Learn to Trust the Defense

[MainePatsFan26]

The most positive takeaway I can make from today's game is the defense. The Pats gave up 35 points, but only 14 of those were allowed by the defense.

While this is stating the obvious, the tenor of the game that the offense took was one that didn't trust the defense to make key stops. That explains forcing the ball on the slant or deep ball that both resulted in picks. It explains not running the ball for fear of punting.

The special teams gaffes were isolated to the past two weeks and personnel changes, but the problems on the offense are more deep rooted and seem to start with Brady: he doesn't trust his defense to get it done.

While they didn't stop the Eagles with two minutes left in the game, they did make the fumble happen that gave the team a chance for victory. It is time for the team to switch gears until Gronk/Edelman get back and focus on protecting the football by running the ball and not forcing throws. Overall, learning to rely on the defense to carry the team the next few weeks could be the recipe to finish the season's final chapter 3-1 or 4-0.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

It will be nice when Hightower & Collins are on the field together

 

[BradyBranch39]

the tenor of the game that the offense took was one that didn't trust the defense to make key stops. That explains forcing the ball on the slant or deep ball that both resulted in picks. It explains not running the ball for fear of punting.

*cough*onside dropkick*cough*

 

[MainePatsFan26]

*cough*onside dropkick*cough*

In all seriousness, did you take that dropkick to be a sign of not trusting the defense or trusting them to stop them if it didn't work?

 

[BradyBranch39]

In all seriousness, did you take that dropkick to be a sign of not trusting the defense or trusting them to stop them if it didn't work?

Hmm. Actually, my first and most prevailing thought was that BB/Judge was saying "Oh, Chip, you like to emphasize your special teams; wait till you see this one!"

I don't think the PHI defense is capable of driving 80 yards for a TD against our defense, if that helps answer?

 

[captain stone]

Speaking of not trusting the defense, why THE FECK did Joey Judge (I'd now rather have Mike Judge
as our ST coach) trot out NATE FECKIN EBNER AGAIN to try an on-sides kick with 3:00 remaining
and down by just 7 when an on-sides kick SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FECKIN ATTEMPTED AT ALL?
Just kick the damn ball deep and force Bradford to start at his 20 in the hope of forcing a 3 & out.
Nate Feckin Ebner naturally kicks the ball almost out of bounds by himself. Complete, total FAIL.

 

[supafly]

Speaking of not trusting the defense, why THE FECK did Joey Judge (I'd now rather have Mike Judge
as our ST coach) trot out NATE FECKIN EBNER AGAIN to try an on-sides kick with 3:00 remaining
and down by just 7 when an on-sides kick SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FECKIN ATTEMPTED AT ALL?
Just kick the damn ball deep and force Bradford to start at his 20 in the hope of forcing a 3 & out.
Nate Feckin Ebner naturally kicks the ball almost out of bounds by himself. Complete, total FAIL.

Wait, are you serious? Nate Ebner attempted both the drop ball kick in the 2nd quarter and also the onsides kick with 3:00 minutes left in the game? How did I miss this? Are you sure?

For what it's worth, I totally agree with you about kicking it deep when you have 3 timeouts and the 2 minute warning.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Speaking of not trusting the defense, why THE FECK did Joey Judge (I'd now rather have Mike Judge
as our ST coach) trot out NATE FECKIN EBNER AGAIN to try an on-sides kick with 3:00 remaining
and down by just 7 when an on-sides kick SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FECKIN ATTEMPTED AT ALL?
Just kick the damn ball deep and force Bradford to start at his 20 in the hope of forcing a 3 & out.
Nate Feckin Ebner naturally kicks the ball almost out of bounds by himself. Complete, total FAIL.

Captain get some sleep buddy you're repeating yourself in every thread.

 

[Sciz]

Speaking of not trusting the defense, why THE FECK did Joey Judge (I'd now rather have Mike Judge
as our ST coach) trot out NATE FECKIN EBNER AGAIN to try an on-sides kick with 3:00 remaining
and down by just 7 when an on-sides kick SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FECKIN ATTEMPTED AT ALL?
Just kick the damn ball deep and force Bradford to start at his 20 in the hope of forcing a 3 & out.
Nate Feckin Ebner naturally kicks the ball almost out of bounds by himself. Complete, total FAIL.

I'm not sure you're going to find anybody here who thinks Joe Judge made the call to not kick it deep there. You should probably just scream about BILL FECKING BELICHICK instead. We know you want to.

 

[captain stone]

Sorry I know, but I'm still wound-up pissed-off about the game and the mind-numbing, inexplicably
brain-dead coaching decisions throughout the entire game.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

I don't think the PHI defense is capable of driving 80 yards for a TD against our defense, if that helps answer?

Given that they drove 60 and made it look easy once they converted that first 3rd-and-10, what leads you to be so sure they couldn't have driven 80?

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

In all seriousness, did you take that dropkick to be a sign of not trusting the defense or trusting them to stop them if it didn't work?

How about as a complete lack of respect for the Eagles Offense?... It may be justified because the Eagles Offense does stink, but in this case, it just backfired.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

In all seriousness, did you take that dropkick to be a sign of not trusting the defense or trusting them to stop them if it didn't work?

I think it was a combination of trusting the defense and not trusting the offense. I think they were hoping to go up three scores and force PHI to be much more one dimensional (easier to defend) and take the pressure (literal and figurative) off the offense somewhat.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Given that they drove 60 and made it look easy once they converted that first 3rd-and-10, what leads you do be so sure they couldn't have driven 80?

The answer is some variant of superstition, which may include "momentum," "making the other team mad," or another concept not supported by reason. If anything, the special teams meltdown and turnovers reinforce that you should go for the jugular and go after any favorable risk:reward, whether it changes the "feel if the game" or not. I think the Patriots practiced that mini-squib kick and, provided thy had the formation they wanted, were going to run it in this game. I can understand criticism about the actual play itself, but to criticize it for "arrogance" or "disrespect" just goes to show many people do not think rationally during an emotional event (as this loss is associated with negative emotions.)

If the Brady reception had failed, it would receive immense criticism: too cute, terrible timing, arrogant, desperate, etc etc.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

How about as a complete lack of respect for the Eagles Offense?... It may be justified because the Eagles Offense does stink, but in this case, it just backfired.

I think trying to keep the ball away from the Eagles offense shows respect, not disrespect. Much like teams try surprise onside kicks against elite offenses in order to control the clock and keep the ball away from an elite QB. Wouldn't disrespect consist of just playing conservative all game with the lead and assuming their offense will not score?

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

I think trying to keep the ball away from the Eagles offense shows respect, not disrespect. Much like teams try surprise onside kicks against elite offenses in order to control the clock and keep the ball away from an elite QB. Wouldn't disrespect consist of just playing conservative all game with the lead and assuming their offense will not score?

Thats a valid situation where you do that to keep a great offense off the field. But this isn't a Peyton Manning in his prime-led offense. This is the Eagles and they are a mess on offense.

 

[JPPT1974]

Yeah as really the team should had won against the Eagles.

 

[DarrylS]

Speaking of not trusting the defense, why THE FECK did Joey Judge (I'd now rather have Mike Judge
as our ST coach) trot out NATE FECKIN EBNER AGAIN to try an on-sides kick with 3:00 remaining
and down by just 7 when an on-sides kick SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FECKIN ATTEMPTED AT ALL?
Just kick the damn ball deep and force Bradford to start at his 20 in the hope of forcing a 3 & out.
Nate Feckin Ebner naturally kicks the ball almost out of bounds by himself. Complete, total FAIL.

Was BB listening to Bon Jovi again on those headphones??? He should learn to pay closer attention to the game..

 

[turkeyneck]

Bill was playing scared to death of PHI's special teams and wasn't confident in Gost getting touchbacks. That's why the Ebner nonsense, fear of Philly's return game.

 

[upstater1]

The most positive takeaway I can make from today's game is the defense. The Pats gave up 35 points, but only 14 of those were allowed by the defense.

While this is stating the obvious, the tenor of the game that the offense took was one that didn't trust the defense to make key stops. That explains forcing the ball on the slant or deep ball that both resulted in picks. It explains not running the ball for fear of punting.

The special teams gaffes were isolated to the past two weeks and personnel changes, but the problems on the offense are more deep rooted and seem to start with Brady: he doesn't trust his defense to get it done.

While they didn't stop the Eagles with two minutes left in the game, they did make the fumble happen that gave the team a chance for victory. It is time for the team to switch gears until Gronk/Edelman get back and focus on protecting the football by running the ball and not forcing throws. Overall, learning to rely on the defense to carry the team the next few weeks could be the recipe to finish the season's final chapter 3-1 or 4-0.

I am not sure of any of these points.

For one, your defense is not going to be give up points when the opponent's offense doesn't see the field. During that brutal stretch of the pick-6 and punt return TD, the offense was out there 3 straight possessions with Bradford never getting to touch the ball. And two of those were long Patriot drives.

As for running, they were running it in the first half. They stopped running it when they fell behind by 2 TDs.

I think most of what we saw was a matter of not trusting the offense. Belichick wouldn't have done the third onside kick if he trusted the offense more. Because say the Panthers move the ball to the 30 or 35. A net of 45 on the punt gives the Patriots the ball at their own 25 with under 2 minutes remaining.

I don't think Bill trusted them there.