Fencer

From memory:

• The defense had overall good results. Not great, but decent.
• The defense had terrible results on third-and-long.

That suggests the defense was pretty darned good except on third-and-long.

Also: When you have one outstanding CB and a bunch of JAG (at best) CBs otherwise, it stands to reason that you should have your greater pass defense problems when the opponent has more WRs on the field.

If you get the opponent into a bunch of 3rd-and-longs, which they then convert way too many of, it may not be your regular defense that's the problem.

And by the way, Ty Warren is coming back into the regular defense, but he's not like to contribute much on passing downs. Similarly for the inconsistent/oft-injured/still-improving Brace.

Where I'm going with this is to question how central a stud DE is to improving the defense. Yes, Warren is injured and aging. Yes, Wilfork could be hurt some year. Yes, the young guys were inconsistent. Yes, improving is always good.

Still, unless the guy can play on passing downs, I'm not sure how much of a difference the expected stud DE would make.

Besides, as I said in another thread, Seymour/Wilfork/Warren were an awesome DL, yet the defense they were on was not awesome.

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Calciumee

I can see what you are saying, but the stud DE people are hoping for will become a young part of the defence for years to come (hopefully)!
While it was our 3rd-and-long D that was the problem, having uncertainty at the DE position isn't great! And we don't even know if Ty Warren will be the player he was!

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satz

The problem is a little misleading considering we where bad at 3rd and Long but also bad in getting teams in 3rd and Long.

if the other team does not commit a penalty , drop a pass and fail in execution our defense could not get a team into 3rd and Long by stopping the run in early downs.

Our run defense was so bad that any team could keep running knowing you are assured 3-5 yds a clip.

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DW Toys

Cousin, We have nine DE's on our roster. I made a thread about Safety as a bigger need because of our pitiful pass yards against and was torched. I was right, but still torched. In the beginning I thought DE could be addressed but then he goes for Stroud. Does Stroud have more years left? I think our DEs of the future might already be here in Brace who seems to be coming on. I figured he was junk. And the other might be Deaderick who showed some promise in 2010. Pryor was nor bad and I think that Wright who is just at his peak at 29 this last month will be the opening day starter.He played about two thirds of the season and led the Team in sacks. He was a solid DE until the concussion. Does a DE Draft pick unseat him? I don't see it and he is still on the other side of 30.

BB uses DEs different. They are used more as DTs which is why he wants larger OLBs to set the edge. Wilfork played DE a lot last year. If he goes D Line I suggest he goes for a Taylor or Ellis who he can pick up in round two or three because it gives the Pats flexibility whereas these guys are long enough to play the 5 technique beside NT. I would love Watt but he is off BB's board because of Condon (no player of Condon for the Pats since the Watson fiasco in 04). You don't think Bill holds a grudge? You would think these knuckle head Dratted players would think about the relationship their proposed agent has with certain Teams. It could cost them money.

Our Safeties played the run very well. They just can't cover as that is not the their rotation Safety's specific talents. Ironically BB resigned Page and Barrett who are of the same mold. One of the top three are going. Merriweather is a FA next year and has value now. Sanders makes $3 m for a backup.

OLB rush guy is a priority. If BB had some gumption this year he would stop this "trade down til next year" crap and trade up and get a blue chipper like Miller or Quinn and let someone else poke through the sixth or seventh rounders this year. Note to BB: This might be the year you keep your top picks because it is the perfect storm of needs=slots we own. If these two are half as decent as they appear to be and if we can get a coverage safety like a Weddle in FA or convert a CB kid like Dowling who is bigger and faster than Ed Redd and has great coverage skills and tackling ability and more speed than any of our Safeties, we will be much better and still younger.
DW Toys

Froob

Haven't pats been last in the nfl in 3rd down defense every year since 08? That much be an NFL record.

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TheComeback

Yeah, I don't remember our run defense being anywhere close to that bad.

Rob0729

Other than that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?

Seriously, who cares if the Pats shut down the opponents on running plays if they get burnt consistently on passing downs?

I do feel the defense isn't that far away, but the pass defense needs to improve quite a bit. Besides, the run defense was inconsistent down the stretch.

signbabybrady

It was pretty bad at times last year but I think it had more to do with injury then anything else. Warren, Brace, and Deadricks injuries really hurt the run game and losing Wright and Pryor killed your depth so guys were playing too much and in roles they shouldnt have.

I think this problem fixes itself with a healthy Warren and Brace and while there will always be injuries I think last years numbers were pretty high and I wouldnt expect that again and so there is talent and depth on the line. Outside of a first rounder I dont see DL as much of a draft need. I say outside of first round because pretty much any position could use first round talent at anytime (except K, P, and in our case QB)

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Brady2Welker

The Patriots defense last year struggled immensely in all facets. They were poor against the run, and awful against the pass especially on third down. Lots of turnovers caused by [mental] pressure on the other teams that they had to keep up with the Patriots offense, made our defense look much better than it was.

DW Toys

Other Teams completed 68+% of their passes against us.
Brady in comparison was league MVP with 66+%. But other posters say our Safeties were just fine. Where do you think the most pass yards came? Up the middle. Just saying Cousins!
DW Toys