If Rodney was in - would they have run a more agressive Cover 3?

[Shockt327]

Madden actually did a decent job last night of pointing out how the Pats were showing alot of Cover 2 looks (two deep safeties playing halves). The two deep safeties take away the deep routes, but it leaves the middle of the field open.

With Rodney, we are primarily a Cover 3 team - with our SS playing up in the box playing the run, blitzing, or in robber coverage underneath. While the Weakside Safety plays back in coverage. The middle of the field is closed.

What killed us last night? No pass rush, and the fact that their TE/slot-receivers (Clark, Wayne, A-Gon) were catching passes up the middle on us all night long.

Did the Colts really try to go deep last night? Have they had success at all this year trying to do so? So, then why are we playing back, worried about the deep pass when we are getting picked apart underneath? Chicago had success playing one safety deep and one in the box against Indy. I don't know why we got away from what we usually do - even w/o RH. IMO, the Cover 3 allows the D to be more aggressive with the Blitz and makes it harder on the opposing TE to get involved over the middle since there will usually be a safety right on him as opposed to a LB - and another safety over the top if he by the underneath coverage.

I'm sure someone has a better breakdown, but lets at least get this discussion going...

 

[BradyManny]

With Rodney, we are primarily a Cover 3 team - with our SS playing up in the box playing the run, blitzing, or in robber coverage underneath. While the Weakside Safety plays back in coverage. The middle of the field is closed.

To me, I thought Rodney was struggling in coverage so far this year. A lot of completions came in his direction to the TE or to the slot receiver. IMO, the advantage of Rodney & the cover 3 is its help in run support - and surprisingly, we've been just as good in the run defense since he's been out.

 

[letekro]

The pass defense was fine considering there was no pass rush. There weren't guys running free like in past Indy games.

Rodney would have been phased out a la Tedy as the season wore on, IMO.

 

[Shockt327]

Do you think we'll stick with the Cover 2 shell, or revert back to our usual cover 3?

 

[AzPatsFan]

The pass defense was fine considering there was no pass rush. There weren't guys running free like in past Indy games.

Rodney would have been phased out a la Tedy as the season wore on, IMO.

That was happening, already. RH was becoming a rover LB than a real safety any longer. Jr. is gone, Rodney and Tedy were/are being phased out. The one thing to see now that RH can't play, is what JS can do as a real SS. He was never a great interceptor but I have yet to see some spectacular play at run Safety either. In any case, JS is either a starter or good near starter status, and the draft choices and IR returnees maybe enough, to fill out a S corps.

I see the Pats adding a LB and DB early in the draft, to finish the rebuilding.