SB 52 D vs SB 53 D

[Patstastic]

Were/are you more confident in the D heading into SB 53 vs SB 52? There was no Hightower last season. This season Hightower is available, yet there is no James Harrison to rush the passer like last year.

Just wanted to get everyone's pulse on this aspect of the game.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Actually our pass rush is better this year.
We mix things up with the "amoeba" and various blitzs.

 

[Uptown]

Were/are you more confident in the D heading into SB 53 vs SB 52? There was no Hightower last season. This season Hightower is available, yet there is no James Harrison to rush the passer like last year.

Just wanted to get everyone's pulse on this aspect of the game.

This year. Also, Harrison wasn’t necessarily a game changer last year. We’re better defensively this year.

 

[VectorPrime]

Last year may have been more talented BUT I trust we’ll have a far better defensive scheme this time than the ****fest we saw last year.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Defense should be okay, barring any unexpected benchings of starters and asking 3 teammates to play out of position 10 minutes before the game.

 

[sb1]

Last year’s defense would have the Chiefs putting up 50 easy.

Gurley vs Jordan Richards would also get an NC-17 rating.

 

[lancerman]

We have a lot of the same weaknesses but I like our pass rush and run defense better. Also our secondary is still big even without Butler so I like that.

I think this is a better performing defense. Not neccessarily a more talented one.

 

[jah]

Not terribly different from last year's. There was a noticeable improvement in last year's defense in the playoffs too and we know how that turned out in the end. Secondary is much deeper this year which could be the difference.

 

[Biffins]

My view is we have a better pass rush this year, better secondary, better run game. We have a worse passing game. So it's a better all-around team but this is a passing league. If it becomes a shoot-out we won't be able to go toe-to-toe like last year. We just need to control the tempo of the game better.

 

[mcmurtry86]

Last year’s super bowl featured two CB (Rowe
and Bademosi) who were worse than any of the top 3 on this year’s team (Gilmore, Jackson and J.McCourty). Jonathan Jones is also healthy and while he hasn’t really developed he’s fast and can be used with a safety very effectively. Overall, the secondary is much deeper and better IMO

The LB group is deeper, with a healthy Hightower and improved Van Noy and Roberts. Simon has shown a little as an edge guy as well

DL is about as awful as it was last year.

Patricia was a great coordinator IMO, but Flores has provided a little bit more aggression and innovation. Possibly because most of these guys have played together for a couple years.

 

[SBLIII]

Not terribly different from last year's. There was a noticeable improvement in last year's defense in the playoffs too and we know how that turned out in the end. Secondary is much deeper this year which could be the difference.

last years QBs NE faced:
Mariota, Bortles

this year:
Rivers, Mahomes.

 

[Patstastic]

last years QBs NE faced:
Mariota, Bortles

this year:
Rivers, Mahomes.

Bingo. Both of those teams relied on their defenses to bail their offense out. What that didn't happen, it was over. But the Jags offense actually had success against the Patriots defense. For whatever reason, they decided to play conservative. It cost them. And I think the Pats D got more credit than they deserved. The fear was what would happen to the defense when an opposing coach didn't play '"scared"? Unfortunately we were all witness to that exact scenario in SB 52. Peterson did what so many coaches before him (Reid, Marrone, Quinn, & Carroll) failed to do: go up against Bill Belichick without worrying about failure. He didn't play to lose. McVay is the exact same way. This game won't be decided by poor coaching on either side. It'll fome down to execution.

I think Jackson will be a good CB. One thing I worry about is that Brandin Cooks draws alot of penalties. And Jackson uses his hands alot. Unless of course Gilmore is matched up on Cooks.

 

[festy1986]

This defense is so much better than that one.

Either I've been wrong this whole year but come playoff time our defense has really turned it up. I've been really impressed.

 

[jah]

last years QBs NE faced:
Mariota, Bortles

this year:
Rivers, Mahomes.

Fair enough, but I'd point out that we went 0-2 against those ****ty AFCS QBs this year.

 

[Guts]

Gillmore is playing much better than last year on a All-pro level was the best corner in the game this season and still playing like it. He takes out the top receiver and makes it much easier for the rest of the team

 

[Belichick8384]

Last year's defense wasn't really tested once they started their win streak. This year's defense played two very good Chargers' and Chiefs' offenses going into the SB. Not to mention they did well against a good (not great) Pittsburgh offense as well.

Most telling for me is that last year's defense went more games without forcing a turnover compared to this year's, and this year's defense has more turnovers on the year overall than last year's.

I've yet to check, but I think this year's defense is also better at pressuring the QB and has more sacks. Not sure on that one, its more of a feeling/eye test than anything.

 

[Patstastic]

Fair enough, but I'd point out that we went 0-2 against those ****ty AFCS QBs this year.

What's so weird about this season is the Patriots truly played to the level of their competition. They'd go out & lose to tomato cans like Miami, Detroit, Jacksonville, & Tennessee. Yet, they'd turn around and beat Chicago, KC x 2 (Including the postseason), & the Chargers. I'd be interested to see if a team has ever made the SB after losing to three or more non playoff teams during the season.

 

[VectorPrime]

What's so weird about this season is the Patriots truly played to the level of their competition. They'd go out & lose to tomato cans like Miami, Detroit, Jacksonville, & Tennessee. Yet, they'd turn around and beat Chicago, KC x 2 (Including the postseason), & the Chargers. I'd be interested to see if a team has ever made the SB after losing to three or more non playoff teams during the season.

Giants in 2011 were 9-7 with two losses to the dreadful Redskins so maybe them.

 

[Tb12goesinya]

Last year I was more confident, but I think it was a false bravado. I didn't respect the capability of Foles playing perfect or the coach having 2 cantaloupes in his undies. I just thought of the Christmas game vs Oakland and thouhht they were lucky to be there. They executed to perfection.

This year I have less confidence in my head but more in my heart.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Hightower and Edelman, arguably the 2 clutchest players we have not named brady. Huge difference in a game like this.

Sorry forgot there was a D specified in there