Will Dean Pees remain as DC next season?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

While I think Pees is not responsible for the rash of injuries over the past few seasons I think the team has not been as dominant on defense as it had been in the SB era.

Yes,That includes last season because the defense being so good were actually as a result of our offense being so good in 2007 - The defense was able to focus on the pass most games and were not on the field as often as they are this season thus less time spent for the defense on the field usually equals better performance.

With that being said,Are you happy with the job Pees has done with the players he has been able to keep on the field? and if not would you want Romeo Crennel back if he got fired or maybe even a guy with a very good pedigree as a DC like Marvin Lewis who was in charge of one of the best defenses in NFL history with the Ravens and may very well be fired by the Bengals ..or do you see someone else?

 

[Rob0729]

I wonder if Pees will survive. It seems that Belichick isn't in love with his work, but who knows. All we have is the limited info we have from what we can see from the outside in, but there are signs of him not being happy. I think the addition of Dom Capers may be that Belichick wanted a veteran defensive coach to help Pees with adjustments, gameplans, etc. The Capers hire was very outside the norm of how Belichick hires coaches.

Also, if you see Belichick on the sidelines when the offense is on the field, he is a lot of the time with his back turned to the field working on a white board with the starting defense. He did that some with Crennel, but I don't remember it being as extensive. I don't know if it is his confidence in McDaniels, not trusting Pees to make in game adjustments, or a little of both.

I could be reading too much into it, but defense has had problems in the red zone and on third downs for several years now. Without Brady, those problems seem to be exposed more. I wonder if it has to do with Pees' coaching. Crennel seemed to be able to hide a lot of deficiencies on defense and have it perform at a top level.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Interesting thoughts. The great Pats Ds under BB used to improve as the season progressed. Not the case the last couple years. Should this D continue to have the RZ and the 3rd and long problems this season, then I say BB goes in a different direction in 2009. We get to see, Sunday.

 

[Deus Irae]

Stats from NFL.com:

Last year's defense was 4th in the NFL, and 4th in 3rd down defense. The 2006 defense was 2nd in the NFL, and 8th in 3rd down defense.

The myths about this team's offenses, defenses and coordinators really need to be exploded.

 

[Kontradiction]

Stats from NFL.com:

Last year's defense was 4th in the NFL, and 4th in 3rd down defense. The 2006 defense was 2nd in the NFL, and 8th in 3rd down defense.

The myths about this team's offenses, defenses and coordinators really need to be exploded.

Again though, our offense masked a lot of the defense's problems in 2007. But, for what it's worth, our defense was the reason we were even in the game during Super Bowl XLII. They played their hearts out. This year's defense is more like Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde.

 

[Rob0729]

Stats from NFL.com:

Last year's defense was 4th in the NFL, and 4th in 3rd down defense. The 2006 defense was 2nd in the NFL, and 8th in 3rd down defense.

The myths about this team's offenses, defenses and coordinators really need to be exploded.

Last year's stats are deceiving because of the offense. The Pats would get up with a huge lead to make the opposing offenses one dimensional. When the offense slowed down later in the season, the defense was exposed a bit. I was wrong about third down, but their red zone defense was a problem last year.

I agree that 2006 was a good year for the defense. Although the defense wasn't as good as their stats indicated. They were not nearly as dominant as the 2003 team, but they had comprehible stats. Also, the LB corp became a bit of a problem after Seau went down.

 

[Mack Herron]

Stats from NFL.com:

Last year's defense was 4th in the NFL, and 4th in 3rd down defense. The 2006 defense was 2nd in the NFL, and 8th in 3rd down defense.

The myths about this team's offenses, defenses and coordinators really need to be exploded.

What about this year's defense?

 

[JSn]

Do you really think last year's offense has much to do with the D's RZ stats? I can't see how.

 

[Rob0729]

BTW, I am not totally down on Pees. I just think the defense hasn't performed as well as the Super Bowl years. I just look at Belichick's actions and wonder if he is enamored with Pees. It could be that he has so much respect for McDaniels' play calling that he feels his efforts are better used on defense when the offense is on the field since he is a defensive genius and couldn't make better decisions than McDaniels does and he hired Capers because he never had a chance to to hire a veteran coach like him as a position coach/consultant. Who knows?

 

[PatriotDynasty_12]

Oh Romeo, where art thout Romeo?

 

[Rob0729]

Do you really think last year's offense has much to do with the D's RZ stats? I can't see how.

The offense last year helped the defense in the open field, not as much in the red zone. In the open field, teams who are down by a significant amount with time ticking away will become one-dimensional. In the red zone with a shorter field and the likelihood of scoring on a running play or short pass grows exponentially, offenses become more multidimensional.

 

[slash83]

Nope not if RAC is available.

 

[pats1]

Stats from NFL.com:

Last year's defense was 4th in the NFL, and 4th in 3rd down defense. The 2006 defense was 2nd in the NFL, and 8th in 3rd down defense.

The myths about this team's offenses, defenses and coordinators really need to be exploded.

I would say 2006 was the lone great performance put up by this defense since 2006, when Pees was promoted to DC.

 

[captain stone]

The myths about this team's offenses, defenses and coordinators really need to be exploded.

They're not myths. This year's D is lacking in talent, coaching & health. Otherwise, it's terrific.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Too tough to call because they are lacking talent in the backfield. I think he's doing fine with the talent that he has been given.

 

[flyonthewall]

YES, Pees will be back next year. News flash - BB loves the way that he executes his defense and they have a great working relationship.

The coach that will not be with the Pats next year is Capers. Yes, feel free to tell me why I am wrong, but just wait and see. He was a great coach back in the day but has not adapted as the game has changed. There was a reason he was available for a position coach and it is the same reason that he will not be our 2009 DB's coach.

In 2007 the DB coach couldn't get the job done and BB had Pees take over the secondary on top of his DC duties. This resulted in a cot being set up in Pees' office because he regularly had to work through the night to do both jobs. BB brought in Capers in an attempt to ease this strain. It has not worked out, and no one on this board wants to realize it.

If you do not believe me, just watch the sidelines. Pees is regularly seen in his red sweatshirt. If you do not see him there this week, ask yourself whose job he is again taking over by going up to the box.

 

[wdkantro2]

I expect him to be back, but I wouldn't bring him back if it were up to me. "Myths" or not, the defense has had 2 epic collapses (AFCCG/SB) and another choke job in a big game (last week vs. NYJ). That never happened until Pees came along. Not to mention the inability to come up with clutch turnovers, which was a hallmark of the pre-Pees Pats defenses.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I've seen no reason to fire Pees.

BB built up a butt kicking offense in the run up to 2007, which included rebuilding the O-line in 2005, drafting offense in the first six picks of 2006, and bringing in 4 veteran WRs in 2007.

Just in case no one really noticed...the 2008 draft went heavy on defense. This season the Pats have had four rookies, two second year players (with limited playing time), and a third year OLB (with limited playing time) carving out roles on defense. That's a lot of inexperience on defense.

BB is now rebuilding his defense, which doesn't exactly point to a failure for Dean Pees, but the OP's negativity towards the Patriots this season - including this poorly thought out thread - would suggest they're the Detroit Lions to his mind.

 

[ausbacker]

I've seen no reason to fire Pees.

BB built up a butt kicking offense in the run up to 2007, which included rebuilding the O-line in 2005, drafting offense in the first six picks of 2006, and bringing in 4 veteran WRs in 2007.

Just in case no one really noticed...the 2008 draft went heavy on defense. This season the Pats have had four rookies, two second year players (with limited playing time), and a third year OLB (with limited playing time) carving out roles on defense. That's a lot of inexperience on defense.

BB is now rebuilding his defense, which doesn't exactly point to a failure for Dean Pees, but the OP's negativity towards the Patriots this season - including this poorly thought out thread - would suggest they're the Detroit Lions to his mind.

BOR is always easy to make scapegoats and not look at the future. Being blessed with success, I believe most Pats fans have unrealistic expectations on what should happen time and time again. Pees isn't responsible when the defense dont hold tackles or blow coverages. Catch 22 blame coach praise players mentality.

We've know for a while what we have needed to do to be successful. Draft 08 has started and I expect more of the same with Draft 09. The succession plan is in place and I am looking forward to seeing the metamorphosis.

 

[flyonthewall]

I've seen no reason to fire Pees.

BB built up a butt kicking offense in the run up to 2007, which included rebuilding the O-line in 2005, drafting offense in the first six picks of 2006, and bringing in 4 veteran WRs in 2007.

Just in case no one really noticed...the 2008 draft went heavy on defense. This season the Pats have had four rookies, two second year players (with limited playing time), and a third year OLB (with limited playing time) carving out roles on defense. That's a lot of inexperience on defense.

BB is now rebuilding his defense, which doesn't exactly point to a failure for Dean Pees, but the OP's negativity towards the Patriots this season - including this poorly thought out thread - would suggest they're the Detroit Lions to his mind.

Thank you BOR! Finally a rational post!