Have we overrated the Patriots defense more specifically the front 7?

[Pape]

So did Vrabel and Ninkovich. That's not a coverage LB spot. Those guys weren't good at that.

In fact, Nink was so raw at that kind of a thing, NE ran a 4-3 in 2011, some of the time if not most. They got burned by Tebow in Denver and went to the 3-4 in the second half to contain that, but they were a 4-3 team. No covering needed out of a 4-3 for the OLB because he's a DE. Not saying it never would happen, but it's not a main function of a 4-3 DE.

Setting a strong side edge is. That's the priority, IMO, to isolate the opponent so that their run game is essentially not a help to the QB by the 2nd half. That's what this D Line needs to focus on. Some good old school 3-4 run D. Don't turn it over, create a turnover and you probably win with a good edge.

Also, I don't want my 3-4 OLBs that concerned with covering the RBs at least past the flat, unless you want to use Dugger more as Big Dime guy and use him on the weakside in a McClellin/Flowers role. Move him all over the line if there is a hint the ball is going to the RB on a play that looks like a pass to the RB kinda play. Playcalling is as important as scheme and talent as well.

I think BB is not using the Phillips/Dugger thing better, or at least it came off underused in Game 1. Mix in some zone and have those 2 guys moving around a lot more.

burned in the first quarter, defense went solid in the 2nd and shut them down

 

[NewEraWithMac]

burned in the first quarter, defense went solid in the 2nd and shut them down

It's really the way they started each half.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Miami’s offense played very fast and very athletic.

our defense is not fast and not that athletic, especially in the front seven.

speed and athleticism in the front seven of a defense is becoming a must in today’s nfl with all these mobile qb’s and rpo reads.

 

[Pape]

It's really the way they started each half.

the bleeding stopped after the first though. and the lbs and yes, at times eve the de's need to be able to operate in space, be it coverage or run stopping... need more than 1 dimension

 

[VectorPrime]

Anyone who wants to say “but they only gave up 17 points they were good!” should shut up and look back at the two Giants Super Bowls. Points allowed is not the be all end all metric. Hell wasn’t the 2011 defense top 10 in points allowed despite it being historically garbage?

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Bentley and Godcheaux suck.

.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Anyone who wants to say “but they only gave up 17 points they were good!” should shut up and look back at the two Giants Super Bowls. Points allowed is not the be all end all metric. Hell wasn’t the 2011 defense top 10 in points allowed despite it being historically garbage?

Gave up 2/2 in red zone and also failed on the 3rd and short to effectively end the game clock.

 

[JMC00]

Miami’s offense played very fast and very athletic.

our defense is not fast and not that athletic, especially in the front seven.

speed and athleticism in the front seven of a defense is becoming a must in today’s nfl with all these mobile qb’s and rpo reads.

really? could have fooled me with little they moved the ball outside of their 2 TD drives

miami only moved the ball more than 25 yards 3 times the whole game they had 3 drives of 5 or less yards and 2 of them were negative yardage. Pats offense doesn't fumble 2 times and commit penalties that's a 30-17 Pats win. Pats offense dwarfed their offense 400 yards to 250 yards

 

[VectorPrime]

Gave up 2/2 in red zone and also failed on the 3rd and short to effectively end the game clock.

What is it that Belichick loves to preach? Situational football. And for a defense to be good they need to make stops in those critical situations.

 

[amfootball]

I think it is more people underestimating the absence of Gilmore. Can we get by without him? Yes. But does an all pro CB make a huge difference? Absolutely. Depth is good, but stars are required. Once we have him back we can go to more man-on-man and then we get our pass rushing advantage back. Having Gilmore basically allows you to go 5v4/6v5 on the back end and allows you an extra rusher to the passer.

My thinking too. Our secondary was suspect too and this was against a very offensively challenged team in Miami. What will the Saints, Bucs and Cowboys do to us? Gilmore missing is monumental. I had started a thread in the off-season about what we should pay Gilmore to stay. I posted repeatedly in that thread that we needed to get him done at all costs or revert back to pre 2014 when we did not have an elite corner.

 

[amfootball]

Miami’s offense played very fast and very athletic.

our defense is not fast and not that athletic, especially in the front seven.

speed and athleticism in the front seven of a defense is becoming a must in today’s nfl with all these mobile qb’s and rpo reads.

Bedard mentioned how slow our front 7 was. He also talked about how our offense lacks dynamic playmakers to get chunk yards. When you have to go 12-14 plays to score each drive the margin for error is thin for a penalty, sack or TO to end the drive.

 

[Joker]

Bedard mentioned how slow our front 7 was. He also talked about how our offense lacks dynamic playmakers to get chunk yards. When you have to go 12-14 plays to score each drive the margin for error is thin for a penalty, sack or TO to end the drive.

Bedard is a dozen box of donuts eating fat slob NOBODY that couldn't even make the girls field hockey team as manager in high school. It's ONE FRIGGIN' GAME!!!! NO ONE will be able to make a RATIONAL judgement about what this team's strengths and weaknesses are until at least the end of October. Jeezus krist...Betard...why not drag out the CHB and Tomase the scumbag to boot?

 

[PF_SU]

Anyone who wants to say “but they only gave up 17 points they were good!” should shut up and look back at the two Giants Super Bowls. Points allowed is not the be all end all metric. Hell wasn’t the 2011 defense top 10 in points allowed despite it being historically garbage?

The offense only scoring on 2 out of 9 drives in SB XLII and 3 out of 9 drives in SB XLVII might have had something to do with those losses.

2011 defense was 15th by the way in total points allowed and 21st in points allowed per drive. They were historically bad in getting dragged up and down the field but made up some of that through forcing a ton of turnovers.

 

[PScottman]

Miami’s offense played very fast and very athletic.

our defense is not fast and not that athletic, especially in the front seven.

speed and athleticism in the front seven of a defense is becoming a must in today’s nfl with all these mobile qb’s and rpo reads.

People are making it sound like the defense got run off the field last weekend and lost 55-10 or something. With the exception of the two half starting drives that simply isn't the case and the overall numbers support that view.

No, they didn't rack up ten sacks, three interceptions, and five fumbles, but they also only allowed 17 points AND low yardage (and also netted a key turnover with the Jones interception) which together are the measuring sticks usually used to judge how a defense should perform.

Concerning was the inconsistent tackling, interior short yardage run defense, and off-man, outside technique pass coverage selection (usually used at the end of games to trade time for yards when ahead) of which it's yet to be determined if those are indicative of larger issues or correctable through technique and/or scheme.

 

[PScottman]

Anyone who wants to say “but they only gave up 17 points they were good!” should shut up and look back at the two Giants Super Bowls. Points allowed is not the be all end all metric. Hell wasn’t the 2011 defense top 10 in points allowed despite it being historically garbage?

What!? Football is complimentary between offense, defense and special teams and the defense doesn't play offense??? Shocked!

 

[DarrylS]

Total Yards Gained:
Pats 392 Dolphins 259

Time of Possession:
Pats 36:43 Dolphins 23:17

Total run yards:
Pats 125 Dolphins 74

Pats were 5th last week in defensive yards per carry , 3.2 yards.

There was more to this picture than met the eye.. to early to assess how good or bad this D is.

 

[Nunchucks]

Hard to say after 1 game. They need to be better, the dolphins are not that good

 

[Family]

It's ONE FRIGGIN' GAME!!!! NO ONE will be able to make a RATIONAL judgement about what this team's strengths and weaknesses are until at least the end of October.

But you can make a judgement if the problem is the same as it was last year. If Cam were still QB many would agree.

The only issue I am concerned about is they can not stop the run. Did you see the Dolphins push the pile at the end? That was a huge issue last year and looks similar this year.

 

[Scotty]

Its a bit early to think about this , lets see mid season. I am not sure about the run defence so will try to pay more attention in the Jets game

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Rodney Harrison 'stunned' by Patriots' 'average' front seven vs. Dolphins

“I was just really stunned by the Patriots’ front seven.”

patriotswire.usatoday.com