Defense - A few positives

We've done the negatives ad nausium, so how bout a few positives about our defense through 4 games.

Yes, I know the D is painful to watch at times, 3rd-and-any distance is huge weakness. Giving up 24 points a game and tons of yards, so I'm in no way claiming that the D will bring us to the promised land or anything. But lets give a wee bit of credit where its due.

Lots in all the "this defense sucks" threads, there are a couple on nice little stats developing through 4 games with this unit.

Defensive Stats (NFL, through 4)

Interceptions - tied 2nd (with 7)
Pick-6's - 1st (with 2)
Defensive Scoring - 1st

Non-Offensive Stats (STs and Defense)
Non-offensive scoring - 1st (by miles a 36 pts vs. SEA, whose 2nd with 18)
KR TD's - tied 1st (with 2)

As potent as the offense it, we can't (or shouldn't) ignore that as built into our league-leading 32.75 ppg average is 9 ppg for the Defense/Special Teams. 27% of your team scoring coming from D/STs is pretty significant.

Also, for all the "no pressure on the QB" folks, we do have 7 sacks. Middle of the pack for sure, but not the "worst pass rush" in the NFL either. We're tied with BALT for sacks too.

While we certainly give up our yards and we need to do better on 3rd down, but we certainly have some playmakers on defense too, which should be ackknowledged as well. The naysayers here will point to the fact that we've "not played a good QB" or that our INT's come from poor QB play and decision making. True, but only to an extent. EVERY QB has 2-4 balls that are just off the mark or not exactly where they wanted, but unless someone is there to take advantage of it, it'll flutter hamrlessly to the turf.

I may get flamed as here, but just trying to add some perspective. If we can get some good development as the year wears on, I'm confident that this D will be "enough" to support our offense. Time will tell though.

Thoughts?

Defense still sucks. Great individual efforts from Ninkovich and special teams bailed them out.

There aren't any glasses rosy enough to overlook how $hitty they are.

Nikovich solid individual, granted. Chung wasn't bad either. Come to think of it, Mayo had a bunch of tackles to. McCourty was pretty good too (outside of 1 PI). Iguess you could say Wilfork was his typical solid self on his side. Couple of nice "individual efforts" by Merriweather too.

Wait.......... that the defense?

zeke mowatt said:

Defense still sucks. Great individual efforts from Ninkovich and special teams bailed them out.

There aren't any glasses rosy enough to overlook how $hitty they are.

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Awesome response. (Yep, Sarcasm.)

Thanks PinNY, you've pointed out some valid points. Just ignore the naysayers. The defense may not be top 10, but last night there were at least some improvements. Why people can't be happy with that, I'll never know.

yup, defense that gave up 400+ yards..was gouged at will up the middle (wilfork his usual self). And had trouble getting off the field on third down all night.

You can't expect ST to show up like that every week. Sooner or later the "D" is gonna have to stop somebody.

zeke mowatt said:

yup, defense that gave up 400+ yards..was gouged at will up the middle (wilfork his usual self). And had trouble getting off the field on third down all night.

You can't expect ST to show up like that every week. Sooner or later the "D" is gonna have to stop somebody.

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Dude, read the first 2 paragraphs of the "thread", then sit back comprehend them for a second or to (so that you understand the intent of the post). Not saying the defense was great, but it wasn't all bad. We did have some stops too. 400 yds = 14 pts, means about as much to a team as a 98 yd drive for 3 points.

Say what you will, but if you take away the 3 Special Teams plays that resulted in TD's, we'd still have won 20-14..... I'll take a 20-14 win over a division opponent in a place the historically not very kind to us any day.

Patriot_in_NY said:

Nikovich solid individual, granted. Chung wasn't bad either. Come to think of it, Mayo had a bunch of tackles to. McCourty was pretty good too (outside of 1 PI). Iguess you could say Wilfork was his typical solid self on his side. Couple of nice "individual efforts" by Merriweather too.

Wait.......... that the defense?

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Well said and implied.

When it was 7-6 at the break, I thought to myself, the defense isn't playing half bad. I don't know if a corner has been turned, but quite a few positive steps have been taken.

I also thought, the danny downers on Patsfans will find the negatives in the defensive play and flog them just so we don't get too happy about this win or stupidly start thinking it means anything.

zeke mowatt said:

You can't expect ST to show up like that every week. Sooner or later the "D" is gonna have to stop somebody.

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Ummm, perhaps you didn't notice. Wilfork wasn't at the nose last night, Wright was. Wilfork was on the left. How many yds were we gouged to the left? Oh yeah, almost none, cuz they barely ran that way, and when they did, he stuffed them.

I think the defense played well, they still give too much cushion and struggle to tackle and should work on that, the only sore spot for me was McCourty who seemed to lack discipline.

Patriot_in_NY said:

Ummm, perhaps you didn't notice. Wilfork wasn't at the nose last night, Wright was. Wilfork was on the left. How many yds were we gouged to the left? Oh yeah, almost none, cuz they barely ran that way, and when they did, he stuffed them.

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you're right. Defense is SPECTACULAR and wilfork is a BRICK WALL.....just ask ray rice.

zeke mowatt said:

you're right. Defense is SPECTACULAR and wilfork is a BRICK WALL.....just ask ray rice.

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Thank you for proving that you have no concept of what this thread was "sopposed to be about".

Seriously, I know you are a teeth knasher and all, but point out where I said (even remotely) that this defense was spectacular? I just said, it wasn't all negative, and it's not. Sorry you can't see that.

zeke mowatt said:

you're right. Defense is SPECTACULAR and wilfork is a BRICK WALL.....just ask ray rice.

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What part of "I'm in no way claiming that the D will bring us to the promised land" don't you understand?

zeke mowatt said:

Great individual efforts from Ninkovich...

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What, exactly, do you think defense is?

zeke mowatt said:

yup, defense that gave up 400+ yards..was gouged at will up the middle (wilfork his usual self). And had trouble getting off the field on third down all night.

You can't expect ST to show up like that every week. Sooner or later the "D" is gonna have to stop somebody.

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Didn't Vince play end all night?

And Miami scored 23 on the Jets, but only 14 on the Pats. Repeat after me: Yards. Mean. Nothing.

What is up with so many "fans" being so bitter?

It's understandable that the idiot contrarian segment would be mad about being proven wrong. However, if you are a fan shouldn't you like..well...be happy?

The defense played well and yardage was a function of the fact that the offense wasn't really on the field in the second half.

4 picks, 1 pick 6, key 4th down stop and yardage well below Miami's home yardage avg.

They need to work on 3rd downs, obviously, that is still the thing that kills me every week and a big part of that is the soft zone they leave underneath and then poor tackling. There were a few times last night were they were in position and just took bad angles or had poor technique wrapping up the ball carrier. If they can just fix that issue the defense will improve tremendously.

I still think the "D" needs to work on 3rd down. In the past two weeks we have seen the other team convert 3rd and a mile, without the help of a penalty.

On a bright side, I was happy in the 4th Quarter when they stopped the 3rd down screen play. They were in perfect position, hopefully we will see more of that.

Pat the Pats Fan said:

I still think the "D" needs to work on 3rd down. In the past two weeks we have seen the other team convert 3rd and a mile, without the help of a penalty.

On a bright side, I was happy in the 4th Quarter when they stopped the 3rd down screen play. They were in perfect position, hopefully we will see more of that.

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The 4th down play was what I want to see more of on 3rd down. They got pressure from the OLB and then when Henne dumped it off McCourty was there to make the play and stop them short. That was just awesome.

Love the points to start off this thread. Those statistics show that the d is capable of making big plays.

The Pats are getting gashed by other teams offenses but are able to create turnovers to help themselves.

As the defense gets better you will see less movement (from opposing offenses) but the same big play ability. I think those numbers are a cause for optimism and a reason to believe this defense will be a good one by seasons end. I know a lot of people will disagree with that point but doesn't it make you happier to believe it?

3rd down execution is the next step. It's fustrating but atleast we are getting many third and longs. I would be very discouraged if everything was 2nd and 1 or 2.

Getting burned deep on third down is a real bummer.