Patriots non-offensive TDs

[ctpatsfan77]

An interesting factoid from NFL.com:

Through four games, the Patriots have 5 non-offensive TDs—and so far, in two of four games, they've scored TDs in all three phases (O, D, and ST).

Through all of 2008 and 2009 combined, the Patriots had a grand total of 4 non-offensive TDs.

I'm not saying the Pats are going to finish the season with 20 non-offensive TDs, but it's nice seeing that the D and ST have the speed to make opposing teams pay for miscues.

 

[jmt57]

Without a doubt it was noticeably absent the last two years, not just in comparison to previous Belichick teams; but to beyond that to previous Pats teams as well.

 

[DarrylS]

This is a really good sign... and something that we seem to have been missing the past couple of years.. not only that it is very exciting.

 

[PatsFan24]

An interesting factoid from NFL.com:

Through four games, the Patriots have 5 non-offensive TDs—and so far, in two of four games, they've scored TDs in all three phases (O, D, and ST).

Through all of 2008 and 2009 combined, the Patriots had a grand total of 4 non-offensive TDs.

I'm not saying the Pats are going to finish the season with 20 non-offensive TDs, but it's nice seeing that the D and ST have the speed to make opposing teams pay for miscues.

they scored at least one TD on offense, defense, and special teams in two games already. Cincy and Miami.

 

[stinkypete]

To add to that, the return of the defensive turnover has been huge. I remember the 1st half of the 2008 and 2009 seasons the D never came up with a big pick.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

An interesting factoid from NFL.com:

Through four games, the Patriots have 5 non-offensive TDs—and so far, in two of four games, they've scored TDs in all three phases (O, D, and ST).

Through all of 2008 and 2009 combined, the Patriots had a grand total of 4 non-offensive TDs.

I'm not saying the Pats are going to finish the season with 20 non-offensive TDs, but it's nice seeing that the D and ST have the speed to make opposing teams pay for miscues.

Link please ...

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Remember back in the day, when the Pats never topped a stat category... except giveaways/takeaways?

I think I remember them being in the top 3 or 4 teams at some point in the SB years (or maybe throughout.)

 

[Goal_Line_Stand]

That was a big part of our SB runs.

I just hope the defense gets better on 3rd down.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Box -- your links.....

2009

NE had 3 defensive TDs, no ST. (all of them pick 6s). NE also did not give up a single non-offensive TD.

2009 New England Patriots Statistics & Players | Pro-Football-Reference.com

2008

NE had 1 ST TD (a kick return) and no def TDs. NE gave up 2 kick returns, but no defensive TDs.

2008 New England Patriots Statistics & Players | Pro-Football-Reference.com

2010 NE has 3 ST TDs and 2 def TDs.
NE has also given up one ST TD.

2010 New England Patriots Statistics & Players | Pro-Football-Reference.com

So this year on def/ST we are net +4. Last year it was net +3, 2008 net -1.

 

[RayClay]

Sure helps to be athletic, though that's no guarantee alone. More important is becoming as consistent as those SB teams, and that will take a while.

Turnovers should be a big part of this teamfor a while, though.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

I started a THREAD on this exact topic about a week ago.

I think that because this defense gives up gobs of yards at a time and on 3 and long, the "fan" tendency is to say;

"This Defense Sucks"​

That is CLEARLY not the case. I think you see a young defense that is transitioning to the classic "bend, don't break" style of our earlier SB era defenses. Sure, because they are young, we've had more then our share of blown assignments that caused TD's or long plays, but you can clearly see that there are some serious playmakers developing on defense.

The soft zone is frustrating to watch, but also has a great capacity for INT's as the field get shorter and passes have to be more accurate from the QB. So far, this year we have been in pretty good positions to capitalize on poorly thrown balls and QB miscues. We need to continue to progress though, cuz once elite and accurate QB's come to town, they'll kill us.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Thanks TGIAGHie, I was looking for the NFL.com factoid link 77 cited since it stated where NE was in relation to the NFL in that regard.

Box -- your links.....

2009

NE had 3 defensive TDs, no ST. (all of them pick 6s). NE also did not give up a single non-offensive TD.

2009 New England Patriots Statistics & Players | Pro-Football-Reference.com

2008

NE had 1 ST TD (a kick return) and no def TDs. NE gave up 2 kick returns, but no defensive TDs.

2008 New England Patriots Statistics & Players | Pro-Football-Reference.com

2010 NE has 3 ST TDs and 2 def TDs.
NE has also given up one ST TD.

2010 New England Patriots Statistics & Players | Pro-Football-Reference.com

So this year on def/ST we are net +4. Last year it was net +3, 2008 net -1.

 

[NewFeep]

Tate has been electric on KO returns.....

I would like to se a few punt returns for TD's also

Good thread! Interesting read........

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Thanks TGIAGHie, I was looking for the NFL.com factoid link 77 cited since it stated where NE was in relation to the NFL in that regard.

I got it from NFL Stats: Team , not from a story posted there.

In any case, I didn't actually mention NE relative to the NFL, but through week 5 they and the Cardinals are tied with 5 non-offensive TDs; most years, the best team has ~8.

 

[Patspsycho]

We also have 7 interceptions through the first 4 games, tied for first. Isn't that also unusual?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I got it from NFL Stats: Team , not from a story posted there.

In any case, I didn't actually mention NE relative to the NFL, but through week 5 they and the Cardinals are tied with 5 non-offensive TDs; most years, the best team has ~8.

Thanks, I had assumed "factoid" from NFL.com to mean it was something from one of their analysts vice your own analysis using their stats - my bad.

 

[Nikolai]

We also have 7 interceptions through the first 4 games, tied for first. Isn't that also unusual?

And all of them from passes NOT thrown by Mark Sanchez.