Keeping track of the defense.

[ivanvamp]

That's not saying much for Roberts. I could play linebacker better than Roberts played it last year. He's not a player that a good defense or even an average defense should have on the field. He might make a big hit on occasion, but he'll also take horrible angles, miss tackles and get beat in coverage just too much.

You'd be in the hospital within five plays. (as would pretty much anyone else in this forum)

 

[captain stone]

You'd be in the hospital within five plays (as would pretty much anyone else in this forum)...

...and contribute just as much.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Wrong thread. Ooops.

 

[ivanvamp]

...and contribute just as much.

Heh. I know we're into hyperbole in patsfans.....

 

[Deus Irae]

fair enough

the team is a failure if we don't win the SB

And the job of their board is to analyze all the reasons why we didn't win the SB each year.

Whether you like it or not, the goal of the New England Patriots is to win the Super Bowl. And, whether you like it or not, one of the things the New England Patriots have to try to do in order to make that happen is to improve their weak areas so that they are not as easily exploited.

And, yes, one of the things that happens on sports message boards is that topics such as "why did they fail/succeed" are bandied about. As you're a former mod, I'm surprised you haven't figured that out yet.

 

[mgteich]

You've said nothing but the obvious.

1) The team's goal is always the SB,

2) The team is always trying to improve at every position, and trying the most to improve at its weakest positions.

Whether you like it or not, the goal of the New England Patriots is to win the Super Bowl. And, whether you like it or not, one of the things the New England Patriots have to try to do in order to make that happen is to improve their weak areas so that they are not as easily exploited.

And, yes, one of the things that happens on sports message boards is that topics such as "why did they fail/succeed" are bandied about. As you're a former mod, I'm surprised you haven't figured that out yet.

 

[Deus Irae]

You've said nothing but the obvious.

1) The team's goal is always the SB,

2) The team is always trying to improve at every position, and trying the most to improve at its weakest positions.

If we're going to talk about saying nothing but the obvious, let's start with this statement of yours:

Yes, we "needed" those upgrades to be a better team than the one that got the AFC Championship each of the last several seasons.

They lost in the Super Bowl last year. They needed upgrades to be better than the team that lost in the Super Bowl last year, since losing in the Super Bowl is not the goal.

 

[supafly]

They lost in the Super Bowl last year. They needed upgrades to be better than the team that lost in the Super Bowl last year, since losing in the Super Bowl is not the goal.

Especially when that team gives up 164 yards on the ground, or whatever it was in that SB loss. Going into the offseason, improving the run defense was pretty much the main priority, and yet it’s still a major weakness that is making the defense look bad.

 

[Deus Irae]

Especially when that team gives up 164 yards on the ground, or whatever it was in that SB loss. Going into the offseason, improving the run defense was pretty much the main priority, and yet it’s still a major weakness that is making the defense look bad.

I can't tell if mgteich has just lost it on the topic, in general, or if he's trying to still give some cover for this insane thread:

Two Major Issues Have Been Solved

earlier in the year.



Edit: Man, rereading that thread was fun.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I can't tell if mgteich has just lost it on the topic, in general, or if he's trying to still give some cover for this insane thread:

Two Major Issues Have Been Solved

earlier in the year.

Perhaps @mgteich would like a mulligan on that one?

 

[Coolade2]

Keeping track of the defense or those frauds running around instead of tackling that jackass in Miami last play.. ? Still recovering from that and trying to adjust to 12 hour time change .... back in the U.S.S.A....

That play has been dissected.. but the bounce back effect from bad showing like that could work out in their favor.. we shall hope and we shall see.

 

[mgteich]

1) I noticed that you only mentioned the NT. The thread also said that our RB situation was solved. m perhaps, you will tell us how terrible our running backs are.

2) Shelton didn't work out, pure and simple. You and cap are fine in 100% hindsight analysis. Belichick made many decisions that worked out and some that didn't, same as every year.

I can't tell if mgteich has just lost it on the topic, in general, or if he's trying to still give some cover for this insane thread:

Two Major Issues Have Been Solved

earlier in the year.



Edit: Man, rereading that thread was fun.

 

[Uptown]

 

[patsinthesnow]

Patriots Defenses 2010-2018

Defenses generally considered flawed/mediocre that were held together by coaching:

2017: PPG (5th) YPG (29th)
2011: PPG (15th) YPG (31st)
2010: PPG (8th) YPG (25th)

Defenses considered inconsistent but good & flashed great play (mostly if Talib was healthy or not):

2013: PPG (10th) YPG (26th)
2012: PPG (9th) YPG (25th)

Defenses considered great & more or less championship caliber:

2016: PPG (1st) YPG (8th)
2015: PPG (10th) YPG (9th)
2014: PPG (8th) YPG (13th)

2018: PPG (7th) YPG (21st)


Time & the playoffs will tell the rest of the story but the 2018 defense seems to fall in the 2nd category. Instead of Talib’s health their X-factor is if the run defense shows up to play their elite pass defense (2nd comp pct, 5th YPA, 7th passer rating, 3rd & long defense) can take over the game.

IMO, they are just 1-2 impact front seven players from entering the great group again. Whether that will come back to bite them in this season’s playoffs remains to be seen.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Patriots Defenses 2010-2018

Defenses generally considered flawed/mediocre that were held together by coaching:

2017: PPG (5th) YPG (29th)
2011: PPG (15th) YPG (31st)
2010: PPG (8th) YPG (25th)

Defenses considered inconsistent but good & flashed great play (mostly if Talib was healthy or not):

2013: PPG (10th) YPG (26th)
2012: PPG (9th) YPG (25th)

Defenses considered great & more or less championship caliber:

2016: PPG (1st) YPG (8th)
2015: PPG (10th) YPG (9th)
2014: PPG (8th) YPG (13th)

2018: PPG (7th) YPG (21st)


Time & the playoffs will tell the rest of the story but the 2018 defense seems to fall in the 2nd category. Instead of Talib’s health their X-factor is if the run defense shows up to play their elite pass defense (2nd comp pct, 5th YPA, 7th passer rating, 3rd & long defense) can take over the game.

IMO, they are just 1-2 impact front seven players from entering the great group again. Whether that will come back to bite them in this season’s playoffs remains to be seen.

Yep. A monster DT and a game changing LB puts them right there. Could use another Andre Carter or Nink type too.

 

[Ivan]

Heh. I know we're into hyperbole in patsfans.....

Speak for yourself Ivanvamp, I just play it straight down the middle. No hyperbole or flowery prose, just the facts. Don’t believe me, just ask dabruinz.

 

[ivanvamp]

NE's defensive rankings:

Points allowed: #7 (20.3)
Yards allowed: #21 (359.1)
Passer rating against: #7 (85.4)
Pass yards per att: #5 (6.9)
Pass comp %: #2 (61.2%)
4th down conversion: #2 (37.5%)

On the whole, when all is said and done, the 2018 Patriots' defense is absolutely a solid unit, as hard as that may be to believe for some of us hear.

Here's the AFC playoff field in terms of points allowed:
#4 seed Baltimore (#2, 17.9)
#3 seed Houston (#4, 19.8)
#2 seed New England (#7, 20.3)
#5 seed LA Chargers (#8, 20.6)
#6 seed Indianapolis (#10, 21.5)
#1 seed Kansas City (#24, 26.3)

 

[Kontradiction]

End of regular season numbers:

1. Points/Game - 7th
2. YPG - 21st
3. 3rd down % - 16th
4. Net passing yards/attempt - 10th
5. Net rushing yards/attempt - 29th
6. TO % - 10th

Average = 16th

Opponent offensive rankings (PPG):

1. Texans - 11th
2. Jaguars - 31st
3. Lions - 25th
4. Dolphins - 26th
5. Colts - 5th
6. Chiefs - 1st
7. Bears - 9th
8. Bills - 30th
9. Packers - 14th
10. Titans - 27th
11. Jets - 23rd
12. Vikings - 19th
13. Dolphins - 26th
14. Squealers - 6th
15. Bills - 30th
16. Jets - 23rd

Average = 19th

Using pretty crude averages, the defense performed right around average against a below average offensive schedule. Ending the season against the Bills and Jets improved the PPG ranking. The run defense ended the year giving up 4.9 YPC, the worst in the BB era. It should be noted that the pass defense was much improved once Jackson found himself getting big time reps at the corner position opposite Gilmore. Whether this will be good enough will be anyone's guess. We will start to see in two weeks.

 

[JMC00]

Over the last 9 games

Allowed 146 points (2nd)

Allowed 16 TDs (2nd)

3rd down defense 33% (3rd)

Allowed 165 1st downs (5th)

Allowed 223 passing yards per game (13th)

83.4 QB rating against (5th)

60.9 completion percentage allowed (4th)

 

[Kontradiction]

Over the last 9 games

Allowed 146 points (2nd fewest)

Allowed 16 TDs (2nd fewest)

3rd down defense was 33% (3rd best)

Allowed 165 1st downs (5th fewest)

Allowed 223 passing yards per game (13th)

83.4 QB rating against (5th best)

60.9 completion percentage allowed (4th best)

The average opponent's offense (PPG) during that stretch is 22, helped greatly by Pittsburgh at 6. Aside from them, the best offense during that stretch was Green Bay at 14.