Prediction: BB adjusts defensive philosophy

[Ring 6]

I have only one simple reason to believe this. BB is a perfectionist (did you hear the Pioli comment about how the Patriots have a manual on how to handle travel, preparations, schedules for the SB) and is as competitve as they come.
He has put together a defense that epitomizes what his philosophy wants.
Look back over the years of BBs career:
In NY, and at first here, he won with a journeyman DL. Here he has built a DL of all first round picks.
Over his career he has valued OLBs that are good pass rushers. He has 3 of them. He has valued veterans at ILB, and that what he has.
Mostly, he has never had top flight, shut down corners, but corners that fit the system. Mostly he has not had fast, cover safeties, but versatile hitters.
Mostly he has valued versatility on D.
It is very easy to conclude that he has built the ideal personell to run his system.

However, in the last 2 years, his defense was on the field with a lead and did not come through.

Offensively, he built an offense, which was more productive than any in NFL history, that is designed to value the things that his defensive value places less emphasis on stopping.

I think in 2008, BB reinvents his defensive philosophy. I'm not expecting drastic changes. I'm not saying he creates a Tampa2 who cares about the run philosophy. I think he focusses on the areas that have beaten him. IMO, those are the inability to cover in passing situations, such as the 2 minute drill. I wouldn't expect much of a departure from the base defense. But I DO expect a change in the skillset of personell.
I think that much greater value is going to be placed on speed and coverage in the LB and S positions. I fully expect Brandon Meriwhether to be a key player next year. His speed and coverage ability at safety is something we have lacked for 2 seasons. I expect that we get younger, smaller and faster at LB. (Again not drastic but a shift).
My prediction is that the primary focus of BB from this year to next is to turn his defense into the best in the NFL at defending the 2 minute offense, and shutting down teams that are in a pass every down mode. To do that, he needs to improve scheme and personell at the LB and S positions.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I definitely agree with you. I believe the draft will be focused on defense. BB has not had a high pick for a few years now. here is his opportunity to draft a playmaker. I hope it is a pass rushing outside LB. if it is not I'd love to see a "one trick pony" in the 3rd round as many have stated.

Overall they need more speed behind the d-line and go back to the old days of a dominating defense that would come with the play at the end of the game to seal the victory.

BM came on strong at the end of the season and I would not be surprised if we saw him as a starter if by chance rodney doesn't come back.

I think part of our problem was Rodney had to play close to the LOS so much to help stop the run or blitz because we couldn'y get pressure so this impacted the coverage behind him.

If the Pats add speed at LB then Rodney can play further back.

 

[ALP]

all i gotta say is...

17 pts....

thats how many we gave up....

our defense does not have to change, (other then get a little younger, which will add speed as well)

our offense needs to step it up

 

[Ring 6]

I definitely agree with you. I believe the draft will be focused on defense. BB has not had a high pick for a few years now. here is his opportunity to draft a playmaker. I hope it is a pass rushing outside LB. if it is not I'd love to see a "one trick pony" in the 3rd round as many have stated.

Overall they need more speed behind the d-line and go back to the old days of a dominating defense that would come with the play at the end of the game to seal the victory.

BM came on strong at the end of the season and I would not be surprised if we saw him as a starter if by chance rodney doesn't come back.

I think part of our problem was Rodney had to play close to the LOS so much to help stop the run or blitz because we couldn'y get pressure so this impacted the coverage behind him.

If the Pats add speed at LB then Rodney can play further back.

I dont agree on Rodney. He played up, or blitzed in PASSING SITUATIONS.
I think he is fine in the base package. I think he can no longer cover in passing situaitons anywhere near what he used to. If he returns, I have no problem with him playing all day in the base. I have no problem with him playing LB in the nickel and 2 minute D, but I cannot see him playing true safety on passing downs any more.
Encouring is the fact that Meriwhether is a coverage safety, and that is what we really need.

I think we need to upgrade who is on the field in nickel and dime. I have little use for Randall Gay any more. He was horrific in the SB, and seems either too slow or too scared to cover tightly. Give me a better nickel, give me a second year Meriwhether at safety, and give me a LB who can cover (like bruschi used to) and I'll go to war with that D. (Of course you need to bring Samuel back too)

 

[TheSparks1]

My prediction is that the primary focus of BB from this year to next is to turn his defense into the best in the NFL at defending the 2 minute offense, and shutting down teams that are in a pass every down mode. To do that, he needs to improve scheme and personell at the LB and S positions.

I agree with some of what you said, but I think your prediction is a bit of an overreaction. No coach in the NFL builds their team around stopping 2 minute offenses, and just passing offenses. That's what your defensive play calling and changing personnel packages is for. That would be like the offensive bringing in Offensive Linemen that can only Pass Block. You have to be versatile and multi-dimensional. Upgrading players is fine, but you can't specialize too much in the NFL.

Keep in mind how many teams make it to the Playoffs, Conference Championship Game, and Super Bowl. The Patriots' defensive philosophy helped get them to those games. There's got to be something good going on on defense.

 

[PromisedLand]

all i gotta say is...

17 pts....

thats how many we gave up....

our defense does not have to change, (other then get a little younger, which will add speed as well)

our offense needs to step it up

The offense obviously had their worst game of the season, but they broke the records for most points and many others. No, they did not play well for most of the game (although to be fair, the Giants defense deserves a lot of credit for playing a great game themselves.)

BUT when the game was on the line the offense took care of business and handed the defense a lead with 2:40 left. The Giants had the ball on their own 17 yard line and a field goal was useless to them; they needed a touchdown. Time after time the defense had a chance to make a play and stop them and time after time they failed to.

We all know the plays:

A pass that Meriweather had hit his wooden hands and bounce off.

A pass that Asante couldn't quite reach.

A pass that was contested between Harrison and the Giants receiver, who had to pin the ball against his helmet with one hand to make the catch and even so Rodney couldn't knock it away.

A play on which two Patriots DL's had their hands on Manning's jersey and couldn't pull him down.

The offense played poorly for the first 50 minutes and came through when the game was on the line. The defense played well for the first 3 quarters and didn't come through when they had a chance - no, several chances - to put the game away.

 

[jbb9s]

all i gotta say is...

17 pts....

thats how many we gave up....

our defense does not have to change, (other then get a little younger, which will add speed as well)

our offense needs to step it up

I think they should start by drafting a kicker in round 3 or 4. If the staff doesn't think you can make a 48 yard kick in a dome, the player should be cut.

 

[Ring 6]

all i gotta say is...

17 pts....

thats how many we gave up....

our defense does not have to change, (other then get a little younger, which will add speed as well)

our offense needs to step it up

Our offense scored more points than any team in NFL history.
You don't win Championships on offense.
Our offense handed over a lead with 2 1/2 minutes left.
Perfection came down to our defense playing its most important series of the season and failing (miserably I might add).

The entire season came down to our defense on the field, and all they needed to do was not allow an 83 yard TD drive. They couldn't get it done. And the reason they couldn't get it done was exactly the area they had the most difficulty all year long.

You tell me:
If we replayed this game would you rather have our offense on its own 17 with 2:45 left down by 4, or our defense on the field with the Giants on their own 17 with 2:45 left.
I dont think its close, and the Giant defense is much better than the Giant offense.

I said for weeks, that I couldn't envision a way we would lose the game. Well, the Giants proved to me the way. Make our defense stop you in a 2 minute drive with the game on the line.

 

[Ring 6]

The offense obviously had their worst game of the season, but they broke the records for most points and many others. No, they did not play well for most of the game (although to be fair, the Giants defense deserves a lot of credit for playing a great game themselves.)

BUT when the game was on the line the offense took care of business and handed the defense a lead with 2:40 left. The Giants had the ball on their own 17 yard line and a field goal was useless to them; they needed a touchdown. Time after time the defense had a chance to make a play and stop them and time after time they failed to.

We all know the plays:

A pass that Meriweather had hit his wooden hands and bounce off.

A pass that Asante couldn't quite reach.

A pass that was contested between Harrison and the Giants receiver, who had to pin the ball against his helmet with one hand to make the catch and even so Rodney couldn't knock it away.

A play on which two Patriots DL's had their hands on Manning's jersey and couldn't pull him down.

The offense played poorly for the first 50 minutes and came through when the game was on the line. The defense played well for the first 3 quarters and didn't come through when they had a chance - no, several chances - to put the game away.

At the end of the day, when you are talking about Championships, ALL that matters is your ability to get it done when its the last chance.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I dont agree on Rodney. He played up, or blitzed in PASSING SITUATIONS.
I think he is fine in the base package. I think he can no longer cover in passing situaitons anywhere near what he used to. If he returns, I have no problem with him playing all day in the base. I have no problem with him playing LB in the nickel and 2 minute D, but I cannot see him playing true safety on passing downs any more.
Encouring is the fact that Meriwhether is a coverage safety, and that is what we really need.

I think we need to upgrade who is on the field in nickel and dime. I have little use for Randall Gay any more. He was horrific in the SB, and seems either too slow or too scared to cover tightly. Give me a better nickel, give me a second year Meriwhether at safety, and give me a LB who can cover (like bruschi used to) and I'll go to war with that D. (Of course you need to bring Samuel back too)

On some occassions when the defense needed stops he was the 8th man on the box such as week 17 in the 4th quarter and the baltimore game in 4th quarter.

You also need to rememeber Randal Gay had his forearm busted in the first quarter of the SB and came back after being crushed by rodney's hit.

I've been saying it all along we need more speed on defense.... more speed.

If we're playing cover three then sanders is usually deep. I think we might have to go back to a cover two at times.

but we need to be able to get the qb and we need a stud LB rusher to go along with current players. if we can get a speed ILB then I say right now we have a top 3 defense depending if samuel is gone or not. if he's here... #1.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

Let's see.... the defense held the Giants to 3 points until the 11 minute mark of the 4th quarter and the "greatest offense ever" was held to 7 points until late in the 4th quarter and it's the defense that needs to change?

I guess the same can be said about the Giants. Their defense gave up 14 points and the offense was okay..... sure...

The defense hasn't played great every game but they did until they were too worn out. Face it, the offense chocked and the offensive line choked the worst. We'll need to change some things on defense but they were not the problem on Sunday. I don't care if the Giants scored on the last two possessions. The offense should not have put the defense in that position.

 

[patsfan55]

all i gotta say is...

17 pts....

thats how many we gave up....

our defense does not have to change, (other then get a little younger, which will add speed as well)

our offense needs to step it up

you know what i just realized from seeing your signature
each of the last three seasons we have gotten one step closer to a sb win
05: lost in divisional
06: lost in afc champ
07: lost in sb

 

[patsfan55]

I have only one simple reason to believe this. BB is a perfectionist (did you hear the Pioli comment about how the Patriots have a manual on how to handle travel, preparations, schedules for the SB) and is as competitve as they come.
He has put together a defense that epitomizes what his philosophy wants.
Look back over the years of BBs career:
In NY, and at first here, he won with a journeyman DL. Here he has built a DL of all first round picks.
Over his career he has valued OLBs that are good pass rushers. He has 3 of them. He has valued veterans at ILB, and that what he has.
Mostly, he has never had top flight, shut down corners, but corners that fit the system. Mostly he has not had fast, cover safeties, but versatile hitters.
Mostly he has valued versatility on D.
It is very easy to conclude that he has built the ideal personell to run his system.

However, in the last 2 years, his defense was on the field with a lead and did not come through.

Offensively, he built an offense, which was more productive than any in NFL history, that is designed to value the things that his defensive value places less emphasis on stopping.

I think in 2008, BB reinvents his defensive philosophy. I'm not expecting drastic changes. I'm not saying he creates a Tampa2 who cares about the run philosophy. I think he focusses on the areas that have beaten him. IMO, those are the inability to cover in passing situations, such as the 2 minute drill. I wouldn't expect much of a departure from the base defense. But I DO expect a change in the skillset of personell.
I think that much greater value is going to be placed on speed and coverage in the LB and S positions. I fully expect Brandon Meriwhether to be a key player next year. His speed and coverage ability at safety is something we have lacked for 2 seasons. I expect that we get younger, smaller and faster at LB. (Again not drastic but a shift).
My prediction is that the primary focus of BB from this year to next is to turn his defense into the best in the NFL at defending the 2 minute offense, and shutting down teams that are in a pass every down mode. To do that, he needs to improve scheme and personell at the LB and S positions.

as much as i'm not sure it will happen, i wouldnt mind it one bit
of course, we also have to make sure they know how to tackle, for some reason over the last few seasons we've forgotten how to do that

 

[Ring 6]

as much as i'm not sure it will happen, i wouldnt mind it one bit
of course, we also have to make sure they know how to tackle, for some reason over the last few seasons we've forgotten how to do that

Remember, I'm not talking about a drastic change.
I see it like this:
BB, the defensive genius takes a step back and realizes that his defense has failed 2 years in a row to make stops in the last game in pass defense, 2 minute defense.
He addresses the problem. I have no doubt up to here, all of this will happen.

My prediction is that his means of addressing it are a combination of personell and scheme adjustments.
Let me put it another way. Between now and next year, BB will revamp him 3rd down/2 minute defense packages, and the personell that are executing them.

 

[patsfan55]

Remember, I'm not talking about a drastic change.
I see it like this:
BB, the defensive genius takes a step back and realizes that his defense has failed 2 years in a row to make stops in the last game in pass defense, 2 minute defense.
He addresses the problem. I have no doubt up to here, all of this will happen.

My prediction is that his means of addressing it are a combination of personell and scheme adjustments.
Let me put it another way. Between now and next year, BB will revamp him 3rd down/2 minute defense packages, and the personell that are executing them.

it definitely could happen
i mean, bb realized last yr how he really needed to look at the passing offense differently, and look what he did in the offseason

at the same time, i could tell you we couldnt stop our mothers and grandmothers on a two minute drive for the last three yrs if our lives depended on it
so, why havent we seen a change earlier?
the linebacking corp has been getting older and older for a while now, so why no young fast additions?
maybe this was the final straw, and let's hope so, because even though the defense isn't the biggest reason we lost this game (not even close) it really isn't that great, and needs some young blood

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

The offense obviously had their worst game of the season, but they broke the records for most points and many others. No, they did not play well for most of the game (although to be fair, the Giants defense deserves a lot of credit for playing a great game themselves.)

BUT when the game was on the line the offense took care of business and handed the defense a lead with 2:40 left. The Giants had the ball on their own 17 yard line and a field goal was useless to them; they needed a touchdown. Time after time the defense had a chance to make a play and stop them and time after time they failed to.

We all know the plays:

A pass that Meriweather had hit his wooden hands and bounce off.

A pass that Asante couldn't quite reach.

A pass that was contested between Harrison and the Giants receiver, who had to pin the ball against his helmet with one hand to make the catch and even so Rodney couldn't knock it away.

A play on which two Patriots DL's had their hands on Manning's jersey and couldn't pull him down.

The offense played poorly for the first 50 minutes and came through when the game was on the line. The defense played well for the first 3 quarters and didn't come through when they had a chance - no, several chances - to put the game away.

Thank you for this post. My feelings exactly.

 

[pats1]

all i gotta say is...

17 pts....

thats how many we gave up....

our defense does not have to change, (other then get a little younger, which will add speed as well)

our offense needs to step it up

That's being ridiculous. You can't sit there and say "Oh, they only gave up 17 points and scored 14 points offensively" in one game and draw the conclusion that the offense needs more work.

The defense had serious problems stopping teams in obvious passing situations. They had serious problems getting the defense off the field on third downs. They had serious problems defending against medium-range passes, especially across the middle, and especially by TE and WR crossing patterns. This had happened all year and into parts of the two seasons prior.

Please read what AJ had to say. I said something similar on Monday, and there was a mixed response. We're not saying BB is going to tear apart the defense and start from scratch. We're simply saying that BB will probably look to correct some of the chronic problems that have plagued the team recently, which mainly lie in the defensive backfield. So whenever that is brought up, it doesn't mean we need to get all defensive about the defense.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

you know what i just realized from seeing your signature
each of the last three seasons we have gotten one step closer to a sb win
05: lost in divisional
06: lost in afc champ
07: lost in sb

Okay, this is a new one: It was a rebuilding year!

But seriously folks...

I have to put myself in the corner of those who say the D is sound. Yes you can always get better, and maybe Hobbs goes, maybe Gay goes. Maybe we grab some more LB talent out in FA or maybe there's one out there BB actually trusts enough to draft. A little younger and a little faster would be fine.

But somebody here jotted down those last big plays...

I don't know if that was meant to prove that the D lacked talent and skills all year, or to make the opposite point, but think about it -- Eli pulling the Houdini with Pats all over him, Tyree (what the hell is a Tyree?) getting the ball loose from Harrison and trapping it against his helmet, then an all-out blitz leaving Hobbs on an island against Burress...

I dunno. I don't think of myself as a great football mind, but it seems to me like (a) you can always get better, but more importantly, (b) you can not look at this defense and say "oh those bums were just plain crap out there this year," especially in that last game.

I think people are focusing on those big "missed chance" plays, because that's exactly what they were, missed chances. We want Asante's fingers to come together a split second sooner. We want a wrist to magically turn at a slightly different angle with the hands on Eli's Jersey, and get him to the ground. We want Tyree's helmet to have a little more moisture on it and the ball to slip harmlessly away.

Those plays stick in your mind because they're the answers to the "if onlys".

BB mentioned today (in reference to players that might retire,) that he thinks they'll take some time to figure it out, and that right after a big loss isn't the clearest time to think through your priorities. I think he's right, although as fans, it's the time we're most likely to demand big changes.

It's frustrating to say, but with one or two exceptions, we can't get much better. There are 3 guys on the O-line (the unit that truly fell apart) in the pro bowl. The coach is coach of the year. The QB is regular season MVP, and set NFL records along w/the #1 receiver. The #2 guy set a franchise record for catches. The much-maligned running back stepped up at the end of the year and in the playoffs, and the D kept us in all the close games.

Yeah, we DID get too used to thinking "we're never out of it." It's a fine line. You want a team thinking that... but not thinking "we're never out of it because those other guys will do it" or "God will do it" or something. Somewhere along the way the accountability went out the window in this loss, by this theory. Just another word for overconfidence.

But crap, if it's crushing, it's hardly surprising, given all the media ballwashing we saw this season. And naturally, all fans bought into it. Remember Brady's clip replayed more where he says "he's not giving our offense much credit if he thinks we're only going to score 17 points"? It was like a GIVEN that we get at least 28.

We'll all put together our shopping lists for the draft and FA... and we'll see what happens. Meanwhile, the circus will still be in down, with Arlen Sphincter pulling a Joe McCarthy on the Pats coaching staff. We'll have time to digest that weird ride we took in 07, and the country will digest "spygate." We'll start 2008 0-0 like everybody else, and mortal. People will declare us dead once we lose a game. They'll be wrong.

The offseason will be interesting... who stays? Who goes? Of course the first thing we will worry about is Randy, who'll probably stay, and Asante, who'll probably go. But there will be many a painfully slow twist and turn between now and September.

Eh well. Seven months 'til kickoff!

PFnV

 

[ATippett56]

1st Round Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB from Ohio State
2nd Round Tracy Porter, CB from Indiana
3rd Round Jonathan Goff, ILB from Vanderbilt
3rd Round Wesley Woodyard, SS from Kentucky
4th Round Terrence Wheatley, CB from Colorado
5th Round Spencer Larson, ILB from Arizona
6th Round Jameel McClain, ILB from Syracuse
7th Round Best player available

 

[makewayhomer]

if Asante makes that catch we're all sitting here talking about how amazing our defense played in only giving up 10 points, and forcing 2 INT's

jesus people can overreact