Is the New England Patriot Defense Elite?

[captain stone]

Yep, Harrison broke his arm. There were a combo of blown coverages and Law/Poole getting uncharacteristically beat.

Never liked the Poole signing; little dude was Way too fragile.

The kick-off before the end of the 1st half NEVER should've happened either. How ****ing stupid was that?

As for this year's defense: As others have mentioned, we still lack a Mt Washington/Big Vince-type in the middle; and our situations at both Free Safety & Outside CB are still very unclear, to put it kindly.

 

[State]

I think Mapu might be the missing piece that allows us to deal with mobile QBs - he's like a guided missile and his positional versatility is going to mean opposing QBs are never going to have the answer pre-snap.

This is an intriguing insight.

I especially look forward to when we play the Bills. There’s a lot of hubbub about their new toy in first round TE Dalton Kincaid, a smooth athlete, proficient route runner, and standing 6’5”.

A lot of the positive vibes the Bills Mafia have about him will be put to the test when we have uber versatile and instinctual Mapu on him. It is very helpful that he’s 6’3”.

It’s going to be quite a chess match between Belichick and the Bills play caller.

 

[TommyD4207]

As for this year's defense: As others have mentioned, we still lack a Mt Washington/Big Vince-type in the middle; and our situations at both Free Safety & Outside CB are still very unclear, to put it kindly.

Right on the first two. Lack of a 2-down Nose Tackle hurt them at times last year, and they still haven't really addressed free safety, I guess we'll see on Thursday what their idea is. On the third though, I don't know how many CBs you expect a team to be able to carry though. They're in the best position at CB than any other team in the league.

 

[State]

As for this year's defense: As others have mentioned, we still lack a Mt Washington/Big Vince-type in the middle; and our situations at both Free Safety & Outside CB are still very unclear, to put it kindly.

Yes. I think the McCourty replacement whoever that is is the long term question. This defense will do a lot of stifling of other teams when they aren’t able to run it down our throats.

Opposing offenses will discover that by getting the safeties to bite on play action it’s worth taking some shots downfield.

That’s why a safety with recovery speed is so essential.

My immediate concern is the lack of athleticism by the middle linebackers. Against the Patriots if I had a true deep threat I’d spread it out. Try to get them in man coverage with over the top double team on the deep threat. Then do the Patricia special: swing pass to the RB in the flats.

Bentley and Tavai are going to struggle with that.

Other than that this defense will be at least border elite.

 

[Real fan 02]

Elite. I think Belichick's approach takes longer to grasp/absorb. We used to be able to practice more, but now you can't, so it's taking longer. Core group has been together a few seasons now, and they're adding nice complementary players (mostly speed). Admittedly, this may well be Homer logic!

I'll agree, and yout right. They are an elite unit in 2023 NFL standards. The thing they have to prove this season is can they slow down some top offensive units and slow top WRs.. that's the only criticism I have if them. If they can come out and contain hurts that will be a great start to the season!

 

[Huckleberry1]

Only item to add is that the defensive "team speed" with Peppers, Mapu, Duggar, Gonzo, M Jones, Ja and Jo Jones, Uche, Judon, etc., is much improved from 2 years ago. Still a few thumpers, but far fewer.

Agree with this completely. The defense that got hammered by Buffalo in the play-offs was old and really slow. They played some good football during the season, but they needed significant changes by the end of it. They have done a very good job of rebuilding it, and that should show up if their offense can let them catch a breather every now and then.

 

[captain stone]

...On the third though, I don't know how many CBs you expect a team to be able to carry though. They're in the best position at CB than any other team in the league.

Teams need a combination of at least Five accomplished or high-upside professional CBs, including at least 3 Outside guys.

I consider Jon Jones either a Slot or a FS.

If Mills is moved to FS, then we're one shy at Outside CB; and that's not even taking Jackie's legal issues into account.

Best-case scenario, as of this writing, is that Jon is moved to FS with ThanksBrandon or preferably Shaun Wade as his understudy; Mills, Gonzo & Jackie handle the Outside; and Marcus becomes a starting-caliber Slot CB as well as a top Returner... But that still leaves us one decent Slot guy short of a Full CB House.

 

[captain stone]

Yes. I think the McCourty replacement whoever that is is the long term question. This defense will do a lot of stifling of other teams when they aren’t able to run it down our throats.

Opposing offenses will discover that by getting the safeties to bite on play action it’s worth taking some shots downfield.

That’s why a safety with recovery speed is so essential.

And that's why I've been advocating having Shaun Wade & ThanksBrandon compete at Free Safety instead of Outside CB: their straight-line recovery speed is good enough for FS; but their lateral agility isn't good enough for CB.

My immediate concern is the lack of athleticism by the middle linebackers. Against the Patriots if I had a true deep threat I’d spread it out. Try to get them in man coverage with over the top double team on the deep threat. Then do the Patricia special: swing pass to the RB in the flats.

Bentley and Tavai are going to struggle with that.

Other than that this defense will be at least border elite.

They have enough LBs in the building to improve their athleticism if they so choose; but knowing them as I do, they'll instead continue to keep a slug like Jalopy Tavai, plus one or both of useless garbage Sig Heilig & the ***ot.

 

[Kasmir]

My immediate concern is the lack of athleticism by the middle linebackers. Against the Patriots if I had a true deep threat I’d spread it out. Try to get them in man coverage with over the top double team on the deep threat. Then do the Patricia special: swing pass to the RB in the flats.

Mapu.

 

[captain stone]

Mapu.

One of Chris Board or Ola Fatukasi (I wouldn't keep both) might help there too.

 

[jlu52]

The 2003 D’s only blemish was the 2nd half of the Super Bowl letting Delhomme go wild on them with the Panthers eventually taking the lead and then tying the game late. Before Brady’s awful INT near the goal line up 21-10, the Panthers looked like the moment was too big for them.

Had they played better, that defense probably would be talked about more among the media and fans as one of the best.

If only Rodney Harrison hadn't gotten hurt, 2 Super Bowls wouldn't have been as close as they were. Rodney was a monster in both games.

 

[Ring 6]

If only Rodney Harrison hadn't gotten hurt, 2 Super Bowls wouldn't have been as close as they were. Rodney was a monster in both games.

Of all the things in the world I wish could be changed a SB win not being as close is very low on the list

 

[captain stone]

If only Rodney Harrison hadn't gotten hurt, 2 Super Bowls wouldn't have been as close as they were. Rodney was a monster in both games.

SBs 38, 39 & 49 should've All been double-digit victories.

 

[TommyD4207]

Teams need a combination of at least Five accomplished or high-upside professional CBs, including at least 3 Outside guys.

I consider Jon Jones either a Slot or a FS.

If Mills is moved to FS, then we're one shy at Outside CB; and that's not even taking Jackie's legal issues into account.

Best-case scenario, as of this writing, is that Jon is moved to FS with ThanksBrandon or preferably Shaun Wade as his understudy; Mills, Gonzo & Jackie handle the Outside; and Marcus becomes a starting-caliber Slot CB as well as a top Returner... But that still leaves us one decent Slot guy short of a Full CB House.

Please name the team with 5 accomplished/high upside CBs on their roster.

I'll wait. Because that team doesn't exist outside of New England.