Content Post The Patriots defense to this point

[BobDigital]

We have a 5 game sample , how are we doing?

Let's start with the run D first and unlike the back end situation it has been fairly consistent with the core players. So the run D is the easiest thing to talk about with some certainty.

Pats in run D is 5th in YPG surrendered with 85.6 and 4th in YPA surrendered with 3.51. These numbers support the eye test. They've face dangerous running QBs like Allen and to a lesser degree Smith.. But also good RB play from Cook, Achane, Jeanty (who has been solid) and the pretty deep Carolina back field... no it isn't like they haven't played anyone good here. Considering that, we should be able to expect this front to hold up well as long as they are healthy no matter who they play more or less. And for what it is worth they have only surrendered 2 rushing TDs... so in those short redzone situations, they are hard to convert on on the ground.

Tonga has been fantastic in his role. Barmore and Williams certainly are not liabilities in run defense. Landry has been stout vs the run too. Spillane has had some hiccups but has been solid. And everyone else has pitched in well too. At this point is is hard to look at this run D and not be very happy.


As for the pass D, it is harder to really say. The 3 games without Gonzo were... less than impressive. Now 2 games with him and everyone is in their rightful slot. One against the hapless Panthers... once against the dangerous Bills offense.

I guess all you can do is look at both parts and see the difference... First 3 games they surrendered 333, 297 and 139 yards for 256 average (these numbers subtract sacks btw). They also gave up passer rating grades of 102.8, 115.5 and 96.1... all vs QBs who really aren't that good.

Next they surrender with Gonzo in there 197 and 245 with passer ratings of 84 vs Young (Dalton is garbage time as were those 58 yards he got... but whatever) and 103.3 to one of the best QBs in the NFL. So averages out to 221 yards and around a 93 or so QB rating...

So a nice step up... not a big enough sample to know anything... but clearly some big time improvement.


These are more broad strokes and we can talk about individual players more... but what do you think about this D right now? How good is it?

 

[TheRainMaker]

The Bills were best test and they passed. Absolutely stifled Cook and made it difficult for Allen. Their lack of passing game caught up to them. Their TE's picking up the slack won't be sustainable. This was a perfect example that if the Bills took Allen away, they are a seriously limited offense.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

To me it’s certainly steady improvement BUT they don’t seem capable of generating significant pressure consistently without blitzing, and even then they don’t often get home.

That may just be an open personnel box that still needs “checking” in the offseason as they don’t have a “dude” who can single-handedly wreck a play on the edge.

Add that to this team, better safety play, bit more LB range, and you have the ingredients for a very solid defense.

 

[TommyD4207]

To me it’s certainly steady improvement BUT they don’t seem capable of generating significant pressure consistently without blitzing, and even then they don’t often get home.

That may just be an open personnel box that still needs “checking” in the offseason as they don’t have a “dude” who can single-handedly wreck a play on the edge.

Add that to this team, better safety play, bit more LB range, and you have the ingredients for a very solid defense.

Yeah, it's just not going to be fixed this year, we're going to have to live with it, unless Christian Elliss or Keion White decide they're going to start playing good, magically, somehow.

 

[BTTA]

It is currently staffed by a bunch of middle-3rd NFL players, one young superstar, and a couple of rookies. It is what it is. To be what we want, they need to upgrade 3-4 positions with top 3rd NFL players.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Yeah, it's just not going to be fixed this year, we're going to have to live with it, unless Christian Elliss or Keion White decide they're going to start playing good, magically, somehow.

White has been very disappointing…I watched him specifically a lot last night and he was consistently stoned with ease.

Landry actually was also, though he did get off fast on the RB stuff only to be negated by Farmer going full ******

 

[TommyD4207]

White has been very disappointing…I watched him specifically a lot last night and he was consistently stoned with ease.

Landry actually was also, though he did get off fast on the RB stuff only to be negated by Farmer going full ******

Landry needs another rusher on the other side to be effective, true. White not being able to win consistently against that mediocre line is pretty troubling.

But again, I don't think that's something that can be fixed this year.

 

[State]

White has been very disappointing…I watched him specifically a lot last night and he was consistently stoned with ease.

Yo tambien.

Guy’s elite athleticism isn’t registering. No threat as a pass rusher. Is it effort?

 

[State]

Genno Smith, the Raiders QB who’s play is horrendous and has a league-leading nine INTs, looked like an all pro against us.

I guess that’s the Patriots defense without Gonzo.

 

[Simpelton]

Plenty of room for improvement, but I'm content. We're moving in a good direction and some of the young guys stepped up last night.

 

[Ring 6]

To me it’s certainly steady improvement BUT they don’t seem capable of generating significant pressure consistently without blitzing, and even then they don’t often get home.

That may just be an open personnel box that still needs “checking” in the offseason as they don’t have a “dude” who can single-handedly wreck a play on the edge.

Add that to this team, better safety play, bit more LB range, and you have the ingredients for a very solid defense.

Didn’t they lead the league in sacks through week 4?

No team generates significant pressure consistently, especially without blitzing. A DL who gets 1 sack a game (including with the benefit of blitzing) is considered a superstar. That’s out of 30-35 pass rushers.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Cant ask for them to do much better than the have since Gonzo came back. Holding buffalo to 20 is like shutting out alot of teams and its not like our offense had 8 minute drives. That was a performance

If our defense plays the way it has the last 2 weeks with Gonzo this team WILL win 11 games or more. The only teams left that should put up more than 14-20 pts on us are buffalo, tb, ravens

 

[javajunky]

To me it’s certainly steady improvement BUT they don’t seem capable of generating significant pressure consistently without blitzing, and even then they don’t often get home.

That may just be an open personnel box that still needs “checking” in the offseason as they don’t have a “dude” who can single-handedly wreck a play on the edge.

Add that to this team, better safety play, bit more LB range, and you have the ingredients for a very solid defense.

I hate to say it, but Parson would have made this defense elite for the next two years.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Yo tambien.

Guy’s elite athleticism isn’t registering. No threat as a pass rusher. Is it effort?

He's a tweener. He's better at DT, but isn't as good as the others we have. He's not a great DE, but that's where we've put him to get him on the field.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

I hate to say it, but Parson would have made this defense elite for the next two years.

Agreed BUT two first rounders removed from a roster that is still bereft of young talent just was too rich

 

[TommyD4207]

I hate to say it, but Parson would have made this defense elite for the next two years.

1) Price was way too high.
2) He has fewer sacks than Landry or Chaisson
3) He's already hurt again.

 

[signbabybrady]

I'll put our best 5 defenders up against anyone else's best 5 (especially having done zero research to validate my opinion lol)

Gonzo, Williams, Barmore, Davis, and Marcus Jones are as good as a core defense than anyone else has.

Landry is a very nice veteran piece, Woodson is very nice rookie, and Tonga is a very nice role player.

Thats 8 players that I really like. I hope I didn't forget someone.

I don't really love our linebackers but they are playing well vs the run not so much vs the pass. Kind of the norm for linebackers in the pass happy league.

 

[mayoclinic]

Add 1 alpha LB and 1 EDGE, and you suddenly have a top 5 defense.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I'll put our best 5 defenders up against anyone else's best 5 (especially having done zero research to validate my opinion lol)

Gonzo, Williams, Barmore, Davis, and Marcus Jones are as good as a core defense than anyone else has.

Landry is a very nice veteran piece, Woodson is very nice rookie, and Tonga is a very nice role player.

Thats 8 players that I really like. I hope I didn't forget someone.

I don't really love our linebackers but they are playing well vs the run not so much vs the pass. Kind of the norm for linebackers in the pass happy league.

Agreed with those groups , id add spillane to the 2nd to make it 9. He’s been better the last few weeks. Huge forced fumble sunday

Chiasson and farmer is potentially in that 2nd group too

 

[40yrpatsfan]

We need Chaisson back. He's a key guy in this front 7. It's a knee injury but haven't seen any details.

It's hard to believe how ineffective White has been, I remember him as a rookie showing flashes, but since then nothing. Doesn't seem to have a pass rushing moves.