Is the New England Patriot Defense Elite?

[Real fan 02]

Not to mention our PPG including 3 special team scores given up. If you normalize PPG for the above average offense and special teams TD's given up and above average defensive scores our PPG was also top 3.

That's right!!! It's telling last season the way the first game of the season went and also the last.. was just a summary of how our season went. How many games did we beat ourselves in last season!

 

[PatsFan2]

That's right!!! It's telling last season the way the first game of the season went and also the last.. was just a summary of how our season went. How many games did we beat ourselves in last season!

One thing we know about BB Defense's if He has Very Good CB's on the outsides its a wrap. Gonzo - Jack Jones and Bolden no fly zone Defense.

 

[farn]

It depends on what ‘elite in 2023’ means…. Are they going to dominate the world like early 2000 TB or BAL ? No. I don’t think those Ds would roll over modern offenses/rules.

Can they be as strong as 2014 NE ? That would be the dream, no ? I just dunno. Revis + HT, obv Malcom… those guys made things happen at the most crucial times. Is Gonzo ready to make the massive iNT within the 5 yard line ? Will Judon be as effective in the winter as he has been in the fall ? Who’ll make the big stops vs elite completion / not just vs the mediocre teams ?

I think they will be very good. Just shy of excellent.

 

[Real fan 02]

One thing we know about BB Defense's if He has Very Good CB's on the outsides its a wrap. Gonzo - Jack Jones and Bolden no fly zone Defense.

Love your passion my man.. I just hope our guy jack can keep it together.. he's to talented of a guy not to be on the field. I'm not worried the least about gonzo having some " struggles " as reported.. the guys been locking up everything.

 

[Steve102]

Maybe. Keion White and Christian Gonzalez might just put them over the top.

 

[Real fan 02]

It depends on what ‘elite in 2023’ means…. Are they going to dominate the world like early 2000 TB or BAL ? No. I don’t think those Ds would roll over modern offenses/rules.

Can they be as strong as 2014 NE ? That would be the dream, no ? I just dunno. Revis + HT, obv Malcom… those guys made things happen at the most crucial times. Is Gonzo ready to make the massive iNT within the 5 yard line ? Will Judon be as effective in the winter as he has been in the fall ? Who’ll make the big stops vs elite completion / not just vs the mediocre teams ?

I think they will be very good. Just shy of excellent.

After 2005.. when Bill poilian cried about Wayne, and Harrison being mugged. The competition committee changed the rules.. and then again a few years later to protect the qb. That made is nearly impossible to be a elite defense. Holding teams to 21 points in 2023 is a good defensive effort. I don't believe any defense in the NFL will be elite going forward. I believe you can be aggressive and pressure heavy. But not elite.

 

[PatsFan2]

Love your passion my man.. I just hope our guy jack can keep it together.. he's to talented of a guy not to be on the field. I'm not worried the least about gonzo having some " struggles " as reported.. the guys been locking up everything.

Let's hope we have a healthy J Jones for the next three years counting the current. I don't think he gets another contract with the Patriots unless he does a 360 attitude wise.

 

[Real fan 02]

Let's hope we have a healthy J Jones for the next three years counting the current. I don't think he gets another contract with the Patriots unless he does a 360 attitude wise.

Yeah agree, and if he ends up being a an all pro.. he definitely likely won't see a 2nd deal here.. we know how that goes with paying guys.

 

[PatsFan2]

Maybe. Keion White and Christian Gonzalez might just put them over the top.

And a year Two Jack Jones I think he's much better than regarded and could be a #1 CB.

 

[Steve102]

And a year Two Jack Jones I think he's much better than regarded and could be a #1 CB.

maybe.

 

[State]

LBs making plays in coverage.

We have a lot of talent and moving pieces.

But Tavai and Bentley as starting middle linebackers will have coverage gaffes. They’re just old school thumpers.

That’s why passes to the flats to RBs can work so well against this team if there is a deep threat, which all three of our AFC East rivals have.

Tyquan Thornton, hello, anybody home?

 

[RIpats88]

Tough to say. last few years we have been able to beat up on average-below average QB's/teams. but when we faced legit QB's and offenses we couldn't' stop a nosebleed. will that change?

this year will definitely be the test...we face ALOT of top QB's and offenses

 

[A Defiant Goose]

We're better than everyone else. Also, our defense is elite

 

[oldrover]

We have experienced heated discussions on this topic in other threads.

Please weigh in.

 

[Huckleberry1]

We have experienced heated discussions on this topic in other threads.

Please weigh in.

Hey Sammy, hope your treatment is going well. I voted very good, not elite. They seem to be heading in that direction but you can’t be elite until you can really slow down the best offenses in football, and they haven’t reached that place yet. Although it will be really difficult, if not impossible to reach it if the offense continues to be putrid, as you can’t be on the field that much and play at your highest level. That said I’m really looking forward to watching them this season, especially if Gonzalez, White, and Mapu turn into significant contributors. They have a brutal schedule but my hope is that they can contend for a play off berth. Should be really interesting to watch.

 

[Water Boy]

I'd feel better if Jack Jones was more stable. I don't think there is anyway we can count on him for a full season. Gonzalez will take time to season. I think we will be much improved with respect to coverage abilities of our LB corp with Mapu and Wilson. Our safeties are going to allow us to come up with some dynamic schemes. Judon and Uche could be an amazing thunder and lighting combination off the edge. Keion White could give a spark and could also be a great chess piece with his speed and ability to play off the ball.

 

[Ring 6]

No. Many posters, including myself have shown why they are not. However, it's not that big of a deal as no defense in the NFL is elite. Every defense has good players at one or two levels, but they all have glaring flaws that show up at some point. Last year, the Pats major flaws were defending elite WR's at the boundaries and the middle of the field.

I like the potential of the pass rush this year with the combo of Judon, Uche, Wise, Barmore and White. I think they eclipse 50 sacks again for the 2nd consecutive year. Gonzalez is the X Factor in the secondary along with who can defend the middle of the field.

If you think you’ve proven something isn’t elite because elite doesn’t exist you should observe the first rule of holes.

 

[Ring 6]

What’s the difference between elite and very good?

 

[SlowGettingUp]

One way to think about this is to compare to last year where we were undoubtedly a top 5 defense and arguably a top 3. Highest in weighted DVOA.

On the minus side, we lost D-Mac. That's it, except maybe for the added uncertainty around Ja Jones.

On the plus side, we added three key pieces in Gonzalez, White and Mapu, and a lot of the younger players have an extra year of seasoning. I think Mapu might be the missing piece that allows us to deal with mobile QBs - he's like a guided missile and his positional versatility is going to mean opposing QBs are never going to have the answer pre-snap. We're going to see more positionless football than ever before.

One uncertainty is how long it will take Gonzalez to reach his potential. So my prediction is (absent injuries) we are a elite defense by say 2/3 of the way through the schedule.

 

[pazrul72]

This depends entirely on your definition of elite. Top 5 in stats, the reason your team in competive, keeps other teams out of the endzone are all things i look at to say Elite and to me they were last year and will again this year. Now if you think its takes 85 bears, 2000 ravens, 2015 Broncos to use the E word then no they arent and probably wont be unless all 3 of the rookies hit the ground running at an atleast probowl level.