GoWhalers

A constant theme as I've been watching replays during Pats games this season, I keep asking myself "what on earth are the safeties expected to be doing?".

There have been some good post-game breakdowns on these forums showing in some plays poor decisions by the safeties, along with a continously rotating player cast (Chung, Gregory, Wilson, McCourty), but the safety strategy seems to me fundamentally changed this season.

I see the corners pressed to fight and win a lot of 1:1 battles, and that has been with a fairly depleted cast until the addition of Talib. A lot of Cover 1 and Cover 0 schemes. A lot of plays with two free runners down a given half of the field (one maybe beating the CB, the other handed off from the linebacker into zone coverage).


Some questions -- any thoughts are welcome!

Are the linebackers being released for pass pressure so often?

If they are, have the LBs been effective in rushing the QB?

Are the safeties overwhelmed by CBs losing their individual battles?

If yes, does a Cover 2 defense make more sense? Should the Patriot front 7 be able to hold up without the extra pass rush?

KontradictioN

They actually played some of their best defense of the game when they finally got aggressive in the second half. They were piss poor in the first half when they were sitting back in the zone and letting Kaepernick pick them apart. The safeties, unfortunately, continue to be an issue on the defensive side of the ball (though not as big of an issue as they were earlier in the year), though.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


CREDIT - Sicilian

BlueThunder

Having a tall safety back there sure would help.

Is Gregory sticking next year?

Is Arrington good enough to make roster next year? His non tackle on Crabtree cost Pats the game.Keep him as ST and emergency CB

Overall I'm happy with the Pats team as it stands but just a few additions to upgrade positions/depth could make them really really good. Staying healthy would help also

__________________
My guns are no threat to anyone who isn't trying to deprive me or my family of life,liberty or property. They are,however, EXTREMELY dangerous to anyone who threatens to take those things.

GoWhalers

I'm not so sure about that -- the Patriots used to play a bend-but-don't-break scheme. Give up the yards, but keep the ball in front of you. Tighten up in the red zone where they run out of space. Hold them to 3 instead of 7. Get ahead on the scoreboard and then start to loosen up.

This season the defense has been much more vulnerable to a big play or breakdown in coverage. Also, I feel like the Pats have the talent on the front 7 to be more flexible, not less -- although I cringe watching Hightower in coverage! -- so I don't see why they need to be as aggressive in the secondary?

patsfan13

Well the big breakdown was Arrington on the TD by Crabtree, he took a bad angle but was playing a soft coverage, he was 10 yds off the line at the snap, due to Dennard's injury he was playing outside rather than in the slot where he is MUCH more effective.

__________________
"Some guys play in all-star games, some guys don't. I don't know who picks all those all-star teams. In all honesty, I don't know who picks the combine, for that matter," Belichick said. "How does (Miami-Ohio offensive lineman Brandon) Brooks not get invited to the combine? How did Vollmer not get invited to the combine? I don't know. We can't really worry about that. We just have to try to evaluate them the best we can."

Patriot Missile

Soft coverage is an easy way of putting it. I would much rather give up TDs in agressive coverage than having CBs 10 yards off the ball. The starters even with some of the hiccups last night are far superior to the combo of McCourty Arrington at corner and Gregory Chung at safety. It's not even close. In the grand scheme they gave up 41 but offense and sts did them no favors last night.

KontradictioN

They've been much less vulnerable to the big play since Talib came aboard and McCourty moved to safety. The reason the big play was there early on was due to two things..

1. Blown assignments in the secondary.

2. Patriots defense completely disrespecting the 49ers' ability to go deep.

I do agree with you about the coverage abilities of the linebackers, though.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


CREDIT - Sicilian

PATSYLICIOUS

There was also the TD to Moss where 2 guys had gotten behind our defense and the other long TD where the TE was open by a mile. Vernon Davis also got well behind our defense for what should've been an easy TD but Kap missed him. 4 fatal breakdowns in the secondary, they took a big step back that game.

__________________
Organized madness
The young Gott-stra
Young Frank Sinatra

iapatsfan

Awareness seems to be the biggest problem with our corners. Arrington seems to have none whatsoever. On the play where he missed the tackle on Crabtree for the TD he should have been in his face from the snap. The Pats ran a blitz that forced Kaepernick to get rid of the ball ASAP. What is Arrington doing 10 yards off the ball in that situation? It is basically a free bail out for Kaepernick. In that situation you either get in the face of the WR at the snap to take away that option, or you play slightly off and try to jump the hot read. I have no idea why an NFL corner plays 10 yds off the ball against a WR that runs a 4.6 on a good day, especially on an all out blitz. That play is indicative of our DB awareness.

KontradictioN

The Patriots were in Cover 0. That means no safety help for Arrington against the team's #1 receiver. That's why he was lined up 10 yards off the LOS.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


CREDIT - Sicilian