Mayo: This is a no-name defense and that's how we like it.

[JSn]

Curse Rappaport for making me read the Herald...

BostonHerald.com - Blogs: Rap Sheet Blog Archive Patriots LB Jerod Mayo: “This is a no-name defense. That?s how we like it.” … and links!

But my favorite part of the interview came when Mayo called me out. Pretty blatantly, too. He was talking about the fourth quarter and overtime against the Ravens and how plenty of people probably thought his defense was cooked when the Patriots offense couldn’t stay on the field. And I cracked a smile.

“I’m sure you were one of those guys,” Mayo said to me. Guilty. But hey, they proved me wrong, which Mayo seemed to get a kick out of. His entire quote was interesting.

“Going into the fourth quarter of the game, you could see the defense growing up,” Mayo said. “We’re getting better with some big stops in overtime. I know everybody who was watching as a spectator was like, ‘The Ravens are getting the ball back, probably won’t stop them, the game’ll probably be over.’ I’m sure you were one of those guys. But guys went out there and did an excellent job, making the stops when we need to.”

I'm guilty too. My bad.

“This is a no-name defense,” Mayo told me. “That’s how we like it. Let me say this, it’s getting better. It’s not where we want it to be, but it’s getting better.”

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I was the same way,When the Ravens got the ball first in OT I immediately put the Pats at 3-2 and was looking ahead to SD

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

I was the same way,When the Ravens got the ball first in OT I immediately put the Pats at 3-2 and was looking ahead to SD

What the heck?

 

[BlueThunder]

When Pats D stopped the Raven the first time and then again, I said

" WTF, We could actually win this game" :singing:

 

[upstater1]

What the heck?

I was hoping for a tie.

 

[drew4008]

Count me in that group too. At 2 separate times I thought we were toast.

 

[Nikolai]

It won't be a no-name defense forever.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

What the heck?

Not really hard to understand,I thought the defense was going to be gassed and I was expecting Arrington to be the goat,it fortunately didn't happen.

 

[sbpatfan]

Meriweather is a household name after the Baltimore game.. lol.

 

[Dufflebagz]

I thought we were done when we were punting from our 16....then the punt of the year

 

[Calciumee]

Count me in that group too. At 2 separate times I thought we were toast.

As did I!

The only name I want for our D is 'Superbowl Winners'

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

Not really hard to understand,I thought the defense was going to be gassed and I was expecting Arrington to be the goat,it fortunately didn't happen.

lol, Actually it is because you "immediately" put them at 3-2 and was looking ahead at our next game?

Serious brah? That's why It's hard to post on this board in the game threads without wanting to spew because 90% of the people are giving up when there is still a good chance to win the game.

 

[Tasco]

all my credit goes to THE EMPEROR... I think the situation pumped the whole team and thanks to that they bought their performance to the next level...

don't mess with the zoltan...

 

[BradyMossWelker]

What? This is a no-name defense, but that's not a good thing. The known no-name defense were really good defenses, the Pats one isn't.
Just because we stopped the Ravens 5 straight times, it doesn't mean we're good. They were clutch, but we are far from beeing a good defense.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

With neither team able to sustain a drive in OT, I was really thinking it could end in a tie.....

at the end of the game, I had to look at the drive charts and I was amazed at the number of 3 and outs the Pats D put on the Ravens O.

:rocker::rocker:

 

[51Hits]

How did this NOT look like a typical Patriots performance?

All day they could barely move the ball, D was shakey, no run game, etc. Suddenly in the 4th quarter the D went from being good enough to win to finally,(seriously, whens the last time you could say this about our D vs. good teams) pulling it out. It looked like we were surely cooked (If I told you Brady's stat line before the game, I bet most people would think we woulda lost)

But they did it, and hopefully this is a sign of things to come. But for people acting like people are crazy to think we were going to lose, why? This team struggles against the good ones, an identity they're clearly trying to change this season. It was nice to see a big W, but we've seen too many games like that in the past few years not go our way.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

The reality is the defense has been much better in the second half. This indicates a young and inexperienced defense that learns it lesson and makes adjustments.

This is actually much better than starting strong and then fading.

Here are the progressions:

Turnovers from being young, agressive and athletic
Red zone defense. A compressed field is more condusive to fast, athletic players
Forcing third and longs
Third down defense
Eliminate long drives for 60 minutes
Stops after turnovers

 

[condon84]

“In college, they always teach you get off the block, go make the play,” Mayo said. “Here it’s like, ‘Stay on the block, wait.’ There’s guys at 330 pounds, so it’s a fight.”

This is why I don't like our defensive philosophies. Impossible assignments for these guys.

 

[Oswlek]

This is why I don't like our defensive philosophies. Impossible assignments for these guys.

Seemed plenty possible in 2003 and 2004, no?

 

[JackBauer]

This is why I don't like our defensive philosophies. Impossible assignments for these guys.

It's hardly impossible as long as you have talent.