The Patriots Defense ~ A Return To Dominance

[randomk1]

In before we get torched and have no pressure on QB.



hehe

 

[Dingleberry]

Then you should watch closer, because they were nothing alike.

Having an offense that is under pressure to outscore the opponent is very much like the Manning Colts

Having a D that can't get off the field, gives up countless 3rd and longs, and allows below average QB's to have career days are all reminiscent of the Manning Colts.

The D has been frustrating to watch the last couple years.

I, too, am hopeful the D is better.

Until I see it, however....

 

[Marqui]

Hopefully you're right but I'll believe Kyle Love is a "disruptive force" when I see it.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Belichick has assembled a great variety of pieces to adapt in game better than we have in recent years.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Sans a few bad plays that happen to almost every D, including the likes of the 49ers, Ravens, etc., the Pats D has looked downright scary. They're flying to the ball and making sound tackles. The pass rush has made some nice plays and the back end has held up well enough. I like the new look.

 

[mayoclinic]

A few Random observations occurred to me as I was previewing my Previews...

1 ~ I have never felt better, in the Bill Belichick Era, about our Depth of Talent at Defensive Tackle.

2 ~ Vince Wilfork is the very best, most dominant Nose Tackle in the Game.

3 ~ I believe that the rapidly improving Kyle Love will become a far more disruptive force, with glorious results.

4 ~ The Depth of Talent of our Dragoons ~ DE/OLB Convertibles ~ is utterly astonishing.

5 ~ The Depth of Talent of our entire Front 7 ~ because our Dragoons can move to the Flanks, and because both our Sam and our Will can play the Mike ~ is astonishing.

6 ~ Being able to boast the aggregate Pass Rushing Ferocity and Run Defending Tenacity of Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jermaine Cunningham, Trevor Scott, Jake Bequette, and Justin Francis on one roster is absolutely mind-boggling. Wasn't it just 3 weeks ago that it was Derrick Burgess, Tully Banta Cain, and a bucket of spit???

7 ~ As awesome as Willie McGinest, Teddy Bruschi, and Mike Vrabel were, this group ~ Donta HighTower, Brandon Spikes, and Jerod Mayo ~ is fully capable of attaining their level in the next couple of years.

8 ~ If "Young & Talented, yet Experienced" is the best of all worlds ~ and it is ~ then this Defense will rapidly become the envy of the entire League ~ indeed, of the entire Belichickian Dynasty, when all is said and done, I believe. This Defense is deeper than it's ever been.

The "ReBoot", at long last...is complete.

Let the Chicken Littles quote statistics from 2011.

I'm here to say: This Defense ~ the 2012 Defense, and beyond ~ will prove to be of such explosive, disruptive, marauding Excellence...that it will be capable of carrying this team, if needs be, to a Championship.

One half of football is obviously not enough, but damn, the defense is looking pretty darn good today. Swarming, aggressive, tackling, making plays ... not the kind of defense we're used to seeing. Could be the 49ers out there. Jones, Hightower, Mayo, Wilfork - that's 4 big time playmakers in the front 6/7.

 

[Patriots2001]

Have you guys noticed no mis-tackles...This is huge IMO tells me they have more speed on D...

 

[patsox23]

Don't mean to kill the buzz, and I'm very pleased with the start, too, but...holy crap, it's one half against a young QB. Is this jetsinsider.com?

 

[mayoclinic]

Don't mean to kill the buzz, and I'm very pleased with the start, too, but...holy crap, it's one half against a young QB. Is this jetsinsider.com?

Nope. Just saying we're off to a nice start and the defense looks different in several key respects than what we've seen in a while. The rest will have to wait until they show they can keep it up, and do it against different teams.

A couple of things do stand out so far:

1. Dominant run D against an excellent OL and an elite RB.
2. 2 sacks against an excellent OL.
3. Very sound tackling.

If those things are truly signs of what is to come, it will be an interesting season.

 

[Patriots2001]

Don't mean to kill the buzz, and I'm very pleased with the start, too, but...holy crap, it's one half against a young QB. Is this jetsinsider.com?

Very true but there is reason to be upbeat about the potential of this defense..

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Front 7 looks dominating. Secondary looks very suspect.

 

[Ring 6]

Front 7 looks dominating. Secondary looks very suspect.

Very suspect? Really? Do you care to elaborate?

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Front 7 looks dominating. Wilfork looks QUICK

 

[blackglass3]

Don't mean to kill the buzz, and I'm very pleased with the start, too, but...holy crap, it's one half against a young QB. Is this jetsinsider.com?

Think back to last years first game against Chad Henne. Now think of how we looked today. It's night and day.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Very suspect? Really? Do you care to elaborate?

Yet again, this pass defense allows too many completions over 20 yards. 3 or 4 of them again in this game.

If a young, inexperienced QB like Locker can do this I shudder to think what a guy like Brees or Rodgers would do.

Either way, this pass defense has to tighten down and perform much better if this defense is going to get to dominating status as the OP suggests.

 

[Patriots2001]

The run defense like Phill simms said could be the best in all of football..

 

[BBass]

Yet again, this pass defense allows too many completions over 20 yards. 3 or 4 of them again in this game.

If a young, inexperienced QB like Locker can do this I shudder to think what a guy like Brees or Rodgers would do.

Either way, this pass defense has to tighten down and perform much better if this defense is going to get to dominating status as the OP suggests.

I didn't think it looked suspect. I thought it looked solid.

-Teams playing down 15-20 points take more chances, sometimes they hook up in those situations.
-The play that Arrington got beat on was very aggressive by Tenn, I do not think anybody was expecting that bold of a call. Coverage was still tight and the pass was perfect.
-Gregory and Wilson gambled on the TD pass in the 3rd quarter. I would rather have safeties with the speed, ball skills, and play recognition to attempt those plays then what we had out on the field last year.

Overall it is week 1 and the team went out and held the Titans to under 15 points and 300 total yards. The younger corners will only improve over time. Wilson, Dowling, Moore and even McCourty and Arrington will all get better as the season goes.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

Not sure yet but I DEF like what I saw with front 7. We'll see as time goes on with our secondary but I saw a difference from last year already with ferocious swarming and aggresiveness from our DBs. BEST YET was seeing Jones force fumble & High'T run it in JUST LIKE BB envisioned it with those draft choices. if anything I feel a hech'ofalot confident this year with our D than last year.

 

[shirtsleeve]

Not sure yet but I DEF like what I saw with front 7. We'll see as time goes on with our secondary but I saw a difference from last year already with ferocious swarming and aggresiveness from our DBs. BEST YET was seeing Jones force fumble & High'T run it in JUST LIKE BB envisioned it with those draft choices. if anything I feel a hech'ofalot confident this year with our D than last year.

Hightower earned the '54 today. He better keep it up. Those are gigantic shoes to fill.


The secondary was spotty. But overall they were in position to make the plays. I agree with the no call on McCourty in the first. He never touched the guy. He did it later too. There is no facemasking in the NFL as long as you don't touch the guy in an aggressive way. Its totally allowed to get all up in his face.

I just wish he would learn to turn.

Both were picks waiting to happen. He had the position.

 

[The Gr8est]

Hightower earned the '54 today. He better keep it up. Those are gigantic shoes to fill.


The secondary was spotty. But overall they were in position to make the plays. I agree with the no call on McCourty in the first. He never touched the guy. He did it later too. There is no facemasking in the NFL as long as you don't touch the guy in an aggressive way. Its totally allowed to get all up in his face.

I just wish he would learn to turn.

Both were picks waiting to happen. He had the position.

This defense is a work in progress. For them to look this good, this early, really bodes well for what this defense will ultimately be after Thanksgiving.

Also, usually the players who turn out to be gr8 show signs early. Jones, Hightower, and Wilson couldn't have had a more promising start to their careers.

Are there STILL any Pats fans who feel Tavon Wilson was a bad pick?

And "No", he would not have been there 2-3 rounds later.