Improvements (So Far) To Top 10 Defense

[mgteich]

Our top 10 Defense should improve considerably. Of course, we don't know about 2024 injuries or about additional acquisitions.

OVERALL
Defense should be on the field less.
There should fewer locker room and coaching issues.

FRONT SIX
OUT: Guy, Wilson
IN: Ekuale, Watts, Judon, Takitaki

SECONDARY
OUT: Bryant, Mills, Phillips
IN: Gonzo, Marcus Jones, Bolden, Hawkins

 

[signbabybrady]

I think the biggest concern on D has to be coaching. No knock on Mayo or Covington but I think the obvious needs to be considered.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I get that BB made mistakes at the end and I'm sure some aspects of the tension behind the scenes might have fed over to the lockeroom and the defensive side as well. That being said, when you consider the full aspect of game-planning/preparation and in game adjustments, I find it pretty hard to believe anyone seriously thinks coaching will be better this year on defense with BB gone.

Even his harshest critics pretty much universally say he's the greatest defensive coordinator in the history of the world who lucked into being looked at as a great head coach because of Brady. No one actually questions his genius defensively.

 

[VrabelJr]

I see us as flat (being healthier) to slightly worse (losing the GOAT coach). DL rotation, CB2-4, and LB are my biggest concerns in that order.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

There is a fallacy at work here; in any NFL unit, if you go into the following season without upgrades, you will not have the same success or record. Players age very quickly in the NFL. You need to continually upgrade the players to just maintain the same level of competance. With that in mind, I doubt that the defense can be as good as last year, but the offense should be much improved if the Patriots can find a LT.

 

[PowerRunRevival]

There is a fallacy at work here; in any NFL unit, if you go into the following season without upgrades, you will not have the same success or record. Players age very quickly in the NFL. You need to continually upgrade the players to just maintain the same level of competance. With that in mind, I doubt that the defense can be as good as last year, but the offense should be much improved if the Patriots can find a LT.

Players aging doesn’t always make the team worse. This defense could absolutely improve based on health and youth development. I expect big steps forward from some combination of White, Mapu, Gonzalez, and Marcus Jones.

The defense was good last year, despite not pressuring the qb much or playing much man coverage in the secondary. I expect more pressure this year and better coverage from the defense so I don’t think it’s a stretch that the defense improves.

The offense should still be a huge work in progress, to the point that I expect them to put the defense in tough situations. I’m not sure how they are going to run wide zone without wide zone offensive lineman. If they can’t get the run game going then the play action game this offense is supposed to be based around will also fail. I think it’s going to take the team a couple years to get the talent to run the new offensive system. In the mean time the offense will probably continue to be awful. Unfortunately these issues will probably weigh on the defense.

 

[mgteich]

There is a fallacy at work here; in any NFL unit, if you go into the following season without upgrades, you will not have the same success or record. Players age very quickly in the NFL. You need to continually upgrade the players to just maintain the same level of competance. With that in mind, I doubt that the defense can be as good as last year, but the offense should be much improved if the Patriots can find a LT.

Yes, some get older.

Alos, some youngsters improve as they get experience.
=======
Also, I would think that Judon, Gonzo, Marcus Jones and Ekuale are upgrades over those who played last year.

 

[Brick27]

On the DL, they had great luck last year staying healthy, with Barmore, Godchaux and Guy being active for all 17 games—Wise and White for 16. That’s a lot of snaps, and drops dramatically after those five:

Barmore: 750 (65.9%)
Godchaux: 685 (60.2%)
Wise: 614 (54%)
Guy: 521 (45.8%)
White: 521 (45.8%)
Roberts: 100 (8.8%)
Pharms: 90 (7.9%)
Ekuale: 53 (4.7%)
Hill: 4 (0.4%)

Fine spread when healthy and not needing to rely on lower depth players. But obviously losing Guy’s 500+ snaps, and assuming lower likelihood the rest can duplicate such good injury luck, will need a few among Watts, Roberts, Ekuale etc to be more involved.

They seem pretty content for now with the group they have seeing no draft picks were used, and the only FA add in Watts more so fills a vacancy vs. a move to stack up on depth. Can still another DL player TBD ending up on the roster by the time week 1 starts if they don’t like what they see through camp.

 

[Real fan 02]

I think the biggest concern on D has to be coaching. No knock on Mayo or Covington but I think the obvious needs to be considered.

Mayo said the same defense likely will be ran as when BB was here. He said the same defensive principals. I'd have more concerns if DC and Mayo were College coaches, or had no NFL experience but they both been with organization for good length of time. If anything I believe that will help the coaching aspect tremendously. My concerns are 100% offensively.

 

[Real fan 02]

I see us as flat (being healthier) to slightly worse (losing the GOAT coach). DL rotation, CB2-4, and LB are my biggest concerns in that order.

I believe we can go from top 10 to top 5, by virtually being off the field more, and the continuity from last season.

 

[signbabybrady]

Mayo said the same defense likely will be ran as when BB was here. He said the same defensive principals. I'd have more concerns if DC and Mayo were College coaches, or had no NFL experience but they both been with organization for good length of time. If anything I believe that will help the coaching aspect tremendously. My concerns are 100% offensively.

Totally agree. Probably only a handful of people who I would trust BBs D too that said it's still a copy.

Just need to avoid the copy on the far left (that was a copy of a copy though):

 

[Real fan 02]

Totally agree. Probably only a handful of people who I would trust BBs D too that said it's still a copy.

Just need to avoid the copy on the far left (that was a copy of a copy though):

LOL I remember that movie!

 

[borg]

I believe we can go from top 10 to top 5, by virtually being off the field more, and the continuity from last season.

Note: Neither potential NE starting QB, Brissett or Maye, started a NFL game last season

 

[Real fan 02]

Note: Neither potential NE starting QB, Brissett or Maye, started a NFL game last season

Yet, I still feel more confident either one could be better at the QB position that the last 2 seasons.

 

[Dec54]

Well as a long time Pat's supporter from over the pond, I'm quite excited about the coming season. Lets face it, can't be worse than last season. So I say bring it on and let's prove the Doom mungers wrong.

 

[Real fan 02]

Well as a long time Pat's supporter from over the pond, I'm quite excited about the coming season. Lets face it, can't be worse than last season. So I say bring it on and let's prove the Doom mungers wrong.

Agreed. There is alot to look forward for this upcoming season, growing Drake and the other rookies, becoming competitive again. Last season was probably in the last 2 decades rock bottom.

 

[mgteich]

Agreed. There is alot to look forward for this upcoming season, growing Drake and the other rookies, becoming competitive again. Last season was probably in the last 2 decades rock bottom.

rock bottom since before Bledsoe was drafted in 1993

 

[Real fan 02]

rock bottom since before Bledsoe was drafted in 1993

Yes. I was just eluding to based on the success we had during the span of the last 2 decades. Under Brady I don't believe we were 31st in anything offensively..

 

[Wozzy]

Not having the 32nd ranked offense should help.

Also better health should help, and advanced development of young talent like Keion White, Marcus Jones, Mapu and Bolden along with some solid rookie CB's they added in Hearn and Dial.

Despite injuries to their best defenders last year, the D ranked 5th in points allowed (PPD) and 3rd in yards allowed (YPD).

Where they could improve mightily with a healthy Judon and improved youth is sacks and forced turnovers. But the offense improving a lot could allow them to play from ahead more often and improve both of those most of all.

 

[Real fan 02]

Not having the 32nd ranked offense should help.

Also better health should help, and advanced development of young talent like Keion White, Marcus Jones, Mapu and Bolden along with some solid rookie CB's they added in Hearn and Dial.

Despite injuries to their best defenders last year, the D ranked 5th in points allowed (PPD) and 3rd in yards allowed (YPD).

Where they could improve mightily with a healthy Judon and improved youth is sacks and forced turnovers. But the offense improving a lot could allow them to play from ahead more often and improve both of those most of all.

Spot on. I believe we were near the top of the league in amount of time the defense was on the field due to the absolute dismal offense last season. Having guys fresher in the 3rd and 4th quarter, with a nice rotation on the defensive line as well will be huge. Having gonzo take away one side of the field will be huge as well.