2015 Best Pats defense?

[jays52]

It has the potential to be as good as the '04 defense which is really high praise. We won't be able to answer that question though until we see what the real iterations of the defense will be once we get to Thanksgiving. They have put out their general concepts so far but we have no idea what the real calls and creative stuff will be until later in the year. There is reason to be optimistic about it though.

-We know that stacking two able rushers is a thing this year
-We know heavy rotation is a thing this year
-We know overloading gaps without compromising coverage potential is a thing this year
-We know they like playing man
-We know McCourty is really, really good
-We know they trust Butler

What remains to be seen mainly is how they will deal with a strong, diverse attack. After that how do they begin to add in their trademark morphing coverages and what are the other iterations of the Collinstower Nickel rushes. Can Richards come into his own and let them throw out even more looks? A lot remains to be answered but yes, there is cause for cautious optimism.

 

[BradyFTW!]

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.

I don't see it. The front 7 is better, but not by enough to offset the loss of Revis, and Revis' presence also allowed Browner to play in a role that suited him, where he was more effective than any CB we have right now except Butler.

Revis is one of the 5-10 most impactful defensive players in the game. We all knew that last year, and that impact is gone now. Butler has been a gamer, and has played up to the level of adequate #1 corner, and that's been really great. But the distance between 2015 Butler and 2014 Revis is great. It would take a *lot* of improvement in the front 7 to improve upon that, and the most improvable position--DT--to date hasn't really shown improvement. Collins and Hightower are both another year better, and Sheard has been great, but there's still a ways to go to make up for the CB discrepancy.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

I don't see it. The front 7 is better, but not by enough to offset the loss of Revis, and Revis' presence also allowed Browner to play in a role that suited him, where he was more effective than any CB we have right now except Butler.

Revis is one of the 5-10 most impactful defensive players in the game. We all knew that last year, and that impact is gone now. Butler has been a gamer, and has played up to the level of adequate #1 corner, and that's been really great. But the distance between 2015 Butler and 2014 Revis is great. It would take a *lot* of improvement in the front 7 to improve upon that, and the most improvable position--DT--to date hasn't really shown improvement. Collins and Hightower are both another year better, and Sheard has been great, but there's still a ways to go to make up for the CB discrepancy.

I wish we could get more of an interior rush. I was hoping easley could do that. We will see.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I wish we could get more of an interior rush. I was hoping easley could do that. We will see.

Yeah, I still think he might. Hip injuries are weird, and we've seen what they've done to Jones' explosiveness. Hopefully Easley gets more of his back as he recovers.

 

[VrabelJr]

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.

Did we watch the same game? We gave up 14 points against a team that averages 28 a game.

 

[VrabelJr]

I don't see it. The front 7 is better, but not by enough to offset the loss of Revis, and Revis' presence also allowed Browner to play in a role that suited him, where he was more effective than any CB we have right now except Butler.

Revis is one of the 5-10 most impactful defensive players in the game. We all knew that last year, and that impact is gone now. Butler has been a gamer, and has played up to the level of adequate #1 corner, and that's been really great. But the distance between 2015 Butler and 2014 Revis is great. It would take a *lot* of improvement in the front 7 to improve upon that, and the most improvable position--DT--to date hasn't really shown improvement. Collins and Hightower are both another year better, and Sheard has been great, but there's still a ways to go to make up for the CB discrepancy.

Malcom Brown is finding his groove and Easley at times looks like a guy that has to be double teamed. The best thing about the Patriots is that our team gets better as the year goes on.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Did we watch the same game? We gave up 14 points against a team that averages 28 a game.

Yes but pittsburgh was moving the ball at will in the game. Bend but don't break. I want 3 and outs.

 

[FourierSeries]

I don't see it. The front 7 is better, but not by enough to offset the loss of Revis, and Revis' presence also allowed Browner to play in a role that suited him, where he was more effective than any CB we have right now except Butler.

Revis is one of the 5-10 most impactful defensive players in the game. We all knew that last year, and it didn't stop being true because he's a Jet now.

There's no evidence to back up the claim that the defense is worse yet. Through 4 games, they are statistically better. Their defensive DVOA (which is adjusted based on strength of opponent) is better this year as well.

 

[FourierSeries]

Yes but pittsburgh was moving the ball at will in the game. Bend but don't break. I want 3 and outs.

Pittsburgh has one of the best offenses in the league with Big Ben in the lineup (even without Bell.) Brown played, and DHB has been playing well all season. An offense with that kind of fire power will get its yards. The key is to tighten up in the red zone, which we did.

Are you forgetting the yardage we gave up to Denver, GB, Baltimore, etc, last year?

 

[BradyFTW!]

There's no evidence to back up the claim that the defense is worse yet. Through 4 games, they are statistically better. Their defensive DVOA (which is adjusted based on strength of opponent) is better this year as well.

DVOA is adjusted based on strength of defense, yes, but even FO would acknowledge that it should be taken with a grain of salt at this point in the season, and beyond that at it's best it still isn't an end-all number that accounts for stuff like injuries to opponents, week-to-week fluctuations in level of play, matchups, etc. DVOA is one part of a larger argument, not a discussion ender.

 

[FourierSeries]

DVOA is adjusted based on strength of defense, yes, but even FO would acknowledge that it should be taken with a grain of salt at this point in the season, and even at its best it isn't an end-all number that accounts for stuff like injuries to opponents, week-to-week fluctuations in level of play, matchups, etc. DVOA is one part of a larger argument, not a discussion-ender.

I agree. Which is why I said you can't make any statements about this defense being worse than last year's yet. It could end up being worse after week 17, and then you'd have a point. Although, I don't see that happening unless we sustain injuries to guys like Butler, Collins, Sheard, Jones, etc. The defense tends to get better as the season progresses.