This Defense Can be Dominant

[O.Z.O.]

I've been feeling the same way about the D. When I looked at it coming out of TC, I thought there was some real potential there, especially with the infusion of youth and speed that Mayo and Merriweather bring. Couple that with the O'Neal signing, a little luck with health, and this could become an elite unit this season.

Remember, the Felons won a Super Bowl with an outstanding defense and an equipment manager lining up under center.

 

[Kontradiction]

I have no idea how you can change your opinion around based on one home game against the hideous Chiefs offense.

I changed my opinion because I kept my eye on the secondary and how they were moving around the ball the entire time. Our CBs always seemed to be there with the exception of one play. I typically watch the area of the field which is the biggest concern to me in the preseason when Week 1 comes around.

 

[O.Z.O.]

I changed my opinion because I kept my eye on the secondary and how they were moving around the ball the entire time. Our CBs always seemed to be there with the exception of one play. I typically watch the area of the field which is the biggest concern to me in the preseason when Week 1 comes around.

This is a great point.

Far too often, people watch football but don't really "watch" football. Also, it's really hard to judge a team's performnace based on what they did last year. Just because the Chiefs blew last year is no indication that they will again this year. They lost LJ last season after coming off of a season in which they were a playoff team. Which team is closer to what they really are?

 

[TruthSeeker]

Where exactly? Are there any specifics on this? Other than maybe Bruschi, where do we lack speed?

Wilfork.

 

[NEPatriot]

i'm not going to draw an early conclusion about our D because we are not half way through the season.

Our corner is my biggest concern. Hopefully, we will be able to stop long passes if we want to be in a SB contender.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I was impressed with the speed of the corners. I still think there were some decent completions made against the CBs on Sunday, but it seemed like once the KC receivers made a catch, boom, he went down right away. Reaction to the ball and awareness was excellent and was refreshing to see. What really concerns me though is the delayed pass rush. Sure the stat sheet shows a few sacks, but it seemed like those were coverage sacks. Not to beat a dead horse, but losing Colvin has changed the dynamic of this pass rush. Ever since the Philadelphia game last year, I see impressive pockets forming for opposing qbs. That must change if this team has any hopes of a playoff run.

Seeing what I saw from Seymour, Vrabel, and Thomas on Sunday, I don't think anyone should count on consistently having a pocket to throw from against the Pats. Don't get why everyone is underestimating the impact that a healthy Seymour is going to have.

 

[NEPatriot]

We will see how good our secondary is when facing Farve this Sunday.

 

[Basileus777]

I wasn't all that impressed by Seymour on Sunday, he looked like the same Seymour we have seen the past 2 years. Branden Albert pretty much had his way with him.

 

[jeffbiologist]

New England was second in the NFL in sacks last season, and the only team that finished ahead of them has already lost 2 of their best pass rushers to injury and retirement.

We were very good at the pass rush last year because the teams we were playing were always behind and HAD to pass. Most of the defensive numbers from last year are skewed to the point we dont know what they really are. And a game against KC hardly answers any questions, lets see them against a "average" or even a "good" team before jumping to conclusions.

 

[Deus Irae]

We were very good at the pass rush last year because the teams we were playing were always behind and HAD to pass. Most of the defensive numbers from last year are skewed to the point we dont know what they really are. And a game against KC hardly answers any questions, lets see them against a "average" or even a "good" team before jumping to conclusions.

You're right. An entire year's success plus a 4 sack game in week one should be completely ignored.



Ummm.... one quick request.....

Could you just explain why we should ignore it when last year the team had 46 sacks and they had 44 the year before? Was Moss/Welker around that year without my knowledge? The team has had 40+ sacks in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007, so why should we be ignoring this?

 

[dhamz]

Also, it's really hard to judge a team's performnace based on what they did last year. Just because the Chiefs blew last year is no indication that they will again this year. They lost LJ last season after coming off of a season in which they were a playoff team. Which team is closer to what they really are?

The playoff team from 2 years ago is gone. They are going to be worse than last year. They traded their best player to Minnesota, still have the same gaping holes on the Oline, still have the worst QB situation in the league, are still poorly coached, and are openly talking about playing all their rookies.

 

[nepatz11]

I actually think Deltha O'Neal played an excellent game on Sunday. I am thinking of starting a Deltha O'Neal appreciation thread.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

Something I don't think I have seen anyone mention is whether the team's defensive philosophy will or should change now hat Brady is out. With Brady all your defense needs to do is play conservatively, avoiding big plays and allowing FGs rather than TDs. A defense with Brady on the team just needs to allow 20 or fewer points and they're almost guaranteed a win.

Taking chances on defense doesn't make sense when you have a historic offense. You gain little by making big plays when you're going to win anyway. What does it matter if you win 35-20 or 35-7? How important is a defensive TD when the offense puts up 30+? Giving up cheap TDs, on the other hand, can lose a game the offense would otherwise win.

Now that Brady is out and wins can no longer be presumed due to offensive greatness taking chances makes much more sense. NE may need to hold a team to fewer than 10 points, or may need a defensive touchdown to win. Cheap TDs still hurt but they might lose those games anyway.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the CBs playing a little tighter again. NE's CBs haven't always played 10-15 yards off WRs and don't have to continue doing so.

I actually think Deltha O'Neal played an excellent game on Sunday. I am thinking of starting a Deltha O'Neal appreciation thread.

Let's not turn this place into NYYFans.

 

[Imperator]

Something I don't think I have seen anyone mention is whether the team's defensive philosophy will or should change now hat Brady is out. With Brady all your defense needs to do is play conservatively, avoiding big plays and allowing FGs rather than TDs. A defense with Brady on the team just needs to allow 20 or fewer points and they're almost guaranteed a win.

Taking chances on defense doesn't make sense when you have a historic offense. You gain little by making big plays when you're going to win anyway. What does it matter if you win 35-20 or 35-7? How important is a defensive TD when the offense puts up 30+? Giving up cheap TDs, on the other hand, can lose a game the offense would otherwise win.

Now that Brady is out and wins can no longer be presumed due to offensive greatness taking chances makes much more sense. NE may need to hold a team to fewer than 10 points, or may need a defensive touchdown to win. Cheap TDs still hurt but they might lose those games anyway.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the CBs playing a little tighter again. NE's CBs haven't always played 10-15 yards off WRs and don't have to continue doing so.

I disagree. I think the defense plays to shut out it's opponent. I think everytime they take the field, they want to get the ball back to the offense without giving up many yards or points. I remember Bruschi expressing dissapointment over not being able to preserve a shutout a few years back, even though the game wasn't even close score-wise.

Our offense (any offense really) wants to score as many points as possible, and the defense wants to limit the opposing team as much they can. I think that's the basic philosophy of the two units whenever they take the field.

Though I will admit, situational football occassionaly does take precedents.

 

[Wildo7]

AD coming along nicely - Check
Seymour playing like a beast - Check
Merriweather improving - Check
Mayo and Pierre Woods - check
Secondary was solid without Wheatley yet, with Hobbs really starting to come into his own.

I thought Sanders looked good today and we're still waiting on Crable. This is a very deep, very talented defense that will get better and better as the season goes along. I also think the playcalling will get more aggressive. I know it's been the Chiefs and the Jets, but the Jets have offensive weapons and I thought our defense looked very solid today. I think that not being able to count on the offense marching down the field for a TD every possesion will lead BB to slowly move away from the bend-don't-break schemes and start using the defense as a weapon. Favre is a broken play assassin and the Pats were all over him. I honestly think they can wreak havoc on lesser QBs this season.

 

[pheenix11]

Defense looks great so far and should get better as BB defenses usually do as the season progresses.

 

[Boston Jay]

Let's not turn this place into NYYFans.

First thing I thought of when I read that sentence. *shudder*

 

[VJCPatriot]

You know I came to this same conclusion about a month before the season began, shortly after the draft, and before TC I believe. People were all over me for making predictions too soon. But now it's coming together nicely.

1. Deltha O'Neal looks like a huge pickup. He is playing really well, challenging receivers, and making plays on the ball. One of the huge plays in the game was when he was in such good position that the Jet receiver had to interfere to catch the ball. That was huge. Who's still knocking him now?

2. Mayo is doing what we expect of a 1st round BB pick, play well and start. He adds a lot of pursuit ability to the middle of the D that was missing the past couple of years. The Pats linebackers will be a strength this year, the youngsters just need some seasoning.

3. Seymour was a rock on the defensive line. That's exactly what our D needs.

4. BM showed a lot of promise in this game. Let's hope he continues to develop and grow as a player. I won't shed a tear if BM takes away Sander's starting job.

It's clear to me that if the Pats are to win games this season, the defense will have to play a huge role. Luckily they seem to be up to the task. That goal line stand in the first half of the game to force the Jets to settle for a FG instead of scoring a TD was huge. Yes there were some times that this D did not look so hot. But I think it will get even better as the season progresses.

So now that the Brady/Cassel hysteria is starting to subside and the smoke is clearing, we are beginning to notice some positive things that happened in the game.

1)Deltha O'neal was excellent, which means that if Wilhite and Wheatley learn the system and make an impact this year, all of a sudden we have a truly elite group of CBs.

2)Mayo playing the full 63 snaps. To me this just shows how intelligent this kid is and how much faith BB has in him. As he continues to progress, and Crable comes in, then that "old linebacking core" that people keep talking about has the potential to be the perfect mix of veteran leadership and quick rookie skill. Even Bruschi looked like he had a skip in his step we haven't seen from him in a while.

3)Seymour returning from injury becoming the dominant presence he wasn't quite ready to be again last year. This solidifies the DL as one of the best in the league easily.

4)Merriweather living up tp his potential. To me, this may be the biggest question of all. I like James Sanders because of his work ethic, but he's not an above average safety IMO. And Rodney isn't going to be the impact player he has in the past. Merriweather needs to emerge for this group to be considered elite, and if he does they are going to be a force to be reckoned with.

If all of these factors fall into place well, I honestly think this has the potential to be one of the most dominant Belichick defenses ever. And the best part of it is that the dopes in the media and around the league are so caught up in the "aging, questionable Pats defense" mantra that they are going to look like fools when it happens, because these are 4 enormous elements that weren't present in last year's above average defense.

I'm not going to lie, I have faith in Cassel, but I'm looking for the defense to be the best part of the team now, and I'm excited about its potential.

 

[Maineiacs]

Well i dont know if anyone has mentioned this, because i havent read all 4 pages of comments but lets not get over excited just yet, remember we havent really played the creme of the crop of teams yet. KC and the jets have mediocre WR's at best, i dont think any of their WR's have finished in the top 10, maybe even 15 in the last few years. I do agree that the defense has played really good but KC is 0-2, hell they lost to the raiders and the jets pretty much should be 0-2 after last weeks game. i'll be convinced once we beat an actual contender. I will say this about Cassel, i think he needs to def start getting Moss involved alittle more, i dont know why, but i see problems coming if he gets left out a couple of games in a row. Just my thought anyway

 

[KillEM]

-Brandon Meriweathers INT was comforting. I like BM and hope he becomes the starting FS asap. He's faster than Sanders and brings a nasty, aggressive attitude to the defense. (Watch him playing at UofMiami if havent realized that yet). Whereas Sanders seems way softer. Conservative. Doesnt lay out the big hit. Doesnt put his body at risk to make tackles.

-Gary Guyton is already ahead of Eric Alexander on the depth chart. I saw him taking some snaps while Bruschi was off the field. Very very good sign. Who knows, he might become a starter in a few years.