Honestly have no idea how that Defense can be fixed

[slash83]

I didn't say they didn't struggle in man, but they were playing keep away from the receivers in zone. The way they were playing zone, they could have had 30 men in the secondary and Wilson would have picked them apart.

I think they feared Wilsons running abilities way too much hence with all the soft zone crap they played. I think they wanted eyes on the QB instead of playing man and having the defenses back to the QB. But im no expert so who knows.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Curran: Patriots defense is lacking a personality

i knew the pats were in trouble the moment i watched the pregame interview nbc had with richard sherman. the interviewer asked sherman, "what are your thoughts about going through a tough opponent like new england tonight?" sherman responded, "they have to go through us." you can tell right away he had swaggar and a confidence that the seahawks can play with anyone. unfortunately we simply don't have that on the defensive side of the ball. too many nice guys on D, no one with an edge. honestly, who do opposing D coordinators fear on our defense?

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I think they feared Wilsons running abilities way too much hence with all the soft zone crap they played. I think they wanted eyes on the QB instead of playing man and having the defenses back to the QB. But im no expert so who knows.

wilson has had a bum ankle and knee for a while. if that's the case then the coaching staff should have had a different game plan.

 

[Brick27]

i knew the pats were in trouble the moment i watched the pregame interview nbc had with richard sherman. the interviewer asked sherman, "what are your thoughts about going through a tough opponent like new england tonight?" sherman responded, "they have to go through us." you can tell right away he had swaggar and a confidence that the seahawks can play with anyone. unfortunately we simply don't have that on the defensive side of the ball. too many nice guys on D, no one with an edge. honestly, who do opposing D coordinators fear on our defense?

I think we need a little less cookie cutter "patriots way" types, and more ruthless savages instead.

Whenever the D hits the field, you can just feel the vibe of "alright guys, here we go, let's try to get the ball back to the O.." When a team like Seattle or Denver hits the field on defense, they're looking to knock heads off. They're also lifting each other up, in constant communication on the field and on the sidelines, and not showing any complacency.

Really wish the Pats had a Bruschi type leader right now. Obviously can't duplicate Bruschi to the T, but just someone who carries heart and passion, and is always vocal. Hightower and McCourty are both great guys, they just don't strike me as the type to rally up a room or have the ability get everyone on the same page when it's needed the most.

 

[slash83]

wilson has had a bum ankle and knee for a while. if that's the case then the coaching staff should have had a different game plan.

I agree, just a frustrating game.

 

[luuked]

Nobody here, NOBODY here knows more than the coaching or even thinks they know more than the coaching staff.....

Guess what? We know less than even the worst coaches in the NFL. that doesn't mean we can't recognize when something is lacking. Just because we think something is off doesn't mean we can fix it

You and others are formulating this doomsday scenario when games are the only window to see players for you. I love how quickly people forget the amount of work and preparation that goes on 24/7 throughout the week that you don't have access to.

People were calling BB out when he didn't take a timeout in the SB, guess what there was a reason for that. People were claiming how lucky the Pats got with the Butler INT, guess what it was a play that they specifically prepared for.

You can doubt the coaching staff as much as you want but they have proven again and again that in the long run they know what they are doing. And just because people don't understand it or it goes against conventional wisdom doesn't mean that it's bad.

 

[luuked]

i knew the pats were in trouble the moment i watched the pregame interview nbc had with richard sherman. the interviewer asked sherman, "what are your thoughts about going through a tough opponent like new england tonight?" sherman responded, "they have to go through us."

That you got impressed by that tells me more about you than about anything else.

wilson has had a bum ankle and knee for a while. if that's the case then the coaching staff should have had a different game plan.

Guess you didn't watch him against the Bills last week. He is significantly improved in terms of health and wasn't wearing those thick tapes over his ankles anymore.

 

[AzorianPats]

What could really help is a pass rusher and an athletic LB who can cover.

Athletic LB that can cover LOL...

Didn't we just trade one of those for a comp 3rd rounder?

That trade will always baffle me! I don't care if we go on to win the SB. Trading a All pro player mid season and got arguably nothing in return.

 

[AzorianPats]

You and others are formulating this doomsday scenario when games are the only window to see players for you. I love how quickly people forget the amount of work and preparation that goes on 24/7 throughout the week that you don't have access to.

People were calling BB out when he didn't take a timeout in the SB, guess what there was a reason for that. People were claiming how lucky the Pats got with the Butler INT, guess what it was a play that they specifically prepared for.

You can doubt the coaching staff as much as you want but they have proven again and again that in the long run they know what they are doing. And just because people don't understand it or it goes against conventional wisdom doesn't mean that it's bad.

No one's saying BB sucks. We all know he's the greatest.
But it's not being pessimistic to think the defense just isn't good right now. Its just being honest.

They've only played really one great game all year and have struggled with crap QB's/offenses. Seattle is really the only respectable team they had on the schedule. And it's the worst they've looked all season.

This is all after trading away a prime talent because he was due for a big contract, started free lancing more, and might become a distraction. That was what was being reported.

So it's great that they're 7-2 right now, but the goal is to win a SB, always. Right now the defense is a huge liability. All it takes is Brady having an off night in the playoffs and we're going home. And after all the capital the teams spent building on the defense, and BB trading Jones in the off season, Collins mid season, and releasing Easley, we all have a right to be deeply disappointed.

 

[TbSB5]

I'm sorry but how can anyone be comfortable in this defense in the playoffs? Last year it was the offensive line that failed the team in Denver. This year it's the defensive line. We'll see how this team does against Denver or Baltimore next month, but I am not confident in this team. Like I said in my thread this is the worst defensive line the Pats have since 2011. Don't be surprised if somehow Kaepernick throws for 400 yards.


How...just how the hell did this defense struggle against that garbage o-line from Seattle? Unbelievable.

 

[luuked]

No one's saying BB sucks. We all know he's the greatest.
But it's not being pessimistic to think the defense just isn't good right now. Its just being honest.

They've only played really one great game all year and have struggled with crap QB's/offenses. Seattle is really the only respectable team they had on the schedule. And it's the worst they've looked all season.

This is all after trading away a prime talent because he was due for a big contract, started free lancing more, and might become a distraction. That was what was being reported.

So it's great that they're 7-2 right now, but the goal is to win a SB, always. Right now the defense is a huge liability. All it takes is Brady having an off night in the playoffs and we're going home. And after all the capital the teams spent building on the defense, and BB trading Jones in the off season, Collins mid season, and releasing Easley, we all have a right to be deeply disappointed.

I agree with everything you said. It's obvious that the defense has deeper issues but at the same time its only halftime in the regular season and what we are seeing now and what we will see in January will not be the same. If anything history has shown that BB's teams get better throughout the year once the coaching staff really figures out what they are working with and starts infusing more scheme plays and complex looks.

If this was the defense in January we'd be in a world of trouble, but we are not even at Thanksgiving yet. I just get triggered by people calling out BB or the coaching staff for an unfinished product.

 

[TbSB5]

Does no one think Chandler Jones would've made a huge difference? I miss him

 

[RIpats88]

the DL was alot better vs seattle. trey flowers seems to be coming out. we had a few sacks on wilson.

but its the secondary that is failing us. and its roughly the same secondary from last year. so its not personnel...its coaching and scheme. ryan/butler are much better in man to man. but even when they went man vs seattle there were defensive breakdowns. that is coaching imo.

 

[Nehalem]

wilson has had a bum ankle and knee for a while. if that's the case then the coaching staff should have had a different game plan.

Guess you didn't watch him against the Bills last week. He is significantly improved in terms of health and wasn't wearing those thick tapes over his ankles anymore.

Wilson finished the game with one less rushing yard than Brady.

While he may be improved from previous weeks. I doubt he is 100%. And the coaching staff should have been prepared for that possibility. Anything would be better than giving up 30+ yards on 3rd down. Soft zone coverage obviously wasn't working. Making a gimpy Wilson beat you with his legs seems like a good game plan to me.

So pretty much coaching staff fail.

 

[Kontradiction]

I think they feared Wilsons running abilities way too much hence with all the soft zone crap they played. I think they wanted eyes on the QB instead of playing man and having the defenses back to the QB. But im no expert so who knows.

That's exactly why they do that. The biggest joke of an example was against Cincy where it was 3rd and 14 (IIRC) and they rushed 3 and dropped the rest back in off zone and Cincy converted. After that, they cut the crap in that game and the results spoke for themselves.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

That you got impressed by that tells me more about you than about anything else.



Guess you didn't watch him against the Bills last week. He is significantly improved in terms of health and wasn't wearing those thick tapes over his ankles anymore.

He still has a brace on his knee. How much damage could he have done running?

 

[slash83]

That's exactly why they do that. The biggest joke of an example was against Cincy where it was 3rd and 14 (IIRC) and they rushed 3 and dropped the rest back in off zone and Cincy converted. After that, they cut the crap in that game and the results spoke for themselves.

Yup, I know were against a bad SF team this Sunday but Im interested to see how the defense responds. Hope they come out to play with more heart and intensity.

 

[slash83]

He still has a brace on his knee. How much damage could he have done running?

If I remember correctly it wasn't the same brace he had been wearing in previous weeks, was a lighter less bulky one, indicating his knee was feeling better.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

If I remember correctly it wasn't the same brace he had been wearing in previous weeks, was a lighter less bulky one, indicating his knee was feeling better.

Thanks, that's good to know. Regardless of the brace, however, make wilson prove he is capable of running around. It looked like the same game plan as the SB or at least parts of it.

 

[Kontradiction]

Yup, I know were against a bad SF team this Sunday but Im interested to see how the defense responds. Hope they come out to play with more heart and intensity.

I think they will. This defense is somewhere in between the unit that shut out Houston and the pile of hot garbage we saw on Sunday night.