Last year: new offense. This year: new defense.

[PatsFanJess]

I agreed with you then and now....10 minute drive to start the game (doesn't matter that they did not get 7 - it set the tone) and inability to stop them at the end when it counted the most, falls squarely on the "D".

I want a dominating "D" that does not bend or break. I want three and outs. I want the big stop at the important, game on the line time.

I want what we had when we won Superbowls - a defense that scared and shut down our opponents. They stopped the greatest show on turf and totally shut down Peyton's offense. That is what has been missing.

I think what you are seeing is BB/SP reshaping this defense right in front of our eyes.

I think we are going to like what we see.......

I completely agree

 

[pats1]

So a more 4-3 D?? or a hybtid of the 3-4?? I wonder what they are thinking now..

I think the 4-3 requires too drastic a personnel overhaul to move to. BB has used it out of necessity in the past (2001-02), but I don't think he has any reason to change it up now. He still prefers the 3-4.

A 3-4 with a shutdown secondary and a strong front seven is nearly unstoppable. They've had the latter, but the whole pass defense portion of the scheme has been lacking. The Pats have and will continue to make the necessary monetary and personnel shifts in order to fix that gap.

 

[Pats726]

I think the 4-3 requires too drastic a personnel overhaul to move to. BB has used it out of necessity in the past (2001-02), but I don't think he has any reason to change it up now. He still prefers the 3-4.

A 3-4 with a shutdown secondary and a strong front seven is nearly unstoppable. They've had the latter, but the whole pass defense portion of the scheme has been lacking. The Pats have and will continue to make the necessary monetary and personnel shifts in order to fix that gap.

That is true, but is there a way that they MAY USE the 4-3 in more situations? OR may use the 4-3 against certain teams? I know..that would be hard to do BOTH really good..and asking way too much. The D is versatile..and might be more so..but it just seems like the team is a LOT stronger up front (the line) than LBs at this point.. even if Bruschi and seau are back. No time at all to panic, but it does seeem like some majot overhaul is being done. No? Maybe the moves will be made to get to a point with a shutdown secondary..More questions than answers...although I do trust they will do something significant and good.

 

[NEPatriot]

#1 O and D team in NFL.?

pursue of perfection continues.

 

[TP76]

I agreed with you then and now....10 minute drive to start the game (doesn't matter that they did not get 7 - it set the tone) and inability to stop them at the end when it counted the most, falls squarely on the "D".

I want a dominating "D" that does not bend or break. I want three and outs. I want the big stop at the important, game on the line time.

I want what we had when we won Superbowls - a defense that scared and shut down our opponents. They stopped the greatest show on turf and totally shut down Peyton's offense. That is what has been missing.

I think what you are seeing is BB/SP reshaping this defense right in front of our eyes.

I think we are going to like what we see.......

I hope you're right... but Belichick is not infallable. I still have some not so fond recollections of the failed 4-2-5 big nickel defense from 2002.

One thing's for sure, Belichick and staff have their work cut out for themselves. The DL is in good shape but everything from there on back needs some serious attention (OLB looks set, but no depth with Colvin's supposed departure). Can it be done in one year/one offseason?

 

[NEPatriot]

Pats' O needs to be improved too. I can't wait to see BB unveil his O and D IN 08.

 

[cstjohn17]

I think the D played relatively consistent all year and then really turned in on in the playoffs. They were 3 dropped INTs (Harrison, Samuel and the 'no hands' Merriweather) and a missed sack (Green, Seymour) away from the championship. The defense went 9 straight quarters without allowing a TD, and if.. big if.. they would have stopped the Gints they would have averaged 14 PPG in the playoffs, as it was 17 PPG is still not bad.

Against 4 of the top 7 rushing teams the Patriots held each team below their seasonal rushing average (the defense was not pushed around)
- Jacksonville - season average - 149 YPG, against the Pats 80 yards (also under their PPG average by 5)
- SD - season average 127 YPG, against the Pats 104 (also under their PPG average by 13)
- Giants - season average 134 YPG, against the Pats 91 (also under their PPG average by 6)

The offensive line was over matched, the QB was gimpy and they Patriots offense was outcoached by the Giants. The offense was 22 points below its season average.

At the end of it they were a play (or playmaker) away from the greatest season in NFL history.

Time to shift gears, the defense played to its maximum potential last year. They were flawed, the lack of speed at ILB put a lot of pressure on the Safeties who had to try and play the deep part of the field as well as cover the middle because the aged could not get deep enough drops. Vrabel was banged up and without his consistent pressure opponents had the necessary time to complete passes.

What is the answer you ask? Not a complete overhual but some tweaking, I fully expect the scheme to stay virtually in tact, a bit more speed will be added to the LB core hopefully with an improved pass rush, at the end of the day the defense will be top 7 in the NFL and if they make enough plays in the playoffs have a very good shot at a title.

 

[HSanders]

I hope you're right... but Belichick is not infallable. I still have some not so fond recollections of the failed 4-2-5 big nickel defense from 2002.

It sucked to be sure...but it was an attempt at an in season fix for a problem that needed to be addressed in the next offseason. And it was.
That's the part I hope holds true.

 

[mgteich]

LINEBACKER (need 3, not counting backups)
We have a 5-man LB rotation. Colvin is gone. We'll see about Bruschi and Seau. We ahven't re-signed either as yet.

CORNER (need 2
We have Richardson coming back as the number 4. As of now, we need to replace Samuel and Gay.

I'm not understanding the overreaction.
Colvin as expendable, because we have 3 OLBs. This was probably decided last year when we signed AD.

DL- No changes
LB- Vrabel and Thomas retrun outside. Bruschi and Seau are to be seen
DB- We need to most likely replace Samuel

We are talking about 2 maybe 3 changes. That is a typical season for most defenses.

 

[BionicPatriot]

I think the 4-3 requires too drastic a personnel overhaul to move to. BB has used it out of necessity in the past (2001-02), but I don't think he has any reason to change it up now. He still prefers the 3-4.

A 3-4 with a shutdown secondary and a strong front seven is nearly unstoppable. They've had the latter, but the whole pass defense portion of the scheme has been lacking. The Pats have and will continue to make the necessary monetary and personnel shifts in order to fix that gap.

Yup. I was wondeirng if 4-3 was possibly, but they'd need faster LBs.