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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Fascinating stuff. Please don't forget your promise.It's obvious BB values special teams more than most coaches from having core STers to using stars like Gronk and Jones on the FG unit to having starters return punts. Edelman does it, Welker has done it, and Troy Brown before them as well.
I think we're overlooking the impact of potential big plays. For example, last season there were 36 Patriots punt returns. 4 of them went for 20+ yards. That's roughly 11% "big plays" if you will. This was actually less than 2012, when it was 6 out of 42 for 14%.
Consider the leading rushing team last season, the Eagles, had 19 rushes out of 500 go for 20+ yards, or 4%. Consider the NFL record-setting passing attack of the Broncos had 88 passes out of 675 attempts go for 20+ yards, or 10%.
There are some advanced stats out there that show the significance of big plays in terms of scoring points and winning games which I will look up but I have to run because I am late and my wife is glaring at me for posting about preseason football games instead of running to our appointment. But the point is that the risk is quite well worth the reward when you consider the impact.
Got to re-watch the game on NFL preseason live. Regarding the CBs, Butler did have a solid game starting for the third time in a row. Him and Revis's coverage was tight all night and he should've batted the ball away instead of going for the pick-six on the pass to Benjamin.
Some of us including myself wondered if Dennard could play in the slot. He looked good out there and may be an upgrade over Arrington.
Ryan was the 5th CB in the game and continues to get beat in man coverage all preseason.
For opening day, I would use:
CB1: Revis
CB2: Butler
Nickel: Dennard
Dime: Arrington
S1: McCourty
S2: ???
If Butler proves to be an offseason fluke for whatever reason then just move Dennard outside. I think he's earned the CB2 job though IMO.
I also find it fascinating that the Pats continue to rely primarily on the 3-4 this preseason despite the fact they so rarely left the 4-3 alignment for the better part of the last 3 seasons. Is it a ruse, or is it the sign of things to come? I'm not quite sure.
BB was one of the first in the league to go back to the 3-4 when he first returned to the Pats in 2000. In 2000 NE was one of only 3 teams who used the 3-4 as a base alignment (IIRC only the Pittsburgh and the Browns were the others). So clearly he must have a strong affinity to the tactical advantages that this alignment brings.
When he moved to the 4-3, my first thought the change was due mostly due to he roster he had at the time. There was a lack of the prototypical 3-4 DE's like Seymour and Warren combined with a lack of the LB depth needed to support that kind of defense. IIRC the Pat sued to routinely keep 9 LB's back in the superbowl days.
Later I began to think that the change was more due to BB acknowledging the fundamental changes in the NFL passing game than demanded more instant inside pressure the 4-3 could give, plus the marginalizing of the LB position as the passing game required more DB types.
I'm planning a thread to discuss this more, but right now I think the move back to the 3-4 to be much more fascinating than whether Malcom Butler makes the team or who ends up the top back up QB.
Who is 1?
I've really warmed to him as the other safety opposite McCourty. For one, what we have opposite McCourty right now sucks a bag of ****s. For another, Ryan is a CB that seems to be more comfortable in zone where he can always keep his eyes toward the ball, like what he played in at Rutgers. Does that sound familiar? He has a nose for the ball, though, when he actually has his head turned toward it. But, like McCourty, he just doesn't seem comfortable playing bump and run and doesn't have the comfort level to be able to turn his head around in deep coverage. Though I'm still not sold on that safety duo's ability to come up and take on the run, if need be, he would be an upgrade over everything we have at that position against the pass. I think Ryan is destined to move to safety and that could happen as soon as Browner returns from suspension.
"Better built for the 3=4????!!!!" What are you talking about, K. Its the exact opposite. That's what makes this change so interesting. We are totally built to play a 4-3. Outside of having one prototypical NT (Vince)the rest of our DL screams 4-3. Both Worthy and Easley are protypical FOUR-THREE DT's as is Kelly, and CJones. Only Kelly has the length and size to be a true 2 gap DE, and its really not his forte. Plus we haven't even BEGUN to talk about the complete lack of LB depth needed to run a 3-4 like we did back a decade ago.I'm not surprised at all. The team is better built for the 3-4 than the 4-3. That said, I wouldn't put too much stock in it. They'll be in tuhe nickel for the highest percentage of snaps this season.
4. I can't tell you how excited I am about the possibility that we will start to see a "focus-less" WR corps where Tom's favorite receiver truly be "the open man". Brady spread the ball around to Thomkins, LaFell, Edelman, DA and Vareen. All got a number of looks at various times. It was great to see.
9. Anyone who saw Brady last night will want to put a hold on thoughts of his decline. 17 for 21 with 3 clean drops, is going to send shivers throughout the DC community.....and this is WITHOUT Dobson and Gronk. The long pass to Edelman was a thing of beauty.
"Better built for the 3=4????!!!!" What are you talking about, K. Its the exact opposite. That's what makes this change so interesting. We are totally built to play a 4-3. Outside of having one prototypical NT (Vince)the rest of our DL screams 4-3. Both Worthy and Easley are protypical FOUR-THREE DT's as is Kelly, and CJones. Only Kelly has the length and size to be a true 2 gap DE, and its really not his forte. Plus we haven't even BEGUN to talk about the complete lack of LB depth needed to run a 3-4 like we did back a decade ago.
Sorry, K, this roster is NOT built to run a 3-4......at ALL. Yet here we are going into the tail end of the preseason and pretty much all we've seen so far from the D is the 3-4. Curious, eh. There are some thoughts that are percolating as to the reasoning behind this move, but I think they need some time to come to the surface before I can articulate them cogently. Fortunately its a beautiful day for a long walk.
Can someone give a more detailed analysis of Garoppolo? How did he fare last night, his stats are pretty good 9/12 105 yds and 1 TD
Chandler is a much better fit as a 4-3 DE than he is at any position in a 3-4.1. Wilfork is your prototypical nose tackle for the 3-4. Kelly can play 3-4 DE.
2. Our LB corps is better built for that as well. Bigger guys like Nink, Chandler, Mayo, and Hightower are all better used in the 3-4 than the 4-3. Mayo and Hightower were drafted specifically with the 3-4 in mind and people were raving about Jones' ability to play the "elephant" position when he was drafted.
Collins is really the only guy in that LB corps that had a prototypical build for the 4-3. But, as I said, none of this will matter during the regular season because the team will be staying in the nickel a lot of the time.
Chandler is a much better fit as a 4-3 DE than he is at any position in a 3-4.
I really don't see the fit for 3-4 in our defense. I feel like we have a much better fit for 4-3 where really only Hightower and Wilfork feel out of place.
2. The most impressive thing to be to come out of this game for me was the almost flawless pass protection that Tom Brady enjoyed for his entire night. This is especially impressive because it came against a very good Panther front 7. This was starting to become a concern over the first 2 games. But last night, even without Connolly and Volmer, the Pats OL pitched a virtual shutout on a very good Carolina DL. Impressive.
3. The second most impressive factor was how well the Pats front 7 stopped the run. Again impressive because the Panthers were known as a good running team coming into the game.
4. I can't tell you how excited I am about the possibility that we will start to see a "focus-less" WR corps where Tom's favorite receiver truly be "the open man". Brady spread the ball around to Thomkins, LaFell, Edelman, DA and Vareen. All got a number of looks at various times. It was great to see.
5. We are starting to see the effect of good pass coverage will have on our sack totals.
6. I was just starting to think, "Boy, Chandler Jones seems pretty invisible this pre-season, when BAM, he explodes for 3 big plays in both the pass and run game. Jones is know for his developing pass rush success, but we shouldn't forget there isn't a better DE in the league vs the run. He's really outstanding. I find it scary to think that he MIGHT have been a Jet.
9. Anyone who saw Brady last night will want to put a hold on thoughts of his decline. 17 for 21 with 3 clean drops, is going to send shivers throughout the DC community.....and this is WITHOUT Dobson and Gronk. The long pass to Edelman was a thing of beauty.
10. Another note on Brady. For the first time in a LONG time, I actual thought the offense looked smoother when it went downfield rather than with the short game.
11. While I thought the Pats came out with a clear intention to work on the pass game, the running game was a bit disappointing. I still don't see anything make me want to keep Robert White on the roster. J. Grey looked like the better back, not that I particularly want to see him either. Ridley was clearly the best RB and had a couple of nice runs, but he also had a few where he didn't have a chance to even get back to the LOS. The running game needs some work, especially on the OL.
12. Shane Vereen is going to demand coverage by a DB. LB's don't have a chance, and he looks poised to have a big year, because he's no slouch running the ball either. It looks to me like all we need at RB is Vereen and Ridley plus a reliable backup, White, Grey, Bolden, take your pick, I don't care. Those 3 plus Devlin and I think they would be all set. (plus a guy on the PS).
13. Chung looks like he has the edge in the "2nd safety derby", though both Wilson and Harmon both seemed to have good nights with the back ups. Unlike many here, I'm getting more and more comfortable with our safety depth. I don't think we are going to get "great play" from whomever wins the job, but I think we are going to get "competent play", and that's going to be enough given all the other parts we will have out there.
14. The biggest negative, I thought were the refs again. Matt Chatham hit it perfectly with his comments on the "hands to the face" penalties. I have no idea how defensive linemen and LB's can play this game without inadvertently getting their hand on the helmet. I can almost live with the ticky tack defensive holding calls, but this hands to the fact rule would absolutely ruin the game, since it could be called EVERY single play. Which means when it IS called, its being called capriciously. In other words, the official has the ability to throw it whenever he feels like it.
"In the interest of fairness" they called several offensive interference calls for blocking before the pass. In BOTH cases I saw, the blocks were clearly made AFTER the catch. My other complaint about the officiating is not about their calls, but Christian Fauria's comments. On at least 2 occasions he made light of 2 interference calls against the Panthers, when on BOTH occasions there actually was blatant contact well before the ball got there.
No one is more against this virtual torrent of yellow than I am, but you just weaken the credibility of the position when you vilify even the legitimate calls.
15. The things that impress me most about Garoppolo are his poise in the pocket and his decision making. It's remarkable, especially when you consider where he played in college. It's hard for me to equate this Jimmie Garoppolo with the QB I saw for so many practices a few weeks ago. With every opportunity it looks more and more that the Pats made a good pick. Now whether it was the RIGHT pick for the Pats, is another question entirely.
16. While the Pats have been known in the past for finding young undrafted FA's, I can't think of a season where it seems like so many are making strong cases for a job. Along with Butler, Tyms and DFlemming, others like JGray, TMcCuller, and JDavis, all popped tonight.
Truly loved the play by (I think it was Logan Ryan or Malcolm Butler) on the Beaharnais INT.
http://www.patriots.com/media-cente...n_return/bd321751-2ade-4269-b2bc-c5345b6217b0
Fights through the obvious pick at the top of the screen then immediately rushes over to throw the block that releases Beaharnais down the sideline.
It's one of the small instinctive football plays that separates a tight playoff organization from a Dallas Cowboys.