How does this team compare to last year's team?

[TheSolderKing]

Has our D had a good game yet???

I am at at a crossroads b/c I really thought this D had a chance to be ok. I realize we are injured, but healthy or not imo we suck.


How much can we expect to improve realistically and what makes you think vast improvement will or won't occurt?

 

[reflexblue]

After Three games the O-line and recivers are better particulrly the TE. Bradys the same he throws INT's in bunch's i wouldn't be shocked if he only threw a couple more the rest of the year. So far the defense is worse all around but i think the D-line and LB's will jell. The Safety position .......fugedaboutit

 

[Observer]

The 'bendability' is a stat but it is not a measure of defense as you point out. It combines both offensive and defensive performance. All it says is that long drives were necessary to score points which would follow if you are scoring prolifically and punting well. We do not need this special index to know that the TEAM did well. 14-2 suffices. Conversely we do not need this index to see that the defense is poor.
This is not statistical mechanics where we are trying to understand a world where we simply cannot see nor is it economics where there is simply no other measure but statistics. There is a better ways to evaluate a football team - that is by watching! Trying to find a statistical success when a basic eyeball test is failing is fallacy. If anything it shows that the statistical measure is not measuring what you think it is.
This defense cannot stop the opponent from scoring on it. Its as simple as that!

 

[Run DMC]

After Three games the O-line and recivers are better particulrly the TE. Bradys the same he throws INT's in bunch's i wouldn't be shocked if he only threw a couple more the rest of the year. So far the defense is worse all around but i think the D-line and LB's will jell. The Safety position .......fugedaboutit

Oh, you're just overreacting! We are so strong at the safety posiiton. Barrett is a stud. You should have been around for the 1977 season. Heck, I remember...blah, blah, blah.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

The 'bendability' is a stat but it is not a measure of defense as you point out. It combines both offensive and defensive performance. All it says is that long drives were necessary to score points which would follow if you are scoring prolifically and punting well. We do not need this special index to know that the TEAM did well. 14-2 suffices. Conversely we do not need this index to see that the defense is poor.
This is not statistical mechanics where we are trying to understand a world where we simply cannot see nor is it economics where there is simply no other measure but statistics. There is a better ways to evaluate a football team - that is by watching! Trying to find a statistical success when a basic eyeball test is failing is fallacy. If anything it shows that the statistical measure is not measuring what you think it is.
This defense cannot stop the opponent from scoring on it. Its as simple as that!

1) No, that is absolutely not correct.

2) No, it really isn't.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

The defense has nowhere to go but up,but even then if they were ranked higher than 25th in the league that would be miraculous.

This team will win games when they score 35 or more points...anything below 35 is going to be a struggle.

Same problem...3 years in a row and apparently nothing to change it until 2012 so we hope every Sunday Brady limits mistakes and they score 35+

 

[Observer]

1) No, that is absolutely not correct.

2) No, it really isn't.

Give the man a prize somebody for his brilliant insight. And where is our bendability winners trophy while we are at it?

From the website that invented 'bendability':

"But remember, the Bendability Index is not merely an defensive indicator! It is a team-wide measurement of ability to keep opponents off the scoreboard. It takes into account a variety of factors (including proficiency of offense and special teams, red zone defense, and turnover differential) and then spits it all out in an easy-to-understand number."

 

[juny]

The defense has nowhere to go but up,but even then if they were ranked higher than 25th in the league that would be miraculous.

This team will win games when they score 35 or more points...anything below 35 is going to be a struggle.

Same problem...3 years in a row and apparently nothing to change it until 2012 so we hope every Sunday Brady limits mistakes and they score 35+

Yeah so far this year, the same flaws that were exposed in the past two playoffs are still existent. Luckily there are 13 games to improve.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Outside of a few posters on here that really can't get beyond what they think they know (and probably should bother to comment since they have no clue)...... I hope that my overriding point comes through.

On Offense, we are really extraordinary (probably even better, personnel-wise, then last year). With that said. Those interceptions really hurt from an efficiency standpoint. You cannot overstate what that did to our capabilities on offense. Out of 12 possessions, we scored on 5, had 3 punts and 4 Int's. Take out those Int's and we were scoring on 62.5% of our possessions. Take away one bonehead play away, and we probably win that game, cuz the Bills converted all 4 Ints into points.

Our scoreability is would be much better aside from those Int's, which we really need to limit.

Defensively, I think people really have NO CLUE how this defense is built. Most would say we had fairly decent defense last year, certainly enough to protect most leads. But I don't think many of you are specifically recalling just how bad our defense was at the beginning of the year last year. It was kind of like this one.......... with one major exception........ this defense outside the Buffalo game (where it was depleted with injury) has already proven that it can make that crucial stop when the time comes and the defense gets down towards the red area.

There have been 34 offensive drives against this defense this year. 5 have been stoned for zero points beyond 50 yards. Another words, 15% of the time teams are driving on us, this defense ends up making a play and getting a takeaway either through an Int. or downs.

Last year, through 3 games, we gave up just as many points (a few more actually), a few less yards, and we stopped a long drive with a crucial play on exactly 0% of the time. That's right, though 30 drives, we did not stop a long drive ONE time. Any points that opposing teams left on the field were missed FG's.

This defense, is better through 3 games this year then we were through 3 games last year, with a proven ability to make some plays that last year we didn't. As we gel, get better with experience, and get a little healthier.... this defense will be better then we were last year.

Things are not as bleak as you think on defense. That is really my whole point.

 

[iapatsfan]

I know it's only 3 games in, but all three QBs we've faced have had their best games to date against our D. That is not good. I have watched a lot of games this season, and I have yet to see a pass D as bad as ours. Anybody want to bet that Jason Campbell has his best game so far this weekend. He had 323 yds and 2 TD against Buffalo. I'll take the over. I know they like to run it with McFadden, but why do that when you can have an in game 7 on 7 drill with the worst pass defense in the NFL?

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

"But remember, the Bendability Index is not merely an defensive indicator! It is a team-wide measurement of ability to keep opponents off the scoreboard. It takes into account a variety of factors (including proficiency of offense and special teams, red zone defense, and turnover differential) and then spits it all out in an easy-to-understand number."

:singing::singing::singing:

Reading comprehension is not your strong suit, is it........

"the Bendability Index is not merely an defensive indicator!" means it is a defensive indicator, and much more....... in your first post , you said.

"The 'bendability' is a stat but it is not a measure of defense as you point out."

That is flat out incorrect. It's a defensive indicator that takes other things into account as well.

Nice try though

 

[LasVegasPatsFan]

Yeah so far this year, the same flaws that were exposed in the past two playoffs are still existent. Luckily there are 13 games to improve.

I wish it were that simple. We had 16 games last year to correct the same problem that was exposed during the Ravens playoff game. BB needs to hire a DC.

 

[PatsGirl2011]

Hmmm..I think people have been too critical of the defense. I have def taken a step back since Sunday, and looked at the game from a different perspective. Yes this team is going to give up some yards. Its going to be a fact. That way the team is built is that teams are going to have to open their playbook to beat the pats and running the ball is not going to cut it period! The problem I see is consistency. They play well in spurts then go into lulls such as the Buffalo game. Lets remember how the score was 21-0 at one point near halftime. I have confidence and will remain positive that things will continue to improve. Right now across the board this is barely any defense being played. The team that win the Superbowl will prob be an average defense with a good offense, IMO! Blame the NFL for that!

 

[Observer]

:singing::singing::singing:

Reading comprehension is not your strong suit, is it........

"the Bendability Index is not merely an defensive indicator!" means it is a defensive indicator, and much more....... in your first post , you said.

"The 'bendability' is a stat but it is not a measure of defense as you point out."

That is flat out incorrect. It's a defensive indicator that takes other things into account as well.

Nice try though

Are you serious? Now you are claiming I can't read? This is what I wrote:

The 'bendability' is a stat but it is not a measure of defense as you point out. It combines both offensive and defensive performance.

Did you even make it past the first sentence? You are too busy trying to demonstrate your superiority over the laymen to even bother reading anything. This is blatantly demonstrated by your offhand remarks and now you shoot yourself in the foot yet again! :bricks:

 

[juny]

I wish it were that simple. We had 16 games last year to correct the same problem that was exposed during the Ravens playoff game. BB needs to hire a DC.

At least they got new personnel to change up the defense. But as of week 3, it is looking like more of the same.

One other positive is that it's nice to know that the "blueprint" of pressuring brady w/ a pass rush isn't do-able by any old DL. Real test will come in 2 weeks against NYJ and later vs Pitt.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I don't know, it's only been 3 games.

 

[borg]

This defense was built to give up huge chunks of yards and lightning quick points to mediocre QBs on teams that couldn't reach the playoffs last year. Other than that...things are smashing

 

[mb6592]

Both teams 2-1

Both teams had bad defenses

Both teams had offenses with a lot of talent and a high end receiver to gripe about

Both teams had their loss aided by Brady screw ups





Seem pretty similar

Yes, but the stats, the stats,the stats,

 

[mb6592]

This defense cannot stop the opponent from scoring on it. Its as simple as that!

2) No, it really isn't.

1. Yes, it really is (and has been for quite a while Rip Van Winkle).

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Yes, but the stats, the stats,the stats,

1. Yes, it really is (and has been for quite a while Rip Van Winkle).

Red Sox getting you down?