The Pats have the second ranked defense

[Rob0729]

Ok, I think the NFL defensive ranking is BS and it is only week 2 (and the Pats haven't faced the best offenses in the league), but the Pats have the second ranked defense in the NFL. They are 4th in points allowed. The Pats are 9th in third down percentage by the opposing team. They are fifth in yards allowed per play. They are tied for 8th with fewest passing plays over 20 yards allowed.

Again it is early, but we second to last in yards allowed and last in passing plays over 20 yards allowed last year. It is a significant improvement on that side of the ball.

 

[Jangles]

This is welcome news.

Hopefully the trend continues.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Ok, I think the NFL defensive ranking is BS ...l.

You said it. Not me. I think the Pats proved last year that points allowed is the best way to measure a D. The "combined" ranking is, well, BS.

 

[Rob0729]

You said it. Not me. I think the Pats proved last year that points allowed is the best way to measure a D. The "combined" ranking is, well, BS.

The Pats are 4th in points allowed and 10 of the points you can almost assign to the offense and special teams. On three points the Pats forced a three and out, but the drive started in field goal range. And the other 7 was a TD drive that started on the Patriots' two yard line.

 

[JMC00]

If this was 2011 Pats would have given up 600 yards just in passing already.

And if you don't think so let me throw out some names and numbers

Chad Henne 417
Ryan Fitzpatrick 369 & 307
Jason Campbell 344
Vince Young 400
Mark Sanchez 306
Dan Orlovsky 353

 

[Rob0729]

If this was 2011 Pats would have given up 600 yards just in passing already.

And if you don't think so let me throw out some names and numbers

Chad Henne 417
Ryan Fitzpatrick 369 & 307
Jason Campbell 344
Vince Young 400
Mark Sanchez 306
Dan Orlovsky 353

A lot of those stats were in garbage time though. If the Pats weren't blowing out some of those teams, their passing numbers would be down. Although, I don't think they would be nearly as low as this defense would keep them.

 

[Ring 6]

If this was 2011 Pats would have given up 600 yards just in passing already.

And if you don't think so let me throw out some names and numbers

Chad Henne 417
Ryan Fitzpatrick 369 & 307
Jason Campbell 344
Vince Young 400
Mark Sanchez 306
Dan Orlovsky 353

The offense hasn't played well enough to get a big lead so QBs could get the garbage times yards that most of those were

 

[JJDChE]

We haven't held consecutive opponents under 300 yds since 2009.

 

[Kontradiction]

If this was 2011 Pats would have given up 600 yards just in passing already.

And if you don't think so let me throw out some names and numbers

Chad Henne 417
Ryan Fitzpatrick 369 & 307
Jason Campbell 344
Vince Young 400
Mark Sanchez 306
Dan Orlovsky 353

Both Locker and Kolb would have put at least 300 passing yards on the 2011 defense.

 

[PatsDeb]

The Pats are 4th in points allowed and 10 of the points you can almost assign to the offense and special teams. On three points the Pats forced a three and out, but the drive started in field goal range. And the other 7 was a TD drive that started on the Patriots' two yard line.

Agreed. Only 10 of the points scored by AZ are attributable to the defense.

The D played pretty well on Sunday. One of those high moments (followed by one of those low moments) when you saw Big Vince grab that fumble on the bottom of the pile.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Both Locker and Kolb would have put at least 300 passing yards on the 2011 defense.

Fitzgerald would have went off on the 2011 D

 

[BananaRepublican]

A lot of those stats were in garbage time though. .

400 yards is a lot of garbage Rob.

 

[Lowercaseg]

The defense does look better this season, no doubt. Hopefully they continue to improve and stay healthy.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

The Pats are 4th in points allowed and 10 of the points you can almost assign to the offense and special teams. On three points the Pats forced a three and out, but the drive started in field goal range. And the other 7 was a TD drive that started on the Patriots' two yard line.

I'm not arguing. I'm just saying that the only meaningful number is points against. By the end of the season last year the aggregate had the Pats last or something.

 

[IllegalContact]

I guess having a top 2 offense won't be so important anymore.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

So your saying there is room for improvement :bricks:.

I don't see too many offenses that are going to put too much stress on us this season (2-4 perhaps), unless some players are taking it to the next level.

Still, the eye test tells us this defense is much improved. What I would likw to see them develope (as the season goes on) is that ability to stop the opponent when they need to (like this last week when they forced a fumble) with more regularity.

That is one thing the Caridnals showed, making those key plays (not turnovers per say) to kill a drive or set the offense up in a bad situation.

So, far, I like it.

 

[JMC00]

Fitzgerald would have went off on the 2011 D

but instead had his worst game since his rookie year. that cardinals game was a defense plan perfectly executed. Instead the offense & special teams spots the cardinals 10 points.

Although special teams does get a check for holding Peterson to only 1 return of 3 yards while punting to him 5 times.

I know they had 105 rushing but the reason they went over 100 was Peterson had that 17 yard run and I also wouldn't doubt the cardinals probably held on that play as well.

 

[SeymourTrophies]

The offense hasn't played well enough to get a big lead so QBs could get the garbage times yards that most of those were

I'll give you the Colts game and Jason Campbell's 80 something yard drive through the air as garbage time stats, but the other games would have been heart stoppers if the offense didn't keep pummeling in the other team. The defense wasn't as bad as everyone said last season, but it wasn't good. PPG should be more heavily weighted in those rankings.

I also can't remember us getting to the QB in any of the first three games last season. Obviously, we are much improved this year.

 

[Rob0729]

I guess having a top 2 offense won't be so important anymore.

The Pats have the sixth ranked offense in yards and 12th in points. Not what we are used to, but not horrible. Considering some of the teams that are higher than the Pats are teams like the Jets who have gotten multiple TDs on defense and special teams, it isn't that bad.

I have faith that the offense will be a top offense when they work out the kinks. I would rather have the defense be excelling at this point than the offense excelling the defense struggling.

 

[BradyManny]

Don't be afraid to say it: this defense is good.

The talent is dramatically improved. Jones, Hightower, Spikes & Mayo is a ridiculous core of young talent.

The defense now has a unique blend of speed and size that Belichick has coveted for years, and its principle components are young.

Kyle Love is a revelation; Arrington, McCourty, Chung, Gregory & Wilson make a solid, but unspectacular secondary. It is dramatically improved over last season when we had Moore, Ihedigbo, Slater all taking a stab at safety play, and corner play was suspect at best.

If Dowling can develop into a good player, this defense will be frightening. Belichick can further bolster the secondary in the next draft, but he has revamped the front 7, and it's good as it's been since the 2007 season before Colvin went down.