Like it or not: This is the D we are taking into the playoffs

[RayClay]

We've played 3 of the top five teams without Wilfork. We beat two and got jobbed against Carolina. Other teams have injuries and problems too.

 

[Rob0729]

We've played 3 of the top five teams without Wilfork. We beat two and got jobbed against Carolina. Other teams have injuries and problems too.

If not for two questionable calls/non-calls, the Pats could be 11-1 right now.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Other teams have injuries and problems too.

Funny you said that. Look at the Falcons and all their injuries. Yet they have no depth to sustain any winning. Speaks volumes to ALL the guys on the pats roster/roster decisions.

 

[PATRlOT]

I'd really like to think that our D just didn't take the Texans seriously today. They seemed to rise up to the occasion on the last 2 series when we needed them the most (3 & out, 4th down) even if they may have been helped by a couple dropped passes and a potential pass interference.

All we can hope is that Talib and Dennard are fully healthy come playoff time. Those 2 alone, healthy, would make an enormous difference. Or even Dennard alone, being in there helps a lot.

 

[jbb9s]

The defense has a lot of big pieces missing:

Wilfork – best 3-4/4-3 NT/DT in the NFL
Kelly – top ten 4-3/3-4 DT/DE in the NFL
Mayo – top five 4-3/3-4 OLB/ILB in the NFL
Dennard – top five RCB in the NFL
.

Are these positional rankings corroborated by anyone else? I'd be interested to see your rankings for the non-injured Patriots like Chandler Jones and Devin McCourty. Both top 5 right?

 

[Rob0729]

Are these positional rankings corroborated by anyone else? I'd be interested to see your rankings for the non-injured Patriots like Chandler Jones and Devin McCourty. Both top 5 right?

He is too high on Kelly. Probably close to the other three although Wilfork was not playing well before he was injured. I don't know how they all are actually ranked though.

As for Jones and McCourty, they are high up there at their positions. But losing three or four of your best players on defense and replace most of them with rookies, it is going to affect your defense.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

According to a WEEI post game story, the Patriots went with the Jones/Vellano combo almost the entire game (as well as the new Kid, Siliga). IMHO the Jones/Vellano combo is just not a stout run stopping unit.
If this is what BB is going to go with from here on out than I think a porous Run D should be expected sometimes. Just is what it is.....

 

[BelizePats]

This is a bad defense and there is no getting around that. The middle is just porous, thanks to the injuries to Mayo, Wilfork and Kelly. This reality makes getting ahead early critical to our going far in the playoffs. If we can limit a teams ability to run by forcing them air it out, to play catch up, we stand a chance. A good chance. Otherwise, this is the kind of D that leads to a "one and done" in the playoffs.

 

[State]

Yeah, we've got two good-looking young backups starting at DT, and they were pushed around by a strong Texas OL. Vellano and Jones might be improvements on pass plays, though. I love their hustle.

Hightower on pass plays doesn't put out much effort. Time to put in Fletcher or Collins pretty regularly on them. Spikes is a big liability on pass plays, too, but it's not lack of effort but lack of speed.

We lose that game without Gostowksi hitting two out of three from 50+.

I like Andre Carter coming in as the designate pass rusher for a handful of plays. And Ninkovich played the best game on defense by far. He came in to hit the QB several times just as he was throwing. Doesn't show up in the states, however.

McCourty covers a lot of ground as safety and is looking to make a big play down the stretch.

 

[IllegalContact]

Guns blazing .... Shoot until you are out of bullets....then throw the gun

 

[stinkypete]

This is still my favorite defense in years. I feel like any other Patriots D since 2004 would have blown at least one of the Denver/Houston games.

 

[BelizePats]

I gotta say that Hightower seems to be regressing before my eyes. His seeming disinterest in coverage is hard to watch.

 

[varjao]

Seriously, why do BB and Patricia insist in Arrington playing on the outside?

He got toasted today, lost ball awareness like an amateur, anyone on that roster can do a better job

 

[MassPats38]

This is a bad defense and there is no getting around that. The middle is just porous, thanks to the injuries to Mayo, Wilfork and Kelly. This reality makes getting ahead early critical to our going far in the playoffs. If we can limit a teams ability to run by forcing them air it out, to play catch up, we stand a chance. A good chance. Otherwise, this is the kind of D that leads to a "one and done" in the playoffs.

Yes, there is a way. Defensive scheming can offset the loss of the big boys up front. Will it have optimal flexibility by virtue of the fact the best players are not on the field? No, it won't. This is why defensive coordinators get paid the big bucks. Not every game is a winner, but many of the glaring mistakes today were defensive players out of position, not beaten physically. As the players get a little more comfortable, I expect the play should improve.

And I would agree with the sentiment that most of the big name Ds have taken sufficient damage that they are in similar condition. If it comes down to coaching, I will take that any day of the week.

 

[PATRlOT]

How the hell are we gonna stop the Browns and Gordon next week???

 

[Archeryaddict12]

It's not a bad secondary with dennard back IMO. The run D is key. We are going to need the offenses 3 best games in the playoffs and a healthy talib/dennard to win it all.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

How the hell are we gonna stop the Browns and Gordon next week???

Gordon is so good. Don't think anyone can stop him

 

[Rob0729]

How the hell are we gonna stop the Browns and Gordon next week???

Let's not go overboard. Coming into today, the Browns were the 26th ranked offense and 29th in points scored. Weeden has a concussion and may not play next week and the same with Campbell.

 

[RayClay]

How the hell are we gonna stop the Browns and Gordon next week???

Is this sarcasm? The rest of the league, including Jacksonville was able to.

 

[patsfan-1982]

Gordon is so good. Don't think anyone can stop him

IMO there TE Jordan Cameron will be a bigger problem next week Gordon is a top 5 WR but they can put two guys on him and he wont have the almost 300 yards he had today he may get 100 but he wont go crazy