If BB is a defensive mastermind, why...?

[borg]

The Pats have been the Bully in the AFC East for the last 8 years. It's no coincidence that their division foes have been constructed to pressure Brady at all costs. Hell, the Jets launched their attack against the Pats without their best rusher, Calvin Pace (suspended), and #1 pick Gholston didn't make the stat sheet. Miami will be scary with Porter and Taylor. Frankly, the Pats D may end up as the least effective D in the Division

 

[Oswlek]

The past couple year NE has been limited by team speed. Can't blitz when you aren't sure you can stay with the guys if you don't get there. if you have a beef it is that NE waited too long to start the rebuilding.

Now we are two games into a major defensive overhaul, one that is even more altered by NE playing with Mayo and Meriweather - the two most important people aside from DL who play in the most important area of the field. They aren't complacent

Yet they still allowed on 16 points and held NY to less total yards in the first half than half of NE's average drive.

This loss is squarely on the offense's shoulders for not putting any distance when they had the chance.

 

[jmt57]

...has our defense been so average for the past few years.

Perception over reality, perhaps?
2009: Pats defense ranks 4th in yards per game. Take away Brady's pick in the Buffalo game when the defense wasn't on the field, and they're tied for 9th in points allowed per game.

2008: 10th in yardage, 8th in points

2007: 4th in yardage, 4th in points

Not only average, but unimaginative.

Maybe fans got spoiled in 2007 when opposing teams would take more chances after falling behind, resulting in more turnovers and sacks.

 

[olschool]

Just get used to blitzing defenses until the offense can get the running game going. The Giants, in SB42, used the same defense that Belichick used to stop Kurt Warner and the Greatest Show on Turf. In fact it's the same scheme Belichick used to stop Jim Kelly and the K-Gun offense in the Giants Superbowl win over Buffalo.

Every defensive coach in the league is now going to use some form of that defense against the Patriots, until they can figure out a way to neutralize it.

To me, the best way to go is with a strong running game. Brady is the most potent weapon they have, but being one dimensional makes him a lot easier to defend. It's too tempting for the Patriots to call Brady's number on every play, and the results including SB42,for Brady, are one win and two losses.

Considering that Belichick blew up the defense this year, I think they have been playing okay. However, the bend but don't break defense relies on making plays in the red zone, which is tough to do without the talented playmakers that they've had in the past.

The defense is a work in progress, and should improve over time, barring more injuries.

With five running backs, there's no excuse to not have a balanced attack. Until that happens, we're just going to see more games like yesterdays.

 

[condon84]

And this is why the old defensive philosophies are irrelevant in today's NFL. It's all about pressure. When DB’s are not allowed to touch anyone, you better make sure you aren't requiring them to cover for an extended amount of time.

Completely agree.

The read and react defense gets killed in the passing game because the rules have been skewed to favor the offense.

It's unfair to ask our DL to engage blockers, read the play, and then mount a pass rush, all under 5 seconds. I thought we were successful yesterday when we just attacked and unsuccessful when we played read and react.

 

[Jimke]

Right now we don't have the horses in the front 7 run a successful 4-3 (with a bunch of cover 2) if Belichick is serious about this change then in the next year I think you'll see someone like peppers brought in or a DE heavy draft class, and I mean speed rushers

The Patriots don't have the speedy defensive ends for a 4-3 or

enough good linebackers for a 3-4. This presents a bit of a problem.

I have wondered why it took 9 years to draft a good young linebacker.

 

[makoute]

The Patriots don't have the speedy defensive ends for a 4-3 or

enough good linebackers for a 3-4. This presents a bit of a problem.

I have wondered why it took 9 years to draft a good young linebacker.

We're stuck in between, although, we do have burgess who played 4-3 DE and had a couple of good years.

 

[thewaylifeshouldbe]

While some blitzing may have been nice to see, I think this D will come together as a decent unit.

Special teams, three trips into the red with nary a TD, and the same offensive look the whole game are more suspect.

 

[condon84]

We're stuck in between, although, we do have burgess who played 4-3 DE and had a couple of good years.

Unfortunately, Burges hasn't showed that he's got the same burst he had the year he got 16 sacks. TBC has showed a better pass rushing game than Burgess.

This sounds kinda scary, but our best pass rushers that I've seen so far has been Mike Wright and TBC.

 

[mgteich]

I agree.

Belichick drafted tight ends and safeties several times. However, he never saw the need at LB. When he did, he traded for Vrabel and Thomas.

In the end, we ALL saw Bruschi and Vrabel aging. Most of us thought we had another year of their production. Where was the development of linebackers since 2005? And just BTW, Belichick will be the first to tell you that we were extremely luck in getting Guyton as an UDFA. He missed him in the draft or he would have drafted him.

And where are we in 2009? Still draft one 3rd rounder and hoping.

The Patriots don't have the speedy defensive ends for a 4-3 or

enough good linebackers for a 3-4. This presents a bit of a problem.

I have wondered why it took 9 years to draft a good young linebacker.

 

[condon84]

I agree.

Belichick drafted tight ends and safeties several times. However, he never saw the need at LB. When he did, he traded for Vrabel and Thomas.

In the end, we ALL saw Bruschi and Vrabel aging. Most of us thought we had another year of their production. Where was the development of linebackers since 2005? And just BTW, Belichick will be the first to tell you that we were extremely luck in getting Guyton as an UDFA. He missed him in the draft or he would have drafted him.

And where are we in 2009? Still draft one 3rd rounder and hoping.

It's really is mind-boggling how BB neglected the LB position in the draft for a long time especially since the LBs are the main playmakers in his 3-4 defense. And the fact that we've spent a good amount of high draft picks on TEs and Safeties.

 

[DaBruinz]

...has our defense been so average for the past few years.

Not only average, but unimaginative.

Sorry, you don't know what you are talking about. The Pats defense has rated in the top 10 in points allowed 5 times in the last 6 years. The only year they weren't ranked in the top 10 was in 2005.. And then they were ranked 11th in scoring.

I couldnt help admiring the RexRyan attacking D with multiple confusing looks, and pressure. IF that is such a successful D, why arent we doing some of that? (and dont say its because of injuries cause we havent even tried it in the past 2 seasons or last week)

PS I was happy enough with our D yesterday. Could have been MORE destructive with a rookie QB.

-- FRITZ

Do you realize the turnover the Pats have had in the last 2 years on defense? It takes time for them to get acclimated to the Pats Defense. On top of that, there have been a load of injuries. The depth the Pats have had at linebacker has limited them tremendously. Especially when they lost Thomas and Woods last year. And they also lost Bruschi at the end of the season.

Do I wish they'd go with more complex plays? Sure, but with the limited abilities that the players they have provide, they can only do so much...

 

[DaBruinz]

It's really is mind-boggling how BB neglected the LB position in the draft for a long time especially since the LBs are the main playmakers in his 3-4 defense. And the fact that we've spent a good amount of high draft picks on TEs and Safeties.

He didn't NEGLECT the LB position and its pure ignorance to say so. He couldn't find the type of player he was looking for. Also, people like yourself forget that they interview these players. If they can't find a player who they know they can work with, why would they draft that person.

 

[jmt57]

The Patriots don't have the speedy defensive ends for a 4-3 or enough good linebackers for a 3-4. This presents a bit of a problem.

I have wondered why it took 9 years to draft a good young linebacker.

I agree.

Belichick drafted tight ends and safeties several times. However, he never saw the need at LB. When he did, he traded for Vrabel and Thomas.

In the end, we ALL saw Bruschi and Vrabel aging. Most of us thought we had another year of their production. Where was the development of linebackers since 2005? And just BTW, Belichick will be the first to tell you that we were extremely luck in getting Guyton as an UDFA. He missed him in the draft or he would have drafted him.

And where are we in 2009? Still draft one 3rd rounder and hoping.

I agree to an extent; Dave Thomas and Garrett Mills were head-scratchers, and though Ben Watson has been good enough to start he hasn't lived up to expectations. As far as drafting safeties, I suspect if the Pats hadn't selected players like Sanders and Meriweather we'd be talking about how thin the team is at that position and why we haven't drafted any safeties over the years.

I hate using the injury excuse, but I still think it's worth bringing up in the linebacker discussion. If all were healthy, the Pats could have a LB group of Mayo, TBC, Woods, Crable, Mayo, Guyton and McKenzie right now - and rather than second guessing the drafts the discussion would be how deep the Pats are at that position.

 

[condon84]

He didn't NEGLECT the LB position and its pure ignorance to say so. He couldn't find the type of player he was looking for. Also, people like yourself forget that they interview these players. If they can't find a player who they know they can work with, why would they draft that person.

You also forget that Belichik can make mistakes in evaluating players. We had a chance to draft David Harris and he's looked good. We also had a chance to draft Anthony Spencer and some other LBs that may not be superstars, but are good players.

Point is, LBs are the key to BBs defense but he hasn't drafted like it. Draft is a crapshoot, why not gamble on key positions? Meanwhile, we've gambled on players like Watson, Maroney, Jackson, etc.

 

[Jimke]

He didn't NEGLECT the LB position and its pure ignorance to say so. He couldn't find the type of player he was looking for. Also, people like yourself forget that they interview these players. If they can't find a player who they know they can work with, why would they draft that person.

BB/Pioli could only find one linebacker (Mayo) in the draft during a

nine year period who fit their system?

 

[JackBauer]

BB/Pioli could only find one linebacker (Mayo) in the draft during a

nine year period who fit their system?

If Mayo were the only LB they drafted during the past nine years, you might have a point.

 

[BlitzFritz]

Our defense worked when our DBs were allowed to mug WRs, but since they made "5 yard rule" a point of emphasis, our defense has not been the same. And it's the same type of plays that always gets us.

great point!

-- FRITZ

 

[BlitzFritz]

And this is why the old defensive philosophies are irrelevant in today's NFL. It's all about pressure. When DB’s are not allowed to touch anyone, you better make sure you aren't requiring them to cover for an extended amount of time.

this sounds right to me.
just as the O side has been retooled to take advantage of the new passing rules, the D needs to add more pressure.

-- FRITZ

 

[klinefan]

Why indeed? The emperor appears to have no clothes! That's WHY!

He fiddles while the defense burns!!

If this continues...if we have a losing record there will be boos upon boos at the Gillette stadium! The will pummel the players into oblivion.

Blitz maybe? Get a sack sometime?

I did see TBC do a neato spin move and almost get a sack. What happened to crable? Stuck on IR with a hangnail while that turd Burgess takes up a spot AND draft picks?