Why all the focus on offense? The defense needs to step up - New England Patriots Forums

***KontradictioN*** · 10-13-2008, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pats1

I said the same thing going into the game; it's the defense that needs to step up. Not a good performance at all last night. Today I'll be going back to some older tapes and seeing what those defenses did to hold teams to 0, 3, 9, or 12 points as they often did in 2003.

Look no further then youth. Bruchi, Rodney, and Vrabel were able to get to the ball carriers a lot faster than they do now.

JoeSixPat · 10-13-2008, 08:12 AM

Sure - the offense needs to play better, and can play better - certainly better than last night's score.

But I seem to recall that we're playing without our starting QB (and starting RB last night) so I'm not expecting the offense to score 31 points a game, and I think its unrealistic that anyone else should.

The bottom line - unless the Defense steps up and holds opposing teams to much more reasonable totals we've really got no reason nor right to expect the offense or ANY backup QB to strap the team on his back and carry the entire team and consistently score 30 points and more.

Don't get me wrong - I don't think the commitment and performance of any squad on this team is anywhere near close to Patriots standards - and I'd have no problem telling most of the players that to their face. But heaping blame on an offense that's this undermanned doesn't make sense to me.

The D really needs to step up before anything positive is going to happen.

(Edit: Special teams, though it has not been perfect, should get a decent amount of credit for giving their all this season)

***pats1*** · 10-13-2008, 08:22 AM

I said the same thing going into the game; it's the defense that needs to step up. Not a good performance at all last night. Today I'll be going back to some older tapes and seeing what those defenses did to hold teams to 0, 3, 9, or 12 points as they often did in 2003.

CTPatsFan · 10-13-2008, 08:27 AM

I'd have to agree. My expectations for the O were tempered as soon as TB went out but I really thought the D would pick it up. The only bigger disappointment to me has been LM's play, or should I say his inability to.

xmarkd400x · 10-13-2008, 08:37 AM

For this team to win a SB this year, it would have to be on the strength of the defense while the offense does enough to "not lose the game".

***Rob0729*** · 10-13-2008, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeSixPat

Sure - the offense needs to play better, and can play better - certainly better than last night's score.

But I seem to recall that we're playing without our starting QB (and starting RB last night) so I'm not expecting the offense to score 31 points a game, and I think its unrealistic that anyone else should.

The bottom line - unless the Defense steps up and holds opposing teams to much more reasonable totals we've really got no reason nor right to expect the offense or ANY backup QB to strap the team on his back and carry the entire team and consistently score 30 points and more.

Don't get me wrong - I don't think the commitment and performance of any squad on this team is anywhere near close to Patriots standards - and I'd have no problem telling most of the players that to their face. But heaping blame on an offense that's this undermanned doesn't make sense to me.

The D really needs to step up before anything positive is going to happen.

I agree. We gave up 30 points last night and probably could have given up more. All we hear though is how bad Cassel was or how bad McDaniel is. A lot of fans of this team never want to blame the defense for anything. It was like the AFC Championship game a few years back against the Colts, the defense gave up the largest point deficit in playoff history and all people wanted to do was blame Reche Caldwell.

Sorry, I believe we lost the last two losses because the defense collapsed in both games. When Brady went down, we said we had to win like we did in 2001. That is strong defense and offense that didn't make costly mistakes. The problem is that if your defense isn't producing at all, you can't win with an offense that doesn't make costly mistakes.

The second we found out Brady was done for the season, most people agreed that the Pats would live and die based on their defense this season. And guess what? They have. The Pats are undefeated when the defense shows up to play and winless when they haven't.

***Leave No Doubt*** · 10-13-2008, 08:39 AM

With Brady at the helm the D could get away with a lot more, and now it can't. Our pass rush among other things has been less than great

before Brady's injury,so I'm not sure "stepping up" is going to be enough,or that they're even capable of a whole lot more than what we've been seeing?

With Brady the D had issues; I'm not sure that without him those issues are going to get remedied by just 'stepping up'.

xmarkd400x · 10-13-2008, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leave No Doubt

I'm not sure that without him those issues are going to get remedied by just 'stepping up'.

It doesn't mean I can't tell myself that!

***Leave No Doubt*** · 10-13-2008, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pats1

Today I'll be going back to some older tapes and seeing what those defenses did to hold teams to 0, 3, 9, or 12 points as they often did in 2003.

That'll be interesting pats1,looking forward to your observations

Our D has changed a lot since then though,personnel-wise and of those who are still here, age/wear and tear-wise. Could we effectively run those same plays with what we have now?

***Leave No Doubt*** · 10-13-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xmarkd400x

It doesn't mean I can't tell myself that!

LOL I know,I'm sorry! I'm just not feeling too positive right now I guess.