I don't think AT is playing particularly well, although I could be wrong. However, whenever the camera is on him, I do see him overruning his gap and giving the RB a lane to run or not being able to get off his blocks. While Samuel has been our BEST DB in the secondary, his play has been average at best. He's a below average tackler and I expect my "shut down, top 5" corner to be able to play up on his man and not give him a first down cushion.
See, this is why you make no sense. You're evaluating the defense by what they're doing in progressively bigger and bigger blowouts. Let's see what they do in an actual close game before you start whining.
Actually, you don't have to be in a "close game" to evaluate the play of the defense. Missed tackles are MISSED TACKLES. Poor fundamental play by the linebacks isn't dependent on the score. I highly doubt Belichick says "well guys, if it's a blowout, it's okay to miss tackles, and play poor technique and overrun lanes and stand like a statue while a receiver catches a ball right in front of you". Allowing TDS is allowing TDS. You would have a point if the complaint was solely about how many yards/points were allowed but the complaint is about the MANNER OF PLAY of the defense. They are NOT PLAYING WELL and the only reason we won this game is because we have a good offense, played against a POOR defense and faced a POOR offense. The latter two facts won't exist in the playoffs.
And what's happened when the team has absolutely had to make a stop? They've done it. Against the Chargers after the fumble on the kickoff. Against the Cowboys the ENTIRE SECOND HALF AFTER THEY TOOK THE LEAD. The first half of this game. Besides a few series the whole season, they have not been put under duress to make a big stop, but when they have they've pulled it off. Perspective is important when evaluating this defense.
People on this board are getting ridiculous.
The first half of this game, the Pats D didn't get any stops, rather the Dolphins offense shot themselves in the foot. Ronnie Brown running at will, to the tune of 16 yards on 3 carries, then Cameron calls a dumb pitch out which costs them 3 yards. Then Cleo drops the ball. The Pats D didn't do a damn thing to make those things happen.
Then, with 3 qtrs still left, the D proceeds to make a "stop" by allowing the Dolphins 80 yards and a TD. Yeah, real nice "stop"
"Perspective" is something that homers like you obviously lack and you're not much better at spinning.
Its official people are idiots! Defense plays great in the first half and then come out flat, up 42-7 and give up 2 TD's and they are terrible yup! How will we ever win another game????
Again, please provide an excuse for the atrocious D in the first half where the only "stops" came courtesy of Cleo Lemon missing wide open receivers.
Anyone who doesn't understand the human element to both football and specifically defensive football isn't worth listening to. Telling someone to play with the same intensity when they're up by 35 points isn't enough to accomplish that goal.
And you're making the obvious mistake of extrapolating from this game to other games. We know we can tackle. Did we tackle well in this game? Well, no. Does that mean we will never be able to? Hopefully not.
Actually, we have been tackling poorly since after the San Diego game and the defense has been playing increasingly worse since then as well. This isn't a one game complaint, this complaint stems from the poor play since the San Diego game.
You make a good point....did we tackle exceptionally well against the cowboys? Not really,.....for a split second there THEY were ahead in that game.....you never know what is going to happen in a game,....and I think we as fans are getting a little complacent, fat and happy here........You pull off some of the crap we pulled today against the Colts (who believe me will be neck and neck with us offensively) and even Pitt who has been playing tough all year......and it will be an unhappy result......My feeling is to NOT get too used to putting it in cruise control.....because it can be a bad habit to break....and it can come back to burn you......Someone said something about giving some credit to this team........credit....???? has anyone watched their games this year? This is the worst team in the NFL.......wake up guys.......
It's a waste of time trying to explain anything to these homers. Many of these same people insisted that Biesel was fine as a LB up until he was cut. And they will continue to insist that the defense is fine up until we lose our first playoff game. I'm pretty sure they'll come up with the typical excuses if the defense costs us a game in the regular season.
I wouldn't mind criticism of the D, but geez, some people complaining sound so angry. Calm down people.
Right...the people who are complaining are the ones calling others ******s and using profanity..
