Pats D: A Brick Wall in the Second Half?

In the off-season, I was saying we're retooling to be able to run and focusing on D. Then I said stuff about having to gel for 3 weeks. Then I went on suicide watch for a week.

But this D is turning out to be what we thought it could be in the offseason - and then some. Stats are stats but what you see on the field - especially in the second half - has been pure gut-it-out denial/frustration of the opposing offense.

Quick and dirty, ignoring return TDs etc. - points scored against the Pats:

PA Games 1-4: 90
(including games against the Raiders and Vikes severely dragging down the curve.)
Average pts against: 22.5.
Most pts against (top 2 games): 41 (Chiefs), 33 (Dolphins)

PA Weeks 5-14: 177
Avg pts against: 19.7
(with many more games against legitimate contendahs)
Most pts against (top 2 games): 26 (Packers,) 25 (JEST)

What stands out is that nobody "scores at will" against this D since week 4 - and certainly not since the mid-season pickups. Ayers has been a revelation. They're mentally tough and confident, and per the thread's main point, they play all 60 minutes. That last part would seem like an obvious prerequisite for success, but tell that to 2/3 of the defenses in the league. I even loved this D in the Packers game, holding them to field goals instead of giving up the TDs. Unfortunately, the FGs eventually did us in.

Only way to know for sure is to play against the Giants' last drive of the game.

It'd be neat to see this plotted out on a graph, game by game

Success of the second half D might have something to do with a comment Belichick made yesterday. He was asked about Siliga's return and he praised his contribution. But, he also said, "it allowed us to have a good four-man rotation at DT with Vince, Chris Jones, Branch, and Siliga...."

I suspect that being able to rotate big-fatties into the game to keep them fresh is going to pay dividends in the second half compared to leaving guys on the field until their tongues are hanging out.

ctpatsfan77 said:

To be fair, the saving grace for those defenses was that they created a ton of TOs (second only to GB over that time span).

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That was in the regular season against teams that were very prone to making mistakes. They rarely created turnovers in the playoffs. Without the ability to get TOs the D got exposed in the postseason.

hwc said:

Success of the second half D might have something to do with a comment Belichick made yesterday. He was asked about Siliga's return and he praised his contribution. But, he also said, "it allowed us to have a good four-man rotation at DT with Vince, Chris Jones, Branch, and Siliga...."

I suspect that being able to rotate big-fatties into the game to keep them fresh is going to pay dividends in the second half compared to leaving guys on the field until their tongues are hanging out.

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This was the secret to Seattle's defense last season.

hwc said:

Success of the second half D might have something to do with a comment Belichick made yesterday. He was asked about Siliga's return and he praised his contribution. But, he also said, "it allowed us to have a good four-man rotation at DT with Vince, Chris Jones, Branch, and Siliga...."

I suspect that being able to rotate big-fatties into the game to keep them fresh is going to pay dividends in the second half compared to leaving guys on the field until their tongues are hanging out.

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It makes me positively giddy, but the second half defense traces back to well before Siliga's return.

I know others have touched on this but the scary part, to me, is that Jones has been out during this entire stretch. They've gotten some great pressure from Collins, Ninko and Hightower--plus Ayers at times--and Belichick is able to disguise the coverage and pressure because of how versatile the unit is...now I'm wondering what'll it be like when they have their one elite pass rusher back?

It was always going to take time this season. Collins got very little expose last season, even now he's still a work in progress with just 20 NFL starts under his belt. Browner was suspended to start the year. They had to figure out how to best utilize Revis. Easley had to be eased into the mix. Wilfork had to round back into game form. We're now finally seeing just how potent this unit can be, and the return of Jones should take to even another level, I can't WAIT to see it.

hambone1818 said:

It was always going to take time this season. Collins got very little expose last season, even now he's still a work in progress with just 20 NFL starts under his belt. Browner was suspended to start the year. They had to figure out how to best utilize Revis. Easley had to be eased into the mix. Wilfork had to round back into game form. We're now finally seeing just how potent this unit can be, and the return of Jones should take to even another level, I can't WAIT to see it.

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I agree with what you said, but felt the need to bold the parts where the phrasing added some (possibly) unintentional humor...

Updated through today's game

Last 5 games 2nd half defense

122.4 yards per allowed
3.2 pts per allowed (1 TD & 3 FG) (No points allowed in the last 2 games)
Allowing only 26.3% 3rd down conversions (10 for 38)
3 INT
8 Sacks
QBs completing only 49.1% (55 for 112)

JMC00 said:

Updated through today's game

Last 5 games 2nd half defense

122.4 yards per allowed
3.2 pts per allowed (1 TD & 3 FG) (No points allowed in the last 2 games)
Allowing only 26.3% 3rd down conversions (10 for 38 on 3rd down)
3 INT
8 Sacks
QBs completing only 49.1% (55 for 112)

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Pats are also now averaging exactly 20.0 PPG, the 8th best scoring average in the NFL:

1. Detroit - 17.0 PPG
2. Seattle - 17.3 PPG
3. Arizona - 17.4 PPG
4 (tie). Buffalo - 18.1 PPG
4 (tie). Kansas City - 18.1 PPG
6. Baltimore - 19.1 PPG
7. Houston - 19.8 PPG

With Chandler Jones now back, it'll only continue to get better. I think the pass rush showed glimpses of how good it can be in the second half.

PatsFanSince74 said:

I know that some folks were down on our D when they criticized it for having trouble getting off the field against Green Bay, a topic that was debated at length a week ago and that I don't want to re-open here. The pros and cons were hashed and re-hashed last week, from the Pats failure to establish the running game and leaving them on the field for over 36 minutes to a couple of dropped passes by Rodgers' receivers.

Wherever we come down on last week's game, I really do think it's worth pointing out that, since the Bye, the Patriots' Defense has given up a TOTAL of 16 points in the second half, including against two of the most prolific offenses in the NFL in Indy and GB. In the Chargers and Packers games, the Defense yielded a total of three second half points between the two games.

In the last four games, the Pats have outscored a reasonably good group of opponents 55-16 in the second half after posting 65-53 for the first half.

I think that this is a BB Defense that adapts quickly. It seems that, for the last four games at least, if you're gonna beat the Pats, you have to build an early lead and then hope to hang on.

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With yesterday's performance (kudos to JMCOO for the stats through five games), I think I was on to something last week.

1960Pats said:

As much of a cliche as it sounds it's always been true... defense wins championships.

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ive saying it for years, and at times in the past it wasn't well recieved

AndyJohnson said:

So does offense

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reflexblue said:

ive saying it for years, and at times in the past it wasn't well recieved

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it still isn't by some today

BTW, this year's defense is pretty damned good in the red zone......

mayoclinic said:

Pats are also now averaging exactly 20.0 PPG, the 8th best scoring average in the NFL:

1. Detroit - 17.0 PPG
2. Seattle - 17.3 PPG
3. Arizona - 17.4 PPG
4 (tie). Buffalo - 18.1 PPG
4 (tie). Kansas City - 18.1 PPG
6. Baltimore - 19.1 PPG
7. Houston - 19.8 PPG

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FWIW since the KC game, the Pats D is allowing 19ppg. Not too shabby.

Detroit wouldn't be #1 if they're in the AFC

AndyJohnson said:

So does offense

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So what's it like being a fan who only started watching football after the 2007 and 2011 super bowls?

Before this year I waited hopefully for our defense to some day get off the field, as I waited for the main show, our offense.

Now I look forward to watching our defense, offense, and special teams.

The only place during game time for me to make a run to the bathroom or to the fridge to grab a beer is when Gostkowski is blasting the kickoffs through the end zone. While even that is pleasing to watch, it doesn't present much drama.

IllegalContact said:

it still isn't by some today

BTW, this year's defense is pretty damned good in the red zone......

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After yesterday they are under 50% by TD allowed (20/41).