Will this defense be top ten? (hint: no)

[patsinthesnow]

Best Ds this season IMO:

1. Seahawks (subtract the Kam holdout games)
2. Broncos
3. Pats

The one aspect separating the Pats from the best D in the NFL is Butler isn't at Sherman/Talib's level yet. He could be by next year. McCourty/Chung are really close to Thomas/Chancellor and the front sevens are a wash I guess.

Our S, LB, and DT are better than Denver. Jones/Sheard/Ninkovich vs. Miller/Ware is close too. Their D is unique because they are the only team with two high level CBs.

@NEPD_Loyko: With such a young defense and everyone signed for 2016, next year the group has a chance to be really special.

The D has a chance to be the best in football next year if Butler takes another leap. Also,
Jones-Easley-Brown-Sheard will be an absurd DL next year with two stud LBs behind them.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Maybe I was wrong after all, the defense is quietly playing at a top ten level so far this season. Hope they keep it up! Didn't expect all the unknowns on the front 7 to work out nor did i expect chandler to have a breakout season this year. Hopefully losing lewis doesn't mean this defense has to be out on the field longer each game however, still don't entirely trust the secondary.

I respect that you've come back here to acknowledge this. We all make predictions that seem laughable in hindsight. To be fair, a lot of us had doubts in many areas about this team. This offseason was very pessimistic overall since many were just seeing it as the 2014 team minus Revis. Turns out, there were many young, developing players waiting to break out, and the Patriots made some huge under the radar pickups with guys like Lewis and Sheard. I don't think even the most optimistic Patriots fans thought the team would be this good.

 

[SalemPats]

The Broncos were exposed yesterday.

TJ Ward is a hard hitter, but not very good in coverage which means that you have a FS who will have trouble against sppedy possession guys like JE and DA. He can't cover Gronk. Their D-Line can rush the passer, but they are average down the middle. You can run north/south which is where Blount shines and Brady's footwork in the pocket will get him out of trouble (still need to be careful there). We are a bad matchup for the Broncos and they are not the 2000 Ravens, 85 Bears, etc...

 

[SalemPats]

BTW, how good was McCourty last night.

 

[Fixit]

Best Ds this season IMO:

1. Seahawks (subtract the Kam holdout games)
2. Broncos
3. Pats

The one aspect separating the Pats from the best D in the NFL is Butler isn't at Sherman/Talib's level yet. He could be by next year. McCourty/Chung are really close to Thomas/Chancellor and the front sevens are a wash I guess.

Our S, LB, and DT are better than Denver. Jones/Sheard/Ninkovich vs. Miller/Ware is close too. Their D is unique because they are the only team with two high level CBs.

@NEPD_Loyko: With such a young defense and everyone signed for 2016, next year the group has a chance to be really special.

The D has a chance to be the best in football next year if Butler takes another leap. Also,
Jones-Easley-Brown-Sheard will be an absurd DL next year with two stud LBs behind them.

I'm not sure that Seattle's all that good this year. Since Kam's return, they've played two obvious playoff teams in Cincinnati and Carolina, and the rest are obvious dogs. They shut down the dogs, but gave up 27 each to Cinci and Carolina.

 

[JMC00]

Some more cherry pickin'

24% of the passing yards and 1/3 of the passing TD allowed have come on the opposing teams final drive (although I combined Miami's final 2 drives for obvious reasons) when the Pats were assured victory.

In other words when BB has the starters in there and hasn't gone vanilla

185 passing yard allowed (Denver allows 181 & Seattle allows 186, no one else is under 213)
8 TD (only 3 teams have given up fewer)
61% allowed (top 8)
5.9 yards per attempt (equal with Denver and Carolina)
74.0 QB rating against (Carolina 68.9 and Denver 73.8)

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Some more cherry pickin'

24% of the passing yards and 1/3 of the passing TD allowed have come on the opposing teams final drive (although I combined Miami's final 2 drives for obvious reasons) when the Pats were assured victory.

In other words when BB has the starters in there and hasn't gone vanilla

185 passing yard allowed (Denver allows 181 & Seattle allows 186, no one else is under 213)
8 TD (only 3 teams have given up less)
61% allowed (top 8)
5.9 yards per attempt (equal with Denver and Carolina)
74.0 QB rating against (Carolina 68.9 and Denver 73.8)

Thanks. Great research here.

 

[IllegalContact]

we have the best offense in the league, the best defense in the league and the best special teams

we will not lose this year.....all teams will need to:

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

2015 New England Patriots Midseason Review: This is the Best Defense in the Whole Dang League

 

[TommyD4207]

2015 New England Patriots Midseason Review: This is the Best Defense in the Whole Dang League

I can't stand it!

 

[Interception]

I respect that you've come back here to acknowledge this. We all make predictions that seem laughable in hindsight. To be fair, a lot of us had doubts in many areas about this team. This offseason was very pessimistic overall since many were just seeing it as the 2014 team minus Revis. Turns out, there were many young, developing players waiting to break out, and the Patriots made some huge under the radar pickups with guys like Lewis and Sheard. I don't think even the most optimistic Patriots fans thought the team would be this good.

I was just very suspicious of the front 7. Easley was unproven, Brown was a rookie, Chandler Jones didn't look like he was going to have a breakout season, and the depth behind Hightower and Collins looked questionable, especially with Mayo coming off of two IR seasons. That combined with the weakened secondary sounded like a recipe for disasters. But of course, Easley has proven worthy of his draft spot, Jones had a breakout season, and Freeny has been adequate. Glad to be wrong, hope they keep it up in the playoffs.

 

[Interception]

Best Ds this season IMO:

1. Seahawks (subtract the Kam holdout games)
2. Broncos
3. Pats

The one aspect separating the Pats from the best D in the NFL is Butler isn't at Sherman/Talib's level yet. He could be by next year. McCourty/Chung are really close to Thomas/Chancellor and the front sevens are a wash I guess.

Our S, LB, and DT are better than Denver. Jones/Sheard/Ninkovich vs. Miller/Ware is close too. Their D is unique because they are the only team with two high level CBs.

@NEPD_Loyko: With such a young defense and everyone signed for 2016, next year the group has a chance to be really special.

The D has a chance to be the best in football next year if Butler takes another leap. Also,
Jones-Easley-Brown-Sheard will be an absurd DL next year with two stud LBs behind them.

Seahawks have been pretty suspect this year. I'd place broncos D well above the hawks.
statistically, the broncos d this year is playing better than the 2014 seahawks d was at this point in the season.

 

[JMC00]

Seahawks have been pretty suspect this year. I'd place broncos D well above the hawks.
statistically, the broncos d this year is playing better than the 2014 seahawks d was at this point in the season.

Post stats to back it up or stop saying it.

 

[wyomingpatsfan]

The defense overall is better than good. They're great in turnovers at just the right time. They do indeed play as a team....and who can argue Collins' greatness.....now I prepare for the flames: The position that could be most improved is McCourty @ safety....

 

[Marinlik]

Maybe I was wrong after all, the defense is quietly playing at a top ten level so far this season. Hope they keep it up! Didn't expect all the unknowns on the front 7 to work out nor did i expect chandler to have a breakout season this year. Hopefully losing lewis doesn't mean this defense has to be out on the field longer each game however, still don't entirely trust the secondary.

What unknown did we have in the front 7? I thought that was a positional group that was a clear as one could be before the season. We already knew who would start in the front 6.

We didn't really have bad depth for the linebackers as we only use 2 the great majority of the time. Chandler Jones has looked good since his rookie year. But he obviously took another big step this year. Our interior DTs had a slight drop off from Wilfork on paper(he hasn't been good since 2012). But it turned out to be improved.

 

[JMC00]

The position that could be most improved is McCourty @ safety....

Who you going to get to improve the spot? Earl Thomas? Basically the only safety that you could get and probably improve.

 

[Bruins29]

now I prepare for the flames: The position that could be most improved is McCourty @ safety....

I (we) are dying to know why you think this?

 

[manxman2601]

admittedly fantasy points aren't the best metric, but the Pats have allowed the third lowest 'fantasy points' to RBs so far this season. Only the Jets and Seahawks have done better.

 

[wyomingpatsfan]

I (we) are dying to know why you think this?

87 yard TD to Beckham...that's why.....

 

[Interception]

Post stats to back it up or stop saying it.

Funny you say that. I posted stats in the other thread and everyone disagreed, ignored the stats, and refused to back it up with stats.

Go look at stats of Seahawks defensive players through week 9 and Denver this year through week 9 and get back to me.

Here's one I remember:
Seahawks points allowed - 15.9/game
Denver points allowed - 16.0/game

Denver has players on the front seven that are underrated, other than the big names.