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More anxiety than usual before this game. The Pats have made slow starts the rule rather than the exception over the years, but these last 2 losses had a different tinge to them, so there was always going to be this worm in the back of your mind telling you that this may FINALLY be the year when the Pats really DO come back to the pack and the Dolphins really ARE the new kids on the block.
Well so much for that "worm". Granted we should be reminded that it wasn't perfect and there still are a lot of questions that need to be resolved if this team is really going to make a deep run to the superbowl this season. BUT....it's a start...and a damned good one at that.
38 points is impressive and Sony Michell's breakout game was exciting to see, but my first reaction when the final gun sounded was that THIS game was more about the defense than the offense if we are being honest. So it is only proper that we begin this breakdown on the defensive side of the ball and try to figure out what was different about it that caused such a complete and utter turnaround.
1. Defense - With a game and half still to be played it is important to put today's effort in context and note that with a game to go, fully ELEVEN teams have scored 30 or more points this week (and one had 29). This definitely NOT your father's NFL. 30 point games have become the rule rather the exception and while nobody should opine that the Dolphins have one of the better NFL offenses, they HAVE averaged around 24 points per game over their first 3 games before getting virtually shut out (one mercy TD) today.
Think about it - this was the kind of defensive domination you'd expect to see from the Ravens, or Vikings, NOT a defense that looked like they were coming apart at the seams over the last 2 weeks. The Dolphins only got into the Pats red zone ONCE today and that was late in the 4th when the Pats were obviously trading yards for time.
The Dolphins converted only 3 of 11 3rd downs this game and I think ALL of that came on that last drive, though I know that got one because of a holding call early in the game, (does that count as a conversion? ) Bottom line, the Pats D was virtually perfect when it came to getting off the field in this game. It was also telling that the Dolphins BEST offensive play was their first one, a seeing eye 24 yd completion that right through JJones hands.
2. Front 7 - One of the worst run defenses became dominant today against a Miami run offense that has been pretty good over the first 3 games. Then Pats allowed the Dolphins RB's only 5o yds on 17 rushes. In fact the Phins second leading rusher was Brock Osweiler with a 7 yd scramble in garbage time.
b. Who is John Simon and why was he so available to us. Sure he got a sack, but even more impressive was the fact that he tied LGuy for second most tackles in this game. Sure it was a low bar, at 5, but for a guy who was signed just this week, you have to take some notice. That's a pretty impressive debut.
c. I think consistent pressure is the best way to describe the pass rush today. Tannyhill only got to drop back 20 times today and complete just 11 passes, most of which were dump offs and underneath stuff that the Pats were allowing him to have. I think most importantly they NEVER allowed him to use his legs to extend plays or pick up easy yards. In fact he only had ONE run for zero yards. I think that for his game, that stat is more important than the 2 sacks the Pats managed. BTW- I think the hits and hurries will be relatively impressive when they come out, again because he only threw the ball 20 times. It should also be noted that the Pats seemed to use only a 3 and 4 man rush a great majority of the time today
d. It could have been KVN's best overall day as a Patriot. Not only did he recover the key turnover of the game, he seemed to be around the ball a LOT today. Just an impression I got
e. A shame that Butler and Roberts went down so late in the game. Good to see Roberts walk off eventually. Speaking of Roberts, I found it kind of revealing that on one particular play it was ROBERTS that was directing Hightower to his presnap position, rather the other way around. Could it be the pupil has become the master? (anyone else see that). Also any word on Butler and if it was serious (they ALL seem to be serious these days) is Vincent Valentine still on the PS?
3. Secondary - Gilmore really IS very good. Even his penalty was a smart one. But we expect Gilmore to be good. What improved so much was the Play of Jackson and JJones. Both were VERY consistent in their coverage and even more impressive with their tackling. JJones led the team with 8 tackles (5 solos and 3 assisted) He joins Jackson as another UDFA DB that is starting to make an impact. It should also be mentioned that Jason McCourty seemed to be more of a positive part of the group today.
4. So what caused such a dramatic turnaround on the defensive side?
a. First and foremost, I'd have to guess it was the return of Chung and Flowers. Flowers has become their best player on the front 7 and Chung might be their 2nd or 3rd best player in the secondary. They were BOTH sorely missed in Detroit and at the end of the Jags game.
b. Well, according to the announcers and reporters that Pats defense concentrated ALOT on their individual techniques and responsibilities as well as a commitment to being the more physical team this week in practice. Well it worked....this week.
c. IMHO, it seemed the Pats had a better defensive game plan this week that allowed the players to play faster and with far less hesitation than in the 2 previous weeks. They seemed to be better prepared for what Miami was trying to do to them. Miami came into the game being regarded as a team with great team speed, while the Pats were regarded to be a team WITHOUT enough speed on either side of the ball. Well if you watched this game you'd think they got that description reversed.
d. They were playing at home. I don't think it is a coincidence that defense played better at home after 2 bad games on the road. It might sound simplistic but I DO believe it was a factor.
e. Finally I'd like to believe that because there are so many new faces to integrate into this year's defensive rotations that it is a unit that will only get better with time. Remember slow starts for the D have been the rule the last few years.
f. Worries: The LB room is getting thin. With Bentley gone and Roberts out for the foreseeable future, is it time to find this year's MFlowers and ELee. Who is available?
g. On a positive note, LB's are NOT going to be much of an issue coming up since they will be playing a very good but decidedly UNBALANCED offense on Thursday. At home, Luck had to drop back 62 times to put up 34 points in a loss to Houston. So 6 DB's are likely to be the team's base D, but more on that later.
4. Offense - General comments. Nice to put up 38 points, but this offense has a LONG way to go before I will be thinking it is hitting on all cylinders. Brady isn't playing his best football. The WR's are just now starting to get in sync with their QB and they Still have to integrate Edelman and Gordon into the offense. BUT IT WAS A NICE START. A 66% 3rd down conversion rate was the offensive stat that stood out to me the most.
Well so much for that "worm". Granted we should be reminded that it wasn't perfect and there still are a lot of questions that need to be resolved if this team is really going to make a deep run to the superbowl this season. BUT....it's a start...and a damned good one at that.
38 points is impressive and Sony Michell's breakout game was exciting to see, but my first reaction when the final gun sounded was that THIS game was more about the defense than the offense if we are being honest. So it is only proper that we begin this breakdown on the defensive side of the ball and try to figure out what was different about it that caused such a complete and utter turnaround.
1. Defense - With a game and half still to be played it is important to put today's effort in context and note that with a game to go, fully ELEVEN teams have scored 30 or more points this week (and one had 29). This definitely NOT your father's NFL. 30 point games have become the rule rather the exception and while nobody should opine that the Dolphins have one of the better NFL offenses, they HAVE averaged around 24 points per game over their first 3 games before getting virtually shut out (one mercy TD) today.
Think about it - this was the kind of defensive domination you'd expect to see from the Ravens, or Vikings, NOT a defense that looked like they were coming apart at the seams over the last 2 weeks. The Dolphins only got into the Pats red zone ONCE today and that was late in the 4th when the Pats were obviously trading yards for time.
The Dolphins converted only 3 of 11 3rd downs this game and I think ALL of that came on that last drive, though I know that got one because of a holding call early in the game, (does that count as a conversion? ) Bottom line, the Pats D was virtually perfect when it came to getting off the field in this game. It was also telling that the Dolphins BEST offensive play was their first one, a seeing eye 24 yd completion that right through JJones hands.
2. Front 7 - One of the worst run defenses became dominant today against a Miami run offense that has been pretty good over the first 3 games. Then Pats allowed the Dolphins RB's only 5o yds on 17 rushes. In fact the Phins second leading rusher was Brock Osweiler with a 7 yd scramble in garbage time.
b. Who is John Simon and why was he so available to us. Sure he got a sack, but even more impressive was the fact that he tied LGuy for second most tackles in this game. Sure it was a low bar, at 5, but for a guy who was signed just this week, you have to take some notice. That's a pretty impressive debut.
c. I think consistent pressure is the best way to describe the pass rush today. Tannyhill only got to drop back 20 times today and complete just 11 passes, most of which were dump offs and underneath stuff that the Pats were allowing him to have. I think most importantly they NEVER allowed him to use his legs to extend plays or pick up easy yards. In fact he only had ONE run for zero yards. I think that for his game, that stat is more important than the 2 sacks the Pats managed. BTW- I think the hits and hurries will be relatively impressive when they come out, again because he only threw the ball 20 times. It should also be noted that the Pats seemed to use only a 3 and 4 man rush a great majority of the time today
d. It could have been KVN's best overall day as a Patriot. Not only did he recover the key turnover of the game, he seemed to be around the ball a LOT today. Just an impression I got
e. A shame that Butler and Roberts went down so late in the game. Good to see Roberts walk off eventually. Speaking of Roberts, I found it kind of revealing that on one particular play it was ROBERTS that was directing Hightower to his presnap position, rather the other way around. Could it be the pupil has become the master? (anyone else see that). Also any word on Butler and if it was serious (they ALL seem to be serious these days) is Vincent Valentine still on the PS?
3. Secondary - Gilmore really IS very good. Even his penalty was a smart one. But we expect Gilmore to be good. What improved so much was the Play of Jackson and JJones. Both were VERY consistent in their coverage and even more impressive with their tackling. JJones led the team with 8 tackles (5 solos and 3 assisted) He joins Jackson as another UDFA DB that is starting to make an impact. It should also be mentioned that Jason McCourty seemed to be more of a positive part of the group today.
4. So what caused such a dramatic turnaround on the defensive side?
a. First and foremost, I'd have to guess it was the return of Chung and Flowers. Flowers has become their best player on the front 7 and Chung might be their 2nd or 3rd best player in the secondary. They were BOTH sorely missed in Detroit and at the end of the Jags game.
b. Well, according to the announcers and reporters that Pats defense concentrated ALOT on their individual techniques and responsibilities as well as a commitment to being the more physical team this week in practice. Well it worked....this week.
c. IMHO, it seemed the Pats had a better defensive game plan this week that allowed the players to play faster and with far less hesitation than in the 2 previous weeks. They seemed to be better prepared for what Miami was trying to do to them. Miami came into the game being regarded as a team with great team speed, while the Pats were regarded to be a team WITHOUT enough speed on either side of the ball. Well if you watched this game you'd think they got that description reversed.
d. They were playing at home. I don't think it is a coincidence that defense played better at home after 2 bad games on the road. It might sound simplistic but I DO believe it was a factor.
e. Finally I'd like to believe that because there are so many new faces to integrate into this year's defensive rotations that it is a unit that will only get better with time. Remember slow starts for the D have been the rule the last few years.
f. Worries: The LB room is getting thin. With Bentley gone and Roberts out for the foreseeable future, is it time to find this year's MFlowers and ELee. Who is available?
g. On a positive note, LB's are NOT going to be much of an issue coming up since they will be playing a very good but decidedly UNBALANCED offense on Thursday. At home, Luck had to drop back 62 times to put up 34 points in a loss to Houston. So 6 DB's are likely to be the team's base D, but more on that later.
4. Offense - General comments. Nice to put up 38 points, but this offense has a LONG way to go before I will be thinking it is hitting on all cylinders. Brady isn't playing his best football. The WR's are just now starting to get in sync with their QB and they Still have to integrate Edelman and Gordon into the offense. BUT IT WAS A NICE START. A 66% 3rd down conversion rate was the offensive stat that stood out to me the most.