Patriots have the #1 defense (PPG) in the NFL

Marqui · Nov 25, 2015

Satchboogie3 said:
Should be 15th in yards allowed now. 2nd still in sacks. Yards are overrated, this defense is awesome and will be better once Collins is back

How are yards overrated? How would a team put up points if they don't gain yards to get in position to score?

RobertWeathers · Nov 25, 2015

ausbacker said:
I like to look at it this way. 1. They're idiots. 2. We're Patriots fans.

Whos more the idiot...the kids that go or the parents that actually HAD to go when they performed in the rain at Gillette Stadium this past September.

stinkypete · Nov 25, 2015

This is the best Patriots defense since '06. I love that we've returned to the days of having playmakers at all positions in the front 6/7 as well as major rotational depth. I also love that the Patriots are developing an elite defense just in time for Brady's twilight years. If they can find a way to keep Jones, Collins and Hightower around as Butler, Easley and Brown develop, they'll have a defense that can carry the team whenever Brady's decline does come.

ctpatsfan77 · Nov 25, 2015

A Defiant Goose said:
Damn. I was sitting here thinking that now that the defense is pretty set, what would the Patriots spend their first round pick on?

Oh. Right.

And, in a bizarre coinky-dink, this also looks to be an unusually meh year for late first-rounders (a pick in the mid-20s looks likely to get you someone more along the lines of Maroney/Meriweather than a Hightower/McCourty).

ThatllMoveTheChains!!! · Nov 25, 2015

Marqui said:
How are yards overrated? How would a team put up points if they don't gain yards to get in position to score?

Yards are overrated because it's a compilation stat. The Broncos have surrendered 600 less yards, or 60 per game, or roughly 6 a drive. The difference needs to be massive to have a real effect if it isn't translating to points.

JMC00 · Nov 25, 2015

venecol said:
Read somewhere that Collins is out.

Not true at all. There hasnt even been a practice. Whoever said that is jusg throwing **** against the wall and hoping it sticks

ender24601 · Nov 25, 2015

UFGatorPat said:
Dline was nasty in the 4th. Nink is still Nink. Some good spots from the DTs pushing the middle into Tyrod

LBs are amazing.

Secondary was strong as usual.

And this was without Collins.

VrabelJr · Nov 25, 2015

Marqui said:
How are yards overrated? How would a team put up points if they don't gain yards to get in position to score?

You could have a defense that gives up few yards but lots of points due to bad special teams play or turnovers on offense.

Ring 6 · Nov 25, 2015

Marqui said:
How are yards overrated? How would a team put up points if they don't gain yards to get in position to score?

So since yards could lead to points, they have what value after you have already analyzed points allowed?

Ring 6 · Nov 25, 2015

VrabelJr said:
You could have a defense that gives up few yards but lots of points due to bad special teams play or turnovers on offense.

Or you could have a Rex Ryan defense that ranks well in yards, but doesn't take the ball away and gives up a lot of points. Its not about the yards you allow its about how and when you allow them. A 'great' defense and a 'poor' defense on a yardage metric could be 50 yards a game or less apart. More 3 and outs but more scoring drives is not better than allowing a few more first downs along the way.

Ring 6 · Nov 25, 2015

stinkypete said:
This is the best Patriots defense since '06. I love that we've returned to the days of having playmakers at all positions in the front 6/7 as well as major rotational depth. I also love that the Patriots are developing an elite defense just in time for Brady's twilight years. If they can find a way to keep Jones, Collins and Hightower around as Butler, Easley and Brown develop, they'll have a defense that can carry the team whenever Brady's decline does come.

I could make a very compelling argument that this is best front 7(6 is more realistic since nickel is the base in the NFL now) in the NFL.
Find a team that has better LBs that Collins and Boomtower.
Find a team that is better at DE than Jones, Nink, Sheard.
Find a team that is as deep and varied at DT as Brown, Easley, Branch, Siliga and Hicks

oldrover · Nov 25, 2015

AndyJohnson said:
I could make a very compelling argument that this is best front 7(6 is more realistic since nickel is the base in the NFL now) in the NFL.
Find a team that has better LBs that Collins and Boomtower.
Find a team that is better at DE than Jones, Nink, Sheard.
Find a team that is as deep and varied at DT as Brown, Easley, Branch, Siliga and Hicks

Not to mention making the argument that the secondary is the most UNDER-rated in the NFL.

Sicilian · Nov 25, 2015

AndyJohnson said:
I could make a very compelling argument that this is best front 7(6 is more realistic since nickel is the base in the NFL now) in the NFL.
Find a team that has better LBs that Collins and Boomtower.
Find a team that is better at DE than Jones, Nink, Sheard.
Find a team that is as deep and varied at DT as Brown, Easley, Branch, Siliga and Hicks

Even finding a team that meets one of those criteria, you'd be hard pressed to find one with all three.

DarrylS · Nov 25, 2015

My eyeball test from the big comfy couch tells me that this defense is one of the best Pats Defense ever.. not one aspect is outstanding, but collectively they are "kick ass"..

I believe what I see, and even our oft maligned secondary is playing very well.. even Logan Ryan who many wanted to run out of town last year.

Oft overlooked here are the special teams who often put whoever we play in unenviable field positions.. if you can figure out there methodology, your New England Patriots are #1 in the league..

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2015 SPECIAL TEAMS RATINGS

Ring 6 · Nov 25, 2015

DarrylS said:
My eyeball test from the big comfy couch tells me that this defense is one of the best Pats Defense ever.. not one aspect is outstanding, but collectively they are "kick ass"..

Run D is outstanding. From middle of last season to now it is #1 in the NFL. This season they are #2.

Gronkowski123 · Nov 25, 2015

factor in how many points we've given up during garbage time.
the first bills game for example...last second touchdowns against the steelers/redskins/jags.

obgod3 · Nov 25, 2015

I like what our defense is doing for certain.

But these guys below are pretty dam good also, and some analysts think Carolina is the best defense out there, stats don't tell all. But I like what our guys are doing.

Demarcus Ware, Von Miller, Malik Jackson, LB' Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall are pretty dam good also and fast. I wouldn't ignore then and I bet BB certainly isn't.

Let's see if our secondary can shut down Denver's passing game this week, then maybe I'll be a believer in the Pats secondary. I sure hope so.

ivanvamp · Nov 25, 2015

Last year's defensive rankings compared with this year's:

Pts Allowed
2014: #8 (19.6)
2015: #1 (18.2)

Yds Allowed
2014: #13 (344.1)
2015: #15 (341.3)

Pass Yds Allowed
2014: #17 (240)
2015: #21 (253)

Passer Rating Allowed
2014: #10 (84.0)
2015: #9 (83.9)

Rushing Yds Allowed
2014: #9 (104.3)
2015: #2 (88.8)

Rushing YPC Allowed
2014: #9 (4.0)
2015: #11 (3.9)

Turnovers Per Game Generated
2014: #13 (1.6)
2015: #16 (1.4)

What's interesting is that the Patriots' defense has improved over last year's unit, not only in terms of rankings, but in actual production as well (points allowed, yards allowed, etc.). And they've done it even though they're generating slightly fewer turnovers a game. That is, they're not relying on the turnover as much to stop people - they're just getting more stops. Even in third down defense they've improved slightly.

2014: 40.2%
2015: 39.6%

This may not be the *best* defense in the league, but it's clearly one of the better units in football. Certainly good enough to carry the team to a championship, even with the injuries on offense.

glm · Nov 25, 2015

Marqui said:
How are yards overrated? How would a team put up points if they don't gain yards to get in position to score?

In 2010, the 9-7 Chargers were ranked first in offensive YPG and defensive YPG.

Yards by themselves is the dumbest statistic ever.

JJDChE · Nov 25, 2015

ivanvamp said:
Last year's defensive rankings compared with this year's:

Pts Allowed
2014: #8 (19.6)
2015: #1 (18.2)

Yds Allowed
2014: #13 (344.1)
2015: #15 (341.3)

Pass Yds Allowed
2014: #17 (240)
2015: #21 (253)

Passer Rating Allowed
2014: #10 (84.0)
2015: #9 (83.9)

Rushing Yds Allowed
2014: #9 (104.3)
2015: #2 (88.8)

Rushing YPC Allowed
2014: #9 (4.0)
2015: #11 (3.9)

Turnovers Per Game Generated
2014: #13 (1.6)
2015: #16 (1.4)

What's interesting is that the Patriots' defense has improved over last year's unit, not only in terms of rankings, but in actual production as well (points allowed, yards allowed, etc.). And they've done it even though they're generating slightly fewer turnovers a game. That is, they're not relying on the turnover as much to stop people - they're just getting more stops. Even in third down defense they've improved slightly.

2014: 40.2%
2015: 39.6%

This may not be the *best* defense in the league, but it's clearly one of the better units in football. Certainly good enough to carry the team to a championship, even with the injuries on offense.

I find it interesting that you used those stats to come to the conclusion that the Patriots defense has improved over last year. Each stat you posted is nearly identical year over year. At the very best it's a marginal improvement. The biggest improvement is in points, but a lot of the difference came from the first 4 games of 2014, from game 5 on they only allowed 18.6. Really, statistically, the defense this year has been virtually identical to last year from game 5 on.

Not that there's an issue with that. Pretty much everyone expected them to take a step back with the losses, especially in the secondary, and they appear to be just as good and if history serves they'll get better down the stretch.

Patriots have the #1 defense (PPG) in the NFL

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