Globe: Defense needs attitude adjustment

[Patspsycho]

Reposting because I think it's a great read and deserves its own thread so that everyone has a chance to read it.

Even though it talks about the defense, it might as well apply to the entire team.

This defense needs attitude adjustment - The Boston Globe

 

[DarrylS]

Not a bad article..

But, really seems as though Mayo's knee is much worse than publicized, he seems a lot less intense and a lot slower... there are not a lot of leaders on this team, and when one is playing 3/4 speed it makes a difference..

 

[RobertWeathers]

I respect Johnson's observations. I don't disagree with him.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

They need better players.

 

[mayoclinic]

I do think we need some players who are more vocal and more intense to fill the leadership void. Mayo and Wilfork are quiet guy for team captains. Meriweather has some potential. But Rodney, Vrabes and Tedy (plus severa others) brought a lot of intensity, passion, focus and consistency that seems to be lacking right now.

Guys possibly coming out in the draft this year who seem to have these kind of qualities I'm include DEs Derrick Morgan and Brandon Graham, ILB Rolando McClain, and CB Joe Haden. Ndamukong Suh certainly has it. Very talented guys like Carlos Dunlap, Everson Griffen, Greg Hardy, Sergio Kindle and Taylor Mays don't seem to have it.

 

[Jimke]

Bill Belichick will make an adjustment by benching Moss, Guyton,

Thomas, and Burgess for Sunday's game.

 

[cstjohn17]

Reposting because I think it's a great read and deserves its own thread so that everyone has a chance to read it.

Even though it talks about the defense, it might as well apply to the entire team.

This defense needs attitude adjustment - The Boston Globe

The one from Gasper says scheme is the issue...

System failure - Christopher Gasper's Blog - Boston sports news - Boston.com

I agree with both of them.

 

[supafly]

Defense? I didn't realize there was anything wrong with the defense.

 

[BradyMossWelker]

I think Seau needs to play more time!
I mean, is there anyone in the league with more experience than him??
I think we have a defense with a lot of talent, we just need leaders!
for the draft, I'm looking to derrick morgan, von miller, graham, and hughes.
those are the guys that would pretty much solve our pass rush problems

 

[Patspsycho]

The one from Gasper says scheme is the issue...

System failure - Christopher Gasper's Blog - Boston sports news - Boston.com

I agree with both of them.

Gasper makes a great argument.

 

[Mack Herron]

Just a couple of years ago the same scheme was doing just fine pressuring the QB, thanks. So let's see, either BB developed coaching amnesia, there has been a sweeping change in NFL rules, or there has been a sweeping change in our defensive personnel...

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

The one from Gasper says scheme is the issue...

System failure - Christopher Gasper's Blog - Boston sports news - Boston.com
I agree with both of them.

It's about time a reporter is calling them out because I've been saying this for years. The Pats have overvalued the DE spot - drafting more when they didn't need them and ignoring LB's. 2009 draft was stacked at OLB and the Pats didn't draft one unless you count McKenzie who played OLB in college.

Interestingly, Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers, one of the deans of the zone blitz who has remade the Packers porous defense into an attacking 3-4 unit, was in New England last season as a special assistant-secondary coach. Belichick and the Patriots let him depart after just one season. Little of Capers' imprint was seen on the Patriots' defense.

WTF were the Pats thinking in letting Capers walk? I guess the question can be answered in the next quote.

A term we hear thrown around a lot in Foxborough is "value," but it seems that what the Patriots really value on defense isn't talent, but the scheme, clinging to it with the stubbornness of a child who won't abandon his or her favorite stuffed animal.

A good reason why their defense is where it is today.

Now, if Belichick had a Julius Peppers or a Jason Taylor, then the same old defensive scheme would probably work just fine, just as it did when he had Lawrence Taylor and Carl Banks with the Giants. But now he has Derrick Burgess.

The only thing I don't like about the article. He's starting to back track. Here's the thing, the Pats haven't done enough to find that LT or Carl Banks to fit the system. Relying on paying (Thomas) and trading (Burgess) for 30 years olds isn't going to cut it. They've had plenty of chances but chose to find every excuse in the book why they didn't focus on improving the most glaring need for an effective 3-4 defense.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

No brief newspaper article or post can go into the depth needed to defend a theory but I do believe that the scheme that brought us 3 rings needs a reboot. That was then this is now. A very different mix of players. BB was wise in his choice of veteran FAs on defense Otis Smith, Vrable, Harrison, Bobby Hamilton, Roman Phifer, Ted Washington and fortuitous in the young upcomming players Bruschi, McGuinest (a refurb), Law and wise on draft picks, Warren, Seymour, Samuel on defense. They really fit into this scheme. Since then, the players drafted and signed via FA have not fit the scheme as well. Perhaps adherance to the scheme has made us pass on physically talented young defenders who could still star in a less analytical scheme. I certainly don't understand the technical side of NFL defenses to know the answer. My opinion is simply based on watching the steady deterioration of a once feared defense that played both bend but don't break AND big play turnover into a defense that gives up the big play and plays soft on coverage. Time to re-assess everything.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I forget where Gasper played or coached...and aside from Pittsburgh who appears to be the same leaky boat we are at the moment, and the Giants who are experiencing their own version of falling apart, I don't find myself shading my eyes to avoid the glare off any of those other teams Lombardi's...

Bill isn't going to abandon the system ever, let alone mid season. He'll adjust the roster first. Can't do that in season, but it doesn't matter because this team will either sink or swim as constituted.

One of the things smart players like Brady and Bruschi and Rodney admired about Bill was that he has the courage of his convictions. He appears stubborn and entrenched to outsiders, and I'll be the first to admit I've had issues with some of his decisions over the last several seasons. But in the end I think the point he could make to all of us if he cared to, and the one he makes to his players every monday, is if they had done their job as coached and called for on both sides of the ball or on ST plays would have worked. And he also knows that if you cave to pressure to accommodate talent you're just as likely to end up regretting it because they probably don't execute then, either.

I'm sure he could explain that to the assembled media and fanbase if thought for a moment it would matter. He knows that by and large fans and media only possess the most rudimentary understanding of this game let alone scheme and even that ebbs and flows weekly, i.e. if it wins it's the best and if it loses it's outdated garbage...and they better fix it or find something else that does fast.

 

[RobertWeathers]

It's about time a reporter is calling them out because I've been saying this for years. The Pats have overvalued the DE spot - drafting more when they didn't need them and ignoring LB's. 2009 draft was stacked at OLB and the Pats didn't draft one unless you count McKenzie who played OLB in college..

Their #1 picks on the D-line have 6 Lombardis. So should they pick down in the draft for the D-line? You can fault BB for not finding LBs, but he has acquired them in FA those being Colvin and AD. Colvin was a beast and if he hadn't gotten hurt, would have been a great acquisition. AD has an attitude. Quite frankly, I think he is in the decline. Hi sD needs LBs that do everything. From a personnel standpoint, he has been off.

WTF were the Pats thinking in letting Capers walk? I guess the question can be answered in the next quote. .

If Pees left, Capers was the D-coordinator. It didnt happen. Pees is ok, but hes not innovative. BB has helped there, but he needs more..

A good reason why their defense is where it is today. .

Talent, talent and talent. Didn't replenish the all-pros that were here.

The only thing I don't like about the article. He's starting to back track. Here's the thing, the Pats haven't done enough to find that LT or Carl Banks to fit the system. Relying on paying (Thomas) and trading (Burgess) for 30 years olds isn't going to cut it. They've had plenty of chances but chose to find every excuse in the book why they didn't focus on improving the most glaring need for an effective 3-4 defense.

He should backtrack. You need talent. If your players suck, the best scheme in the world wont help you.

Last I checked, there has never been an LT. We've had plenty of Carl Banks-types.

 

[miDeuce]

As for Gasper's article, I don't really think the scheme is the problem, the Pats 3-4 does an excellent job of shutting down the run. Even the 2009 Pats have a solid run D.

In passing situations they are almost always in sub-packages, not the 3-4. Look at the percentages of defenses played that Reiss posts every week. The problem is that they do not have the pass rushing talent to consistently bring pressure.

The NFL is far too skewed to favor QBs and WRs, there isn't a defensive backfield out there that can cover without pressure.

I think the addition of just one young pass rushing terror like a Brian Orakpo would bring a significant change to this defense. Bring in a rookie to replace Burgess in 2010, all he needs to do is come in on pass situations, put his hand down and goes balls to the wall for the QB.

 

[JMarr]

Bill isn't going to abandon the system ever, let alone mid season.

What a silly thing to say, given that the game is constantly evolving, and given how many smart, innovative coaches that are out there just waiting to knock the mighty off their perch.

If BB never considers adjusting the scheme to fit the kinds of players that he has (or the types of players that are available), then his career will end on the same note as guys like Gibbs, Schottenheimer, and Switzer.

 

[The Dynasty]

Defense? I didn't realize there was anything wrong with the defense.

I agree. The defense has not been the problem this year. Look at their stats 7th in points per game, 11th in yards per game, 13th in passing, 15th in rushing. Coming into the season looking at the players that we had I think anyone would have been satisfied with those numbers because we would have thought that the offense would be carrying this team.

The offense has been the problem this year because they just arent putting up the points that we are used to them seeing. They are 5th in scoring per game at 27.3, but that number is decieving because of the Tennessee game. You would expect with the talent that we have on offense we would be able to score at will and not have to worry too much about how many points the defense gives up.

If the offense was doing what everyone thought they would do this year, no one would be complaining about the defense. The offensive has been the issue this year not the defense.

 

[chevss454]

Gaspar is dead-on accurate. I wish I could see the Pats D in attack mode the way the Steelers do it. Giving Henne or any QB 5-6 secs is asking too much of any secondary. I cant remember the last time I saw the Pats stunting or executing a delayed middle blitz or similar schemes. Carolina may be just the opponent to try some of this stuff on.