Michael Bennett

[catent]

Thus far he hasn't been an every-down-player, and when he has been on the field his impact has been somewhat limited. A handful of pressures and 2 total sacks for the season, but far from the disruptive beast many of us were expecting.

Wanted to make a thread to discuss his impact and perhaps some of the film gurus can post clips and analyze his play so far. Is it a usage issue? Age? Scheme/technique? Coaching? Load management?

Off the top of my head, he's been used exclusively on the inside, in both running and passing situations; I'd like to see him kick outside on occasion.

For his salary Bennett is likely a more cost-effective option than Flowers, but certainly Flowers had a greater on-the-field impact in 2018 than Bennett has had in 2019 thus far. Still plenty of time to go, of course.

Let's discuss.

 

[Double TE]

Replace Michael Bennett with Aaron Donald and you get the same thing. I think he has been been fine.

 

[SBLIII]

He is okay. But it's a clear downgrade from Flowers.

 

[patfanken]

Nothing to discuss. Bennett is a 34 year old defensive lineman with a LOT of wear and tear on him. The SMART thing for this team to do is ration his playing time, ESPECIALLY while we are playing the softer part of our schedule so that he will be fresh for the harder part of the schedule and playoffs. It's as simple as that

 

[Kontradiction]

We’re not having any problem getting home on the edges. Why not use him as an interior sub-rusher for now until he gets better acquainted with the defense?

 

[catent]

Replace Michael Bennett with Aaron Donald and you get the same thing. I think he has been been fine.

Donald is an every-down player who regularly gets immediate penetration/pressure and disrupts plays. I haven't seen that from Bennett so far this season.

If there are gifs/clips that indicate otherwise, please post them here as I would love be wrong. I'll readily admit that my analysis is based on my layman's eye-test, and not any extensive film analysis.

 

[Double TE]

Donald is an every-down player who regularly gets immediate penetration/pressure and disrupts plays. I haven't seen that from Bennett so far this season.

If there are gifs/clips that indicate otherwise, please post them here as I would love be wrong. I'll readily admit that my analysis is based on my layman's eye-test, and not any extensive film analysis.

I mean for this season. I have watched the Rams games and Donald has been about as good as Bennett IMO.

 

[catent]

Nothing to discuss. Bennett is a 34 year old defensive lineman with a LOT of wear and tear on him. The SMART thing for this team to do is ration his playing time, ESPECIALLY while we are playing the softer part of our schedule so that he will be fresh for the harder part of the schedule and playoffs. It's as simple as that

It would seem there is something to discuss, then: the idea of load management.

That's certainly a sensible theory and explains his lack of playing time. I tend to think that's a good decision since, as you note, we are getting pressure from other players and Bennett is a luxury.

Keep him fresh and let him go full-tilt in the postseason.

 

[farn]

While the D rolls as it has, this is a non issue. If/until Bennett grumbled about his role - there is no reason to worry about the situation.

The D has been using many player and most DL are playing less than 50% of snaps due to rotations.

This is issue W. NE needs to address A-V before even thinking about the Bennett situation.

 

[Double TE]

It would seem there is something to discuss, then: the idea of load management.

That's certainly a sensible theory and explains his lack of playing time. I tend to think that's a good decision since, as you note, we are getting pressure from other players and Bennett is a luxury.

Keep him fresh and let him go full-tilt in the postseason.

He seems to get penetration but then is not quick enough to grab elusive QBs like Allen but he does make them move around. He may wreak havoc on Haskins.

 

[primetime]

Donald is an every-down player who regularly gets immediate penetration/pressure and disrupts plays. I haven't seen that from Bennett so far this season.

If there are gifs/clips that indicate otherwise, please post them here as I would love be wrong. I'll readily admit that my analysis is based on my layman's eye-test, and not any extensive film analysis.

Donald has one sack to Bennett's two this season, but you're right that doesn't tell the whole story. The Patriots rotate defensive linemen to keep players fresh, though, and Bennett's 34 so why wouldn't he be a part time player? Seems like he's playing a similar role in the defense to what Chris Long did a few years ago, and he certainly hasn't been ineffective in that role.

 

[borg]

D = 13 points given up in 4 games
D = 3.25 points given up per game
D = #1 in sacks
D = #1 in INTs

 

[Triumph]

BB the GM has failed BB the head coach.

 

[patsrj]

I have been disappointed with him so far, maybe my expectations were too high, but there were games that he had less snaps than Wino for example.

From a simple eye test, I don't think he has been that bad out there, but can't say why so few snaps for him

I imagined that he would be flowers replacement, but that didn't happen.

With that said, our defense is great as it it, it's not a critic..

 

[catent]

D = 13 points given up in 4 games
D = 3.25 points given up per game

View attachment 24463

It's inappropriate to discuss a defensive player of interest and intrigue because the defense as a whole is playing exceptionally well?

Seems these topics aren't mutually exclusive and can exist together.

 

[Clonamery]

BB the GM has failed BB the head coach.

Triumph the troll has failed Triumph the fan.

 

[Ivan]

BB the GM has failed BB the head coach.

Triumph the poster has failed Triumph the poster, thousand and thousands of times.

 

[Clonamery]

I imagined that he would be flowers replacement, but that didn't happen.

You imagined poorly.

 

[Sicilian]

Unless I misread the snap counts, Bennett is 3rd on the team in snaps from the DL (behind Butler and John Simon of all people). I don't think it's necessarily him, but a philosophy right now that they're going to use their depth to their advantage and rotate a bunch of guys, combined with playing more LB's and DB's on the average play because those are the strength of the team.

 

[Uptown]

BB is managing certain guys for the playoff stretch. He knows who does/doesn’t need it. Bennett is/will be fine.