Defense?

[cstjohn17]

Are they going to be able to pull it together or what?

The pass defense looks as bad as the run defense, wide open receivers, not winning the line of scrimmage, etc. They look bad right now.


Seems like a replay of the past few years where the defense is along for the ride. If Brady plays out of his head then the Patriots can beat anyone.

Right now I am going with punchers chance, defense plays decent and the offense carries them to a super bowl.

 

[coolguy]

Are they going to be able to pull it together or what?

The pass defense looks as bad as the run defense, wide open receivers, not winning the line of scrimmage, etc. They look bad right now.


Seems like a replay of the past few years where the defense is along for the ride. If Brady plays out of his head then the Patriots can beat anyone.

Right now I am going with punchers chance, defense plays decent and the offense carries them to a super bowl.

"Are they going to be able to pull it together or what?" No, there's no way to fix it now that trade deadline has passed.

The run defense is something that can only be fixed in off season, or if chris jones gains 80 pounds in 3 weeks.

This is the best pass defense the patriots have had in 4 years...THEY JUST HAVE TO GET HEALTHY!!!!!!!!!

 

[TonyTucker]

Nothing can be done about the rush D, it's pitiful, but the pass defense is great if everyone gets back. Awful weather in the playoffs won't hurt, either, mainly against Forehead and the Broncos if it comes to that.

 

[Sicilian]

Interestingly enough, Keenum only had a 67 quarterback rating in yesterday's game. Now, it's a dubious stat at best, especially since he didn't need to throw any TD's because their running game was gashing us. But he was still at 50% completion and only had a high number of yards because of a few big plays. With two rookies starting in the secondary, the big plays were bound to happen, especially with two very talented WR's (one of whom, Johnson, might be the 2nd best in the league).

On Johnson, I think this is where we're seeing Talib not quite right yet. Early in the year he shuts a gut like Johnson down. Now he allows 8 catches on 9 targets. To be fair though, those 9 targets weren't tops on the Texans team... Graham had 11 targets, with only 3 catches. This tells me two things:

1) Our linebacker coverage on tight ends did a good job. He's not an elite tight end, but 3/11 is good against anyone.

2) More often than not, Keenum didn't feel comfortable enough to throw to Johnson, which says that the coverage at least made him work for his catches.

Long story short, this is a flawed defense due to the injuries. But I still feel WORLDS more confident in their ability than I did in either of the past two seasons, because I feel like they're going to come up with that one needed play that decides the end of every close game. The pressure on Keenum on 4th and 13 to seal it was that kind of play.

Tighten up the run D either through experience for the young guys or scheme tweaks, and this defense is good enough. Offense still needs to play well, either way.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Do you know that there is a recent thread on our D with eight pages and 78 (and counting) responses so far?

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...76751-like-not-d-we-taking-into-playoffs.html

 

[JMC00]

On Johnson, I think this is where we're seeing Talib not quite right yet. Early in the year he shuts a gut like Johnson down. Now he allows 8 catches on 9 targets. To be fair though, those 9 targets weren't tops on the Texans team... Graham had 11 targets, with only 3 catches. This tells me two things:

Talib didn't allow 8 catches on 9 targets. Some of Johnson's catches were him running through a zone defense.

His longest catch of the game was him coming across the middle which wasn't on Talib as he was just staying in his zone.

 

[DarrylS]

Did you notice how impaired Talib was during this game?? Did you notice how limited Arrington was??

 

[coolguy]

Did you notice how impaired Talib was during this game?? Did you notice how limited Arrington was??

When is Arrington not limited?

 

[Sicilian]

Talib didn't allow 8 catches on 9 targets. Some of Johnson's catches were him running through a zone defense.

His longest catch of the game was him coming across the middle which wasn't on Talib as he was just staying in his zone.

A very fair point. But in essence, Talib's limitations were one factor (along with the absence of Dennard) that kept them from having him shadow Johnson all game IMO. Also could have been a scheme thing to keep Keenum from running, but I'm not seeing the same aggressiveness from Talib that I remember earlier. I expect him to get better each week, assuming he doesn't have a setback with the hip.

When is Arrington not limited?

When he can play in the slot. He's great there. He's below average outside the numbers. We need Dennard back, because as much as I like Ryan he's not an everydown starter, which is what forces Arrington out there.

 

[Claremonster]

This defense is offensive...

 

[patsinthesnow]

Patriots Pass Defense:

Comp pct: 55.4 (1st)
Yards per attempt: 6.7 (7th)
Opposing QBR: 76.7 (5th)
Yards Per Game: 224 (10th)
Sacks: 35 (10th)
Interceptions: 14 (9th)

When Talib/Dennard are on the outside, and Arrington is in the slot, I really believe our pass defense is 2nd only to Seattle. When those three are on the field, we have an elite passing defense and a sieve of a run defense.

Without Talib and Dennard on the outside, BB has to play zone, leaving WRs wide open like yesterday.

Our defense is pretty much a stud secondary with a mediocre LB core, great DEs, and awful DTs.

 

[SalemPats]

Are they going to be able to pull it together or what?

The pass defense looks as bad as the run defense, wide open receivers, not winning the line of scrimmage, etc. They look bad right now.


Seems like a replay of the past few years where the defense is along for the ride. If Brady plays out of his head then the Patriots can beat anyone.

Right now I am going with punchers chance, defense plays decent and the offense carries them to a super bowl.

It is what it is. We had an elite defense unfortunately we lose 3 of our top players in Wilfork, Mayo and Kelly. You can't replace those guys in the middle of the season. Considering the injuries they have done a great job.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

It can't be a top defense due to the personnel losses.

However if Talib and Dennard can get to, or close to, 100% things could get interesting. Ryan has been a revelation, rarely being thrown at and rarely allowing completions when he is. If we have those three with Arrington in the slot, we can do some things in the back end to help the front seven. It's a long shot for this defense to be able to get to the Super Bowl - even with Brady and the offense scoring 30+ a game - but the depth at CB, if we can ge them healthy, gives us a shot.

 

[patsfanincleveland]

Patriots Pass Defense:

Comp pct: 55.4 (1st)
Yards per attempt: 6.7 (7th)
Opposing QBR: 76.7 (5th)
Yards Per Game: 224 (10th)
Sacks: 35 (10th)
Interceptions: 14 (9th)

When Talib/Dennard are on the outside, and Arrington is in the slot, I really believe our pass defense is 2nd only to Seattle. When those three are on the field, we have an elite passing defense and a sieve of a run defense.

Without Talib and Dennard on the outside, BB has to play zone, leaving WRs wide open like yesterday.

Our defense is pretty much a stud secondary with a mediocre LB core, great DEs, and awful DTs.

Some more stat's

Houston rushing yards Sunday: 122 2013 average: 116
Houston passing yards Sunday: 272 2013 average: 271

 

[reflexblue]

Are they going to be able to pull it together or what?

The pass defense looks as bad as the run defense, wide open receivers, not winning the line of scrimmage, etc. They look bad right now.


Seems like a replay of the past few years where the defense is along for the ride. If Brady plays out of his head then the Patriots can beat anyone.

Right now I am going with punchers chance, defense plays decent and the offense carries them to a super bowl.

To many key players hurt to go far into the playoffs. BUT.....if they did make it to the SB AND if the weather was cold and windy, they'd be the favourite to win it all. I don't think anyone can play as well in those condition as the pats, and in Feb in NY/NJ theres a good chance thats what it could be like.

 

[mgteich]

This analysis is right on.

The stats you give are astoundingly great, given our injuries in the secondary.

We played with Dennard out and Gregory just coming back. Talib is obviously still recovering from injury. Arrington was playing injured; he is a fine nickel back.

We were so beat up that we started Ryan and Harmon, and were forced to play zone for almost the whole game.

Patriots Pass Defense:

Comp pct: 55.4 (1st)
Yards per attempt: 6.7 (7th)
Opposing QBR: 76.7 (5th)
Yards Per Game: 224 (10th)
Sacks: 35 (10th)
Interceptions: 14 (9th)

When Talib/Dennard are on the outside, and Arrington is in the slot, I really believe our pass defense is 2nd only to Seattle. When those three are on the field, we have an elite passing defense and a sieve of a run defense.

Without Talib and Dennard on the outside, BB has to play zone, leaving WRs wide open like yesterday.

Our defense is pretty much a stud secondary with a mediocre LB core, great DEs, and awful DTs.

 

[Don_the_patfan]

Are they going to be able to pull it together or what?

The pass defense looks as bad as the run defense, wide open receivers, not winning the line of scrimmage, etc. They look bad right now.


Seems like a replay of the past few years where the defense is along for the ride. If Brady plays out of his head then the Patriots can beat anyone.

Right now I am going with punchers chance, defense plays decent and the offense carries them to a super bowl.

Lets see we have 2 starting DT's and our best LB'er out for the year. On top of that Denard was out, Talib,Arrington, Spikes playing hurt. You were playing 3 rookies yesterday on starting D. Recipe for disaster yet they are holding it together.

I don't think we can improve much when it comes to Run D. Wilfork and Kelly or Mayo for that matter cannot be replaced and we better get used to teams running up the middle, especially in the playoffs. What can improve is health of our DB's thus pass D can improve with some pass rush involved.

If this team is to win this year it will be because our O outscores the opposition, and D made a stop and an INT here and there. This is not to knock the D down, too many injuries to be effective and thus you cannot compare to past years. We better get used to runs up the middle.

 

[mgteich]

1) The pass defense is fine. They just need some health in the secondary.

2) The defense would play better with a lead, as should be expected to happen a bit more often with a Brady-led offense. Of course, healthy receivers would help in that regard.

3) The run defense is what it is, not very good. Belichick has added a couple of NT's. Perhaps the team will play a bit better as they both learn the system. Also, I believe Sopoaga is playing injured. This run defense is enough to win, if the secondary is healthy and the offense plays better in the first half of games. Believe it or not, it could be a lot worse after losing Wilfork, Kelly and Mayo.

4) As a side note, Spikes, Fletcher and Collins seem to be playing fine. Spikes has often been keyed on, so he has to guess before a guard mauls him. Hightower seems to be one of the very few (the only regular?) on defense not pulling his weight.
===================

Are they going to be able to pull it together or what?

The pass defense looks as bad as the run defense, wide open receivers, not winning the line of scrimmage, etc. They look bad right now.


Seems like a replay of the past few years where the defense is along for the ride. If Brady plays out of his head then the Patriots can beat anyone.

Right now I am going with punchers chance, defense plays decent and the offense carries them to a super bowl.

 

[patsfanincleveland]

Lets see we have 2 starting DT's and our best LB'er out for the year. On top of that Denard was out, Talib,Arrington, Spikes playing hurt. You were playing 3 rookies yesterday on starting D. Recipe for disaster yet they are holding it together.

I don't think we can improve much when it comes to Run D. Wilfork and Kelly or Mayo for that matter cannot be replaced and we better get used to teams running up the middle, especially in the playoffs. What can improve is health of our DB's thus pass D can improve with some pass rush involved.

If this team is to win this year it will be because our O outscores the opposition, and D made a stop and an INT here and there. This is not to knock the D down, too many injuries to be effective and thus you cannot compare to past years. We better get used to runs up the middle.

Five rookies started yesterday of defense.

Vellano, Jones, Collins, Harmon, and Logan.

 

[Ozymandias]

Patriots Pass Defense:

Comp pct: 55.4 (1st)
Yards per attempt: 6.7 (7th)
Opposing QBR: 76.7 (5th)
Yards Per Game: 224 (10th)
Sacks: 35 (10th)
Interceptions: 14 (9th)

When Talib/Dennard are on the outside, and Arrington is in the slot, I really believe our pass defense is 2nd only to Seattle. When those three are on the field, we have an elite passing defense and a sieve of a run defense.

Without Talib and Dennard on the outside, BB has to play zone, leaving WRs wide open like yesterday.

Our defense is pretty much a stud secondary with a mediocre LB core, great DEs, and awful DTs.

My thoughts exactly.

Yesterday's game was a vanilla zone-based scheme. No disguises, and very little blitzing despite Keenum struggling mightily against the blitz. It wasn't until the final drives when they needed to make a stop that the defense finally started to mix it up somewhat.