Return of the 10 yard cushion...

[Kontradiction]

Is the objective of the defense to entertain the fans or win games. Last time I checked, Ryan's defense hasn't won a single Super Bowl while Belichick's has won five and been to six.

This is true. My PERSONAL preference is for an attacking style one-gap, but there's nothing wrong with a read and react style two gap. It IS fair to question, though, why the CB's are playing ten yards off the LOS when (1) they didn't really do that in the first two games, and (2) our CB's are better designed for bump and run coverage. That's what makes me think we were going out there with a vanilla gameplan already place.

 

[R_T26]

For the people who keep comparing last night to the 2004 Bengals preseason game...stop it. That Defense had won 2 of the last 3 superbowls, it was the 2nd preseason game on the road.

This defense is still young unproven and the last real memory was them getting run over by the Ravens. Not saying the reguar season wont be completely different but the 2004 comparision is not good at all when you compare the teams.

 

[PowerRunRevival]

Let's question Belichick's defensive strategy, and while we're at it, let's also question his drafting of the NFL's defensive rookie of the year!!!

:bricks:

Which one? Gronk, Hernandez, or Spikes?

 

[upstater1]

Belichick is the best HC Boston has ever had in my lifetime and will go down as the best NFL HC in his generation, but to say that Belichick's strategy can't be questioned is silly. You're implying that he can do no wrong.:bricks:

This is the strategy Belichick prefers.

His strategy has been the best in the NFL over the last 10 years. No defense has been better than the Patriots in terms of points allowed over that stretch.

I'm seriously doubting whether anyone on this board has the capability to even question Belichick's use of a defensive strategy that has been the NFL's best.

I don't see how that could possibly be silly.

It's ok to prefer a more attacking defense if you're a fan, but questioning whether Belichick is using the wrong strategy is just preposterous. Given all the variables in types of defense, you're always trading one thing for another. In my view, you can't judge the Patriots defense by the yards they give up. How do they do against opposing offenses in the red zone. That's the telling question.

I also note that these questions are coming up at a time when we have only one starter left from a Super Bowl run 2 years ago. I'm pretty certain that any defeciencies we are seeing come from inexperience rather than strategy.

 

[upstater1]

Jesus, man, I just hope some of you guys weren't fans of the team when they were destroyed by the Bengals in the 2004 preseason.

It's not a meaningless game, but judging schemes and the overall play of the defense based on a single scrimmage is impossible. At most you can judge individual performances, but even that is shaky at this point.

I was sitting in the stands when we lost to the Bills 31-0 during the REGULAR season that year. Nothing would have given me a clue that day that the Patriots would go on a huge winning streak and win the Super Bowl.

 

[The_Riddler]

Which one? Gronk, Hernandez, or Spikes?

Exactly............

I've seen more out of any one of these 3 guys this pre-season than I've seen out of Mayo in quite some time.

Are we not allowed to criticize BB's scheme? I mean, we have athletic corners right?, guys that you would think we can play bump and run with right? We drafted Butler and McCourty for their athletism and speed right? For a team that doesn't have a pass rush right now, the 5-10 yard outs are like candy for guys like Bradford and anyone else if we play soft.

Bump and run, man to man would actually help the pass rush, it would give them another second or two to get some heat. McCourty especially has shown that he would better suited up on the LOS facing a WR, I hope that happens more than what we've seen.

 

[lostjumper]

Mcourty and Butler both got burned several times tonight while playing well off the receiver. But in the previous 2 games, they both play close to the line of scrimmage and looked much better jamming the receivers. Maybe its a style they are both better with, and hopefully something they do more of this year. Watching the D last night was painful.

 

[Rob0729]

Allow me to correct you for the first and last time: seven.

How dare you question my brilliant posts! Yeah, sometimes I forget that Belichick was the mastermind of the defense in 1996. I guess I am just buying into all those homer allegations of me and I now believe the Patriots didn't exist prior to 2001.

 

[JackBauer]

Hate to look back, but we were on the verge of drafting Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie. We had worked him out privately the Thursday before the draft, Michael Smith on ESPN felt like DRC was their guy, their pick.

BB decided to pass and chose Mayo instead. Right now, DRC, is a lock-down, shut-down corner who locks down one half of the football field and doesn't give any cushions, plays tight, up in your mug, man-to-man coverage for 60 minutes. He's a Pro Bowler right now. Team don't even look to throw to his side of the field.

A guy like this would have done so much for our defense.

I've watched Mayo since day one. Looked promising his rookie year, but hasn't done anything noteworthy for about 2 years now. Bradford was abusing Mayo underneath often in the inner part of the field, his coverage skills are really weak. His run recoginition and ability to shed guards in the interior were very concerning last year, and still look to be concerning this year. Right now Spikes is a better football player between the two. I really hope things change, because the more I watch DRC, the more I wonder, wow, what if ?

What happened to your hard on for Maualuga?

 

[Kontradiction]

I was sitting in the stands when we lost to the Bills 31-0 during the REGULAR season that year. Nothing would have given me a clue that day that the Patriots would go on a huge winning streak and win the Super Bowl.

That was in 2003.

 

[Rob0729]

This is true. My PERSONAL preference is for an attacking style one-gap, but there's nothing wrong with a read and react style two gap. It IS fair to question, though, why the CB's are playing ten yards off the LOS when (1) they didn't really do that in the first two games, and (2) our CB's are better designed for bump and run coverage. That's what makes me think we were going out there with a vanilla gameplan already place.

Both defenses have their upsides and downsides.

The attack style of defense that Ryan's runs is suseptable to screens and the quick pass. Last year that weakness was hidden because Revis was able to handle an one to one match up a lot allowing the saftey to play closer to the line on a lot of plays. Even if Revis returns, there is no guarantee he repeats the performance. That defense is also suseptable to over agression where players over pursue or their agression can be used against them.

 

[Patspsycho]

The Colts have given up 130 points in 3 games. Now that's a disaster.

 

[Kontradiction]

Both defenses have their upsides and downsides.

The attack style of defense that Ryan's runs is suseptable to screens and the quick pass. Last year that weakness was hidden because Revis was able to handle an one to one match up a lot allowing the saftey to play closer to the line on a lot of plays. Even if Revis returns, there is no guarantee he repeats the performance. That defense is also suseptable to over agression where players over pursue or their agression can be used against them.

You're not telling me anything I didn't already know.

 

[Kontradiction]

The Colts have given up 130 points in 3 games. Now that's a disaster.

Yep. Their pass defense still looks horrible. Brady should be able to feast upon them this season in Foxboro.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Hate to look back, but we were on the verge of drafting Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie. We had worked him out privately the Thursday before the draft, Michael Smith on ESPN felt like DRC was their guy, their pick.

BB decided to pass and chose Mayo instead. Right now, DRC, is a lock-down, shut-down corner who locks down one half of the football field and doesn't give any cushions, plays tight, up in your mug, man-to-man coverage for 60 minutes. He's a Pro Bowler right now. Team don't even look to throw to his side of the field.

I also thought DRC would be special. But you know what, it doesn't matter because he wouldn't be playing that style on this defense. Our cornerbacks have to fit the Patriot's scheme. I think BB was tinkering around with what works and doesn't work this game. Might as well try out all that crap in a meaningless preseason game rather than get burned trying it for the first time in a real game. All the scoring was quite entertaining though. 36-35? I didn't expect that kind of score. LOL.

 

[condon84]

This is the strategy Belichick prefers.

His strategy has been the best in the NFL over the last 10 years. No defense has been better than the Patriots in terms of points allowed over that stretch.

I'm seriously doubting whether anyone on this board has the capability to even question Belichick's use of a defensive strategy that has been the NFL's best.

I don't see how that could possibly be silly.

It's ok to prefer a more attacking defense if you're a fan, but questioning whether Belichick is using the wrong strategy is just preposterous. Given all the variables in types of defense, you're always trading one thing for another. In my view, you can't judge the Patriots defense by the yards they give up. How do they do against opposing offenses in the red zone. That's the telling question.

I also note that these questions are coming up at a time when we have only one starter left from a Super Bowl run 2 years ago. I'm pretty certain that any defeciencies we are seeing come from inexperience rather than strategy.

Rules have changed during the past 10 years. It's no longer the way it was when our front 7 would have time to read the play and then react accordingly, develop a pass rush (if it's a pass) and then pressure the QB all the while our DBs are mugging the other teams' WRs 20 yards down the field.

The 10 yard cushion is also not the right answer. We've all seen that being exploited by All-Pros and inexperienced QBs. The attacking defense seems more suited to be successful in today's game.

You have to admit, our defense looked better against the Falcons and Saints when we pressed the action.

 

[Tunescribe]

Is the objective of the defense to entertain the fans or win games. Last time I checked, Ryan's defense hasn't won a single Super Bowl while Belichick's has won five and been to six.

Oh, please. Just because the fan in me prefers to watch pressure-style defensive play doesn't mean I would presume to suggest BB suddenly change his ways. OF COURSE it's proven successful; it just can be frustrating to look at.

 

[Rob0729]

You're not telling me anything I didn't already know.

Just trying to show off how smart I am. It is all about my ego.

 

[patsfan-1982]

thats just the way BB plays defense it had noting to do with Pees, and this system looks great when it has the players up front to run it... Mike Wright, is not a upgrade over Ty Warren, and Gerard Warren, is not a upgrade over Jarvis Green,


they can blitz all they want they don't have the talent to get to the QB... so it's play press coverage and blitz and give up a 50 yard bomb or play bend but don't break and hope the offense makes a mistake.


they can win with this defense but they need to draft some DE's and OLB's high in the next few drafts befor they become a top 5 defense

 

[letekro]

Read-and-react/contain defense is not as fun to watch as a high-pressure attack-style defense like the Green Beans have. Has BB ever explained his choice of this philosophy for layman's understanding?

BB has won 5 SB's coaching this system. He has been very close to winning 3 more SB's with this system. Are you suggesting that he scrap these successes and a lifetime's worth of refinements for the flavor of the month defense run by someone who has never won a single championship, not even as a coordinator??? A system is only as effective as the players that play in it. Last night, it sure looked like we had quite a few ineffective players.