2017 Patriots Defense

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

The problems in the secondary are almost entirely due to miscommunication. It seems like every other play you'll see two guys take the same receiver and leave somone else totally uncovered. The good thing is that this is the most correctible issue in the middle of a season.

I'm more concerned about the interior DL. I expected a lot more from that group and didn't think a middling Texans' OL would push those guys around so easily. To me, that's the biggest problem now.

The run defense was iffy. They did get pushed around at times. I would love to add another piece on the DL

 

[borg]

Based on preliminary stats, NE is likely to secure double honors after week 3:
Most points allowed
Most yards allowed

The good news:
Brady likely secured his second Offensive Player of the Week award...unless I'm missing some mega performance in another game

 

[Oswlek]

Part of the problem is that the Patriots seemed to be complacent all preseason. The way they won the Super Bowl against all odds probably had the net effect of the team heading into the season feeling they can win regardless of their effort. I don't recall the Patriots going 1-3 in the preseason very often and their poor performance was palpable with the starters.

Long story short, this team lacked proper focus this offseason. They're still a winning team with pride and the new guys will eventually gell. In the meantime, they are still having to make up for lost ground after the Chiefs game gave them a wakeup call. We'll be sitting pretty if we can be 5-3 by midseason.

Preseason record has zero predictive value toward regular season. The best team in franchise history infamously went 1-3 and got smoked by both Cincy and Jax, respectively, to close their preseason.

There is no evidence for the rest of your argument as well. In the all-important 3rd game, NE's starters dominated an apparently decent Detroit team, even after losing Julian.

 

[mosslost]

We have a defense?

It took a knee

 

[rads2005]

Part of the problem is the whole philosophy of Belichick's defense is to allow yards but prevent big plays and buckle down in the red zone. "Bend but don't break" - because of the offense and incredible Brady, it puts double pressure on opposing offenses (likely playing from behind) to execute drive after drive and play after play.

It's not working well this year because of big play execution- more so than in years past that I can remember, opposing teams seem to be not only easily gaining yards, but also making big plays.

I was hoping this year for a more aggressive defense, thinking that maybe with a #1 corner, #1.5 corner, and solid #3 corner with McCourty/Chung that they could gamble and go for more pressure on the quarterback.

Well, time will tell I guess. I anticipate the poor execution on big plays will be fixed by the end of the season.

I guess Jamie Collins wouldn't be here either way given this was his free agency year, and his attitude sucked, but it'd sure be nice to have his speed and coverage abilities at the LB position.

Hightower coming back will help but he's undersized as a defensive end.

Well, it's not like Belichick doesn't see the same things as we do. It's pretty obvious. One week last year they went with a bunch of corner blitzes and mixed up their play (against the Texans?) and it worked well.

Akeem Ayers is still only 29, I'm surprised he hasn't gotten a look.

Jonathan Jones doesn't look as fast as his 40 time and he didn't look that good today. Too bad Revis would never accept a reduced nickel role- most everyone here seems to dislike him but I think he'd really help assuming he's in shape and hungry to prove people wrong.

 

[Ring 6]

This is all starting to sound just like last year with all the eye-test this and eye-test that stuff.

It's all just people talkimg.
Has nothing to do with future games. That holds if they look good or bad.

 

[Ring 6]

Literally anybody with at least 1 eye and a somewhat functional brain

Sorry it doesn't work that way. You can't throw if and buts in and claim you know what would happen. Every game is different.

 

[Pessimistic Pete]

Making the Chiefs and Texans look like offensive juggernauts is really irritating.

There is no excuse for allowing the Panthers to hit even 20 points next week.

 

[jbb9s]

How the hell did we go from #1 in PPG with 15.6 average (next best is 17.8 Giants) in 2016 to #29/30 tied with Colts at 31 average in PPG. This is a ridiculous fall from grace.

We lost Ninko, Sheard, Long........... so clearly pass rush hasn't worked.

Branch has mailed it in, and Brown is what he is, a JAG, so clearly the front line is not working.

And Butler's play has regressed so that replacing Ryan (who came on strong especially second half of last year) with Gilmore has been a net negative so far.

And Van Noy is no Bruschi/Mayo/Hightower. Reminds me of the dark days when JAG/scrub Gary Guyton used to wear the green dot and chaos and confusion reigned supreme in the ranks and Pats pass defense was ranked #30 in league in 2010 and #31 in league in 2011, and #29 in league in 2012. Yeah really, we were that bad. And we're back there, we're currently ranked #31 in Passing Defense average 350 yards per game against us. WOW!

Only safety play has held up.

Atleast we don't have Kyle Arrington playing DE, rushing the passer like in 2010.

There is still time for Alan branch to turn it around. Malcolm brown could still get better but at the very least he is serviceable and doesn't get hurt. Finally the DEs you mentioned are not on the team because they were all average or old(retiring). None of them would help this team right now.

Too bad that stud from UF didn't work out at the nose (easly). He probably would be entering his prime this year playing 40 snaps if it had worked out as a first round pick.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

It's confirmed...New England ranks dead last in the NFL in defense after 3 weeks

2017 NFL Team Total Stats - National Football League - ESPN

 

[Vindicate]

How do you overcome a lack of athleticism in a defense? You scheme incredibly well.

How do you scheme well? Lots of training, lots of practice, lots of trial and error.

Who's the best at scheming? BB and Co.

New CBA rules have taken away a lot of that planning time. Time and Time again, the Patriots have gelled more and more throughout the season.

I hope, and am confident, this will happen again. The idea of unit will be easier to emoy when you have three starters, especially Hightower, coming back.

We for sure have a talented secondary. People discounting their ability already is silly. They got Gilmore and are trying to figure how he fits best.

I hope Van Noy is a Cannon kind of.prhect where none of us necessarily understand the extension, but then he comes to form as well as Cannon did (hopefully quicker )

I dunno. Not super worried. It's early af.

 

[Ring 6]

It's confirmed...New England ranks dead last in the NFL in defense after 3 weeks

2017 NFL Team Total Stats - National Football League - ESPN

You sound happy

 

[luuked]

How can you possibly say this is a side-effect of fewer practices. We're talking about rankings league-wide. Why would other teams be better with fewer practices than us? All teams are improving with more game time.

I missed the 3 weekends where everyone played the same opponent to make those rankings even close to representative. The bum Ravens are the best example. They played two garbage teams in W1 and W2 and some bozos here were already getting nervous about them.

The only stat that matters before November is the win/loss record.

 

[luuked]

The run defense was iffy. They did get pushed around at times. I would love to add another piece on the DL

Once Branch is in playing shape we will be fine. No additional pieces necessary.

 

[luuked]

It's confirmed...New England ranks dead last in the NFL in defense after 3 weeks

2017 NFL Team Total Stats - National Football League - ESPN

Who cares what some meaningless stats are saying?

 

[luuked]

I guess Jamie Collins wouldn't be here either way given this was his free agency year, and his attitude sucked, but it'd sure be nice to have his speed and coverage abilities at the LB position.

Yeah, Collins really showed how great he is coverage when he couldnt stay with Lynch in the SB or with Owen Daniels a year later in the AFCCG.

 

[captain stone]

Who cares what some meaningless stats are saying?

If those meaningless stats were reversed, I'd wager that there would be plenty of people here who would care about them.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Communication

For those with more of an x's and o'x understanding of defense, what is the main problem with this defense? While their awful play is likely the result of many causes, what is the chief one? Is it a failure to execute the gameplan or the gameplan itself? Or are these guys lacking in physical talent above all else?

 

[Ring 6]

If those meaningless stats were reversed, I'd wager that there would be plenty of people here who would care about them.

And they wouldn't be any more correct.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Once Branch is in playing shape we will be fine. No additional pieces necessary.

That and I think hes playing through an injury that'll just take time to heal.