Defensive Expections for the 2013 Season

[NEPettyOfficer72]

I think many are taking the focus a little bit more then what they should on the offense being that it is orchestrated by Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Josh McDaniels. With that being said, we will be just fine on that side of the ball. But what are some of the defensive expectations heading into this season? I know they are a lot higher then in recent years, especially with the productive draft, and FA period this past off season. Could this again, be a well balanced defensive team that can compete for titles? Too early to tell but here are some factors to take in consideration when making your opinion... I tried to compile of list of all noticeable off season defensive moves and transactions in no particular order.
I HOPE that we have a great year defensively but time will tell!

- FA Signing of All Pro SS/OLB Adrian Wilson from Arizona Cardinals
- DB Devin McCourty to start season at FS
- Resigning of CB Aqib Talib
- LB Brandon Spike's separate off season workouts for endurance, quickness and speed
- Drafting OLB/DE Hybrid and former safety Jamie Collins from Southern Miss
- Second year seasons for LB Dont'a Hightower, DE Chandler Jones, and FS Tavon Wilson
- FA signings of interior pass rushers Tommy Kelly (Vet) and former CFL star Armond Armstead
- CB Ras-I Dowling healthy and having a good off season
- No suspension for CB Alfonso Dennard
- Drafting DE/OLB Hybrid Michael Buchanan from Illinois "the steal of the draft"
- Resigning of Nickel Specialist Kyle Arrington
- LB Dane Fletcher returning to health and field
- Drafting of LB Steve Beauharnais from Rutdgers
- Drafting of DBs Logan Ryans and Duron Harmon from Rutgers
- Interior pass rusher Marcus Forston from the "U" 4th in depth chart
- DE Jake Bequette and DE/OLB Jermaine Cunningham in competition
- FA signing of DE/OLB Jason Vega from CFL
- FA signing of DE/OLB Marcus Benard
- Resigning special teams ace and CB Marquice Cole
- Rookie FA signing of Safety Kanorris Davis from Troy

 

[stinebot]

I'd like to be confident that the D can hold it's own. I'd like to think there's a reasonable chance of winning a game even if the O is held to 17 or 21 points. I haven't felt that way in several years. I don't know if this will be the year. But I am confident they are moving in the right direction. The secondary should be much improved, and could even become a strength. That alone will be huge. The rest of it will come together as long as some terrible QB can't routinely lead a 3 play 75 yard scoring drive multiple times a game.

 

[Get it shawtaay]

I too am excited by the rookie FA signing of Safety Kanorris Davis from Troy. Championship baby.

 

[voluntarysaftey]

I've been too optimistic about the D for the past 4 years

Past Preseason thoughts:
McCourty is going to take the Revis year 1 to year 2 jump
Chung is going to become a top safety
Mayo is going to be a playmaking beast
Haynesworth & Wilfork in the middle is going to be amazing
etc etc

None of my expectations panned out. So this year I'm only expecting a slight increase from last year. Anything beyond that and I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Unfortunately that also means we still need a dominant offense to win games as a slight increase from last year isn't enough to win it all.

 

[micronin127]

It could be OK.

DT: They cut Pryor, Deaderick, Love. Brace is gone too. It's Wilfork and Kelly and who else. Armstead? Cherrington? Forston?

Comment: A little concerned about interior line.

DE: Can't wait to see Chandler Jones again. Ninkovich is ok. Bequette? Cunningham? Collins?

Comment: If Jones emerges that could make anyone else along the line that much better.

LB: Mayo, Hightower, Spikes, Fletcher, Rivera, Collins...

Comment: We'll see if anyone can cover a TE over the middle or a RB out of the backfield. This group could be the Achilles heel of the pass defense. If one guy is wide open, then it's a bad defense, even if the other 10 are accounted for.

S: McCourty, Wilson, Wilson, Gregory, Rutgers kid

Comment: Big plays have to stop. We were something like 31st in the league in allowing pass plays over 30 yards. The Seattle loss. The Ravens regular season loss come to mind as bad games for the back end of the secondary last year.

CB: Talib, Dennard, Arrington, Dowling, Rutgers kid

Comment: If they can stay healthy, could be a strength and allow us to generate more pressure.

I expect them to be opportunistic, generate a lot of turnovers against bad teams, and be a little trick or treat against good teams. Don't think that we can go wire-to-wire and pitch a shutout against a good team. The offense will have to outscore a few teams for us to win as well.

 

[NEPettyOfficer72]

Like Rodney Harrison cited before, I agree and think that the free agency signing of Star Safety Adrian Wilson will make the kind of impact that the signing of CB Aqib Talib did last year, but even more. Long mentioned behind the names of Ed Reed and Troy Palomalu has always been Adrian Wilson, especially once Brian Dawkins retired. Not to mention, the guy is only 33 and there have been great safeties over the years that have played at extremely high levels at ages older than that. The thing that sparks my interest, is that his impact will be maximized because of subbing, which is a good thing because while he still has his mental edge and that aspect of the game, the subbing allows the physical aspect to stay fresh allowing him to do some of the same things that he has always been able to do. Plus, he is a tremendous upgrade over Patrick Chung in regards to playing at the line of scrimmage and being used as an extra linebacker. And the way he is always around the ball, whether it be interceptions, forced fumbles or whatever.. is amazing. He is one of my favorite all time players and always exciting to watch. Used to hate playing against him. He'll bring that tenacity, physicality, toughness and experience to not only that secondary but the defense as a whole. We could definitely use some all-pro/ borderline Hall of Fame swagger on that D other then Vince Wilfork, and if we get a ring this year, then you can punch Adrian's ticket to Canton. That signing, to me makes ALL the difference. :rocker:

Lets not let the Offense, signing of Danny Amendola and Aaron Hernandez's news take away from the impact of Adrian Wilson's signing because I believe many fans tend to forget how big of a signing this is for the team. How often does NE sign a big legendary name like this on DEFENSE in the last 8 years (Haynesworth doesn't count, mentally didn't have it). http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNpT5SvlfJU

6th Player in LEAGUE HISTORY with 25 sacks and 25 interceptions
14 Forced Fumbles, 887 tackles, 5 Probowls and 4 All Pros!
Come get some........

 

[JMC00]

6th Player in LEAGUE HISTORY with 25 sacks and 25 interceptions
14 Forced Fumbles, 887 tackles, 5 Probowls and 4 All Pros!
Come get some........

3 INT and 4.5 sacks away from the 30/30, which the only members are

Rodney Harrison and Ray Lewis

 

[Modest]

The main thing that excites me about the possibilities of the 2013 defense is we will potentially have a full season of two good corners- which has been our Achilles heel for eons now.

What happens when Bill finds out we have the talent to keep the backfield sealed up and can dial up non-generic blitzes? :singing:

 

[goheels22002]

I've been too optimistic about the D for the past 4 years

Past Preseason thoughts:
McCourty is going to take the Revis year 1 to year 2 jump
Chung is going to become a top safety
Mayo is going to be a playmaking beast
Haynesworth & Wilfork in the middle is going to be amazing
etc etc

None of my expectations panned out.

Mayo panned out. He is a top 10 LB in the NFL.

McCourty was out of position until he switched to safety. Watch for the year one to year two jump in impact this year at safety. Trio of Gregory, McCourty and Adrian Wilson is an excellent safety rotation which should make the corners better and the big play frequency drop.

The offense looks to have a down year with all the turmoil. It's time for the Patriots to return to a defense first team. In the AFC East that will win the division while the passing game sorts itself out.

 

[patsinthesnow]

I expect the pats to have their best D since 07, mostly due to the secondary.

-The CB trio of Talib, Dennard, Arrington is our best since Samuel, Hobbs, Gay. (I like the 2013 group better)

-We actually have a legit safety duo in McCourty/Wilson, the best since Harrison/Sanders.

In short, our secondary isnt a joke for the first time in 6 years.

 

[DarrylS]

I expect the pats to have their best D since 07, mostly due to the secondary.

-The CB trio of Talib, Dennard, Arrington is our best since Samuel, Hobbs, Gay. (I like the 2013 group better)

-We actually have a legit safety duo in McCourty/Wilson, the best since Harrison/Sanders.

In short, our secondary isnt a joke for the first time in 6 years.

I agree, in about the 4th game last year our D backfield totalled less than 5 years NFL experience..

I think because our secondary is better, we will be better able to take more risks with the front seven...

BB has moved on from the theory to just put JAGS out there and coach them up..

I think they will be much better and get a lot of respect..

 

[Efstratios]

I don't expect us to have a bottom 5 defense this year, nor do I expect us to have a top 10 one either. It will be serviceable, and hopefully it will peak at the right time.

 

[mgteich]

1) We have the luxury of not having to count on our rookies. They may be productive or not in their rookie years.

2) We've brought in top help in Kelly and Wilson.

3) We brought back last year's corners, who should gel this year. We were fine with Talib, Dennard and Arrington (in the slot) last year. Adding Ryan and Dowling can only help.

4) For me, the question mark is at DT. We've lost Love, Deaderick, Pryor and Brace from the starting 2012 team. Kelly, Armstead and Forston should be adequate replacements. However, I suspect that Cunningham will move inside.

 

[Sciz]

The Pats were 9th in points allowed last season. Do people actually see them doing worse than that?

 

[Mack Herron]

The Pats were 9th in points allowed last season. Do people actually see them doing worse than that?

The defense could be improved and still give up more points. Opponents will have more opportunities because there is no way the offense gets as many first downs as they did last year.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

I believe this is finally the year of our defense. How much better can it really get? Got Mc and Wilson at safety, our 4 linebackers, and our dline. The defense has to make that jump. You can't get that much more talented on D and you have bill belicheck as your coach. The D started looking good last year. If ras I and talib play cb, I expect a huge jump on defense. This team is gonna put together another 12-14 win season if not better. The defense is on the verge of a great improvement, time to figure it out in TC and get rolling.

The offense should get better as the season progresses, and with a familiar D, its coming together nicely.

 

[AzPatsFan]

The Defense has either led the league or were damn near in turnovers the last few seasons. That indicates both defensive speed and talent. But lack of secondary and LB depth was the killer.

The Defense looked good with the starters, but as soon as any substitutions were made, in come the ST scrubs and the floodgates opened.

That is no longer true of the Safeties, Corners, OLBs and the ILBs. The DE starters are now OK, and the depth may be better.

At DT there appears to be the best starting twosome in quite a while, but the depth is questionable after that, although the CFL import Armond Armstead has credentials, if not proven NFL ability.

Bill Belichick has been re-building and winning. First you find the new starters, then you find some more tp provide good depth.