Keeping track of the defense.

[Kontradiction]

I was not of the belief that the 2016 defense was bad even as someone using 'the eye test'. I thought they were OK, the qualm was with some here pretending they were a top 3 defense which they weren't.

It was also hard to take the eye test posts seriously back then too. That defense finished #1 in PPG, #8 in YPG, and #7 in third down percentage. This defense has a long way to go if it even wants to sniff that unit.

 

[PScottman]

It was also hard to take the eye test posts seriously back then too

Why so serious...the Joker's father said (not our Joker - although that's humorous now that I think about it too). I can't ever take eye tests seriously because we don't know the game within the game.

Specifically, what is the defense SUPPOSED to be doing on any given play? What are the assignments? What are the roles and responsibilities? How many layers are there to really pull back?

For example, if someone misses the "chuck" on a guy like Hill as he comes off the line, say a LB, because they know given the defense called, a slower CB or even another LB is picking him up...and the result is Hill gets to full speed (or open) much quicker...the results can be pretty ugly to the eye, but the eye may deceive as to the causality.

Round these parts, many will tend to blame the coverage player LB or CB in that scenario, but defense is a TEAM sport. The chuck was supposed to delay the easy first read as a blitz (or even a twist inside) comes off the edge which, had the chuck been executed properly, probably at the minimum causes the QB to TURN (not even get sacked) away from his first read to react to the blitz.

This board tore (and still does) DM apart for being slow this year. He just posted the fastest in game 40 time of the season according to many reports. Huh? THAT is eye test versus reality and why it has little to no credence.

 

[Belichick8384]

I remember last year, finishing a tackle was sometimes a challenge for the D. In the super bowl I remember a few times they had an Eagles WR wrapped up but they just got free and kept going.

Anyone who pays closer attention to the way they've been tackling, would you say they've been tackling better this year so far?

 

[Soliel]

They have flashes of times where they look top ten, then the keystone guys reappear

 

[Coolade2]

The defense is game plan specific so I don't worry about it. The objective is to allow less points than you score and it often plays just like that. Oh well. Style points don't matter.

6-2. Very good.

 

[Soliel]

I’ll take 6-2 any day

 

[supafly]

I’ll take 6-2 any day

Of course, but the fact remains that this defense has not looked good, at least over the first half of the season. The concern is that there are many teams that have the potential to exploit that weakness, and that winning 3 or 4 in a row against top level competition in January/February will be difficult without a fix.

We’ll see how they look tonight. If they struggle against a weakened GB team, it won’t be an encouraging sign for some of the expected matchups against offenses like PIT, KC, NO, or LA (Rams).

 

[mosi]

Of course, but the fact remains that this defense has not looked good, at least over the first half of the season. The concern is that there are many teams that have the potential to exploit that weakness, and that winning 3 or 4 in a row against top level competition in January/February will be difficult without a fix.

We’ll see how they look tonight. If they struggle against a weakened GB team, it won’t be an encouraging sign for some of the expected matchups against offenses like PIT, KC, NO, or LA (Rams).

I agree with you. GB has a real QB. KC had a real QB but zero defense. GB's defense is better than KCs. I can't see the Pats - without Gronk and a healthy RB -beating GB.

 

[Kdo5]

I agree with you. GB has a real QB. KC had a real QB but zero defense. GB's defense is better than KCs. I can't see the Pats - without Gronk and a healthy RB -beating GB.

I can. The Pats are at home and as long as you have Brady you've got a chance. We've been winning with Gronk out or at his least effective. But I'm not anticipating 40 points from the offense tonight. Defense has gotta step up.

 

[Kontradiction]

Ravens badly need a robber every time they try that blitz. He’d be in position to defense those slants.

 

[Tony2046]

I can't wait to hear from the couple of knower of knowers (to steal an @Joker phrase ) to explain how the "sucks balls " defense stuffed an elite QB .

Us "Casuals " are dying to know how this was possible.

"Der her tryna.... gone.... whip stab.. can't rn .... w/e.... "

Boom shakalaka

 

[Coolade2]

My favorite part of the overall good defense was the ball skills and timing of the secondary breaking up many would be completions... Also jMac looking much better making plays.

 

[Kontradiction]

I can't wait to hear from the couple of knower of knowers (to steal an @Joker phrase ) to explain how the "sucks balls " defense stuffed an elite QB .

Us "Casuals " are dying to know how this was possible.

"Der her tryna.... gone.... whip stab.. can't rn .... w/e.... "

Boom shakalaka

They had their best and most complete game of the season last night. No doubt about that. They need to keep it going. Bakhtiari getting dinged early on in the game helped as Clayborn was getting inside. The bull rush where he pushed Bakhtiari back into Rodgers late in the 4th was a thing of beauty. Sold the swim, got pad leverage, and bull rushed him right into Rodgers' lap to seal it. If they didn't try Cover-0 on third down earlier in the game, they may have even held Green Bay to 10. Good stuff and how many of us have wanted to see them play.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Pats' next 7 opponents and their PPG scored ranking

Pitt- 9th 28.4
MN- 13th 24.6
NYJ (2) 22nd 22.0
MIA 24th 20.8
TN 30th 15.1
BUF 32nd 10.7

Only Pitt concerns me.

Its possible they could finish under 20ppg allowed but they would need to allow 16ppg in their remaining 7 games.

Just need to keep improving....

 

[PatsFan2]

Pats' next 7 opponents and their PPG scored ranking

Pitt- 9th 28.4
MN- 13th 24.6
NYJ (2) 22nd 22.0
MIA 24th 20.8
TN 30th 15.1
BUF 32nd 10.7

Only Pitt concerns me.

Its possible they could finish under 20ppg allowed but they would need to allow 16ppg in their remaining 7 games.

Just need to keep improving....

Steelers have a rough Schedule they have that Tough NFC South on their plate with games against the Panthers and Saints . Also the Chargers - Jags - Broncos - Bangles and Patriots remaining. Chargers and Bangles will be in the Playoffs mix. Our remaining Schedule seems like cupcakes compared to theirs. We have Four games remaining against the pathetic East.

 

[Uptown]

 

[mosi]

I agree with you. GB has a real QB. KC had a real QB but zero defense. GB's defense is better than KCs. I can't see the Pats - without Gronk and a healthy RB -beating GB.

Dumbass. Happy to be wrong!

 

[TB_Helmet]

Good article from BSJ:

Bedard: Brian Flores has his coming out party as Patriots defense matched Rodgers' wits | Boston Sports Journal

Subscription required. I won't copy-paste it here due to mod wishes but here are a couple good quotes:

But the players were universal in their praise of the role that Flores played in the preparation this week.

“He has a big influence every week,” said Dont’a Hightower. “He comes up with the gameplan, obviously Bill has a lot to do with that, but this week (Flores) handled a lot of things trying to give Aaron a few different looks that he hasn’t seen yet and he really harped on that all week. We worked on that all week and I think it partially gave Aaron (some trouble) but he might have caught on eventually — he’s a good quarterback. I think it gave him a few different looks he hasn’t seen before.”

“I think the cool thing about this week was the couple of snaps that we got against Tom and all of the snaps that we got against Hoyer … both of those guys are very cerebral at reading coverage and how we were disguising,” said McCourty. “Hoyer would come up to us with Tom and be like, ‘That’s good, do it this way,’ and we felt that tonight.

“Some of the disguise looks that we were trying to make it tough for Aaron, we knew that would be clutch. He still had a couple of throws where he put the ball where you just couldn’t get it. … When you go against the greats, it’s hard to be perfect. But you got to be close if you want to have a chance to win.”

Personally, I love any defensive game plan that relies heavily on pre-snap disguises. That's how we used to beat Pink Head and a lot of it started with the versatility we used to have on defense, which was the hallmark of the 2001-04 teams. Not sure why we don't do that as much anymore. But in this year's NFL, which has seen points put up at a historic level, it might be worth revisiting that strategy, since nothing else seems to be working to slow teams down.

There was a good quote on the pregame show (which is probably the first time in my life I have ever said that); they were going through the Brady - Rodgers nonsense, and they said Brady is the master of what happens before the snap, and Rodgers is the master of what happens after the snap. I thought that was accurate. But last night showed where you'd rather have your QB ability be concentrated.

 

[captain stone]

Dumbass. Happy to be wrong!

Me too!

 

[Kontradiction]

As of Week 10:

1. Points/Game - 11th
2. YPG - 24th
3. 3rd down % - 27th
4. Net passing yards/attempt - 17th
5. Net rushing yards/attempt - 21st
6. TO % - 7th

Average = 18th

Opponent offensive rankings (PPG) - UPDATED THROUGH WEEK 9:

1. Texans - 14th - T
2. Jaguars - 29th
3. Lions - 20th
4. Dolphins - 24th
5. Colts - 6th
6. Chiefs - 1st
7. Bears - 5th
8. Bills - 32nd
9. Packers - 14th - T

Average = 16th