Defensive snap counts

[Fencer]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-...sive-snaps-akeem-ayers-a-big-part-of-the-plan

The most notable figures IMO are:

• Akeem Ayers -- 77 of 82. Pretty much wire-to-wire, just like Chandler Jones would have been.
• Kyle Arrington -- 54 of 8.
• Malcolm Butler -- 36 of 82. Pretty clearly the #4 CB, or maybe #3A.
• Patrick Chung -- 69 of 82. Almost wire-to-wire. Lost 10 snaps to 4-CB packages, and 3 snaps right at the end to the dime.

It seems there were 4 or more CBs BB would rather see on the field than his 3rd-favorite safety.

Anyhow, the defense for this game was very clearly a nickel consisting of:

• 2 DTs
• 2 edge rushers who can drop back as LBs
• 2 LBs who can blitz
• 1 SS
• 1 FS
• 3 CBs

Chandler Jones being healthy probably wouldn't have changed that at all.

I wonder what effect Mayo being healthy would have had.

 

[mayoclinic]

Pretty amazing productivity from Ayers. He seems like a very smart guy who picks things up quickly, good athleticism and versatility, and just does his job. I was never that high on him, but he's proving me wrong. To get that many snaps and that kind of production is just outstanding.

 

[mgteich]

Ayers playing so many reps so soon is a surprise. Moore was back to being inactive.
=========
The defensive backfield is interesting. Browner is finally ready to play the whole game. And Chung is the wire-to-wire S2 (except for the last 3 plays of the game). There has been rotation at both CB and S recently. Chung is now trusted in coverage.

DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD
starters - Revis, Browner, McCourty, Chung (these guys play all but goal-line and garbage time)
nickel - Arrington
dime and 1st DB off the bench - Butler
backups with no play or almost no reps - Dennard (inactive), Ryan, Wilson, Harmon
ST - Jones, Ebner

 

[patfanken]

Really surprised at the Ayers snap count. It almost makes me want to rethink what I just wrote in my thread about him.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Pretty amazing productivity from Ayers. He seems like a very smart guy who picks things up quickly, good athleticism and versatility, and just does his job. I was never that high on him, but he's proving me wrong. To get that many snaps and that kind of production is just outstanding.

I can't believe he played DE. I guess he is filling in for chandler jones

 

[mayoclinic]

The defensive backfield is interesting. Browner is finally ready to play the whole game. And Chung is the wire-to-wire S2 (except for the last 3 plays of the game). There has been rotation at both CB and S recently. Chung is now trusted in coverage.

The combination of Browner and Chung makes our secondary so much more physical. Chung isn't Kam Chancellor, but the secondary is really looking like Seattle's did last year.

 

[manxman2601]

Snap counts is one thing but I didn't think Ayers was that effective as a pass rusher. His sack came down to Wilfork taking out two guys. Still, he's a better replacement for Chandler than Jake Bequette so I'm fine with the trade and his role. Good 3 or 4 guy but he won't be taking many snaps of a healthy Chandler Jones.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Chung>Ward

 

[PatsFan2]

Snap counts is one thing but I didn't think Ayers was that effective as a pass rusher. His sack came down to Wilfork taking out two guys. Still, he's a better replacement for Chandler than Jake Bequette so I'm fine with the trade and his role. Good 3 or 4 guy but he won't be taking many snaps of a healthy Chandler Jones.

I know what you are saying manman but he does a fine job on the Edge.

 

[manxman2601]

I know what you are saying manman but he does a fine job on the Edge.

I agree and I like the trade and considering he's barely been here and has had two decent games already I realise I'm being a little churlish. Just hope he can offer even more consistency as a pass rusher.

 

[Fencer]

Tedy on the point that the Patriots' formation was very consistent -- which was a big part of fooling Peyton.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/boston/chat/_/id/51310

There were some consistencies in the way they lined up -- LBs showed in the A gaps, LBs played off the ball, Arrington came off the edge once. But I think the main thing for Peyton was the challenge of determining where the rush was coming from. It was basically a four-man rush game. I didn't see a lot of blitzes -- it was four men on the line up to seven men on the line, and determining who drops out and who covers: Sending a LB up the middle or dropping Ninkovich or Ayers into coverage; it was line of scrimmage disguise. Normally you would use DBs or safeties for disguise but Matt Patricia wanted disguise at the line of scrimmage with his linebackers. I think that's best with some new players. It also played into the Patriots' defensive game plan that they got to play in sub packages all game -- with two off-the-line LBs in Collins and Hightower. Those are two good players and the problems might come when a team forces you into base. Playing sub when you just need two off-the-line LBs, it minimizes the loss of Mayo. I guess you could say the Broncos played right into the Patriots' hands last night.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Chung>Ward

Chung has been playing very well.

Amazing what he can do when you have Revis, DMC as the clear FS and other good DBs that can cover out there.

 

[Fencer]

Chung has been playing very well.

Amazing what he can do when you have Revis, DMC as the clear SS and other good DBs that can cover out there.

I presume that's a typo, and you mean DMC is the FS?

 

[RobertWeathers]

I presume that's a typo, and you mean DMC is the FS?

Just edited....wasn't paying attention.

 

[zipster9]

Pretty amazing productivity from Ayers. He seems like a very smart guy who picks things up quickly, good athleticism and versatility, and just does his job. I was never that high on him, but he's proving me wrong. To get that many snaps and that kind of production is just outstanding.

Me too. I will gladly eat "humble pie" on Ayers trade...

 

[hwc]

This mistake that we fans often make in determining that this guy is a bum or that guy can't play is thinking "position" on the field rather than skillset. For example, it says "safety" next to Patrick Chung so we tag him as a bum because he can't "cover". But, the reality is different when your base defense is five DBs. You need a safety who is a hybrid safety/linebacker. He doesn't have to be Ed Reed. He doesn't have to be Ray Lewis. If he's just OK in coverage and just OK in run support and just OK in helping out in coverage on a RB, then he's a VERY valuable player. Not because he's great at one thing, but because he's OK at all three.

Same thing with Ayers and the hybrid DE spot. Belichick isn't expecting the second coming of Dwight Freeney. He's looking for a guy who can rush a little bit, set the edge a little bit, and drop into coverage a little bit. It's easy to dismiss him because "he only got one sack". But, I don't think Belichick went into the game thinking he could sack Manning (a sucker strategy). Now, the fact that Ayers could be so successful in a hybrid role with the discipline to disguise his role on each play -- that is VERY encouraging. With Chandler Jones back, the Pats would then have three guys who play that role.