My Dilettant Defensive Treatise - Page 4 - New England Patriots Forums

RayClay · 12-31-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deus Irae

The 2006 Colts, 2007 Patriots, 2008 Cardinals and 2008 Steelers were all passing teams and made up 4 of the 6 Super Bowl participants during that time. The myth of passing offense getting creamed in the playoffs is just that.

The Steelers? You're stretching. Their defense was ranked first. Their running game was less than usual, but you're stretching, why I don't know.

Any reason you picked that one Colts season? When countering a post about front running passing teams, I would think the last team you would bring up is the Colts.

Since you did, you might check their balanced attack that one year 1081 for Addai, 641 for Rhodes.

Yeah the Cardinals lost to the #1 defense, as already noted. Pats lost to the Giants.

Besides the year they were relatively balanced and one losing season, these are the Colts reg season records from 1999 to 2008.

You can look up their playoff record over that time if you'd like...

13-3
10-6
10-6
12-4
12-4
14-2
13-3
12-4

RayClay · 12-31-2009, 08:30 PM

Also, Rottenburger was 14th in passing 2008. The team was 17th. And they won. With the #1 defense.

***Deus Irae*** · 12-31-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayClay

The Steelers? You're stretching. Their defense was ranked first. Their running game was less than usual, but you're stretching, why I don't know.

Any reason you picked that one Colts season? When countering a post about front running passing teams, I would think the last team you would bring up is the Colts.

Since you did, you might check their balanced attack that one year 1081 for Addai, 641 for Rhodes.

Yeah the Cardinals lost to the #1 defense, as already noted. Pats lost to the Giants.

Besides the year they were relatively balanced and one losing season, these are the Colts reg season records from 1999 to 2008.

You can look up their playoff record over that time if you'd like...

13-3
10-6
10-6
12-4
12-4
14-2
13-3
12-4

I picked that year for the Colts because it was in the past 3 seasons and they are a passing team. I could have brought in the 2005 Seahawks, but they did have an excellent running game as well. I could have gone further back, with the 2004 Eagles, 2002 Raiders, 2001 Rams, etc... but I figured that the first year with a valid question (2005) was as good a place to stop as any. Furthermore, the Steelers were a passing team in 2008. You can point to the defense, but that's just on one side of the ball. The argument isn't that teams win without bringing any offense to the table, after all.

alvinnf · 12-31-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jays52

I'm speaking generally here, but the will is the weakside backer in the 43, and the weakside inside linebacker in the 34. Mike is middle backer in both.Think of the difference between the two like the difference between a fullback and a runningback. In run defense in the 34, the Mike is more responsible for blowing stuff up in the hole. He needs to take on linemen and fullbacks to allow the flowing Will to make the tackle. Think of the difference between the two like the difference between a fullback and a runningback. The Mike needs to be stronger, cary more momentum, and be outstanding in getting off of blocks. Think Ted Johnson. The Will is your flow and pursuit guy. He needs to be able to find the ball in traffic, scrape well across the LOS, have exceptional closing burst, and have the awareness to react to weakside runs and misdirection plays. The Will is your 3 down inside linebacker, typically the best backer on the team. The Mike is usually more of a thumper, running situation guy who also has the short distance quickness to defend against short passes in zone. Typically, when a runner doesn't have a hole and a linebacker streaks in to tackle him from the size, the Mike did his job.

Mayo strikes me as a traditional "mike" for the 43. He struggles to get around or go through players to make plays. He flows to the ball well and plays upstream, but he hasn't played all that well in the 34. He doesn't give ground when he moves laterally but he does struggle to get around people. Whether he is the Will or the Mike in our scheme is sort of a mute point, the formation is balanced on D and depending on where the offense wants to put him based on their formation, that's your answer.

PatsChamp88 · 12-31-2009, 09:24 PM

Very insightful post, my question is can we resign Wilfork and Bodden? I think Wilfork plays a more important role on this team and the secondary has better depth.. You pointed out some great things to look for when I watch Sundays game depending on the feed, thanks!