Defensive adjustments?

[JSn]

So I was reading this article in the Globe on AD and saw a little quote from Dean Pees (who doesn't?) that got me wondering: How would you tinker with our defenders to mess with Sanchez and the Jets O-Line?

Patriots’ Thomas used to many uses - The Boston Globe

Defensive coordinator Dean Pees said he has considered “a lot of things’’ when looking at possible adjustments at linebacker in Mayo’s absence.

“I would never say any one thing; we consider everything,’’ Pees said. “We have had guys that are defensive ends play linebacker, and linebackers play D-end. Guys play outside and inside, both . . . Nothing is out of the realm of what we would try to do. Then again, it’s whatever’s best for the defense that week.’’

Thomas said, “As long as I’m on the field, I’m good. You could put me back there in a referee suit.’’

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

You see that every week with NE - it's not just Thomas, TBC and, to a lesser extent, Woods and Burgess are doing it to.

 

[JSn]

You see that every week with NE - it's not just Thomas, TBC and, to a lesser extent, Woods and Burgess are doing it to.

Will we see Pryor or even Brace playing some strange hybrid roles, do you think? I get why Rex is doing that kind of stuff, but against a no huddle, playing this big guys like that seems risky.

 

[BradyManny]

I wonder if Burgess is getting 3-4 OLB reps in practice, b/c that would increase the versatility of this group exponentially.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Will we see Pryor or even Brace playing some strange hybrid roles, do you think? I get why Rex is doing that kind of stuff, but against a no huddle, playing this big guys like that seems risky.

The big guys get used in a variety of ways - Seymour, Wilfork, and Wright have dropped into a shallow zone on zone blitzes before - not often, but every now and again the DC will take advantage of DL athleticism to toss a spitball at the other side.

 

[mesoslo]

The patriots will probally play the outside run and screens by gaurding the sidelines more. the linebackers will play the outside runs and screen, which would leave the middle more open for sanchez. If sanchez dumps the ball off to the middle of the field, it will be the secondary that has to make the tackles. Sanchez will have to show his accuracy and be able to consistenly get rid of the ball when the outside runs, screen plays and the deep ball is not there. Iam thinking the patriots will do CB or even safety blitzes which would leave the linebackers and DE to play the outside run and screens.

This game will be a great test for the patriots secondary who stop TO and evans the previous week.

 

[mgteich]

One question is whether anyone is healthy enough to take the beating as an ILB in the 3-4 next to Guyton. Both Thomas and Ninkovich are dinged.

 

[RayClay]

Of course we'll put people in different roles, in fact we have to.

Pretending that A.D. and a bunch of huge linemen, 2 pass rushing specialist DEs a 3-4 only OLB and Guyton, who is expected to play LB in every configuration AD does not, will be versatile like our old linebacker corps is wishful thinking.

We need to substitute and i hope teams don't no huddle every week.

Of course, all the posters who've said how complicated it is to play linebacker here will now say it's easily done in a week or two, but that's par for the course.

We can patch for a while, I'm sure, we have great coaching.

 

[billdog3484]

based on what i saw out of sanchez this past sunday, he had much of his success rolling out of the pocket. my guess would be we blitz from the outside this week and make him stay in the pocket

 

[Patspsycho]

What did we do to put the hex on Manning in '04, years ago? I would not be surprised to see a page or two from that playbook.

Definitely the key would be to force him to get rid of the ball fast, no time to make a decision. Force him to throw, throw, and throw.

Wasn't there one time when we went with only a nickel package vs. Colts?

I would not be surprised if they put TBC in there to spy Sanchez, and nothing else.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

One question is whether anyone is healthy enough to take the beating as an ILB in the 3-4 next to Guyton. Both Thomas and Ninkovich are dinged.

Thomas is probably good to go, Ninkovich is questionable - I'd say Thomas and Guyton can start inside with Alexander to back them. Woods fills in for Thomas and TBC for Woods, with Burgess and Ninkovich backing them up.

We're in agreement that we'd prefer to see a 3-4. I frankly don't know what the 6-1 is going to be doing for this week's challenge - then again I still haven't figured out what it was doing for last week's game.

 

[mesoslo]

based on what i saw out of sanchez this past sunday, he had much of his success rolling out of the pocket. my guess would be we blitz from the outside this week and make him stay in the pocket

sanchez will stay in the pocket if our LBs and DEs play contain defense. If we blitz on the outside and sanchez dumps it off on a screen its gonna be bad.

 

[Patspsycho]

Here is my assessment. No predictions here, just an educated guess. I have been wrong plenty of times, but I love contemplating strategy.

1) I see us using 4-2-5 base with cover 3 to contain Keller. We go to nickel the entire game if not most of it.

2) I see Merriweather having a very busy day. He will do a lot of motion and I daresay we see him as SS/LB hybrid who motions down on run plays to key.

I do not see us going 3-4.

Why? Simply this: Ryan is one of the greatest when it comes to the 3-4.. he will be coaching Sanchez on what to look out for. Many people forget that Sanchez does have a high football IQ. He is good at reading blitz and moving in the pocket. Rushing and blitzing from the 3-4 does give him some time. His mechanics is ahead of the curve, and he did not have a weakness entering the draft, that was not correctable. He does have some issue with his knee (dislocated kneecap) and can shift unnaturally if the pocket shrinks too fast. The only reason he was not drafted #1 was he decided to enter a year earlier than he was expected to, otherwise he would have gone at #1 in 2010.

3) I see Pryor and Brace putting in extensive time on 4 men front.

4) If we open up a lead.. we probably shift back to 4-3 and go conservative. Why do I say this? Because Ryan has a bad habit of getting emotionally involved in the game.. if he starts to get behind and get into a hole, he tends to start throwing the house at you (think double or nothing) and that plays into our hands.

 

[patsfan-1982]

What did we do to put the hex on Manning in '04, years ago? I would not be surprised to see a page or two from that playbook.

Definitely the key would be to force him to get rid of the ball fast, no time to make a decision. Force him to throw, throw, and throw.

Wasn't there one time when we went with only a nickel package vs. Colts?

I would not be surprised if they put TBC in there to spy Sanchez, and nothing else.

i agree with you that it was a great game plan

that 2004 team had a level of talent on D that we may never see again with the pats

teddy b had one of he's best years at LB and he's only all pro year

williy mac had one of hes best years as a pat 9.5 sacks

vrabel 5.5 sacks 90 tackels

rosie colvin 5 sacks seymour 5 sacks and was all pro

harrison and willison had there best years at S for the pats

ty law at corner and samuel as a nickel back


but even what said yes we are not the 04 pats

but the jets are not the 04 colts

so it may work we will see on sunday i cant wait

 

[SidelineSid]

Here is my assessment. No predictions here, just an educated guess. I have been wrong plenty of times, but I love contemplating strategy.

1) I see us using 4-2-5 base with cover 3 to contain Keller. We go to nickel the entire game if not most of it. That;s exactly what I was thinking.

2) I see Merriweather having a very busy day. He will do a lot of motion and I daresay we see him as SS/LB hybrid who motions down on run plays to key. I completely agree. I think it would be cool if they have him spy Washington especially. Just to switch things up and confuse the Jests, they could have Meriweather and Guyton alternate on who gets the Running back.

I do not see us going 3-4.

Why? Simply this: Ryan is one of the greatest when it comes to the 3-4.. he will be coaching Sanchez on what to look out for. Many people forget that Sanchez does have a high football IQ. He is good at reading blitz and moving in the pocket. Rushing and blitzing from the 3-4 does give him some time. His mechanics is ahead of the curve, and he did not have a weakness entering the draft, that was not correctable. He does have some issue with his knee (dislocated kneecap) and can shift unnaturally if the pocket shrinks too fast. The only reason he was not drafted #1 was he decided to enter a year earlier than he was expected to, otherwise he would have gone at #1 in 2010.

I wasn't as high on Sanchez as you are. I don't even think that last week's game against Houston was enough to validate him. The Jests superior O-Line and depth at Running back took most of the pressure off of Sanchez. When you add in his safety blanket, Keller, there's not much that Shanchez had to do for himself. He wasn't consistently pressured so he had time to make his decisions; the Texans linebackers were to worried about the Jests running backs and Keller to blitz every down; and the Texans secondary played poorly.

If we blitz from the outside and have Vilfork force Mangold to back up, Sanchez will start to unravel. I don't believe the hype. I think Sanchez supporting cast is what makes him. If we can beat their O-line, shut down their running and screen game, and marginalize the Jests tight ends, Sanchez will be forced to attack our corners one on one. With help over the top (most likely a cover 3 shell), he won't be able to go deep. The Jests don't have any burners and Ellis Hobbs III no longer plays on this team (just kidding fellas), so we can play bump and run all game if we like.

3) I see Pryor and Brace putting in extensive time on 4 men front.
I'm looking forward to it.

4) If we open up a lead.. we probably shift back to 4-3 and go conservative. Why do I say this? Because Ryan has a bad habit of getting emotionally involved in the game.. if he starts to get behind and get into a hole, he tends to start throwing the house at you (think double or nothing) and that plays into our hands.
You make be on to something. If he Ryan gets emotionally involved in the game, how do you think his team will respond to him if he loses. He's already gone all in as billing this match up as the Super Bowl. A defeat at him will sting. Also, all of those New Jersey fans that came to this, at his request, might start booing if things get ugly.

If they lose to us, then they have to face Tennessee, New Orleans, and Miami. All of those are losable games. I'm just saying.

Hey, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I put my comments in bold.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Here is my assessment. No predictions here, just an educated guess. I have been wrong plenty of times, but I love contemplating strategy.

1) I see us using 4-2-5 base with cover 3 to contain Keller. We go to nickel the entire game if not most of it.

2) I see Merriweather having a very busy day. He will do a lot of motion and I daresay we see him as SS/LB hybrid who motions down on run plays to key.

I do not see us going 3-4.

Why? Simply this: Ryan is one of the greatest when it comes to the 3-4.. he will be coaching Sanchez on what to look out for. Many people forget that Sanchez does have a high football IQ. He is good at reading blitz and moving in the pocket. Rushing and blitzing from the 3-4 does give him some time. His mechanics is ahead of the curve, and he did not have a weakness entering the draft, that was not correctable. He does have some issue with his knee (dislocated kneecap) and can shift unnaturally if the pocket shrinks too fast. The only reason he was not drafted #1 was he decided to enter a year earlier than he was expected to, otherwise he would have gone at #1 in 2010.

3) I see Pryor and Brace putting in extensive time on 4 men front.

4) If we open up a lead.. we probably shift back to 4-3 and go conservative. Why do I say this? Because Ryan has a bad habit of getting emotionally involved in the game.. if he starts to get behind and get into a hole, he tends to start throwing the house at you (think double or nothing) and that plays into our hands.

1. The problem with this is that the strength of the Jets is their running game. Why would we design a defense to meet their weakness. If we're in nickel, they'll hardly ever pass, because they won't need to. They've got a first-rate offensive line, a screaming fast back, and two solid backs. Therefore, we'll be in 3-4 to combat the run. It's a very different defense from Ryan's. The pass defense will challenge Sanchez much more with 3-man rushes and disguised coverages, mixed with infrequent opportune blitzes, than with constant pressure like in Ryan's 3-4.

2. I see Merriweather being busy, too. He'll see a lot of Keller I expect.

3. I expect to see Brace but not Pryor. Wright is really answering the bell this year and can play 4-3 DT or 3-4 DE. With Wright, Warren, and Green getting most of the snaps at 3-4 DE and Warren and Wright getting most in the 4-3, Brace's reps will be limited. I'd expect Pryor to be inactive.

 

[mgteich]

I agree that a game play that focuses on pass defense would be misguided. First and foremost, we need to contain the run. The secondary will be fine, even without a nickel.

I don't expect to see much of Pryor or Brace any time soon (and that's fine). Five defenisve linemen get almost all the reps in any defense. Burgess is the #5 at this point. And that doesn't count Banta-Cain who is sometimes a DE.

1. The problem with this is that the strength of the Jets is their running game. Why would we design a defense to meet their weakness. If we're in nickel, they'll hardly ever pass, because they won't need to. They've got a first-rate offensive line, a screaming fast back, and two solid backs. Therefore, we'll be in 3-4 to combat the run. It's a very different defense from Ryan's. The pass defense will challenge Sanchez much more with 3-man rushes and disguised coverages, mixed with infrequent opportune blitzes, than with constant pressure like in Ryan's 3-4.

2. I see Merriweather being busy, too. He'll see a lot of Keller I expect.

3. I expect to see Brace but not Pryor. Wright is really answering the bell this year and can play 4-3 DT or 3-4 DE. With Wright, Warren, and Green getting most of the snaps at 3-4 DE and Warren and Wright getting most in the 4-3, Brace's reps will be limited. I'd expect Pryor to be inactive.

 

[Ring 6]

I agree that a game play that focuses on pass defense would be misguided. First and foremost, we need to contain the run. The secondary will be fine, even without a nickel.

I don't expect to see much of Pryor or Brace any time soon (and that's fine). Five defenisve linemen get almost all the reps in any defense. Burgess is the #5 at this point. And that doesn't count Banta-Cain who is sometimes a DE.

I agree that taking away the run will be a big part of the gameplan, and would include the short pass and screen.
Surprisingly, I actually would prefer the 4-3 this week (did you ever think you would hear me say that?) with a big front 4. I'm thinking Warren-Wright-Wilfork-Green across the front. Thomas-Guyton-Woods as LBs.
I think size is our best defense against the Jet running game, I think that playaction is less of a concern on 1st down this week, so I can make that sacrifice. I think that our safeties are assinged to the screen game.
When we make them one dimenisonal, 3rd down will be surprise time. Bring lots of people from lots of places, fake it and drop off, disguise coverage, essentially one goal, confuse Sanchez. I would expect a good amount of pressure with coverage that foreces him to throw 4 yards on 3rd and 8 or eat the ball if he doesnt.
If we get to 3rd down where we can befuddle the youngster, it will carryover to other situaitons too by the 4th quarter.
DO NOT be surprised if the best kept secret BB tactic occurs. Where we play somewhat vanilla and predictably early in the game to make Sanchez think he sees it, he knows what is there and he isnt confused, to then change it to confusion later in the game.
If Sanchez appears to play well for 3 quarters (the old 'even Kyle Boller and AJ Feely look good against our D trickery) then falls apart in the 4th, I hope everyone recognizes the genius they witnessed.

 

[SidelineSid]

Under the best circumstances, if everyone was healthy, I think that we would have played mostly 3-4 with some 4-3 sprinkled in. Since we lost Mayo, we're too thin at line backer to play 3-4 for a long period of time. We just don't have the depth at inside linebacker. I think this game could potentially be the coming out party for our defense. If not, we'll be exposed as a young, work in progess.

Keys to the game: Strong safety play- We need someone to spy the running backs.
Line backer- We need someone to marginalize Keller.
Defensive line- We need to contain Sanchez and collapse the pocket. He has to make most of his throws off his back foot.

 

[Xplicit]

I trust the secondary to stick with their WR's. We need to blitz th **** out of dirty sanchez and put his ass on the ground.