Curran: Multi-layer issues for patriots defense

[Brady_to_Moss]

Not sure pressure stats...but we need more pressure. I know against running Qbs that's tough. But that right there helps the LBs...helps the CBs ect ect

Given Sheard and he is a FA after this year...and the year he is having. We can get him back for a discounted rate...but do we keep him?

 

[Huckleberry1]

I hope bill keep's giving reps to trey flowers.

I think Flowers will be getting a majority of reps from here on out. If Sheard can hold up at the point of attack and get out of the doghouse they could use him over Ninkovich on passing downs to get more pass rush.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Objective people have been saying the defense is schitt since the second half vs Miami. Opposing receivers are constantly wide open. There's no pass rush.
They've been winning games since that "holy crap, this defense really does suck" moment vs Tannehill because the offense has been able to put up 27, 33, 35, 27, 41...and then vs Seattle they score 24 and lose.
The fanboys have been screaming about points allowed. PPG is an awesome stat when you're stopping teams, making them go three and out, making them have 1 or 2 minute possessions, and causing turnovers....but this Pats defense is letting opponents eat up 4 and 5 minute chunks of clock each possession.
We're 9 games into the season and I can only think of two "big plays" from the D - the Hightower safety vs Cin and the Jamie Collins pick vs Hou. Other than those two plays this D has been a whole lot of vanilla.

Troll

 

[primetime]

Lack of turnovers seems mostly like luck. There's certainly some connection to lack of a pass rush at the margins, but overall turnovers are mostly about luck.

 

[patsinthesnow]

The 2014 defense wasn't great. The 2014 defense wasn't great. The 2014 defense wasn't great.*

With any other QB in NFL history we go one-and-done that season. 31 points given up and FOURTEEN rushing yards yet we still beat the Ravens!

*Steve Smith made Revis look silly.

 

[Kontradiction]

The 2014 defense wasn't great. The 2014 defense wasn't great. The 2014 defense wasn't great.*

With any other QB in NFL history we go one-and-done that season. 31 points given up and FOURTEEN rushing yards yet we still beat the Ravens!

*Steve Smith made Revis look silly.

It wasn't great but it had the talent at every level needed to get the job done. As for Revis? That game, at least IMO, began to signal that he was no longer the same CB he was from 2009-2012.

 

[JackBauer]

Easley was never a factor in our defense's successes. He's just not very good I don't understand why his name is brought up as a key loss.

Akiem Hicks is the loss we would be lamenting.

 

[Kontradiction]

Akiem Hicks is the loss we would be lamenting.

Hicks would be great for this defense right now. They're getting zero push from the DT's against the pass at the moment. Considering how much cap money is coming off the books this offseason (and how much came off the books when they traded Jones and Collins), his contract is looking pretty good right now considering what he gave the team in Belichick's scheme. Nobody on that front seven demands a consistent double team currently. They actually made the Seahawks' OL look competent.

 

[JackBauer]

Hicks would be great for this defense right now. They're getting zero push from the DT's against the pass at the moment. Considering how much cap money is coming off the books this offseason (and how much came off the books when they traded Jones and Collins), his contract is looking pretty good right now considering what he gave the team in Belichick's scheme. Nobody on that front seven demands a consistent double team currently. They actually made the Seahawks' OL look competent.

Four sacks this year for the Bears. I know sacks are overrated, but when you don't have any, it's generally not a good thing.

 

[Kontradiction]

Four sacks this year for the Bears. I know sacks are overrated, but when you don't have any, it's generally not a good thing.

And that's against pretty consistent double teams too which means he's opening things up for other guys on that unit to generate pressure when he isn't. Hell, I don't even care about sacks. I just want the Pats to hit the damn quarterback every now and then.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Lack of turnovers seems mostly like luck. There's certainly some connection to lack of a pass rush at the margins, but overall turnovers are mostly about luck.

Just look at Sunday's game -- Ryan outright dropped an INT, Hightower was oh-so-close to getting one, and the refs screwed Roberts and NE on a fumble recovery.

On the flip side, SEA had non-trivial changes to recover Jones's and Brady's fumbles.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Hicks would be great for this defense right now. They're getting zero push from the DT's against the pass at the moment. Considering how much cap money is coming off the books this offseason (and how much came off the books when they traded Jones and Collins), his contract is looking pretty good right now considering what he gave the team in Belichick's scheme. Nobody on that front seven demands a consistent double team currently. They actually made the Seahawks' OL look competent.

Malcom Brown has to step up. The guy has the physical tools to be disruptive.

 

[TomPatriot]

Long has not replaced Jones. Sheard, Nink and Flowers all need to be on the field on passing downs.

For a "conservative" defense the Pats gave up too many intermediate and long gains.

 

[SVN]

I have been saying the Pats defense has sucked this whole year. This whole bend but dont break BS is BS why would you design a defensive scheme that always comes down to a 3rd down play at the 10 yard line... I don't think you would.

They are not . Thats how it looks like but BB is certainly not coaching bend dont break.He even bristled when someone mentioned this strategy. There is no way he is telling his defense that its okay if the other team keeps moving the ball on us converting 3rd downs as long as we stop them in the RZ. Its a media and fan assumption.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I think he's more then capable but is he a shutdown corner where you can leave him in an island?

No bc that person doesnt exist.

Another "read between the lines" moment where credibility is lost.

Whats the best season a CB had recently? Obvs Revis back in 09-10 etc. In 2009 he lined up across from Randy Moss 77 times. Out of that 77 he played legit man, no help, 7 ****in times.

So enough with this "shutdown", "island" bs. Sanders got beat. Revis gets beat. Pat P gets beat. Ive seen Stevie ****in Johnson give Revis fits in his prime. No such thing as a "shutdown" cb.


Do people not realize that schedule/opposing players, teammates, injuries and many other things all go into the equation if a guy/team has a great year etc. Some guys just play better against certain guys than others.

And any offense with Wilson, Graham, Lockett, Baldwin will put up points eventually.

Was Karlos Dansby the best linebacker Marshawn Lynch ever faced? Probably not, but Lynch will bring his name up very quick.

Suggs

 

[SVN]

2011 was a bad secondary.But the current team IMO doesnt have a good consistent DLine or even LBs now which can mask the secondary issues. That i think is the real problem.If they get their DLine rotations set and they perform, this defense can improve.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

The 2014 defense wasn't great. The 2014 defense wasn't great. The 2014 defense wasn't great.*

With any other QB in NFL history we go one-and-done that season. 31 points given up and FOURTEEN rushing yards yet we still beat the Ravens!

*Steve Smith made Revis look silly.

Ravens always gives us problems. The offense was lethargic as well.

 

[AvocadoIceCream]

You're welcome, Felgie

Lol, nice. I'll take that as a compliment

 

[Ring 6]

I think Flowers will be getting a majority of reps from here on out. If Sheard can hold up at the point of attack and get out of the doghouse they could use him over Ninkovich on passing downs to get more pass rush.

I think BB and MP are still figuring out the right personnel groupings.
Who plays on first and 10 isn't so critical because there is no a huge difference in the top few players at many positions.
2nd and long and 3rd and long are really the downs where personnel decisions matter.
I would be in favor of sitting Chung in those situations playing Harmon and a corner or 2 as nickel/dime. The big nickel doesn't seem to be the answer.
But on the DL we need to figure out which DEs move inside. This has been a key part of the pass rush the last few years that seems to be missing.
Personally I would make Hightower a pass rusher in these situations. Per play he has been an excellent pass rusher and is a guy who disrupts and threatens even if he doesn't get there.
I think Sheard and Long are both suited to move inside on long yardage down, but Flowers has done well there too.
Ideally for me 3rd and long would be Hightower, Long, Sheard Flowers
Mcclelin/Von Noy/Mingo or even Chung as LB in 3rd and very long
With Harmon McCourty and 4 corners.
You can line that up as a 3-2-6 with Hightower moving around to exploit the weak spot.

 

[Jackson 2]

Lol, nice. I'll take that as a compliment

Lol, I guessed you would...