2015 Best Pats defense?

[Triumph]

Granted, the Pats havent faced a good QB yet.

I was looking at the depth chart and thinking that this front 7 is the best since the days of Bruschi, Vrabel and Seymour.

http://nfl.nbcsports.com/2015/10/14/the-2015-patriots-by-patriots-standards/

 

[A man named Brady]

The best defense was the 2003 one

 

[RobertWeathers]

The best defense was the 2003 one

Looks like it was -24% DVOA.

People who remember that team don't need statistical analysis to tell you that the 03 defense was the best in Patriots history.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef2003

 

[oldrover]

Granted, the Pats havent faced a good QB yet.

"Whaddaya mean?!?! That Weeden throws a pretty ball."

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Do I think this is the best defense we've had? No. But the 2015 Patriots has all the elements to become the most complete, well-rounded team in the Belichick-Brady era.

A powerful and experienced passing attack loaded with play makers? Check

An efficient, effective running game? Check

An O-line filled with a combination of veterans and young, promising talent? Check

A highly reliable special teams core? Check

Arguably the best linebacker corps in the NFL? Check

A promising pass rush that can overpower you in the trenches? Check

A skilled, if not disciplined secondary group? Check

A proven couching staff with continuity and years of collective experience? Check

And talent throughout the depth chart? You bet your ass

 

[PatsDeb]

It's week 5. Check back with us after we've won the SB.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Do I think this is the best defense we've had? No. But the 2015 Patriots has all the elements to become the most complete, well-rounded team in the Belichick-Brady era.

A powerful and experienced passing attack loaded with play makers? Check

An efficient, effective running game? Check

An O-line filled with a combination of veterans and young, promising talent? Check

A highly reliable special teams core? Check

Arguably the best linebacker corps in the NFL? Check

A promising pass rush that can overpower you in the trenches? Check

A skilled, if not disciplined secondary group? Check

A proven couching staff with continuity and years of collective experience? Check

And talent throughout the depth chart? You bet your ass

Injuries always play a role but I'd like to see the 2015 passing offense go up against a fully healthy 04 defense in the dime package

DT: Seymour
DE: McGinest, Vrabes
LB: Bruschi
Cover LB: Phifer (who still ran like a freaking deer)
CB1: Law
CB2: Poole
CB3: Asante
CB4: Gay
FS: Wilson
SS: Harrison

The 04 offense was also incredibly balanced as well.

 

[Lansdowne]

The Patriots' "Homeland Defense" in 2003 was historically great, probably one of the best in NFL history. I'm not ready to put the 2015 Patriots in that category when we're just four games into the season.

 

[Joey007]

We just lost a 30 something year old journeyman cornerback for the year, so now I guess this defense is dooooomed

 

[Concussion Protocol]

The 2003 defense carried an offense that had trouble scoring and withstood a punting debacle that constantly put them in tough spots. They were impossible to run against and had a great CB duo. This defense is nowhere near the same caliber. How short are people's memories?

Edit: just realized that's now 12 years ago and there are probably members here who were too young to remember the 2003 team. Let me put it this way: I used to look forward to watching the other team get the ball against that D. They were that good.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Sorry but not even close. Our pass rush is really good and our linebackers are awesome, maybe the best in the league. D-line and secondary, though, we are talking about units that are somewhere in the middle of the NFL. The guys up front are adequate, but I don't see any player even remotely resembling Seymour, Warren, Wilfork, etc. In the secondary, McCourty is awesome, but have we forgotten about how good we had it with players like Harrison, Law, and always seemed to have a very solid second, third, and fourth cornerback.

Many of the defenses through 2007 had hands down the best d-line in football, a top-5 linebacker corps, and a top-10 secondary.

This defense keeps us in the game and keeps adequately keeps defenses out of the end zone frequently enough, particularly when they drive to the red zone. Patriots defenses from early in the BB era won lots of games for us.

 

[RobertWeathers]

We just lost a 30 something year old journeyman cornerback for the year, so now I guess this defense is dooooomed

Did they IR Brown?

 

[Froob]

Have really only played one good offense in Pittsburgh and Buffalo scored 32.

 

[FourierSeries]

The 2003 defense carried an offense that had trouble scoring and withstood a punting debacle that constantly put them in tough spots. They were impossible to run against and had a great CB duo. This defense is nowhere near the same caliber. How short are people's memories?

This is exactly right. It's also why I can't take people seriously when they say that the 2014 defense was elite. It was good, but as Pats fans we've seen elite defenses before, and the 2014 one doesn't measure up to those defenses in the early 2000s - especially the 2003 one. Neither does the current 2015 defense.

I do believe that the current defense is good enough to help us win another championship though, given our superb offense.

 

[FourierSeries]

Are you suggesting that our star-studded offense doesn't measure up with the 03' - 04' offense?

Care to explain?

Reread the post.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Reread the post.

Sorry about that. Lack of sleep gets to me sometimes

 

[New England Pride]

The best defense was the 2003 one

End of thread

 

[BradyFTW!]

Granted, the Pats havent faced a good QB yet.

I was looking at the depth chart and thinking that this front 7 is the best since the days of Bruschi, Vrabel and Seymour.

The 2015 Patriots by Patriots Standards

Best front 7, absolutely. Last time the front 7 was on this level was probably 2004. Healthy Seymour, Wilfork starting by the end of the year, Warren. Jarvis Green was good enough to start in many places in his own right. Then Colvin, Bruschi, Vrabel, McGinest, behind them. That's a tough front 7 to top, and I can't say this team does until I see a lot more out of the DT position, but it's the closest we've been in a long time. 2003 is right up there as well - pre-Wilfork, but Ted Washington was a monster in limited downs for us. No Colvin yet, though, so the OLB rotation wasn't 2004-good.

For overall defense, 2003 and 2014 are solidly ahead of this group,.

 

[FourierSeries]

For overall defense, 2003 and 2014 are solidly ahead of this group,.

2003 for sure. It will be nearly impossible for this defense to get anywhere close to that level.

But 2014? This defense can easily be at least as good as last year's.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Our defense struggled somewat against pittsburgh. I will give them a pass because that was the first game of the season. They have to gel. We will get a better clue this week and games against teams like the giants and donkeys.