The Patriots Defense ~ A Return To Dominance

[Off The Grid]

Let's get a grip...

Grip this.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I am almost overwhelmed with excitement ~ not just about the win...but about the way we won.

When we were racking up Championships, oh so recently, we did so by boasting 3 extraordinary Elements:

1 ~ A balanced Offense. Run The Damned BALL!!
2 ~ A balanced but ferocious, attacking Defense.
3 ~ The Best QuarterBack in the Galaxy, generalling the Offense.

Anyone missing my point ~ repeated 8 million times since '07 ~ is advised to replay yesterday's Tape.

1 ~ A Balanced Offense means the D doesn't know what to expect on every single play: Huge advantage.

2 ~ A Balanced Offense means that the D can't tee off on Tom Brady and wear him out by January.

3 ~ A Tom Brady who isn't beat into pulp every Autumn just might play at an high level through his 40th year.

4 ~ Brady playing at an high level that long might mean the difference between 3 more Rings..and 5.

Plus this might be the first time I've ever seen three rookies with significant contributions on opening day for us. Let alone causing turnovers or scoring a TD! And all three on defense where it was most needed.

 

[Kontradiction]

The moves in the offseason seem to be a very positive step in the right direction. But I'm going to hold back on my elation right now. As has been said, Week 3 should be the real first test for this defense. In other words, let's hold our horses.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

The moves in the offseason seem to be a very positive step in the right direction. But I'm going to hold back on my elation right now. As has been said, Week 3 should be the real first test for this defense. In other words, let's hold our horses.

I agree.

Week 1 provides optimism and it's a long season. We'll have to see how other teams game plan for our D once they have some film on the rookies to see if they can handle the nfl level of play (which i expect they'll be well taught and prepared).

Looking at the schedule, it doesn't seem that we play any elite offenses unless things come together for some teams.

• Week 3@Baltimore certainly has some promise as a good offense based on last night
• Week 5 hosting Denver with a QB who knows the pats like no other
• Week 7/12 the Jets. By week 7 Sanchez will either have taken a step forward in terms of play or start playing scared. We'll see hoe much was him and how much was their D giving them good starting position.
• Wekk 14/15 hosting Houston and San Fran respectively will provide a good tune up for the post season.

Still none of those offenses should be at our level (maybe Houston). Though, there's always a syprise here and there and injuries play a big role as well.

 

[Off The Grid]

The moves in the offseason seem to be a very positive step in the right direction. But I'm going to hold back on my elation right now. As has been said, Week 3 should be the real first test for this defense. In other words, let's hold our horses.

There you go again.

Clearly, you think you're in the locker room, Brother Kontra, as you're obviously afraid to get too excited.



That's your privilege.

But how about you keep your unwarranted, uninvited directives to yourself??

Nobody's telling you "Get excited, Kontra!!"

How about extending the rest of us that same basic courtesy??

******

As for me: I saw what I saw, and I made this Prediction Thread based on it.

Win or Fail, I'll live with the consequences.

Meanwhile, it's quite clear that there is a LOT to get excited about, here!!

And that being the case, I am gonna dance and cackle with GLEE, thank you very much!! :rocker:

If that bothers you ~ or any other Eeyors ~ you have my permission to keep moving!!

 

[Off The Grid]

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.

Great Stuff, Brother Cassius!! :rocker:

1 ~ Perhaps the best point in this Thread, so far: "For them to look this good, this early, really bodes well for what this defense will ultimately be after Thanksgiving." As you, Brother Mayo, I, and others've said: It's after Turkey Day that we really find out about a team's chances of blasting their way through January.

2 ~ I have suggested that ~ in a very real sense ~ Coach Bill The Mad (Genius) regards the first 16 games as but an extension of the Exhibition Season...in the sense that we're so damned good ~ Bless Our Souls + May The Ghost of Rod Rust Rest In Peace ~ that winning enough games to make the PlayOffs is an almost incidental benefit of 16 weeks of preparing for the PlayOffs.

3 ~ I love your point regarding Harbingers of Greatness!! :rocker:

We presume nothing, of course.

Obviously.

But it's true.

There are often ~ very often ~ Portentions.

...And when we saw Chandler Jones ROAR past poor Brother Roos and StripSack Locker like he'd been doing so for years...as that ball bounced around for what seemed like 15 or 20 exquisitely slow years...I somehow knew ~ as did my Brother, watching beside me ~ that something extremely excellent was about to happen.

...and so it DID!!

 

[Kontradiction]

There you go again.

Clearly, you think you're in the locker room, Brother Kontra, as you're obviously afraid to get too excited.



That's your privilege.

But how about you keep your unwarranted, uninvited directives to yourself??

Nobody's telling you "Get excited, Kontra!!"

How about extending the rest of us that same basic courtesy??

******

As for me: I saw what I saw, and I made this Prediction Thread based on it.

Win or Fail, I'll live with the consequences.

Meanwhile, it's quite clear that there is a LOT to get excited about, here!!

And that being the case, I am gonna dance and cackle with GLEE, thank you very much!! :rocker:

If that bothers you ~ or any other Eeyors ~ you have my permission to keep moving!!

It doesn't bother me at all. And I appreciate your glee. Your threads, though they give me a headache from the different colors and fonts, entertain me. But I'd rather just take the wait and see approach myself. If they can do to Baltimore what they did to Tennessee, then I just might join you.

 

[Off The Grid]

It doesn't bother me at all. And I appreciate your glee. Your threads, though they give me a headache from the different colors and fonts, entertain me. But I'd rather just take the wait and see approach myself. If they can do to Baltimore what they did to Tennessee, then I just might join you.

Fair Enough, Brother Kontra ~ you must follow your own Path, as I must mine!!

 

[Off The Grid]

I find Reiss's Analysis about as flavorfull as a blanched turnip...But he is an extremely reliable Reporter.

Mike Reiss @ ESPN ~ Quick Glance at Defensive Stat Rankings

Terrific start.

Something to build on.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

What I failed to state in an obvious manner in a thread I started regarding the defense.

I share your enthusiam OTG. I believe they executed the game plan set out for them almost flawlessly. Assuming that plan was to contain runners and stop the run (Chris Johnson & Locker).

I would have thought (during pre season prognostication) is that we would have been very good at getting after the QB with the new addtitions and some other players apparently stepping up their play. I can't wait to see this team pin it's ears back be unleashed on a less mobile QB (or Oline that isn't up to snuff with what is discussed -- in mediots world-- as a very effective line for Tennesse). That was alluded to as a strength of this team and if it's even better at penetration/rushed/sacks, then opposing offenses may be in for a rough season.

 

[Off The Grid]

Sister Patricia found this intriguing Article by Greg Bedard of The Pravda:

2 Gapping in the 43

This ties right in with our "offseason" discussions regarding "Bill Belichick & The Hybrid Defense", and even takes it to another level ~ classic Belichickian "34" 2 Gapping concepts applied across the entire "43" D Line!!

This could be driving Defenses into a new and fascinating realm...

 

[Off The Grid]

Sister Patricia found this intriguing Article by Greg Bedard of The Pravda:

2 Gapping in the 43

This ties right in with our "offseason" discussions regarding "Bill Belichick & The Hybrid Defense", and even takes it to another level ~ classic Belichickian "34" 2 Gapping concepts applied across the entire "43" D Line!!

This could be driving Defenses into a new and fascinating realm...

Here's a very readable essay on 2 Gapping "43" Defense.

The Author states that only two teams ~ the Jaguars + Vikings ~ employ it, and that most teams ~ this was my impression, too ~ who employ the "43" go with an attacking, 1 Gap Scheme.

I wanted to post this in Sister Patricia's Thread, but it seems to've degenerated into:

1 ~ How much Bedard Sucks and
2 ~ Whose fault it was that Brady + Lloyd didn't connect on that first pass...

Who would've thought we'd beaten a good team on the road by 21 Points???

It was a truly intriguing Thread Idea.

***

I'd love to discuss this intriguing, unusual Fusion of the "43" & "2 Gapping" ~ not unprecedented, but unusual.

I'm steadfast in my expectation of the "245" being the Defense of the Future...But it seems to me that a 2 Gapping "43" might have vast possibilities in the immediate future ~ a means, if a Defense can pull it off, to free up the "Back 7" to make Plays on a consistent basis. Opinions??

 

[patfanken]

Here's a very readable essay on 2 Gapping "43" Defense.

The Author states that only two teams ~ the Jaguars + Vikings ~ employ it, and that most teams ~ this was my impression, too ~ who employ the "43" go with an attacking, 1 Gap Scheme.

I wanted to post this in Sister Patricia's Thread, but it seems to've degenerated into:

1 ~ How much Bedard Sucks and
2 ~ Whose fault it was that Brady + Lloyd didn't connect on that first pass...

Who would've thought we'd beaten a good team on the road by 21 Points???

It was a truly intriguing Thread Idea.

***

I'd love to discuss this intriguing, unusual Fusion of the "43" & "2 Gapping" ~ not unprecedented, but unusual.

I'm steadfast in my expectation of the "245" being the Defense of the Future...But it seems to me that a 2 Gapping "43" might have vast possibilities in the immediate future ~ a means, if a Defense can pull it off, to free up the "Back 7" to make Plays on a consistent basis. Opinions??

I think this is a fascinating subject, Grid. What a great article by Bedard.

I had no idea the Pats were running their 4-3 with 2 gap principles. It almost seems counter intuitive not be be attacking from the 4-3. I'm also surprised that there are 2 other teams who use this tactic. I would have bet that the Pats were the only ones.

The most impressive thing to me to come out of the game was how well the undersized DE's (Cunningham, Ninko,, and Jones) held up against the run. They seemed to have no trouble setting the edge, and the fact we find out that were doing it using 2 gap techniques makes it even more impressive. You'd think that smaller DE's would be at a severe disadvantage in that situation.

I'm also really glad that Bedard pointed out why Ninkovich seemed to be less of a factor than the hanging judges wanted. That his first responsibility to to keep Locker in the the pocket, so his rush had to be under control. He couldn't just fly by the QB.

This defense has no ceiling. It really could have a Houston-like worst to first kind of rise if it remains healthy. I think the secondary still needs time to mesh together, but when it does, it will allow BB to start to use some zone and overload blitz packages that will truly make this defense a terror to plan for.

 

[THELAWFIRM226]

Let's be serious here, this defense is not "great" by any stretch of the imagination and saying otherwise is simply nonsense. This defense has a chance to be "good" at best but with our offense, a "good" defense is all we really need. Hell, we made it to the Super Bowl last year with...yea....and so let's be happy that our D is improved but take it with a grain of salt because I don't think our defense is even top 10 at this point.

 

[SeymourTrophies]

Two things that are helping me get excited about the defense Sunday:

1) I have never seen that kind of obliteration in the trenches. Tennessee isn't some world beating offense, but no Titans boards I read bemoaned offensive line play. In fact, they were confident that the line would keep our front 7 under wraps.

2) Jake Locker, whom I would rate higher than Chad Henne in all categories, did not throw for 400 yards on us.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Let's be serious here, this defense is not "great" by any stretch of the imagination and saying otherwise is simply nonsense. This defense has a chance to be "good" at best but with our offense, a "good" defense is all we really need. Hell, we made it to the Super Bowl last year with...yea....and so let's be happy that our D is improved but take it with a grain of salt because I don't think our defense is even top 10 at this point.

9th (Tied) by total yards
18th for passing yards/gm
2nd running yards per game
3rd (tied) in points per game

 

[SeymourTrophies]

We may not have even conceded that touchdown against a more experienced QB. It would take a more youthful, daring individual to sling the ball off balance downfield while being wrapped up.

I believe my exact words were, "Un-effing-believable."

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I am excited to see how they try to contain fitzgerald on sunday

 

[goheels22002]

This is good stuff, but until we see the defense deal with the Ravens' offense, what do we really know?

The run-stopping ability of the defense was on display in the first quarter against the Titans, but as the train eased out of the station, the Titans were relegated to having their terrific young quarterback (I think Jake Locker is the real deal) try to grab chunks of of yardage with an inferior receiving corps.

The Cardinals are a worse test. Bedard was great on WEEI this morning - even John Dennis had to shut up and listen. Bedard predicted a Patriots shut-out against Kevin Kolb whose career is on an express down elevator to the CFL and no running backs to speak of at all.

The 2-gap 4-3 is a Daisuke Matsuzaka Gyro Ball unless is shuts down Ray Rice and Joe Flacco in a couple of weeks. Let's face it, Flacco outplayed Brady in the 2012 AFCC game and the Ravens should have gone to the Super Bowl if it weren't for the cluelessness of Harbaugh (which one is which?), the missed FG and the stripped TD by Sterling Moore.

Seriously, we can't credit the 2-Gap 4-3 for this: NFL Videos: Evans' dropped pass costs Ravens They line up in a standard issue nickel at the start of the play.

We think the defensive line is terrific, but, to me the jury is out on Ninkovich at DE, and the linebackers are young, athletic and so talented. But until they have a talented runner like Rice or Chris Johnson paired with an accurate passer who can see what the defense is up to and has the receivers to exploit it, we just do not know.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Two things that are helping me get excited about the defense Sunday:

1) I have never seen that kind of obliteration in the trenches. Tennessee isn't some world beating offense, but no Titans boards I read bemoaned offensive line play. In fact, they were confident that the line would keep our front 7 under wraps.

2) Jake Locker, whom I would rate higher than Chad Henne in all categories, did not throw for 400 yards on us.

That's not the case for the Cardinals. If there is a weak link on the Cardinals it's clearly the OL. Injuries have forced the Cardinals to start a rookie at RT and a back up RT at LT. Throw in some crowd noise and I expect the Cardinals OL to really struggle this weekend.

:bricks: