. 29 overall.</p>
<p>Rhodes has been mocked by many experts in the first round all offseason, most often to the <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> at the No. 13 position. However, Tampa stepped up and acquired <span>Darrelle Revis</span>, so the slide may be on for Rhodes and some other corners.</p>
<div class="read-more">
<b>More</b>: <a target="new" href="http://www.mockingthedraft.com">Extended draft analysis</a> <a target="new" href="http://www.patspulpit.com">Extended Pats coverage</a>
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<p>New England would be thrilled to get Rhodes in this spot. Known as the largest and most physical corner in the draft at 6'2 and 210 pounds, Rhodes would provide the Patriots with a player who could start from the beginning.</p>
<p>With Alfonzo Dennard facing prison time for assaulting an officer, Rhodes would likely be looked upon as the No. 2 corner heading into training camp with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/7879/aqib-talib" class="sbn-auto-link">Aqib Talib</a> as the top dog.</p>
<p>Other options here could be wide receiver and safety for a team that doesn't have too many holes.</p>
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<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/4/22/4250052/2013-nfl-mock-draft?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">NFL mock draft: Thursday looms</a></p>
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<p>• <a href="http://www.dawgsbynature.com/2013/4/19/4241314/jimmy-haslam-the-fbi-the-158-pages-that-will-cost-him-the-browns?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">Browns owner Jimmy Haslam investigated by FBI</a></p>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/patriots/2013/4/22/4252064/2013-nfl-mock-draft-new-england-patriotsMatt Verderame2013-04-17T13:27:50-04:002013-04-17T13:27:50-04:00Mock drafts have Pats bolstering secondary
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Many NFL draft projections have New England getting defensive backfield help next week.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New England Patriots</a> struggled in defending the pass last season, and most pundits believe the team will address that issue in next week's NFL Draft. Where disagreements come is whether New England will pick to improve their pass rush or coverage.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/4/15/4220870/2013-nfl-mock-draft-trades-lane-johnson-darrelle-revis" target="_blank">SB Nation's Matthew Fairburn believes the Patriots will opt for the latter</a>. He has New England grabbing Blidi-Wreh Wilson out of Connecticut with the No. 29 pick. Fairburn adds that the team has taken a look at the cornerback, and he is among a number of options at the position late in the first round:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35842/blidi-wreh-wilson" class="sbn-auto-link">Blidi Wreh-Wilson</a> may be a surprise to some, but he's a name to keep an eye on late in the first round. A run on cornerbacks could start in this range of the draft, and the Patriots have shown some interest in the Connecticut defensive back. He's flying under the radar, but Wreh-Wilson is in the mix in the second tier of cornerbacks.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/mock-drafts" target="_blank">Two members of NFL.com's four-man draft panel agree</a> that New England will draft for the secondary. <span>Charles Davis</span> projects the Patriots will go with Florida free safety <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/111911/matt-elam" class="sbn-auto-link">Matt Elam</a>, while Daniel Jeremiah believes the team will take Boise State cornerback Lamar Taylor. Bucky Brooks thinks the Pats will look to bolster the pass rush by selecting SMU defensive end <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75834/margus-hunt" class="sbn-auto-link">Margus Hunt</a>.</p>
<p>Akbar Gbajabiamila is the odd man out among prognosticators, as he has New England going with offense and taking Tennessee wide receiver Justin Hunter.</p>
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<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/4/17/4233590/2013-nfl-draft-stock-report-d-j-hayden-keenan-allen?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">NFL draft stock report: Who's rising or falling?</a></p>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/patriots/2013/4/17/4235112/nfl-mock-draft-2013Craig Powers2013-04-15T08:00:09-04:002013-04-15T08:00:09-04:00Marathon Monday in Boston
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<figcaption>Jim Rogash</figcaption>
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<p>The world's most iconic race, the 2013 Boston Marathon, is set for its 117th running on Monday. Here's what you need to know. </p> <p>The <a href="http://www.stridenation.com/boston-marathon-2013" target="_blank">2013 Boston Marathon</a> is set for its 117th running on Monday morning. The world-famous race is held every Patriots' Day -- a holiday in Massachusetts commemorating the first battles of the Revolutionary War -- and coincides with a morning Red Sox game (11:05 a.m. ET, against the Rays).</p>
<p>The race course is a point-to-point route, starting in Hopkinton, Mass., and ending in Copley Square in Boston. The 26.2-mile run takes athletes through Ashland, Framingham, Natick and Wellesley before heading into the Newton Hills -- including Heartbreak Hill -- and eventually the finish line in Boston. </p>
<p>Television coverage of the Boston Marathon is available nationally on Universal Sports (channel 625 on DirecTV, 402 on Dish Network), which goes live at 9 a.m. The race will also be streamed live online for free at http://watchlive.baa.org/, beginning at 9:30 a.m.</p>
<p>The weather is looking ideal for runners -- <a href="http://www.stridenation.com/2013/4/14/4225070/2013-boston-marathon-weather-forecast" target="_blank">highs in the low 50s</a> -- and should be some welcomed relief after last year's dangerous record-breaking temperatures. </p>
<p>The top-three American males -- Ryan Hall, <a href="http://www.stridenation.com/2013/4/8/4201932/boston-marathon-meb-keflezighi-2013" target="_blank">Meb Keflezighi</a> and Abdi Abdirahman -- have all dropped out of the race, due to varying injuries and illness. However, on the women's side, American Shalane Flanagan, making her Boston debut, is considered to be one of the favorites.</p>
<p>Here's a look at the complete 2013 race day schedule:</p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th>DIVISION</th> <th>START TIME</th> <th>APPROX NO. OF ENTRANTS</th> <th>BIB COLOR</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Mobility Impaired</td>
<td>9:00 a.m.</td>
<td>6</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wheelchair Division</td>
<td>9:17 a.m.</td>
<td>30</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Handcycles</td>
<td>9:22 a.m.</td>
<td>24</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Elite Women</td>
<td>9:32 a.m.</td>
<td>50</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Elite Men & Wave One</td>
<td>10:00 a.m.</td>
<td>9,000</td>
<td>Red</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wave Two</td>
<td>10:20 a.m.</td>
<td>9,000</td>
<td>White</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wave Three</td>
<td>10:40 a.m.</td>
<td>9,000</td>
<td>Blue</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Awards Ceremony*</td>
<td>5:00 p.m.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p><i><b>For full coverage, visit SB Nation's running community, <a href="http://www.stridenation.com/boston-marathon-2013" target="_blank">Stride Nation</a>, and follow <a href="https://twitter.com/Stride_Nation" target="_blank">@Stride_Nation</a>. </b></i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2013/4/15/4225562/boston-marathon-2013-live-results-course-mapRyan Hudson2013-04-10T16:38:11-04:002013-04-10T16:38:11-04:00McShay has Patriots taking Datone Jones
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>ESPN's Todd McShay released his newest mock draft on Wednesday and he did not have them take a defensive back. Why Jones over others?</p> <p>The New England Patriots finished 29th against the pass in 2012, familiar territory for them. Defending against quarterbacks has been an ongoing issue for years now, but it also has not stopped New England from reaching the Super Bowl in two of the last six seasons. So will they address that need early in the draft on April 25th by taking a corner or safety, or will Bill Belichick and company go another direction in the first round?</p>
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<div class="read-more">
<b>More</b>: <a target="new" href="http://www.patspulpit.com/2013/4/10/4209042/patriots-sign-emmanuel-sanders-to-offer-sheet-initial-thoughts">Patriots acquire Emmanuel Sanders</a>
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<p>Despite getting a significant boost from Tom Brady, the Patriots were really more well-known for their defense than their offense when they won three Super Bowls in the early part of the century. That has significantly drifted the other direction as they are nearly impossible to stop from scoring, but rather easy to pass on.</p>
<p>Many mock drafts have projected a cornerback or safety to the Patriots so far, but <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2013/story/_/id/9148812/2013-nfl-draft-todd-mcshay-first-round-mock-draft-scenarios" target="_blank">Todd McShay of ESPN went a slightly different direction in his latest:</a> He had the Pats taking defensive end <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38229/datone-jones">Datone Jones</a> out of UCLA:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Jones could offer help along the defensive front, giving the Patriots another versatile player who can line up at end opposite <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14927/chandler-jones" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: invert none 0px; color: #225fb2; vertical-align: baseline;">Chandler Jones</a> and reduce inside to rush the passer in sub packages.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It is not as though the Patriots have not continuously tried to address their issues on defense either. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/10953/jerod-mayo">Jerod Mayo</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/10215/brandon-spikes">Brandon Spikes</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/6164/devin-mccourty">Devin McCourty</a>, Dont'a Hightower, and Chandler Jones are just a few of the recent high picks spent on that side of the ball. Will Jones be the next?</p>
<p> </p>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/2013/4/10/4210298/nfl-mock-draft-2013-patriots-todd-mcshay-datone-jonesKenneth Arthur2013-04-08T15:59:40-04:002013-04-08T15:59:40-04:00Pats to target CB in 1st round?
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The New England Patriots could be after a cornerback with their first-round pick, as they have extensive needs in the secondary.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> have been contenders for the past decade, and as long as <span>Tom Brady</span> is at the helm and Bill Bellichick is still the head coach, they'll likely remain that way. Still, the team has to be on their game year-in and year-out when it comes to their drafting, since they're almost always picking near the back-end of the first round.</p>
<div class="read-more">
<strong>More</strong>: <a target="new" href="http://patspulpit.com">Visit Pats Pulpit for more on the Patriots</a>
</div>
<p>That's no different this year, as the Patriots hold the No. 29 pick thanks to their appearance in the AFC Championship game, which they lost to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Baltimore Ravens</a>, as the secondary was beaten soundly by the Baltimore passing game. In fact, the Patriots have been looking for help in the secondary for some time now.</p>
<p>Matthew Fairburn of SB Nation released his <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/4/8/4192860/2013-nfl-mock-draft-three-rounds-geno-smith-tavon-austin" target="_blank">latest mock draft</a> on Monday and he has them addressing the need in the first round, with the selection of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35842/blidi-wreh-wilson">Blidi Wreh-Wilson</a>, the cornerback out of Connecticut.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Here's a new name to keep an eye on. Blidi Wreh-Wilson is quickly becoming one of my favorite cornerbacks in this class the more I watch him. I think the end of the first round could be the start of a run on cornerbacks, and with New England spending plenty of time at Wreh-Wilson's pro day, he could sneak into the back half of the first round. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>The Patriots definitely need to draft a cornerback at some point within the first couple rounds, and Wreh-Wilson seems to make sense. He would be able to come in and start right away, which is what the Patriots need at this point.</p>
<p>As it was a three-round mock draft, it's worth noting that the Patriots ended up taking West Virginia wide recever <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/84145/stedman-bailey">Stedman Bailey</a> with the No. 59 overall pick (second round), and Utah State cornerback Will Davis at No. 89 (third round).</p>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/2013/4/8/4201802/2013-nfl-mock-draft-new-england-patriotsJames Brady2013-04-06T08:00:05-04:002013-04-06T08:00:05-04:00Syracuse vs. Michigan preview
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Michigan and Syracuse is one of the most intriguing Final Four matchups in recent memory because of the contrasting styles of play.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/michigan-wolverines" class="sbn-auto-link">Michigan Wolverines</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/syracuse-orange" class="sbn-auto-link">Syracuse Orange</a> bring contrasting styles to the 2013 Final Four.</p>
<p>Michigan and Syracuse share the distinction of knocking off a No. 1 seed en route to a spot in Atlanta, but the two No. 4 seeds earned their big wins in much different ways.</p>
<p align="center"><i>For more on this game, head over to <a href="http://www.maizenbrew.com" target="_blank">Maize n Brew</a> and <a href="http://www.nunesmagician.com" target="_blank">Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician</a>.</i></p>
<p>The Wolverines are second among all tournament teams in scoring at 78.8 points per game, and put up more points on the top-seeded <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/kansas-jayhawks" class="sbn-auto-link">Kansas Jayhawks</a> than any school not named Iowa State in an 87-85 victory in the Sweet 16. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175045/mitch-mcgary" class="sbn-auto-link">Mitch McGary</a> scored 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds on that day, and leads the Wolverines with 17.5 points and 11.5 boards per game.</p>
<p>Syracuse held the high-powered No. 1 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/indiana-hoosiers" class="sbn-auto-link">Indiana Hoosiers</a> to a season-low scoring output in a 61-50 victory on March 29. The Orange followed that up by allowing just 39 points to Marquette in the Elite Eight. Syracuse has held its opponents to a 28.9 percent clip from the floor, best among all teams in the Big Dance. The Orange have forced 67 turnovers and allowed only 61 baskets in four games.</p>
<p>The winner between Michigan and Syracuse will take on either Louisville or Wichita State in the national championship game on Monday.</p>
<p><b>Game time, TV:</b> 8:49 p.m. ET, CBS/<a href="http://www.ncaa.com/march-madness-live/" target="_blank">March Madness Live</a></p>
<p><b>Location: </b>Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga.</p>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/2013/4/6/4185752/final-four-2013-syracuse-michigan-tv-schedule-game-timeBryan Kilpatrick2013-04-04T08:00:07-04:002013-04-04T08:00:07-04:00Mock Draft: Patriots take a defensive tackle
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<figcaption>Pat Lovell-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Many mock drafts believe that New England will look toward the obvious move and take a cornerback to improve a poor pass defense, but would a defensive tackle be more valuable?</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New England Patriots</a> were their usual selves in 2012. They were an elite AFC team with an excellent offense and a questionable pass defense, and so naturally mock drafts are leaning toward the Patriots selecting a cornerback with their first-round pick. New England finished 25th in total defense and 29th against the pass, while allowing 27 touchdown passes.</p>
<p>But then again, what if the Patriots go another route entirely? After all, they were still an elite AFC team.</p>
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<strong>More</strong>: <a href="http://www.patspulpit.com" target="new">Pats Pulpit</a>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Perhaps a bigger issue to address for the Patriots is the switch from a 3-4 defensive alignment into a 4-3, which would require some additional big men in the middle of the defensive line. Though the Patriots were sixth in yards per carry allowed last year, they still need the proper personnel for this new front. Defensive tackle Kawann Short out of Purdue might be the perfect complement to the new scheme, and that's who </span><a style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;" href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/fullnflmockdraft-PatKirwan" target="_blank">CBS Sports' Pat Kirwin projected to the Patriots in his latest mock draft:</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The Patriots have taken many defensive linemen in the first round in the Belichick era and picking this low in the first round is nothing new. The Pats are back in a 4-3 defense after years of a 3-4 scheme and a quick one gap penetrator like Short. The only thing holding Short back is himself. He erased some of his inconsistent effort label at the Senior Bowl. His 70 plays behind the line of scrimmage speak for themselves.</p>
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<p>While Short might not be able to defend in the secondary like Desmond Trufant or another defensive back prospect, he would help move forward in the new system. And that can't be overlooked either.</p>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/2013/4/4/4180832/nfl-mock-draft-2013-patriots-kawann-shortKenneth Arthur