It's the Pass Rush!!

Why in all the analysis of this game does the fact that we have absolutely 0 pass rushers not come up as the #1 reason why this team did not get it done this year? The fact that we can not generate any pressure on the other teams quarterback is why we are the worst team in the NFL in getting off the field on 3rd down and why we were unable to make a QB like Mark Sanchez make any mistakes in this game. We absolutely CAN NOT ignore the pass rush again this year in the draft. We have to either draft 2 pass rushers and hope 1 pans out or sign one in free agency and draft another. This has to be our #1 priority in the offseason for us to be able to beat teams like the Jets, Steelers, Ravens and Colts next year who all have strong pass rushes.

Let's draft Clay Matthews

The_Riddler said:

Let's draft Clay Matthews

Click to expand...

They passed

Badger said:

Why in all the analysis of this game does the fact that we have absolutely 0 pass rushers not come up as the #1 reason why this team did not get it done this year? The fact that we can not generate any pressure on the other teams quarterback is why we are the worst team in the NFL in getting off the field on 3rd down and why we were unable to make a QB like Mark Sanchez make any mistakes in this game. We absolutely CAN NOT ignore the pass rush again this year in the draft. We have to either draft 2 pass rushers and hope 1 pans out or sign one in free agency and draft another. This has to be our #1 priority in the offseason for us to be able to beat teams like the Jets, Steelers, Ravens and Colts next year who all have strong pass rushes.

Click to expand...

don#t know what gave you've been watching, but I think the pressure was ok almost all game long yesterday...surely looked better than last year or in other games.
The problem definitely wasn't the defense yesterday...they worked with a short field all day and held up nicely...don't be foolish. Sure, pass-rush could be better, but he problem yesterday was the offense.

Tasco said:

don#t know what gave you've been watching, but I think the pressure was ok almost all game long yesterday...surely looked better than last year or in other games.
The problem definitely wasn't the defense yesterday...they worked with a short field all day and held up nicely...don't be foolish. Sure, pass-rush could be better, but he problem yesterday was the offense.

Click to expand...

You have got to be kidding? I must have missed the 5 sacks and 6 pressures that apparently took place while I was napping through the game. We did not pressure him. We did not pressure anyone all year. Who is our pass rusher? Who? Ninkovich? Guyton? Brace? Prior? Mike Wright? The scrubs who played on the DLine yesterday minus Wilfork? We will not win another Super Bowl without another Vrabel or McGinest.

How many times was Sanchez actually hit ? I didn't see anyone hit him even against the 2nd string RT.

Discounting the garbage time td with 24 seconds left, our vaunted offense scored one touchdown yesterday and routinely gets shut down in big games. I agree that the pass rush is the weakest area of the team and needs to be addressed, but we also need to devote resources to the offense.

letekro said:

Discounting the garbage time td with 24 seconds left, our vaunted offense scored one touchdown yesterday and routinely gets shut down in big games. I agree that the pass rush is the weakest area of the team and needs to be addressed, but we also need to devote resources to the offense.

Click to expand...

that's a coaching problem - either BB just lets BOB do what he wants or BB is just losing his ability to coach big games. I don't think BOB is a big game OC.

Tasco said:

don#t know what gave you've been watching, but I think the pressure was ok almost all game long yesterday...surely looked better than last year or in other games.
The problem definitely wasn't the defense yesterday...they worked with a short field all day and held up nicely...don't be foolish. Sure, pass-rush could be better, but he problem yesterday was the offense.

Click to expand...

LOL, Sanchez has a ton of time, and was hardly hit

Agree with the OP, I would draft Akeem Ayers and a guy like Allen Bailey with our first two picks.

TommyBrady12 said:

that's a coaching problem - either BB just lets BOB do what he wants or BB is just losing his ability to coach big games. I don't think BOB is a big game OC.

Click to expand...

The Pats had a chance to go up 14-0 early in this game but for horrendous player errors. If that happens, they likely win going away and nobody says anything about BOB. Coaches put players in a position to make plays, but the players still have to make them. They didn't make any key plays yesterday. Don't know how you can fault the coaching for that.

They started on our side of the field 4 times. Hard to ask the youngest defense in the NFL to shut anybody down in those circumstances. They kept us in good shape until the stupid fake punt. Additionally If we could've mustered a few measley first downs in the 2nd quarter, maybe they aren't starting in our territory after the bad Zoltan punt and maybe they don't score the first TD either. The defense was hung out to dry.

This offense/special teams doesn't have to score 30 every game, but at least don't put the D at such a disadvantage, let alone 4 times in a game.

I agree, the Patriots need a pass rusher that the offense has to worry about, a guy that forces double teams and chip blocks. Until the Pats have that, the defense will continue to struggle against teams that run the ball and pass when they want to.

upstater1 said:

Agree with the OP, I would draft Akeem Ayers and a guy like Allen Bailey with our first two picks.

Click to expand...

:bricks:

Bailey will not be drafted by the Patriots. I'd bet my life on it. Ayers isn't a bad player, but we're looking for someone who can set the edge against the run and get to the QB consistently. He doesn't do either of those.

PATSYLICIOUS said:

They started on our side of the field 4 times. Hard to ask the youngest defense in the NFL to shut anybody down in those circumstances. They kept us in good shape until the stupid fake punt. Additionally If we could've mustered a few measley first downs in the 2nd quarter, maybe they aren't starting in our territory after the bad Zoltan punt and maybe they don't score the first TD either. The defense was hung out to dry.

This offense/special teams doesn't have to score 30 every game, but at least don't put the D at such a disadvantage, let alone 4 times in a game.

Click to expand...

How many times did the Jets D stop a more potent offense in the red zone? How many times did the pats D stop the jets in the red zone? It doesn't matter where they started, the fact is that after the first quarter or so the D stopped making plays. They weren't the only ones by a long shot. This was a total team loss: offense, defense and special teams. But I can't see how the D can be excused in this game. The biggest back breaker was when the offense pulled the game within 3 and then instead of making a big play they let one up. They made Sanchez look like a probowler after the first quarter. That just can't happen in a big game. They needed to step it up, but just didn't have anyone that could do it.

Badger said:

Why in all the analysis of this game does the fact that we have absolutely 0 pass rushers not come up as the #1 reason why this team did not get it done this year? The fact that we can not generate any pressure on the other teams quarterback is why we are the worst team in the NFL in getting off the field on 3rd down and why we were unable to make a QB like Mark Sanchez make any mistakes in this game. We absolutely CAN NOT ignore the pass rush again this year in the draft. We have to either draft 2 pass rushers and hope 1 pans out or sign one in free agency and draft another. This has to be our #1 priority in the offseason for us to be able to beat teams like the Jets, Steelers, Ravens and Colts next year who all have strong pass rushes.

Click to expand...

It should be the number one priority but who knows...

BSR said:

How many times did the Jets D stop a more potent offense in the red zone? How many times did the pats D stop the jets in the red zone? It doesn't matter where they started, the fact is that after the first quarter or so the D stopped making plays. They weren't the only ones by a long shot. This was a total team loss: offense, defense and special teams. But I can't see how the D can be excused in this game. The biggest back breaker was when the offense pulled the game within 3 and then instead of making a big play they let one up. They made Sanchez look like a probowler after the first quarter. That just can't happen in a big game. They needed to step it up, but just didn't have anyone that could do it.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm not saying the D was great, but they were put in some tough spots. They did come up big early after Brady's 1st pick and the Jets started I think in our red zone (?) and ended up coming away with zero points. That was huge from the defense. The only points they gave up through 3 quarters were on drives that started in our territory so I think they deserve some credit for that. It's hard to make plays when your back is against the wall so often. You're right about the TD after we pulled within 3, at that point the absolute worst you can afford is to hold them to a FG but they couldn't do it. I think at that point they were kind of gassed, they did make quite a few stops throughout though and gave us shots to get back in the game. The offense did nothing to reward that aside from the TD drive late in the 3rd.

Yup for sure. We aren't going to win unless we know how to pressure the QB. And we still don't. Not sure if it's the players or the coaching/schemes, but it's just not working.

letekro said:

The Pats had a chance to go up 14-0 early in this game but for horrendous player errors. If that happens, they likely win going away and nobody says anything about BOB. Coaches put players in a position to make plays, but the players still have to make them. They didn't make any key plays yesterday. Don't know how you can fault the coaching for that.

Click to expand...

yeah mistakes happen, but coaches have to do adjust when things go wrong. you can't be up 21-0 in every game. you will have to play from behind some games. you can't just have a confused look on your face after being down. basically what you are telling me is that BOB is good when things go well in the game early on.

Personally, with the defense's improvement this season was a clear indication of the coaching staff's ability. However, with that said, I do agree with the pass rush being a huge concern. In fact, I think it points at a larger issue for the team: its identity. With Moss and the 2007 team, it was all about offense, which ultimately failed us. This year, it was about offense, which, you guessed it, ultimately failed us. So, no matter who you put on the field, this team--with Tom Brady--seems to be identifying itself as offense first. When we won the 3 Super Bowls, we were defensive teams first. Now look at who we have for our best players: Brady, Welker, Wilfork, Mayo, McCourty. 3 of the 5 best on our team are defensive.

Let's play to that strength in this year's draft. Get a pass rusher linebacker, a solid defensive end, someone to spell Wilfork at NT and double as a DT in 4-3 sets, and another safety. For the offense, draft a backup runner and a guard to replace Mankins. While Mankins was key, his asking price will be huge. Also don't give a payday to anyone else on the offense besides Brady. With the additional cash, pursue Nnamdi Asomugha who will allow BB to create more elaborate schemes.

Overall, we don't have the talent on offense to get the job done right now alone. And to go out and get the talent via draft and FA will be difficult. On the other hand, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and the Jets (the defensive powerhouses) are getting older and we have a core group that is already fantastic to go forward with into the future with proper support. Why not make the splash for Asomugha and a crop of rookies on the defensive side and make a push for the championship through BB's specialty: defense.