The good news for the Defense

[Rob0729]

I still think the defense is a work in progress. I expect them to have some highs and lows over the next month or two. Which is good that for the next three weeks they do not face a good offense or QB. The Pats face Mark Sanchez, Trent Edwards, and Chad Henne over the next three weeks. None are playing particularly well right now although Henne could turn it on (I don't have the same faith with the other two).

Granted they do face after the bye, Flacco, Rivers, and Favre. The next few weeks will hopefully prepare them for those QBs.

 

[bigfandan]

Time for defense to grow up may be a better title.

I still think the defense is a work in progress. I expect them to have some highs and lows over the next month or two. Which is good that for the next three weeks they do not face a good offense or QB. The Pats face Mark Sanchez, Trent Edwards, and Chad Henne over the next three weeks. None are playing particularly well right now although Henne could turn it on (I don't have the same faith with the other two).

Granted they do face after the bye, Flacco, Rivers, and Favre. The next few weeks will hopefully prepare them for those QBs.

 

[efin98]

They all but eliminated the running game, which was a major concern here before the game.

They had several sure interceptions dropped and one interception ruled against them. Any one of those would have sucked the air out of the momentum that the Bengals had going in the 3rd quarter.

McCourty did hs job shutting down TO forcing throws to Chad 85. Bulter took the brunt of the abuse in the 3rd quarter but was able to keep from getting thoroughly burned.

No huge plays given up overall. The mix of allowing some wiggle room worked to their advantage eating away at most of the 3rd and 4th quarters.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Hopefully by the time this stretch is done with, the 'Chad Henne is a good, up-and-coming QB!' talk will disappear to wherever 'Trent Edwards is a good, up-and-coming QB!' went.

 

[RayClay]

Agreed. Let's have no high dives off the Pru when we have a few mistakes. Of course, a young player that plays with confidence becomes a confident player, so if they continue to be effective against mediocre offenses they'll be a better defense against strong teams.

Can't discount the X factor, which is speed and athleticism to burn.

 

[ausbacker]

The defense performed beyond what my expectations were for them in this game. Multiple turnovers were created, more chances for turnovers were created, there was some collapsing of the pocket and the speed impressed me. With a few more additions and some stronger play calling, this defense could be downright nasty in the coming seasons.

The Bengals O is pretty good. Let's see how the D stands up over the season.

 

[efin98]

Hopefully by the time this stretch is done with, the 'Chad Henne is a good, up-and-coming QB!' talk will disappear to wherever the 'Trent Edwards is a good, up-and-coming QB!' went.

There was actual talk like that about Trent Edwards?

Seriously? From people outside Buffalo?

 

[The Dynasty]

It does help that the Pats are facing weak QBs the next few weeks, but all 3 teams have very strong running games. The emphasis on these games will be stopping the run, more on the front 7 than on the secondary. Hopefully, the secondary gets the experience and confidence it needs going into the games after the bye when they start to face superior QBs and passing teams. I dont know how much the next few weeks will prepare them to face some of the stronger QBs in the league

 

[SammyBlueCat]

These kids will not roll over.

By the way, if Spikes made that INT, they could have put the game away right then.

 

[efin98]

It does help that the Pats are facing weak QBs the next few weeks, but all 3 teams have very strong running games. The emphasis on these games will be stopping the run, more on the front 7 than on the secondary. Hopefully, the secondary gets the experience and confidence it needs going into the games after the bye when they start to face superior QBs and passing teams. I dont know how much the next few weeks will prepare them to face some of the stronger QBs in the league

87 yards rushing total for the Bengals on the game...on the 9th ranked rushing offense last year. All but shut down their rushing attack.

 

[BigMike]

More aggressive this year..nice

Somewhere Dean Pees gently weeps

 

[BradyFTW!]

87 yards rushing total for the Bengals on the game...on the 9th ranked rushing offense last year. All but shut down their rushing attack.

The Bengals were down by 4 touchdowns at 14:50 in Q3. Of course they didn't have many rushing yards, and that doesn't tell us a whole lot about the quality of run defense. It's still untested.

 

[BradyFTW!]

There was actual talk like that about Trent Edwards?

Seriously? From people outside Buffalo?

A few years ago, sure. It didn't last long, and hopefully this Henne business won't either.

 

[The Dynasty]

87 yards rushing total for the Bengals on the game...on the 9th ranked rushing offense last year. All but shut down their rushing attack.

Last year means nothing. The Jets are a very good rushing team. The Dolphins have two big weapons in Brown and Williams and the Bills are a decent rushing team. The run defense will be tested the next 3 weeks. Tough to say they are a dominant run defense after one game.

 

[efin98]

The Bengals were down by 4 touchdowns at 14:50 in Q3. Of course they didn't have many rushing yards, and that doesn't tell us a whole lot about the quality of run defense. It's still untested.

Untested? Seriously? 87 yards allowed and it is still untested?

 

[The Dynasty]

Untested? Seriously? 87 yards allowed and it is still untested?

When your down by 20+ points early in the second half you arent going to run the ball

 

[efin98]

Last year means nothing. The Jets are a very good rushing team. The Dolphins have two big weapons in Brown and Williams and the Bills are a decent rushing team. The run defense will be tested the next 3 weeks. Tough to say they are a dominant run defense after one game.

"Last year means nothing" then use "the Jets are a very good running team"

I am not saying they are a dominant run defense, I am saying give them somre credit for playing well against the run- something that was a huge concern for them going into the game.

 

[Rob0729]

Last year means nothing. The Jets are a very good rushing team. The Dolphins have two big weapons in Brown and Williams and the Bills are a decent rushing team. The run defense will be tested the next 3 weeks. Tough to say they are a dominant run defense after one game.

The Bills rushed for 50 yards today. If last year means nothing, how can you say the Jets are a very good rushing team since they haven't played a game yet this year and they blew up their running game this offseason?

 

[The Dynasty]

The Bills rushed for 50 yards today. If last year means nothing, how can you say the Jets are a very good rushing team since they haven't played a game yet this year and they blew up their running game this offseason?

I said last year meant nothing because the poster said the Bengals were 9th in the league in rushing. Its a new year, things change, teams can get better or worse. I think the Bills improved with Spiller who should only get better with experience and then the Jets got better IMO with the addition of LT and Greene being the future back. The Pats run D looked good today, but we will know just how good they are after the next 3 weeks

 

[mgteich]

???? Spiller looked aweful.

The jets improved their running game by replacing Jones and Washington with LT? The jets had the best running game in the league in 2009.

I said last year meant nothing because the poster said the Bengals were 9th in the league in rushing. Its a new year, things change, teams can get better or worse. I think the Bills improved with Spiller who should only get better with experience and then the Jets got better IMO with the addition of LT and Greene being the future back. The Pats run D looked good today, but we will know just how good they are after the next 3 weeks