Where our defense ranks now

Patspsycho · Nov 23, 2009

According to NFL team stats:

1) Points scored against: 2nd
2) Total yards allowed: 6th
3) Passing yards average allowed: 6th
4) Rushing yard average allowed: 15th
5) Receiving yards average allowed: 6th
6) Sacks total: 24th
7) Touchdowns allowed: 7th
8) Tackles: 17th
9) Interceptions: 5th

Overall ranking: 6th (game stats)

Would be interesting to compare this with some of the projections that posters were making in the beginning of this season. I think some of us predicted a top 5 defense which is approximately where we are, with 6 games remaining.

The sacks total allowed on first appearance seems pretty bad, but I think is a sign of BB's philosophy where he clearly has stated that he is more interested in pressures than sacks. However, without looking at stats, we know that our pass-rushing isn't as strong as we'd like it to be.

Also be aware that being low on tackles is what a good defense wants, so being #17 is good. You want incomplete passes, not tackles (because tackles = pass completions), and whatever tackles you have, you want to be mostly run tackles.

But the best thing is that this defense is very young, and I think one of the youngest corp in the NFL, and it can only get better. The average age is 26, and the last time we had that was in 1997.

The Dynasty · Nov 23, 2009

I think our defense has been a strength all season. It has really been fun watching all these young players on the defense develop and get better on a game to game basis. I hope they all stay here for a very long time..

Kid~Brady · Nov 23, 2009

not bad..... our defense doesnt get noticed like that

mystrymaster · Nov 23, 2009

Patspsycho said:
According to NFL team stats:

1) Points scored against: 2nd
2) Total yards allowed: 6th
3) Passing yards average allowed: 6th
4) Rushing yard average allowed: 15th
5) Receiving yards average allowed: 6th
6) Sacks total: 24th
7) Touchdowns allowed: 7th
8) Tackles: 17th
9) Interceptions: 5th

Overall ranking: 6th (game stats)

Overall and Yards allowed are the same stat if you got them from nfl.com

aren't passing yards and receiving yards going to be the same as well?

Those two duplicates removed, I am shocked the Pats D is that good. I don't think of this defense as one of the top 10 in the league.

Deus Irae · Nov 23, 2009

mystrymaster said:
Overall and Yards allowed are the same stat if you got them from nfl.com

aren't passing yards and receiving yards going to be the same as well?

Those two duplicates removed, I am shocked the Pats D is that good. I don't think of this defense as one of the top 10 in the league.

The Patriots haven't finished outside of the top 10 in defense since 2005, and before that it was 2002.

DarrylS · Nov 23, 2009

Always thought in this day and age that the opposing passer rating was a very tellling stat...

New England is #4, with a opposing passer rating of 74.3.. right behind Saints, Jets, Buffalo

New England is #6 in yards allowed...

New England is #5 in interceptions

New England is #24 in sacks...interesting how this is sometimes valued, perhaps too much..

Without regard we in the upper tier in these categories...

bostonia3333 · Nov 23, 2009

Another key stat is the Pats force lots of incompletions. I think pass completion percentage against the Pats is 56%---that's pretty low. Of course Kerry Collins and Mark Sanchize helped with that statistic. But still.

mystrymaster · Nov 23, 2009

Deus Irae said:
The Patriots haven't finished outside of the top 10 in defense since 2005, and before that it was 2002.

I know, trust me I know all too well.

However with all the losses this year it wasn't something that I was thinking.

DarrylS · Nov 23, 2009

bostonia3333 said:
Another key stat is the Pats force lots of incompletions. I think pass completion percentage against the Pats is 56%---that's pretty low. Of course Kerry Collins and Mark Sanchize helped with that statistic. But still.

That is good enough for #3 in the NFL...

italia44 · Nov 23, 2009

mystrymaster said:
Overall and Yards allowed are the same stat if you got them from nfl.com

aren't passing yards and receiving yards going to be the same as well?

Those two duplicates removed, I am shocked the Pats D is that good. I don't think of this defense as one of the top 10 in the league.

I do................look at turnover ratio.................and most importantly:

What is the total for QB pressure?:more important than sacks
Forced fumbles:whether they are recovered or not:more important than INT's,imo,because they occur closer to the line of scrimmage and/or on kickoffs/punts.

If you're evaluating a DEFENSE......give me points allowed,only........not total points allowed including defensive returns by the other team.I'm mystified why this isn't a separate category.

The Patriots are definitely a top 5 defense..............forced fumbles are an overlooked stat,and imho...a very,very important one.

Patsfanin Philly · Nov 23, 2009

Patspsycho said:
According to NFL team stats:

1) Points scored against: 2nd
.

Actually it was the offense and special teams that have given up 3 TDs ( blocked punt, Ravens strip sack and the other ?pick 6). Even with that, they are only 7 points behind Indy. I don't think Indy has given up an offensive TD so the Pats defense may have given up the least points in the league. This week will really be a test.

Kontradiction · Nov 23, 2009

Pressure is good but more sacks would be nice as well. Sacks are drive killers. Once again we'll get a chance to really see what this defense is made of on Monday night.

mayoclinic · Nov 23, 2009

Patspsycho said:
According to NFL team stats:

1) Points scored against: 2nd
2) Total yards allowed: 6th
3) Passing yards average allowed: 6th
4) Rushing yard average allowed: 15th
5) Receiving yards average allowed: 6th
6) Sacks total: 24th
7) Touchdowns allowed: 7th
8) Tackles: 17th
9) Interceptions: 5th

Overall ranking: 6th (game stats)

Would be interesting to compare this with some of the projections that posters were making in the beginning of this season. I think some of us predicted a top 5 defense which is approximately where we are, with 6 games remaining.

The sacks total allowed on first appearance seems pretty bad, but I think is a sign of BB's philosophy where he clearly has stated that he is more interested in pressures than sacks. However, without looking at stats, we know that our pass-rushing isn't as strong as we'd like it to be.

Also be aware that being low on tackles is what a good defense wants, so being #17 is good. You want incomplete passes, not tackles (because tackles = pass completions), and whatever tackles you have, you want to be mostly run tackles.

But the best thing is that this defense is very young, and I think one of the youngest corp in the NFL, and it can only get better. The average age is 26, and the last time we had that was in 1997.

Some things to think about:

- We're 2nd in the NFL in turnover differential, at +12. Our defense has forced 22 turnovers (13 INT plus 8 fumbles recovered), which is 3rd in the NFL behind NO at 29 and the Eagles at 23.
- We're 5th in INTs and 3rd in turnovers created despite being 24th in sacks. Imagine what our playmaking secondary could do if our front 7 got pressure on opposing QB's, altered some passes, tipped some balls, and forced some errant throws. Minnesota is 1st in sacks with 36, but has only 7 INTs compared to our 13, with 16 total turnovers. So we have a big play defense despite generating poor pressure up front.

I predicted in the preseason (before the Seymour trade) that this defense would be the most athletic and best since 2003-2004 by the end of the season. I think the defense has held up to that prediction. I also think that if we could get some athletic pass rushing playmakers up front that it would put this defense over the top into the elite/shutdown category, capable of winning games on its own. That would be scary with our offense.

Patspsycho · Nov 23, 2009

Patsfanin Philly said:
Actually it was the offense and special teams that have given up 3 TDs ( blocked punt, Ravens strip sack and the other ?pick 6). Even with that, they are only 7 points behind Indy. I don't think Indy has given up an offensive TD so the Pats defense may have given up the least points in the league. This week will really be a test.

I agree. I think it's time for this to be overhauled and for TD's given up by offense/ST to not be counted in defensive stats.

Patspsycho · Nov 23, 2009

mayoclinic said:
Some things to think about:

- We're 2nd in the NFL in turnover differential, at +12. Our defense has forced 22 turnovers (13 INT plus 8 fumbles recovered), which is 3rd in the NFL behind NO at 29 and the Eagles at 23.
- We're 5th in INTs and 3rd in turnovers created despite being 24th in sacks. Imagine what our playmaking secondary could do if our front 7 got pressure on opposing QB's, altered some passes, tipped some balls, and forced some errant throws. Minnesota is 1st in sacks with 36, but has only 7 INTs compared to our 13, with 16 total turnovers. So we have a big play defense despite generating poor pressure up front.

I predicted in the preseason (before the Seymour trade) that this defense would be the most athletic and best since 2003-2004 by the end of the season. I think the defense has held up to that prediction. I also think that if we could get some athletic pass rushing playmakers up front that it would put this defense over the top into the elite/shutdown category, capable of winning games on its own. That would be scary with our offense.

I see pass-rushing being our primary goal in the off-season.

Patsfanin Philly · Nov 23, 2009

Patspsycho said:
I agree. I think it's time for this to be overhauled and for TD's given up by offense/ST to not be counted in defensive stats.

While you're at it, set up an Int stat like baseballs ERA. If a ball hits a receiver in the numbers bounces up in the air and gets picked off, it ought not to count as much as one thrown directly at a DB ( see Bodden x3 yesterday but he caught them!!)or a Hail Mary with no time left...

mgteich · Nov 23, 2009

1) I have been waiting until after the NO game to assess the defense.
2) It is interesting to see how unimportant sacks are as a stat.

SCPatBoy · Nov 23, 2009

After watching the ravens vs colts and before that the 49ers vs colts I am convinced BB put our defense at a disadvantage. I think BB gives Peyton way too much respect and that actually hurts. Both the 49ers and ravens kept going after Mannning and held the Colts to under 20 pts. I think BB just needs to let his Defense play and not over think it. One day I would like to see our Defense with just 1 above average pass rusher!

Patspsycho · Nov 23, 2009

mgteich said:
1) I have been waiting until after the NO game to assess the defense.
2) It is interesting to see how unimportant sacks are as a stat.

That will be interesting to see, as we know BB has always preached that the real season always starts after Thanksgiving.

Patspsycho · Nov 23, 2009

Patsfanin Philly said:
While you're at it, set up an Int stat like baseballs ERA. If a ball hits a receiver in the numbers bounces up in the air and gets picked off, it ought not to count as much as one thrown directly at a DB ( see Bodden x3 yesterday but he caught them!!)or a Hail Mary with no time left...

No way. I am terrible at crunching numbers. Someone else can do that.

Where our defense ranks now

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