mfaith

Great point. BB brought in TBC and Burgess to fill that role. TBC has played well but Burgess is a waste of a roster spot. Although I like TBC I don't think he exactly puts fear into the hearts of opposing OCs.

SeymourTrophies

If it weren't for the fateful 3rd and longs and the two 90+ yard drives, I would fully blame the O.

Perhaps we just got outdone by one of our own?

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The_Riddler

Gee Mike, Ya think ?

AndyJohnson

Not to be argumentative, but I don't think its a matter of shooting themselves in the foot. I think its a matter of playing a style of defense that requires them to be precise and execute a tedious gameplan all the way down the field. I think the norm is that somewhere on the drive they fail (your phrase is shooting themselves in the foot) and the exception is that they can sustain the drive.
The 4 scoring drives were 10,11,12,12 plays long.
The 3 regulation drives were aided by roughing the passer, the Gaffeny catch after 4 tips, the Meriwhether phantom taunt, and 2 consecutive holding calls that were offset by us shooting ourselves in the foot with 12men and defensive holding.

I have always felt that if you hold the other team to 17 or less, you should win almost every time.
I can see your point, but we cant fault the first half defense right? So in the second half they allowed 2 scores, and all we had to do on offense was put up a point, and we win. The defense is always to blame for the points they allow in a loss, but the blame should be contingnent on how many, right?

Deus Irae

Anyone who thinks this defense is getting the job done and it's all on the offense is either not watching the games or fooling himself.

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supafly

Very much agreed. The passing D is on pace to give up over 20 TD's this yr, Sanchez and Orton both ripped the secondary up for 150 yd half game performances. Even Flacco ripped the secondary up on a couple drives, the first and last. The rush defense seems to be missing a lot of tackles, making arguable penalties, and is getting pass picked apart underneath, and in the middle. The pass rush is almost invisible at times, giving these QB's plenty of time for targets.

Although the offense gave up 2 TD's, 4 out of 5 games were totals of 24,23,21, and 20. While it has looked OK, it certainly is part of the overall problem.

EDIT: when factoring in those 2 offensive TD's, the scores look to be the following :

17, 23, 14, 20--certainly not bad, but certainly room to improve too

patsfaninpittsburgh

Ummm I hate to pee on your despair but the 20TD observation is about the dumbest point I have ever heard.

Do you realize it but the Pats defense is on pace to give up zero rushing TD's this year?

The defense has given up 8 TD's (all passing). Prorate that out and that means 1.4 TD's per game. By any measure, that's outstanding.

I hope you are making this point to deflect attention away from kontradiction's idiotic "424 yard" rants.

BionicPatriot

But it's fun to blame the defense!
They're getting it done. This was the only game an offense marched up and down all day. They stopped Baltimore and everyone else pretty much. As others pointed out, there were plenty of dumb penalties that shot us in the foot. Can the defense improve? Yes, absolutely. Are they good enough? No, you're right. They need work. But it's definently possible. They look better than a year ago no question. It'll be interesting to see how they're doing late in the season.

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Defense, defense, defense

Peachhead

I wonder if the emphasis on the 4-3 this season is playing a part in it? (not exclusively but we are playing much more than in the past)

Now that Mayo is back perhaps we can play much more 3-4. Mayo and Guyton/Seau in the middle. AT and Burgess at OLB. I'll bet large (for LBs but quicker than DEs) lined up wide and going from a standing start will apply more pressure. For the most part leave coverage of RBs and TEs to the ILBs and Safeties. Mayo can go sideline-to-sideline like no one's business and Guyton is no slouch in short coverage either.

BionicPatriot

I see you running around here beating your chest about being level headed, yet after both losses this season you were most active AFTER a loss. Instead of discussing things, you would rather blame the defense. The defense is the catalyst of the loss? Right. When you hold someone to 17 points, and your tied going into OT but your QB had 2 WIDE OPEN shots, that's on him.

Would you be *****ing about the D if they had won? I doubt it, not to this extent. Again, the defense needs work. The pass rush is weak. But I think it's too early to say they don't and won't get a pass rush this year. Instead of freaking out, think about **** first.

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Defense, defense, defense