2017 Patriots Defense

[ScottishPatriots]

The only way is up for the defense, the Patriots need to knock at least a touchdown a game off the board if they want to be relevant in January.

31.7 pts per game - 32nd in NFL
461 yards per game - 32nd in NFL
Yards per play 7.1 - 32nd in NFL (Only 5 teams are over 6 yards)

This year is more concerning for me than previous years the Patriots have had many average defenses at the start of the year but this one is giving up way more big plays than any other defense i can remember, eliminating those would be a start.

 

[RobertWeathers]

The only way is up for the defense

31.7 pts per game - 32nd in NFL
461 yards per game - 32nd in NFL
Yards per play 7.1 - 32nd in NFL (Only 5 teams are over 6 yards)

Jesus those are wretched.

BB and Patricia must be experiencing the dry heaves every 15 minutes..

 

[Dagg]

To be fair we have faced some good offensive teams. I did not expect HOU to have that much success if Im being totally honest. I think we will come back to the middle but so far this unit isnt up to the level of last years.

Our strategy for stopping teams thus far seems to be hope their QB is inaccurate.

 

[Biffins]

Statistically the worst defense in NFL

Comeback thrills aside, nobody in the NFL has been worse defensively than the Patriots

 

[mosi]

I think it is close to making every opposing QB look like Tom Brady.

CMP ATT YDS CMP% AVG TD LNG INT QBR RAT
71 110 1,092 64.5 9.93 8 54 0 121.5

77 113 992 68.1 9.1 8 33 2 112.9

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

I think it is close to making every opposing QB look like Tom Brady.

CMP ATT YDS CMP% AVG TD LNG INT QBR RAT
71 110 1,092 64.5 9.93 8 54 0 121.5

77 113 992 68.1 9.1 8 33 2 112.9

It's baffling but a lot of it's miscommunication as well.

 

[Kontradiction]

1. Moving and/or new pieces at every single level of the hardest defense in the NFL to learn.

2. Two mobile QBs (with the game plans the Pats like to run against them) and Drew Brees have been the opposition in the first three weeks.

Give it time. If they're still playing like this at the end of October, it's time to get concerned.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

Why can't bb build a patriots defense like the aggressive attacking 80s Giants Ds or early 00s patriots Ds he once coached? Those Ds put the fear of god into every QB. They were clutch, the pass rush was incredible, they were playmaking.

 

[mosi]

Why can't bb build a patriots defense like the aggressive attacking 80s Giants Ds or early 00s patriots Ds he once coached? Those Ds put the fear of god into every QB. They were clutch, the pass rush was incredible, they were playmaking.

Because those days are over. They ended with the 2003 Patriots. The scumbag Indy mothfcks made sure of that. People should never forgot who did it- Indy.

This team is like the 2005 Patriots. They will get it together by the end, but it will be rough till that happens. But I have faith it will happen.

 

[doesntmatter1]

Honestly, Logan Ryan is a huge reason we are struggling. Logan was versatile and solid, but more than anything he was our weak link that teams tried to constantly target and we just worked around that by shifting help his direction etc. Now we don't have a clear cut weakness to attack and every play is a guessing game for our defense to figure out where the ball is going.

 

[luuked]

That and I think hes playing through an injury that'll just take time to heal.

He already helped saving the game on the two snaps at the end when the Texans were about to put the game away with two vintage Branch run stops - especially on 3rd & 1.




While everyone is *****ing about the defense they were also the reason that Brady even had a chance at winning the game. They tightened a lot at the end and gave up only 2 FGs in two RZ possessions.

For some reason people are forgetting that at least 14 of the points the Texans scored were essentially on the offense/ST with the pick 6 and then that stupid sequence of events where Dola first let the punt bounce too much, Brady fell over Gillislee and then Ryan had a bad punt.

Where they good ? Nope. But most of the issues are fixable as always. But it seems people love to live in hyperboles.

 

[BradytoMosstoGronk]

The only way is up for the defense, the Patriots need to knock at least a touchdown a game off the board if they want to be relevant in January.

31.7 pts per game - 32nd in NFL
461 yards per game - 32nd in NFL
Yards per play 7.1 - 32nd in NFL (Only 5 teams are over 6 yards)

This year is more concerning for me than previous years the Patriots have had many average defenses at the start of the year but this one is giving up way more big plays than any other defense i can remember, eliminating those would be a start.

Ugly numbers.

I think we all know Hightower brings a lot, but there's no way he alone brings this defense into the top 5, statistically. What it comes down to is really poor play; dearth of turnovers, no one consistently making (big) plays, etc.

My initial thought is there's no way this defense is that bad. Gilmore, Butler, McCourty, Hightower, Flowers, Chung (6/11) are all solid, proven starters. Wise shows promise. Roberts is serviceable. Harmon is fairly dependable. There's potential and star power here, why is it not translating?

Again, I think it's really just poor execution. This team should be much better defensively. I fully expect it to turn around. However, if it doesn't ever gel we just hope Brady can go all 2011 and take them to the promise land, no thanks to the defense.

 

[Kontradiction]

Why can't bb build a patriots defense like the aggressive attacking 80s Giants Ds or early 00s patriots Ds he once coached? Those Ds put the fear of god into every QB. They were clutch, the pass rush was incredible, they were playmaking.

Give him a once-in-a-generation talent at OLB and I'm sure he will

 

[patfanken]

What's the point of training camp and preseason if it takes 1/4 of the season to "figure out what they have"?

It doesn't feel like the roster has a ton of turnover. We already know Van Noy sucks. Gillmore is the only new DB. What is the problem?

that's a good question, but the fact of the matter is that almost every single thing that they do all pre-season is "simulated" and not done at game speed. It would be one thing if starters and rotational players played at least half of the preseason games, but THAT's not happening any more. The money they pay the players is just TOO big to risk it on a game that doesn't count.

So we are left with a situation where just about the first time these guys get to see live action as a team, is in September. It is what it is.....unfortunately.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

Drafting a playmaking outside linebacker should be top priority next year.

Also branch is getting old, and Malcolm Brown isn't that good. I would be interested in adding a young DT with ability to create interior rush

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

Drafting a playmaking outside linebacker should be top priority next year.

Also branch is getting old, and Malcolm Brown isn't that good. I would be interested in adding a young DT with ability to create interior rush

They can always add a piece at the trading deadline if it doesn't get any better. This defense reminds me thus far the defenses from 2011-12. Let's see if it improves. It was frustrating watching Houston make all those 3rd down plays. Even when it was 1rst and 25. They gave that all back. Maybe they would crappy defense on the road but at home?

 

[Uptown]

Go figure...

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Bb had the 2011 defense playing well enough by the end to have a great shot at a trophy, and that secondary was horse ****. This defense has some holes but its easily better than that one and should be much better by january.

 

[RIpats88]

The performance really doesn't make sense. This is the same personnel as last year except you replace logan ryan with gilmore which should be an upgrade. This secondary should be better. I think they will right the ship

 

[supafly]

Drafting a playmaking outside linebacker should be top priority next year.

Also branch is getting old, and Malcolm Brown isn't that good. I would be interested in adding a young DT with ability to create interior rush

He's been drafting defensively for quite sometime now, aside from Nate Solder in 2011, which happens to be the position they may need to spend another first rounder on next spring.

Collins and Hightower were top priorities, as was Chandler Jones. Dominique Easley and Malcom Brown were both top priorities, too. There's 5 right there who were recently (post-2012) either first round picks or the first player chosen by the team. That's dedicating some resources, right there.

The main reason they've been able to get away with this is due to having #12 on the other side of the ball. After all, didn't we only have one first round pick on the field during the GW drive in the SB? Eventually, they are going to have to go back to using some high selections on that side of the ball, whether it be an OT, a C, or possibly even a RB (less likely).