Finally.
With the news that the Pats have signed Brandon Browner to a 3 year deal, following the Darrelle Revis signing, for the first time since Ty Law left and Rodney Harrison started to decline the Pats are really in position to have a dominant secondary that can play aggressive coverage schemes, and allow BB to get aggressive up front. Whether Browner ends up playing SS, CB or some of both, they are paying him starter's money to give themselves the ability to do what they haven't been able to do for a decade.
Going back to the OP:
With Seattle putting on a show of defensive dominance reminiscent of the 1985 Bears and 2000 Ravens, people are suddenly remembering that defense tends to win championships. The Pats have a lot of good pieces in place, and showed some significant progress this season before injuries took their toll. But there are a number of question marks.
Here's my "blueprint" for evolving the Pats' D into one on a Seattle/SF/Carolina championship-caliber level.
1. Need a change of attitude and approach.
The Pats' D comes from the top, and it's just not adequate in today's NFL. Too passive, too soft. The defense needs to get much more physical and play with an attitude and with controlled rage. Aqib Talib brought some much-needed swagger to a demoralized secondary, and that kind of attitude is needed on all 3 levels.
Check. There are obviously some major pieces to be addressed, but it's hard to imagine that the Pats would have been so aggressive about Revis and Browner if they weren't planning to be significantly more aggressive on defense.
2. Upgrade and add depth on DL.
Obviously, this hasn't been addressed yet, though the prediction about Vince Wilfork being cut looks fairly likely at this point. It's hard to imagine that the team would have gotten so aggressive at DB without intending to be able to be more disruptive up front, too.
3. Continue to get more mobile at LB.
Again, this hasn't been fully accomplished, though the team has made some moves suggesting that this is a goal. Brandon Spikes is obviously moving on. The team showed interest in Dakoda Watson and had Wesley Woodyard in for a visit, though that didn't pan out. They have reportedly showed considerable interest in Kevin Pierre-Louis at Boston College's Pro Day. I think that we'll see more speed at the 2nd level. The Browner signing makes it easier to use Adrian Wilson as a pure hybrid S/LB (if he stays), and I think that the Pats' interest in Watson and Woodyard suggests that guys like Christian Jones, Jordan Tripp, Telvin Smith and Kevin Pierre-Loiuis will not be too far "outside the mold".
4. Go "Seattle" with big, physical DBs.
Obviously, this is where the FO has chosen to focus their initial efforts. Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Alfonzo Dennard and Devin McCourty are as good a group of DBs as there is in the NFL. Logan Ryan, Duron Harmon and Kyle Arrington are quality depth. I'm not sure there's a better group of 7 DBs in the NFL. I'd still like to see 1-2 more added in day 3 of the draft, but it's a huge change from where we have been. Only 18 months ago the secondary was a shambles.
Looking at some of the points that were emphasized earlier in this thread:
The key to good defense is to show the offense no respect and flat out bully them for the entire time you're on the field.
The moves in the secondary strongly suggest that the Pats are moving in this kind of direction. The secondary is bigger and much more physical than anything we've seen in a decade, and presumably the front 7 will become more physical and aggressive, too.
Seattle also proved the wisdom of Grid's "overload" approach, adopted from military strategy:
"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.'"
Time to fight a modern war, gentlemen. And this is as good a time as any to figure out how to overload with modern weapons. This draft is full of them.
It certainly looks like the FO is "overloading" at the DB position.
And, from Greg Cosell:
Gus Bradley, the Seahawks defensive coordinator the last four seasons before becoming the Jacksonville Jaguars' head coach in January, summed it up best. He once said, “Whatever scheme you play, you’ve got to create disruption at the perimeter.” Disruption outside with taller, more aggressive corners; pass rush flexibility and adaptability with athletic and versatile hybrids who can align all over.
That’s the template for defensive success in a passing league.
"Disruption at the perimeter" with taller, more aggressive corners. Check.
"Pass rush flexibility and adaptability with athletic and versatile hybrids that can align all over". Jamie Collins epitomizes that. Chandler Jones fits, as do Rob Ninkovich and Dont'a Hightower, and Michael Buchanan if he develops. Armond Armstead would fit as an "inside/outside" guy if he can get healthy and develop. I'd like to see another hybrid or two added, but I don't think that the trend is towards more of a "bend but don't break defense".
Disruption is production. And we seem to finally be on the road to being able to execute a more aggressive, disruptive defense that can bully any QB and any offense in the NFL, without fear. It's about time.
