Prediction: The Pats' Pass Defense is About to Go From Terrible to Very Good

[mayoclinic]

True dat, but would love to see the passing yards against us at 200 once in a while... and maybe total points against under 20? I mean, before we decide we're now an elite defense

Maybe. But it's just so damn easy to put up yards and points in today's NFL. The Jaguards put up almost 400 yards and 37 points against the Texans' defense today. A guy like Andrew Luck is just going to keep slinging the ball, even when the game is well out of reach. It wasn't close and it was ugly at times, but if you look at yardage and points it doesn't tell the story.

The Colts scored 14 points on their first 2 drives to take a 14-7 lead. In their next 7 drives they produced 1 field goal, 1 missed long field goal at the half, 2 punts, 1 fumble, and 2 pick six's. During those 7 drives the Pats outscored the Colts 38-3 to take a 45-17 lead early in the 4th quarter, at which point the game was over. That's domination in all 3 phases of the game when it counted most.

 

[coolguy]

The real test for the defense will be against sanchez, who has shredded the secondary in the last few meetings.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

The real test for the defense will be against sanchez, who has shredded the secondary in the last few meetings.

Your Jets are gonna get smoked even with Gronk out

 

[coolguy]

Your Jets are gonna get smoked even with Gronk out

i DISLIKE THE JETS

it angers me deeply when i see sanchez carve up the secondary.

 

[Marqui]

McCourty starting to get national recognition for his development at safety:

Many people are down on Devin McCourty, but I am not one of them. He played great as a rookie and really struggled in his second season. But in his third year, he is excelling. Yes, he has allowed some big plays -- as has everyone in this secondary -- but I think he is developing into a premier free safety with cornerback versatility. His play at safety should only improve as he better learns the position. In fact, I bet that in time, New England uses him much like Green Bay has used Charles Woodson, making his role very difficult for the offense to define.

NFL - The New England Patriots are currently the AFC's best team - ESPN

 

[mayoclinic]

McCourty to stay at FS for the rest of the season:

McCourty to stay at safety for rest of season - Extra Points - Boston.com

As predicted in the OP. And hopefully for the long term. I think he will be a Pro Bowl caliber FS once he gets used to the position.

 

[Deus Irae]

McCourty to stay at FS for the rest of the season:

McCourty to stay at safety for rest of season - Extra Points - Boston.com

As predicted in the OP. And hopefully for the long term. I think he will be a Pro Bowl caliber FS once he gets used to the position.

I think you get a much quicker jump on the college kids than I do. Who do you consider the top SS type safeties coming out this year?

 

[mgteich]

I didn't like the move of McCourty to safety, given our weakness at corner. Obviously, McCourty has worked out as a safety.

Now with our acquisition of Talib and the ascendance of Dennard, the move looks great.

Curiously, the offseason on defense will need to focus on cornerback since only Dennard and Dowling are signed for 2013. Extending Talib and Cole would certainly help.

Yes, we will add a safety, but this isn't critical since we will already have McCourty, Wilson, Gregory and Ebner.

McCourty to stay at FS for the rest of the season:

McCourty to stay at safety for rest of season - Extra Points - Boston.com

As predicted in the OP. And hopefully for the long term. I think he will be a Pro Bowl caliber FS once he gets used to the position.

 

[mayoclinic]

I think you get a much quicker jump on the college kids than I do. Who do you consider the top SS type safeties coming out this year?

Matt Elam of Florida is everything that Pat Chung isn't. Great instincts, flies all over the field, has a great nose for the ball, covers a lot of territory. A bit undersized, but plays bigger than his size and hits like a ton of bricks. But he'll go quite high - top 50 without a doubt, possibly 1st round. Shawn Williams of Georgia could be a good day 2 value.

 

[Kontradiction]

Matt Elam of Florida is everything that Pat Chung isn't. Great instincts, flies all over the field, has a great nose for the ball, covers a lot of territory. A bit undersized, but plays bigger than his size and hits like a ton of bricks. But he'll go quite high - top 50 without a doubt, possibly 1st round. Shawn Williams of Georgia could be a good day 2 value.

I think Matt Elam will be a top 15 pick. He's the best SS in the draft, IMO.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Game ball: mayoclinic.

 

[manxman2601]

Matt Elam of Florida is everything that Pat Chung isn't. Great instincts, flies all over the field, has a great nose for the ball, covers a lot of territory. A bit undersized, but plays bigger than his size and hits like a ton of bricks. But he'll go quite high - top 50 without a doubt, possibly 1st round. Shawn Williams of Georgia could be a good day 2 value.

I think Matt Elam will be a top 15 pick. He's the best SS in the draft, IMO.

DJ Swearinger has the draftnik twitterverse buzzing. Shawn Williams went way up in my estimation when he called out his Georgia teammates for lack of effort but then backed it up by playing a blinder the next game against Florida.

He's not a SS type, but I wonder whether BB sees any value in a falling David Amerson. 6'3" ballhawks are not very common and with our liking for turnovers, he could be ideal at safety with McCourty shifting back to CB.

 

[Big-T]

He's not a SS type, but I wonder whether BB sees any value in a falling David Amerson. 6'3" ballhawks are not very common and with our liking for turnovers, he could be ideal at safety with McCourty shifting back to CB.

Amerson looks like a perfect FS but his tackling can be a bit suspect at times.

 

[manxman2601]

Game ball: mayoclinic.

Hold your horses. I don't want to take anything away from Mayo who's a genius, but we're one week removed from that Buffalo performance. Last night was better, but I'm sure Mayo would be the first to acknowledge that one week does not a great defense make.

However, if we're acknowledging Mayo's prescience on the Patriots moves, then absolutely pass the game ball on to him.

 

[mayoclinic]

Game ball: mayoclinic.

Hold your horses. I don't want to take anything away from Mayo who's a genius, but we're one week removed from that Buffalo performance. Last night was better, but I'm sure Mayo would be the first to acknowledge that one week does not a great defense make.

However, if we're acknowledging Mayo's prescience on the Patriots moves, then absolutely pass the game ball on to him.

Thanks for the compliments, but absolutely, the secondary is a work in progress, and it's going to take time to get from how bad we were to where we need to be. My goal in the OP was significant improvement by the playoffs, and there were signs against Indy to suggest that that goal is reachable. I still expect plenty of bumps on the way and probably some steps backward, and it's possible we won't get there. I certainly don't have a crystal ball, and I was being pretty aggressive in the OP. No game balls yet, much as it's appreciated.

 

[mayoclinic]

Amerson looks like a perfect FS but his tackling can be a bit suspect at times.

Personally I wonder whether it makes sense in today's NFL to have 2 guys with "FS" kind of skills as opposed to more of a traditional FS/SS mix. You need to be able to tackle and to support the run, but ball skills and coverage ability seem to be more of a priority than traditional SS skills. I love Elam's instincts, but the idea of an Amerson/McCourty pairing is also very appealing.

But then again, I'm personally not wild about spending a top draft pick on the secondary once again.

 

[ausbacker]

Personally I wonder whether it makes sense in today's NFL to have 2 guys with "FS" kind of skills as opposed to more of a traditional FS/SS mix. You need to be able to tackle and to support the run, but ball skills and coverage ability seem to be more of a priority than traditional SS skills. I love Elam's instincts, but the idea of an Amerson/McCourty pairing is also very appealing.

But then again, I'm personally not wild about spending a top draft pick on the secondary once again.

I'd prefer that BB spent the Patriots top pick on an high motor and explosive defensive lineman (doesn't concern me if it's an end or tackle). If there's the opportunity to get an outside linebacker who can rush the passer, provide good run support and drop into coverage, then I'd be all for that to. Our current crop of LB's are far better in run support than pass coverage.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'd prefer that BB spent the Patriots top pick on an high motor and explosive defensive lineman (doesn't concern me if it's an end or tackle). If there's the opportunity to get an outside linebacker who can rush the passer, provide good run support and drop into coverage, then I'd be all for that to. Our current crop of LB's are far better in run support than pass coverage.

Yup. I personally rate the DL and a coverage LB ahead of the secondary rate now, pending evaluation. And my personal preference is to address the secondary with veterans rather than more youth. But I'm not worrying about it too much until the end of the season, pending evaluation of how this group comes together and who stays/goes.

 

[ausbacker]

Yup. I personally rate the DL and a coverage LB ahead of the secondary rate now, pending evaluation. And my personal preference is to address the secondary with veterans rather than more youth. But I'm not worrying about it too much until the end of the season, pending evaluation of how this group comes together and who stays/goes.

I wholeheartedly agree with this point of view mayo. The Patriots have gone young enough in many key areas. It's time to balance out some of the youthful exuberance with veteran savvy.

 

[Cassanova792]

Yup. I personally rate the DL and a coverage LB ahead of the secondary rate now, pending evaluation. And my personal preference is to address the secondary with veterans rather than more youth. But I'm not worrying about it too much until the end of the season, pending evaluation of how this group comes together and who stays/goes.

Since it seems BB has a hard time picking DB's, i agree, free agency is our best option.