Ninko says ... " just give me a little bit more time and I’ll be happy to use that."

[Marqui]

In Foxboro, they dared them to run. They were playing 5 in the box at times. They used DEs to jam slot receivers. They played tight coverage and risked the deep ball.
In the AFCCG they play it differently. Yes, they played a lot of man, but alignment, personnel groupings and schemes were very different. They did not abandon the box, and did play as tight and dare them to throw it deep. The quick hitting routes and shallow crossing routes were covered differently. The bunch formation was covered differently. In Foxboro they played an extra DB outside the bunch formation and did not handle it that way in the AFCCG.
I'm going from memory, and I was at the first game so I had a clearer view of (and was focusing specifically on) the coverage scheme than you can get from TV but it was clearly different.

Well I completely misread your post. I thought you were comparing NE's gameplan in the AFCCG to Seattle's in the SB.

 

[jsull87]

I think the worn out thing is overrated.
Playing 63 plays a game instead of 68 is not going to make that much of a difference.
Its really an excuse, and Jones was getting shut out that day because the secondary didn't give him enough time to rush the passer, not because he was tired.

I agree with Andy here. It's hard to get sacks when the ball is out of Peytons hands in 2-3 secs every time.

I think if you rewatch the game what this thread is about actually mnakes a lot of sense. With a little bit more help from the secondary (didn't help Talib going down), we would have had some better pass rush production.

 

[ausbacker]

I think the worn out thing is overrated.
Playing 63 plays a game instead of 68 is not going to make that much of a difference.
Its really an excuse, and Jones was getting shut out that day because the secondary didn't give him enough time to rush the passer, not because he was tired.

Respectfully, I disgree Andy. 5 extra plays per game extrapolates to 80 plays per season our Defensive Ends are not sprinting at 300 pound tackles being scragged, dragged and impeded. To me, that is significant given many players would play through issues on a weekly basis.

The great front 7 defenses have depth. They can afford to rotate guys to keep them "fresher" for late stages of games and for a push into the Super Bowl. At present, the Patriots have Jones and Ninkovich. Both are good players but that simply won't do.

Moving forward from that point, I'd like the Patriots to add impact players on the DL to maximise the performance of a Revis-lead secondary.

 

[NormZauchin]

I didn't mean to have my whole post in response to yours, sorry if it came off that way. You didn't have to repeat yourself; I think we agreed for the most part.

To continue with my role as Captain Obvious:
Theoretically, as silly as it sounds, five plays a game could have an impact on a man's season or career, though. It adds up to 80 possibly punishing plays over a 16 game span. Obviously we see snap counts considered more with RBs (Andre Ellington, for example), but minimizing a players' snap-count has long been thought to be a way to prolong a players' prime, regardless of position. Less constant wear and tear and less chance of traumatic injury = better durability.

Not much too argue, IMO.

Snap count = pitch count?

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

guys up front have to love what revis and browner can give them..just a few more seconds

 

[Marqui]

guys up front have to love what revis and browner can give them..just a few more seconds

Revis and Browner must hate what the guys up front give them..not much pass rush help.

 

[james87654]

Revis and Browner must hate what the guys up front give them..not much pass rush help.

I sure hope an improved (and hopefully healthy) secondary has the ancillary benefit of making our pass rush better. I am tired of our pass rush looking good when it doesn't matter and looking bad in the playoffs when it matters the most. I like Jones and Ninko, but i still pine for the days of a prime seymour.

 

[JR4]

Talking about "plays off"
... if PATS secondary can give the rushers more
time to get to the QB it seems that would yield more 3 and outs.
Now that's the kind of "plays off" that helps not only the rushers
"keep fresh" but increases the offense potential as well.

IF Jones and Ninko were tired at end of season it may have been because
PATS defense were one of the worst teams in allowing 1st downs.
Instead of allowing 330+ 1st downs they reduce that to around 250
to be like some of the top defenses that will allow the whole D more rest.

 

[Sticky Caulk]

Revis and Browner must hate what the guys up front give them..not much pass rush help.

That's complete BS. The Patriots pass rush did very well and will be even better next year.

So many people still hold onto the idea that the Patriots have no pass rush as if it's an undeniable fact. New England had a top five pass rush last season.

 

[varjao]

I love Ninko but I would like to see an upgrade over him, not necessarily joining the team but someone already on the roster. Maybe Collins or Hightower, let's see..