Is This Defense As Good As 2017?

[JackBauer]

I'm all aboard the Bentley bandwagon.

 

[Oswlek]

That was in Q4, when time was running out for the Texans. The Pats defense was focused on shutting down Watson's passing with 7-8 players in coverage, which encouraged the Texans to keep going back to the run, over and over, thus burning valuable clock time. I think that was a deliberate tactical decision by the Pats, rather than a fault with the run-D.

Agreed, but the sub defense was still problematic. Even when you are conceding the run, it shouldn't be that effective.

 

[Coolade2]

Hard to call the defense anything but excellent when it takes the field once on its own 16 once on its own 17, allows just 10 on those drives and 10 in the other 12 drives it faced.

Usually you're only as good as your last game.... Prediction is yes but what will be the measuring stick? Points allowed? Last year , PA was bad early season then they gelled... Expect a better start this year ... Less than 20 ppg is a good target.

Also... Offense helps this stat by not turning ball over...

Your post kinda reiterates my point I made before the game. Points allowed is a team stat which should be modified to points allowed by the defense ..minus points allowed on short fields after turnovers.. lol

The stat is a good measure of overall game management, ball security, coaching, etc. As in.. object of game to score more points than other team..

 

[Nunchucks]

Credit to the defense, but the Watson we saw yesterday was a shell of the Watson from 2017.

Watson did not play well, but the Patriots had good coverage and put pressure on him. Those two things will stop any QB.

 

[Nunchucks]

I'm all aboard the Bentley bandwagon.

Yeah, he played better than Roberts.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Credit to the defense, but the Watson we saw yesterday was a shell of the Watson from 2017.

There is no question Watson is not "all the way back". I do think the NEP pass rush and coverage was much improved over last year's game

 

[Coolade2]

There is no question Watson is not "all the way back". I do think the NEP pass rush and coverage was much improved over last year's game

"Credit to the defense, but the Watson we saw yesterday was a shell of the Watson from 2017."

Yes I predicted that in thread.. "are we on to Houston ..."

 

[TommyD4207]

There is no question Watson is not "all the way back". I do think the NEP pass rush and coverage was much improved over last year's game

Well, we'll find out in the coming weeks, for sure.

I do know that I didn't see WRs running wide open yesterday, which I did too many times a year ago. And that combined with what appeared to be a professional pass rush - would make any QB look 'off'.

Like I said, it's probably a little from column A, a little from column B - but we'll know for sure in a few weeks.

If Trent Brown makes Ngokoue invisible nest week, and Bortles throws for 170 yards or whatever, and Dorsett has another 7 or 8 targets, you might consider it all a trend.

 

[TomPatriot]

Credit to the defense, but the Watson we saw yesterday was a shell of the Watson from 2017.

In the 2017 game, he had all day to throw. He heard footsteps on a lot of plays Sunday. We’ll see.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Well, we'll find out in the coming weeks, for sure.

I do know that I didn't see WRs running wide open yesterday, which I did too many times a year ago. And that combined with what appeared to be a professional pass rush - would make any QB look 'off'.

Like I said, it's probably a little from column A, a little from column B - but we'll know for sure in a few weeks.

If Trent Brown makes Ngokoue invisible nest week, and Bortles throws for 170 yards or whatever, and Dorsett has another 7 or 8 targets, you might consider it all a trend.

Agree. A small sampling but a trend nonetheless