Why are people still trashing the defense?

[Nunchucks]

The main problem with the Patriots defense in the past is that they made crappy QBs look like HoF QBs. As far as I am concerned, what they've done thus far is huge progress.

The good QBs will probably do well against the Patriots, like they do against EVERY defense. Defenses do not stop the top QBs.

 

[Kontradiction]

We know that the opposing offense have had plenty of opportunity to score and there was a LOT of really bad play by them, with competent players many of those opportunities won't be missed.

Sometimes you succeed not because you're good but because your opponent really sucks.

Every defense has those moments. The teams that make those plays are usually successful in the NFL, the teams that don't usually aren't. But that's as bad of a way as I can think of to arrive at the conclusion that the defense is going to get lit up vs. the Falcons or the Saints. Maybe they will get lit up and maybe we won't. We simply don't know that yet, either way. But we do know that they've held their last three opposing quarterbacks to under 300 yards passing which is more than we can say for 2011's and early 2012's defenses. So, again, they did what they were supposed to do against weaker competition. In three weeks' time, we'll know where they truly stand.

 

[Kontradiction]

The main problem with the Patriots defense in the past is that they made crappy QBs look like HoF QBs. As far as I am concerned, what they've done thus far is huge progress.

The good QBs will probably do well against the Patriots, like they do against EVERY defense. Defenses do not stop the top QBs.

Not always, no. But they DO slow the top QB's down, and they usually do it before the opposing offense gets into the red zone. That's what I'm looking for in the next three weeks.

 

[ATippett56]

Defenses do not stop the top QBs.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130921/SPT02/309210098/Bengals-Packers-Scouting-Report

The Bengals haven’t allowed a 300-yard passer in 16 games, which is the longest current streak in the league.

 

[Coach42]

The defense has done everything it's been asked to do at this point. Can't really ask for too much more.

 

[Marqui]

Every defense has those moments. The teams that make those plays are usually successful in the NFL, the teams that don't usually aren't. But that's as bad of a way as I can think of to arrive at the conclusion that the defense is going to get lit up vs. the Falcons or the Saints. Maybe they will get lit up and maybe we won't. We simply don't know that yet, either way. But we do know that they've held their last three opposing quarterbacks to under 300 yards passing which is more than we can say for 2011's and early 2012's defenses. So, again, they did what they were supposed to do against weaker competition. In three weeks' time, we'll know where they truly stand.

Shut up Kontra, the Falcons WILL light up this defense.

 

[Oswlek]

We know that the opposing offense have had plenty of opportunity to score and there was a LOT of really bad play by them, with competent players many of those opportunities won't be missed.

Sometimes you succeed not because you're good but because your opponent really sucks.

Are you saying that the only reason NE held all three teams to their current season low point total is simply that they made those plays against the other opponents and didn't against the Patriots?

 

[Ring 6]

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130921/SPT02/309210098/Bengals-Packers-Scouting-Report

# of top QBs they faced in those games = 2
Points allowed in those 2 games = 61

 

[mgteich]

????

We COULD ask for the defense to continue to improve.

The defense has done everything it's been asked to do at this point. Can't really ask for too much more.

 

[IcyPatriot]

????

We COULD ask for the defense to continue to improve.

We need to ask?

Makes little sense as every Belichick team continues to build as the season goes along.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Are you saying that the only reason NE held all three teams to their current season low point total is simply that they made those plays against the other opponents and didn't against the Patriots?

I haven't looked at them playing the other 2 games so I cannot say, I only saw them play the Pats and I saw a lot of bad offensive play from our opponents. Good teams will not make those kinds of errors.

 

[JoeSixPat]

The defense did what it was supposed to do and played very solid against weaker offensive competition. Now they have to take the next step and slow down the high powered offenses they face. Atlanta is the first test, Cincy should provide a good one, and New Orleans will be a very good test. We'll know in three weeks where this defense truly stands.

Correct. And that's not a slam.

They were actually getting shredded in the 1st quarter and had a lot of dropped balls and penalties go their way - they got going after that though (and to whatever degree, the Bucs never got it in gear.)

If they play like that against a good offense, then the team is down 10 points instead of up 10 points - and this offense is not one I want to push in terms of come from behind victories - at least not yet.

The truth of the matter is, is that the D probably isn't as good as it appears, nor is the Offense as bad.

For now that makes them 3-0 and I'm generally pleased with that stat.

 

[SVN]

For your reading/viewing pleasure.

http://www.csnne.com/blog/patriots-talk/shaughnessy-cant-learn-anything-these-games

 

[Kdo5]

Listening to the radio and reading Tweets, it seems like people are still all over this defense and treating it like it is the defense of previous years just because the Pats have only faced bad QBs. But as Chris Price points out on his Twitter, the Pats had far worse results against Jake Locker, Kevin Kolb, and Joe Flacco in the first three games last year (not exactly a murder's row of QBs).

The Pats defense has given up a total of 23 points in three games (30 points if you count the fumble returned for a TD by Ridley). That is the second best in the NFL behind Seattle. Each week, they are giving up less points than the week before (14 points and 7 on offense in week one, 10 points in week two, and 3 points in week three). The Pats are not the only team that have faced bad QBs in their first three weeks.

Everyone points to the small handful of plays where Patriots DBs were beat, but the receiver doesn't catch the ball. But every team has that. How many receptions would the Jets defense (which is considered to be a better defense by many people on this board) if the Pats' receiver held onto balls in week 2? Manuel over and under threw a lot of wide open receivers yesterday against that same Jets' defense. It happens to even the best teams. I am sure the Seahawks had a lot of those plays.

I'm just calling it on what I saw. I am cautiously optimistic but the fact that we are triumphantly tooting the horns of our defense after beating down three not so good offenses is nowhere near making me feel confident. If they shut down Matt Ryan and his offense, I will feel a lot more optimistic.

The pass rush is definitely better but I'm not close to sold on the secondary. A legit QB or receivers who can actually catch would have made us pay dearly for the number of times our DBs have been beat or coverage fallen apart.

 

[mgcolby]

I haven't looked at them playing the other 2 games so I cannot say, I only saw them play the Pats and I saw a lot of bad offensive play from our opponents. Good teams will not make those kinds of errors.

So in other words you have no idea what you are talking about. Glad you can admit that, but all you had to do was look at the points those teams scored against the other two opponents they faced.

Those three teams combine averaged 20 PPG against teams not named Patriots and averaged 9 PPG against the Pats. Less than half of what they averaged in their other two games.

 

[YearbookCurfew]

Because they haven't held the other teams to -100 rushing yards, 0 passing, got 45 sacks, forced 12 fumbles, and held each team to 3 points per game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111!!!!111

 

[mgcolby]

For your reading/viewing pleasure.

Shaughnessy: Can't learn anything from these games | Comcast SportsNet - CSNNE.com

Who is Kirk Minihane and what does he know about football? We know CHB doesn't know **** about the NFL and Glen Ordway can't wait for the Celtics season to start.

I do like Bob however.

 

[Ozymandias]

For your reading/viewing pleasure.

Shaughnessy: Can't learn anything from these games | Comcast SportsNet - CSNNE.com

That video gave me cancer. Did that guy just say that Amendola won't be able to play until week 12 or 13?



How did those blowhards get on air with these moronic statements?

 

[Fencer]

The Patriots are 3-0 against teams that otherwise are in the aggregate 3-3.

But that can be explained by how well the offense is playing ...

... or maybe not.

 

[ATippett56]

Why are people still trashing the defense?

Two words:

Joke Bequette