PushnPencils
Third String But Playing on Special Teams
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2007
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Re: Report: Pats interested in Umenyiora, price now down to 2nd rounder
Can we sticky this? It makes way too much sense.
So what's going through BB's mind as he assembles the 2011 D?
Lets review a few stats from the Patriots 2010 Defense:
Total Defense Rankings:
25th.....points against
19th.....yds/play
30th.....yds/game
23rd.....time of possesion
21st.....TDs
32nd.....1st downs against
32nd.....3rd down %
Defense of the Pass
23rd.....completion %
25th.....TDs
26th.....plays over 20 yds
31st.....passing attempts
27th.....yds/pass
25th.....passing yds/game
1st.....INTs
14th...Sacks
Rushing defense
Top 10 in most categories....
Biggest strength...eliminating big plays
Interesting Stats compared to Jets
Patriots gave up 57 MORE 1st downs through the air than the Jets
Worst 3rd down D by far. Pats failed on 3rd down 47% of the time...Jets 37%
Patriots gave up 5 more 1st downs/game than Jets
Analysis: the 2010 Pass defense was brutal.....nothing new there. I suspect early season deficiencies skewed the total rankings and the secondary became ballhawks the back half of the year. Also, opponents played from behind more often than not due to the high scoring Patriots offense. The eyeball test showed both secondary lapses/inadequacies in the early season and anemic pass pressure behind the LOS throughout the year. With the exception of McCourty's INT proficiency and Mayo's tackling rate, the defense lacked disrupting forces.
What could alter the Patriots standing in the pass defense categories and win column?
I'll argue all day long that if the Pats can improve their QB pass pressure, the offense will benefit and their brutal 3rd down deficiencies will be minimized. JUST ONE extra 3 and out instead of a bend but hopefully not break defensive stand as the opponent marches would be statistically huge. Forcing JUST ONE extra punt would alter the time of possesion imbalance. Forcing JUST ONE errant pass or JUST ONE QB fumble would provide a higher % scoring oportunity for the offense. Finally, JUST ONE extra disruptive play could change the fortunes of a close game.....ahem...cough cough....Jets playoffs.
One last point, Big money has been thrown at the offense .....Brady/Light/Mankins/Koppen/Ocho and to a lesser extent Welker and Branch.
On the defense...Vince, Fat Al, Bodden. I realize Mayo will be comming up
soon, but in $$$ terms, there is very little balance.
I'll take Osi in a second because just one extra disruptive play a game can have a huge domino affect over the course of that game. And with Vince and Fat Al in the middle, I expect much more disruption than JUST ONE
Can we sticky this? It makes way too much sense.












