Yes. I think the Pats had the makings of a very good defense derailed by season ending injuries to the entire middle of the front seven -- both starting DTs and the starting MLB. They were trying to patch it with duct tape and bailing wire after that.
Defense wasn't the problem today. They held Manning to under 30 points, which is about all you can hope for. Scoring 16 points doesn't cut it.
This loss is not on the defense today. They held Denver under 30 with their best CB out for half of the game.
No way was scoring 16 points going to be enough. They went basically went three and out their first two drives. And both had third and short's that weren't converted. How is that the defenses fault?
The only critique I have on the defense was the lack of pressure (rushing three was a terrible gameplan). You may not want to blitz Manning, but sending five once in a while would've gotten the ball out quicker. Manning actually threw two wobbly passes that could've been picked off when they didn't sit back and only rush three or four.
Looking at the end result is all good and well but it doesn't even tell half of the story of what happened today. After the first possesion, the Broncos scored on every single one of their possessions until the end of the game. I mean its always good to hold them to 3 but with the offense we have if you told me before the game that Denver would score on every single drive after their first I'd told you we got blown out. Not only did Denver score on every single one of their possessions after the 1st, but 3 of them went for 70+ yards with 2 of those going for 7 minutes. If a team goes for half a quarter with the football limiting your possessions, it puts pressure on the offense to 1 match the scoring and 2, go out and do this with little to no rhythm. It also doesn't give you the option of sticking to the run game when guys aren't getting big positive yardage on 1st down because lord knows after a 7 minute drive, the last thing you want to do is put your defense right back out on the field without putting up any points.
Football is really about doing the little things right like, protecting the ball, getting off the field on 3rd down and staying ahead of the down and distance. Thats why people say things like the best defense is a good offense. If you can control the game offensively, you can pretty much control the game defensively. Our defense did themselves no favors and while the offensive execution wasn't perfect, the failures today aren't totally their fault.
I'd love to see us get a stud Strong Safety. A real headhunter. I think that and getting back the guys on IR (minus Spikes who I think is gone in free agency) would have a major impact. Trans-formative. Steve Gregory just doesn't scare anyone.
We need a guy like Rodney H back there. To give opposing WRs alligator arms when they hear him coming. And just set the tone and bring an attitude to the D. Finding one in the draft is hit and miss so I wouldn't mind splurging a little in Free Agency if someone of that description is available.
This is another thing Im on board with and really have been for a few years now. BB understands the game is changing and different positions are requiring different sorts of skill sets. Steve Gregory is a good player but not one suited to start. Late in run support on the big draw play, not a big hitter, decent tackler, late over the top more often than not, not physically imposing in any way, doesn't have elite speed, doesn't have elite instincts I think improving upon the safety position is a real area of need going into the offseason.
We've been saying that the defense is a year away for like 5 years now. I'll believe it when I see it. Seems like we lose an impact player for every one we gain, and players plateauing before their third season is starting to look like an issue. As promising as Dennard, Jones, and Hightower were as rookies, did any of them improve significantly this year?
I'd say that Jones improved pretty significantly this year in his technique but he's still not at that true elite pass rusher level. Some posters have said this is due to scheming but I honestly think he likes too hand fight a little too much and doesn't bend the edge too often (gets rode upfield past the QB too many times) When he's taking the most direct route too the QB, he was nasty this year. Giving away free yards is never a good thing but as far as our entire defensive line goes, they seem slow off the ball compared to watching other teams. Penalties are bad but look at the seattle seahwaks, one of the most penalized teams in football and look where they're headed. There is jumping and there is getting a jump. We need to work on the latter in the offseason.
