Patriots Blitz Percentage 2017 & 2018

[patsinthesnow]

I assume the source of both stats are ESPN Stats & Info as Football Outsiders references them for their data in the article. Blitz defined as 5 or more rushers.



Pressure by Number of Pass-Rushers 2017 | Football Outsiders

2018: 28.2%, 9th in NFL
2017: 21.2%, 21st in NFL

I’d be curious to see other years blitz % but that seems higher than usual.

 

[RobertWeathers]

So hypothetically if there are 60 defensive snaps, under Fat Matt they blitzed 13 times per game and under Flo this year its 17 times.

4 more times a game is a decent amount but not crazy different.

If under Flo they blitzed like CAR then that would be significant.

 

[Shockt327]

I'd imagine having faith in your coverage opens the door to more blitz calls. The way 2017 started, with coverage breakdowns, could possibly explain the difference between this year and last year.

Or Brian Flores is just more aggressive.

 

[mcmurtry86]

They have to blitz because they’re incapable of getting pressure otherwise.

Hopefully it doesn’t burn them too badly but their inability to pressure with just 4 is going to be a big problem against good, quick passing attacks

 

[maust]

I'd imagine having faith in your coverage opens the door to more blitz calls.

They have to blitz because they’re incapable of getting pressure otherwise.

Those two thoughts are not mutually exclusive. In fact they may be codependent. Not only is the secondary the strength of this D, it's where the money is being spent too. Money that might otherwise be spent on a pass rush. Sort of a chicken and egg thing but the truth is there's only just so much cap space to go around and 2 of the Pats top 4 salaries reside there.