However you want to break this down .. and however late in the season it might be ..
2016 Pats D is .. still a work in progress.
There were a lot of baffling personnel moves all year.
The only one I think was mismanaged is Anthony Johnson. Might sound strange because most people here would have him of no importance since they have him as “least“ talented but the fact is he did show up in preseason and regular season and knowing he could be snatched from PS they should've kept him on 53.
There are no Hicks, Easleys or even Anthony Johnsons walking the street at this point.
Like Mayo said today: The mantra that all players are treated equally here is (of course) not true. They have a lot of patience with guys like Freeny and McClellin f.e. (having payed 5M already for McC has something to do with it i guess). They didn't have that with A Johnson who showed at least some flashes of interior rush and more importantly infused a lot of energy to the whole line. I am not a “stat“ guy but the numbers with him on the field were surprisingly positive. They could have easily brought him back in when they traded Derby and the next thing he was gone.
Lets have a look at 53 personnel change on D since the start of the season.
IN: Hamilton (from PS), Ninkovich (from SUS), Grissom (from PS), Van Noy + Mingo just before the start of the season.
OUT: Freeny (IR), A Johnson, Collins
Lots of movements at DL, LB positions (also DT/DE Hughes was in for a couple of days, playing for Tampa now) show that BB was not happy the way this two positions played out in the preseason. The guys who came in are good depth additions but not key playmakers.
With the bye week the second sort of preseason started with one big difference - no trade window and not much time left.
Still looking forward to see what they will do with what they have. SF game showed baby steps in the right direction - decide for 3 CBs and stick with them - I hope this is now settled and start to glue and improve. Something similar is needed for LB (DE will remain in rotation anyway):
High knows his plays - if he will try to do more he will do less.
Roberts showed what he can do and what he can't (yet) so I guess they'll put him back in his comfort zone.
McClellin doesn't look good to most people but BB thinks differently.
Van Noy showed he can be disruptive and productive in pass rush but remains to be seen if he can add something in coverage. He clearly is before Mingo. Mingo was less effective but it was late in the game. Hopefully he gets some chances in coverage.
Ninkovich looked better as OLB to me this year so maybe he sees more of that when/if Sheard comes back.
Lots of options here. Time to decide for the ones to go with.
_
Bottom line: This D is a good enough unit and not struggling so much as to cost team games. But BB clearly wants them to step up a bit, consolidate for the playoffs. I have no doubt they can do that. Once the new D looks and personnel crystalise, players will get more comfortable and be able to execute and communicate better. They will make better plays, bigger plays and that will bring more energy, fire. Not to mention motivation of playoffs just around the corner ..