NEW ARTICLE: Patriots Linebackers Analysis and Morse’s Morsels

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Patriots Linebackers Analysis and Morse’s Morsels
Mark Morse
What I consider the most critical component of the Patriots' defense is the Linebacker/Edge Group.

The post Patriots Linebackers Analysis and Morse’s Morsels appeared first on PatsFans.com.

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[captain stone]

No argument from me regarding the EDs & LBs... or the record prediction.

 

[archstanton543]

They're going to lose to the Vikings and Pittsburg?

And then win against the Cardinals and Colts? No way.

 

[Wozzy]

Is this what passes as “analysis” now? Hard to take a half baked article from a fan forum too seriously, especially when it’s so hastily constructed.

Anfernee Jennings was 6’2” 256 at his pro day (wrong size) and how can the author mention his time at Alabama including his injuries and negatives without pointing out how Jennings led the best team in the nation in sacks, tackles for a loss and was third in both solo and overall tackles?

For Cam McGrone the author obviously took the time to reference Draftscout because he got the size correct, but he said Cam was smaller than Duggar and Phillips and that’s not remotely true, they’re substantially smaller. And what good is an estimate by their site about his forty time? It’s worthless, an estimate, the Michigan defensive coach said Cam ran mid 4.4 forties, that he was really fast and the game tape reflects that.

Raekwon McMillan (author couldn’t be bothered to spell his name right) has torn both ACL’s now, maybe he had a genetic flaw and cadavers have fixed it, but his stats from his one healthy season show a guy who can make tackles (opportunity) but who compiled very little explosive plays (sacks, INT’s, tackles for a loss).

Mack Wilson’s one full season (both player’s rookie seasons) was unimpressive, worse than Raekwon’s even… fewer tackles and it’s hard to have fewer explosive plays when Raekwon had none.

I think JaWhaun Bentley’s speed limits his ability in pass coverage but he has shown some instincts in zone coverage. Much like Hightower before him, you don’t want him manning anyone up but he watches the QB’s eyes and gets around the ball in zone.

Ronnie Perkins didn’t carryover an injury from college, he was given a Foxboro Flu designation. He started all 13 games he played in his sophomore year before being suspended for the 2019 Peach Bowl due to a failed drug test. The suspension continued five games into his junior year in 2020… he missed time in his final season due to PED’s, not injury. I see a bad athlete who can’t play OLB and isn’t strong enough to play DE.

Mitch predicts 7 wins… I view this with a level of skepticism befitting a writer who can’t be bothered to research the proper height, weight or even the spelling of names… and who only focuses on the negatives… and I’m highly skeptical about this LB’er corps. They need a bunch of young oft injured players to get right and play, this seems like a longshot but not impossible.

Do these writers on Patsfans get paid? If so why hasn’t Wozzy written an article for them?

 

[TheRainMaker]

Sounds like Mitch doesn't like the LB's. He's not alone.

But he got Jennings first and second year's mixed up. Jennings played year one, but not year two.

Uche has had the red carpet laid out for him, but has shown he's not a good LB.

Then you have two LB's with multiple ACL tears and a guy who lost his job to another JAG in Cleveland.

 

[captain stone]

Sounds like Mitch doesn't like the LB's. He's not alone.

But he got Jennings first and second year's mixed up. Jennings played year one, but not year two.

Uche has had the red carpet laid out for him, but has shown he's not a good LB.

Then you have two LB's with multiple ACL tears and a guy who lost his job to another JAG in Cleveland.

Yep, our LBs are in the same category as our DTs, DEs & CBs: Not Good Enough.

We might not allow many big plays because of our Safeties, but we will instead die from the thousand paper cuts of 3rd-down conversions...

 

[Wozzy]

Yep, our LBs are in the same category as our DTs, DEs & CBs: Not Good Enough.

While I'm highly skeptical of the LB unit entering 2022, this is still to be determined.

We have no clue what Uche, McGrone and Jennings will contribute this season.

If all three do stay healthy and contribute this could be a very good unit.

Outside of staying healthy, I'm not really concerned about the DT's and CB's.

 

[mgteich]

Yep, our LBs are in the same category as our DTs, DEs & CBs: Not Good Enough.

We might not allow many big plays because of our Safeties, but we will instead die from the thousand paper cuts of 3rd-down conversions...

I guess you think that losing Hightower, Van Noy and Jackson will make us much worse than the 4th in allowing 3rd down conversions that we were last year.

 

[captain stone]

I guess you think that losing Hightower, Van Noy and Jackson will make us much worse than the 4th in allowing 3rd down conversions that we were last year.

Yeah we're not sniffing 4th-lowest 3rd-down % allowed, that's for sure... Might be closer to 28th this season...

 

[borg]

MSN

www.msn.com

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

While I'm highly skeptical of the LB unit entering 2022, this is still to be determined.

We have no clue what Uche, McGrone and Jennings will contribute this season.

If all three do stay healthy and contribute this could be a very good unit.

Outside of staying healthy, I'm not really concerned about the DT's and CB's.

not concerned about DT and CB?
Our last years number 2 outside CB will be our Number 1 CB this year probably outside and the rest (Mitchell, Butler, Jones) are unproven for us.
the DT group needs a fattie and we also need a DE.

 

[reflexblue]

Unless BB makes some moves on defense ( which i think he has to) i see a lot of points scored against the Pats D by the better teams. This means the pats are going to fall behind, which means Mac is going to be on the field more trying to keep up with the other team. Which equals him being under pressure and hit more. Thats could lead to injuries. So something has to be done with the defense. I don't have much faith in this LBing corp. They're basically a bunch of jags

 

[captain stone]

MSN

www.msn.com

I would not have even begun to look for him as a possible draft pick until At Least #87; yet Billy, Nicky & Nike trade UP for him at #60 overall...

Horrible...Absolutely ****ing Horrible.

 

[Wozzy]

not concerned about DT and CB?
Our last years number 2 outside CB will be our Number 1 CB this year probably outside and the rest (Mitchell, Butler, Jones) are unproven for us.
the DT group needs a fattie and we also need a DE.

Like I said, if they remain healthy.

We have a fatty at DT in Carl Davis, the guy is 6'5" 320 pounds, really strong and athletic... his only issue in the NFL has been staying healthy. Barmore is a stud, Guy is consistently good and Godchaux has a motor that doesn't quit, so while he isn't extremely athletic he plays a lot of snaps which keeps the other's fresh. Would I like to be better at DT? Sure, but they're also pretty good if healthy.

I watched every game last season, and beyond the Dallas game where the entire backfield broke down, I don't recall a single game where Jalen Mills got consistently beat or had a bad game. The guy is a good corner, he's a good technician who uses the sideline as his friend and plays physical... he is the prototype they're looking for outside this season. In the slot Jon Jones returning will give them a huge boost, they need his speed in the middle of the field and Marcus Jones could provide the answer to his successor behind him. Controlling the middle of the field and being fast there is more important than out of the edges. We need the pass rush to emerge in the defensive front, or it won't matter if we had Pro Bowl CB's back there. Football is won and lost at the line of scrimmage.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I watched every game last season, and beyond the Dallas game where the entire backfield broke down, I don't recall a single game where Jalen Mills got consistently beat or had a bad game. The guy is a good corner, he's a good technician who uses the sideline as his friend and plays physical... he is the prototype they're looking for outside this season.

He gave up the 3rd most TD's in the NFL last season, QB's had a 111 rating when throwing his way and generated zero turnovers. The 2nd half of the season he was more invisible (good thing), but being Jekyll and Hyde is who he is - either he plays well enough or gets beat badly.

The #1 CB is his to lose, but he won't be able to stay invisible anymore as he will take the assignments of defending every team's best WR.

 

[Wozzy]

He gave up the 3rd most TD's in the NFL last season, QB's had a 111 rating when throwing his way and generated zero turnovers. The 2nd half of the season he was more invisible (good thing), but being Jekyll and Hyde is who he is - either he plays well enough or gets beat badly.

The #1 CB is his to lose, but he won't be able to stay invisible anymore as he will take the assignments of defending every team's best WR.

Where are you getting these stats?

The reason I ask, is one has to look at what the Patriots were doing last year defensively. They ran more zone than I can remember in recent memory. Why is this important?

Zone is the definition of "bend don't break," it says keep the receiver in front of you, don't give up any big plays and be a sure tackler. And this is certainly frustrating for fans who bemoan the loss of yards, we've seen that in game threads over the last two decades when the Pats have generated a large lead and play soft cushiony zones in the 4th quarter and fans are watching their fantasy football defense lose points by giving up yards during an otherwise meaningless point in the game.

Here's where the Patriot's D ranked in 2021 in the entire NFL:

Passing Yards Allowed: 2nd fewest
Passing TD's Allowed: 4th fewest
Interceptions: 2nd most
Yards Gained Per Pass: 2nd fewest
Opponent's Completion Percentage: 2nd best
Overall Passes Defensed: 2nd most
Opposing QB Percentage: 2nd best

Why are these ^ pass defense stats particularly impressive, the defense ranked 18th in sacks, 23rd in QB Hits... they were below average in creating sacks and pressure. The defensive backfield fell apart when Jon Jones got injured and they had no speed in the middle of the field, it was made worse when the LB'ers stopped playing after the bye week.

If ^ that's "bad" pass defense, then I don't want to be good.

 

[mgteich]

Yeah we're not sniffing 4th-lowest 3rd-down % allowed, that's for sure... Might be closer to 28th this season...

I didn't think that you thought that Hightower and Van Noy were top contributors in 2021. Many pointed to their relatively weak seasons.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Where are you getting these stats?

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2021/defense_advanced.htm

 

[Wozzy]

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2021/defense_advanced.htm

The Pats were one of the best pass defenses in the league… read the rest of what I wrote above.

 

[TheRainMaker]

The Pats were one of the best pass defenses in the league… read the rest of what I wrote above.

Why are you moving the goal posts? This is about Jalen Mills as an individual - not the rest of the defense.