The Patriots' week by week NFL Rush Defense ranking:
- Week 1: 16
- Week 2: 08
- Week 3: 16
- Week 4: 13
- Week 5: 08
- Week 6: 08
- Week 7: 06
- Week 8: 03
- Week 9: 03
- Week 10: 03
- Week 11: 02
- Week 12: 03
- Week 13: 03
- Week 14: 03
- Week 15: 04
- Week 16: 05
- Week 17: 05
Yep, the Pats' rush defense went to heck in a hand basket with TBC in the line-up. (Must have been his play in game 1.)
He's just a JAG. (Which explains why the Jets who want to get better to compete with the Pats are rumored to be targeting him.)
So New England ended the season the #5 rush defense in the NFL up from #2 in week 11, they played without Harrison, Seau, and Wilfork for most of that period - a gaping hole right up the middle. But somehow the consensus has TBC as the weakest link in the rush defense. Go figure.
For the record:
- TBC started in 5 games and playing in 16 had 40 Total Tackles (10 on Special Teams), 5.5 sacks, 10 QBH, 1 PD, and 1 FF.
For grins and giggles, lets compare TBC to Rosey:
- 15 starts with 16 games played, 59 Total Tackles, 8.5 sacks, 26 QBH, 3 PD, 1 FF, and 1 FR.
Just to be thorough, let's compare post-season data:
- TBC started 2 games and played in 3 with 6 Total Tackles, 2 sacks, 5 QBH, 1 PD, and 1 FR.
- Rosey started 3 games with 10 Total Tackles, 1 sack, 4 QBH, 1 INT, 1 PD, and 1FF.
I'm sure this data will be ignored in favor of Len Pasqurelli's wisdom, but for the one or two of you who consider this information, I'd say the numbers speak quite well for TBC when compared to the one player on the team who consistently played the same position throughout the season.
- Source: Patriots' Final 2006 Season Media Release
The information you offer on the Pats run defense is misleading while being factually correct. Though the Pats managed to end the regular season with the 5th ranked rush defense in the NFL, that is more a testament to how dominant they were prior to Seau's injury, than to their quality once TBC was inserted into the lineup. For example:
Pats run defense raw numbers
With Seau healthy and TBC as rotational player
(carries/yards/average)
week 1 vs. Buff: 24/99/4.1
week 2 vs NYJ: 24/51/2.1
week 3 vs Den: 34/144/4.2
week 4 vs. Cin: 17/71/4.2
week 5 vs. Mia: 21/62/3.0
week 7 vs Buff: 25/75/3.0
week 8 vs. Min: 15/45/3.0
week 9 vs. Ind: 25/53/2.1
week 10 vs. NY: 29/117/4.0
week 11 vs GB: 16/44/2.8
Totals with Seau healthy in starting lineup and TBC as rotational player:
10 games/76.1 yards per game (3rd in NFL)/3.3 yards per carry (3rd in NFL)
week 12 vs. Chi: before Seau's injury in 2nd Q: 11/34/3.1
week 12 vs. Chi: after Seau's injury: 22/108/4.9
With TBC in starting line-up
week 13 vs Det: 22/77/3.5
week 14 vs Mia: 25/123/4.9
week 15 vs Hou:22/105/4.8
week 16 vs Jak: 22/144/6.5
week 17 vs Ten: 25/135/5.4
week 18 vs NYJ: 16/70/4.4
week 19 vs. SD: 33/148/4.5
week 20 vs. Ind: 30/125/4.2
Totals with TBC as starter:
8 games/115.9 yards per game (15th in NFL)/4.8 yards per rush (29th in NFL)
NOTE: if the Chicago 2nd half is extrapolated over a full game, the Pats would have been allowing 125 yards rushing per game after Seau's injury, a mark which would have ranked
21st in the NFL over the full season.
Observations:
Prior to Seau's injury, in 10 games the Pats allowed 100 yards only twice, and 6 times held their opponents to under 3 yards per rush or less. After Seau's injury, with TBC the only personnel change to the LBing corps, the Pats allowed 100 yards rushing or more 6 times in 8 games (7 times in 9 if the Chicago 2nd half is counted), and allowed their opponents to rush for over 4 yards per carry every game except vs. Detroit. One of the 3-4's strengths is the ability to prevent long running plays by creating a defense in depth. Prior to Seau's injury the Pats' longest run allowed was 21 yards. After his injury, the Pats allowed 4 runs of 34 yards or longer.
Conclusion
The Pats run defense was tremendous prior to Seau's injury. After his injury, with TBC the only newcomer in the starting line-up, the Pats run defense was at best mediocre. The blame may partially fall on the need to shuffle positions in the LBing corps, requiring players to learn new run fits. Strangely (or appropriately) the best performance of that reshuffled group was its 1st one vs Detroit. After that game the run defense allowed an average of over 120 yards per game and 4.9 yards per rush. Any objective observer would call that putrid by Patriot standards. To say that TBC played no role in this issue is whistling past the graveyard. In the offseason all players must be reevaluated and held to account. That goes for every member of the LBing group. Colvin was frequently a step late getting to the QB, and TBC IMO is already the superior pass rusher. Bruschi is struggling to fight off blocks and in coverage. All 3 LB positions on the Pats could frankly use an upgrade if the unit is to become dominant. Even if TBC is resigned, and I hope he is, the unit needs youth to build a bridge to the future.