Just some defensive stats...take them for what they're worth

[JJDChE]

Opp Total yds allowed/season avg/Difference
@MIA 488/323/+165
SD 470/407/+63
@BUF 448/369/+79
@OAK 504/372/+132
NYJ 255/306/-51
DAL 377/400/-23
PIT 427/389/+38
NYG 361/372/-11

YPG of opponents: 367
Opponents averaging over 350 ypg: 6/8

YPG of remaining opponents: 333
Remaining Opps averaging over 325 ypg: 2/8

 

[alvinnf]

And????????

 

[JJDChE]

And????????

And what? You need commentary?

 

[ay-yo]

Very interesting. Games 5-8 represent a serious improvement over 1-4.

 

[sbpatfan]

And what? You need commentary?

And then...?

 

[BradyManny]

The stat I was looking at recently that was shocking was that - in terms of yardage - most of the QBs we've faced have had their best game of the season against us.

 

[karguy85]

I'll take the improvement, I just think the Patriots still haven't been playing good situational football, especially in regards to 3rd down. We have been able to get teams into 3rd down situations, but just haven't been able to stop them.

 

[JJDChE]

And then...?

And then we play the rest of the schedule.

 

[IllegalContact]

the improvement is not real......

the entire league has slowed down when it comes to offense......

try doing this with the pats offense versus opposing defenses and you will see the same trend

 

[strngplyr]

Very interesting. Games 5-8 represent a serious improvement over 1-4.

Unfortunately, as the defense has sort of stepped up, the offense has really taken a step back.

I think if we get back to executing well on offense and stopping these silly turnovers we'll get right back into it and finish the season strong.

The Giants offense isn't half bad (rank 11) and we held them to 10 points until there were 3 minutes left. And lets not forget, most of those points were aided by NE injuries, a pair of stupid penalties, and turnovers.

It's weird to say it, but the offense has been the biggest problem recently. Pitt did smoke our defense, but the offense showed their worst performance of the season, in my opinion, during that game and the defense stepped up in the end.

 

[JJDChE]

the improvement is not real......

the entire league has slowed down when it comes to offense......

try doing this with the pats offense versus opposing defenses and you will see the same trend

OK, lets see the proof. How may less yards per game are our opponents yielding in the last 4 games compared to the first four?

Compared to our opponents season average we've had a 122 yd/game swing in the last four games compare to the first four (+110 yds/g vs. -12 yds/g).

 

[RIpats88]

our defense is going to be what it is theres no denying that. but for anyone to say that the improvements are not real, they are fooling themselves....the Pats defense did hold the Giants to 29% on 3rd downs. the problem is that this is a bend dont break defense. and for it to hold up for a full game, you need to have the offense do their part and put less pressure on the defense.

we really havent played any good complimentary football yet. Either the defense steps up, but the offense falters..or the offense is on fire and the defense falters.

the slowed development of Ochocinco has come back to hurt us on offense, because all of our main targets excel in the middle of the field....we need someone who can play the sidelines and get open vs. man coverage. he looked promising last week so hopefully he/brady can finally connect against the Jets

 

[IllegalContact]

OK, lets see the proof. How may less yards per game are our opponents yielding in the last 4 games compared to the first four?

Compared to our opponents season average we've had a 122 yd/game swing in the last four games compare to the first four (+110 yds/g vs. -12 yds/g).

2011 New England Patriots Statistics & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com

look at it this way.....the offense has 'stepped down' more than the defense has 'stepped up'

so if you want to be happy about the defense, you need to be down on the offense.

I would bemore concerned about the offense at this point.....the dropoff this early in the season is unprecedented with this group

 

[IllegalContact]

our defense is going to be what it is theres no denying that. but for anyone to say that the improvements are not real, they are fooling themselves....the Pats defense did hold the Giants to 29% on 3rd downs. the problem is that this is a bend dont break defense. and for it to hold up for a full game, you need to have the offense do their part and put less pressure on the defense.

we really havent played any good complimentary football yet. Either the defense steps up, but the offense falters..or the offense is on fire and the defense falters.

the slowed development of Ochocinco has come back to hurt us on offense, because all of our main targets excel in the middle of the field....we need someone who can play the sidelines and get open vs. man coverage. he looked promising last week so hopefully he/brady can finally connect against the Jets

it isn't real....unless you want to admit that the decline of the offense is also real

you sound like you're making baseless excuses

 

[TheComeback]

the improvement is not real......

the entire league has slowed down when it comes to offense......

try doing this with the pats offense versus opposing defenses and you will see the same trend

It is real. Only an idiot can't see the improvement from the first four weeks to the last four.

No one's saying they're suddenly a great or even good defense, but they've clearly been playing better.

 

[Hitman Harris]

It is real. Only an idiot can't see the improvement from the first four weeks to the last four.

No one's saying they're suddenly a great or even good defense, but they've clearly been playing better.

Getting Jerod Mayo back is huge to your defense. He and Wilfork are the only 2 real presences on your D.

 

[RIpats88]

it isn't real....unless you want to admit that the decline of the offense is also real

you sound like you're making baseless excuses

you sound more like you are making baseless excuses because you dont want to admit that the defense has improved...no one is saying its great or even good. but watch the games and you can see they are playing better.

as far as the offense goes, ours has declined, partly due to brady playing some bad games, and partly due to the fact that defenses have started to clog the middle of the field because we currently have no one playing the sidelines/offering a deep threat

 

[strngplyr]

Getting Jerod Mayo back is huge to your defense. He and Wilfork are the only 2 real presences on your D.

Spikes and Carter are playing well, just don't ask Spikes to cover anyone who runs a sub 5 40 lol.

 

[TheComeback]

2011 New England Patriots Statistics & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com

look at it this way.....the offense has 'stepped down' more than the defense has 'stepped up'

so if you want to be happy about the defense, you need to be down on the offense.

I would bemore concerned about the offense at this point.....the dropoff this early in the season is unprecedented with this group

The offense has been a concern but they've still put up a decent number of points. What worries me more than the lack of scoring is the turnovers they've committed. It's been unacceptable for a playoff team at this point.

However, you've got to look at who they've been playing. We've faced some of the best defenses you'll see in the NFL this year. We've come out 2-2 in those games with a chance to go 3-2. If we can get there, it's a positive sign for the team as those tough, physical games have been a problem for the Patriots lately. There was a time when this team would just fold in those games (playoff games, Browns game last year) but they've been competitive in 2011.

 

[IllegalContact]

It is real. Only an idiot can't see the improvement from the first four weeks to the last four.

No one's saying they're suddenly a great or even good defense, but they've clearly been playing better.

in that case, I would be real worried about the offense