Rewatch Thread: NE @ Chicago (Week 7)

[luuked]

The usual rules apply. Please keep your bickering and hot takes in the Post Game Thread. In turn if you have any X & O questions just ask away.

***

Starting with the snap counts as they become available. Plays or GIFs will come later in the day:





The thing to notice here is how the core defense players had snap counts over 80. Goes to show that the other two units are making it impossible right now to play complimentary football.

Allen having a big day in usage as running the ball was most probably the plan from the very start. He had some nice blocks, especially late on the final drive by the offense.

 

[luuked]

It will be some time until I get to post some of the scenes I am interested in. But saw Reiss posting this and it fits:



A good return starts with people nailing their blocking assignments and the first picture here is simply beautiful. Everyone almost perfectly in place.

Dwayne Allen and Nate Ebner with the key blocks.

 

[long distance]

hope you dont mind reposting this here . i thought it could provide some context for further particular takes . possibly to encourage some positive D discussion here to balance out all the defence is crap “discussions“ out there..
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1. 7-0: NE O TD . NE D out at CHI 35 (allows 1 1st down) . NE ST leaves punt at 25
2. 7-3: NE O (3&out) . NE ST allow 17 yd return to CHI 37 . NE D holds to FG
3. 7-10: NE ST fumbles at NE 24 . NE D returns to the field at NE 24 without a break and allows TD
4. 7-17: NE O fumbles on 3rd play . D re-enters w/o break at NE 34 and allows TD
5. 14-17: NE ST score TD on returned kick
6. 14-17: NE D re-enters the field w/o a breather and forces 3&out at CHI 24
7. 21-17: NE ST 3 yd return to NE 34 . NE O TD . NE D forces punt (allows 18 yds)
8. 21-17: NE ST muffs punt to NE 4 . NE O punts (1 1st down)
END OF HALF
9. 21-24: NE ST allows 31 yd return + 15 yd penalty . NE D allows TD starting at CHI 42
10. 24-24: NE O scores FG
11. 31-24: NE ST scores TD (KVN) on blocked punt (High) . NE D re-enters w/o a breather makes INT at NE 21 . NE O punts after 5 plays
12. 38-24: NE D returns after short breather and makes another INT . NE O scores TD
13. 38-24: NE D stop 3&out for -10 yds at CHI 6 . ST fair catch at CHI 43
14. 38-31: NE O throws INT on 3rd play at CHI 37 . NE D re-enters w/o breather and allows TD

So NE D allowed 4 TDs and FG on short to very short fields (NE 24, NE 34, CHI 42, CHI 43, CHI 37) while hardly leaving the field.

NE D created 2 INTs, 2 3&outs and forced 2 more punts deep in CHI territory. Every time NE D started at normal field position (CHI 25 or less) it came out w a clean sheet.

To me this looks like Pats D was the most consistent unit of the complementary football making up for ST and O blunders as well as they could under circumstances.
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Lets add that Pats D spent 82 plays on the field (as seen in OP) + most of D starters spent additional 10-15 plays (uncharacteristically also guys like Hightower and KVN who produced the blocked punt and a TD). In addition many of the D plays were long developing plays that took additional toll. Despite all that I never saw the D being gassed (maybe a player or two on a couple occasions) not even at time where they hardly left the field for first 5 straight D drives (spending on the field almost 15 straight playing minutes)..

 

[luuked]

Nice to see that Rivers quietly played a real number of snaps with 24. And while there were over 80 total snaps he still played more than Wise. Progress.

 

[long distance]

@ST

Despite 2 TDs two significant issues of ST units remain.

1. coverage units are making some progress but are still allowing far too many “hidden yards“ including penalties . leaving D with bigger job

2. 8 defensive starters + Hogan (and Edelman) are seeing significant ST snaps . which never happened at least in the last years. losing Richards, Bolden, M.Flowers, Bademosi + Simon, Grissom being injured/inactive is taking a big toll - also in increasing inj. risk to starters and affecting their freshness.

Losing to injury Burkhead, Bentley, Dawson, Hill, Matthews, Cyrus (possibly Sam, Berrios, Izzo, C.Hollister) who were supposed to replace them was double unfortunate.

They are finally starting to use Roberts more so hopefully this can work (increases danger of penalties though), JC Jackson and Crossen being active for Rowe increases ST value as well and if Dawson can return there is another possibility depending how quickly he could gel. Simon should return soon and if Grissom is out maybe they should start involving Rivers who did feature with 1st ST unit last TC.

Id prefer less starters there in any case and less aggressive play calling on kicking plays but BB wants every yard that is out there so fingers crossed..

 

[QuantumMechanic]

What 3 snaps was Gordon in on defense? The final hail mary, sure, but what were the other two?

 

[slam]

The play before the Hail Mary and the first half Hail Mary (actually a short pass in a Hail Mary situation)?

 

[WaterfallJumper]

What 3 snaps was Gordon in on defense? The final hail mary, sure, but what were the other two?

They threw quick-hitters to the sidelines twice in a row when the defense expected them to throw deep. Gordon was in the end zone for each of those snaps, just in case.

 

[luuked]

They threw quick-hitters to the sidelines twice in a row when the defense expected them to throw deep. Gordon was in the end zone for each of those snaps, just in case.

Also the final play in the first half if I remember correctly.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Also the final play in the first half if I remember correctly.

Ah, maybe my memory is off in this case.

 

[long distance]

One of the biggest worries was stopping explosive and versatile CHI running game esp. outside runs by Cohen. On the first drive Pats D made two dominant stops - on the left side - 2nd&8 - with KVN setting the edge and D-Mac tackle (2yd gain for 3rd and 6) after stopping Howard's inside run on 1st down.

On the second drive KVN sets the edge on the right side and eventually forces Cohen out of bounds for 3yd loss:


This is what ended up being CHI RB rushing game.

Jordan Howard 12 39 3.3 1 6
Tarik Cohen 6 14 2.3 0 5

The longest run by CHI RB was 6 yds and below 3 ypc.

While it was not a pretty sight watching Trubisky run around with football . tactically that was the best bet to win the game: id take trading RB rushing (and QB passing) for QB rushing any time.

Mitchell Trubisky 6 81 13.5 1 39

Pocket control was up and down (they did much better job vs Watson in game 1 but they didn't have Cohen to worry about..) but if you take away that big run that was an outside reverse scramble not too bad. Pats front 7 will always be on the slow side hence vulnerable at this situations but it is not ideal for opponent QB game as well (Trubisky was hit as a runner a couple of times) making it harder for them to get into the rhythm of passing game..

 

[long distance]

Nice play by Wise here of solid contain, good awareness and nice move shedding the block at just the right time plus finishing the play. Tends to be overaggressive . despite injuries to knee and hand seems to be grooming on nicely.

KVN is sadly underrated on this board . so versatile, dependable ..


And look at JC Jackson covering Gabriel (coming underneath). Feels all along he might have some udfa fellow M.Butler in him..

 

[maineman209]

Nice to see that Rivers quietly played a real number of snaps with 24. And while there were over 80 total snaps he still played more than Wise. Progress.

Wise was nursing ankle and knee issues during practice this past week, and he worked out for the trainers and med staff during warmups. I'm guessing that he was a game-time decision and then put on a limited snap count. And yet, in only 10 snaps, Wise had 2 solo tackles and a sack.

 

[maineman209]

@ST

Despite 2 TDs two significant issues of ST units remain.

1. coverage units are making some progress but are still allowing far too many “hidden yards“ including penalties . leaving D with bigger job

2. 8 defensive starters + Hogan (and Edelman) are seeing significant ST snaps . which never happened at least in the last years. losing Richards, Bolden, M.Flowers, Bademosi + Simon, Grissom being injured/inactive is taking a big toll - also in increasing inj. risk to starters and affecting their freshness.

Losing to injury Burkhead, Bentley, Dawson, Hill, Matthews, Cyrus (possibly Sam, Berrios, Izzo, C.Hollister) who were supposed to replace them was double unfortunate.

They are finally starting to use Roberts more so hopefully this can work (increases danger of penalties though), JC Jackson and Crossen being active for Rowe increases ST value as well and if Dawson can return there is another possibility depending how quickly he could gel. Simon should return soon and if Grissom is out maybe they should start involving Rivers who did feature with 1st ST unit last TC.

Id prefer less starters there in any case and less aggressive play calling on kicking plays but BB wants every yard that is out there so fingers crossed..

I think that ST experience and ability is a major factor in any Pats' acquisition to compensate for Michel's (temporary) loss either via FA signing or trade.

 

[maineman209]

One of the biggest worries was stopping explosive and versatile CHI running game esp. outside runs by Cohen. On the first drive Pats D made two dominant stops - on the left side - 2nd&8 - with KVN setting the edge and D-Mac tackle (2yd gain for 3rd and 6) after stopping Howard's inside run on 1st down.

On the second drive KVN sets the edge on the right side and eventually forces Cohen out of bounds for 3yd loss:


This is what ended up being CHI RB rushing game.

Jordan Howard 12 39 3.3 1 6
Tarik Cohen 6 14 2.3 0 5

The longest run by CHI RB was 6 yds and below 3 ypc.

While it was not a pretty sight watching Trubisky run around with football . tactically that was the best bet to win the game: id take trading RB rushing (and QB passing) for QB rushing any time.

Mitchell Trubisky 6 81 13.5 1 39

Pocket control was up and down (they did much better job vs Watson in game 1 but they didn't have Cohen to worry about..) but if you take away that big run that was an outside reverse scramble not too bad. Pats front 7 will always be on the slow side hence vulnerable at this situations but it is not ideal for opponent QB game as well (Trubisky was hit as a runner a couple of times) making it harder for them to get into the rhythm of passing game..

On Trubisky's long run, Pats defenders were there, but a couple missed tackles early on, and some creative running by Trubisky to stall for time, allowed for a phalanx of Bear's blockers to get there to help him out. I don't think it was a designed play, but it worked out that way because Bears' players were alert.

 

[maineman209]

Nice play by Wise here of solid contain, good awareness and nice move shedding the block at just the right time plus finishing the play. Tends to be overaggressive . despite injuries to knee and hand seems to be grooming on nicely.

KVN is sadly underrated on this board . so versatile, dependable ..


And look at JC Jackson covering Gabriel (coming underneath). Feels all along he might have some udfa fellow M.Butler in him..

KVN took a bad angle on Trubisky there. A better angle might've prevented the throw and forced Trubisky to carry it OB.

 

[luuked]

Here is the only bad play of the first defensive series (6 plays in total):



Someone correct me but it looks like Adam Butler wanted to get through the B gap and Flowers was supposed to come around to the center. Butler got pushed into a stack of players which screwed Flowers timing to plug the hole in the middle.

 

[luuked]

Here one of my favorite little plays in the game by the defense:


Whatever the opposite of "communication issues" is that was it. KVN stays with Burton for a bit, gives him a little chip knowing that Chung and others will flow to the Bears TE and goes to pressure Trubisky. He bought enough time for the underneath coverage to be there.

How often have you seen this play out with a defender immediately going after the QB, the QB lobbing a pass over him and the outlet player gaining good yardage ?

It is the little things.

 

[luuked]

Here comes the whiff by Clayborn that led to Trubisky's TD.


I think it is pretty self explanatory what happened here. Clayborn smells a sack and goes for it and makes it easy for the Chicago QB to break contain and essentially just walk in.

The frustrating thing is that it is not like Clayborn was about to make a big play because the Bears would have been still comfortably within FG range.

 

[luuked]

Here the fourth down conversion after Michel got injured / fumbled:


This is just a blown coverage against a receiver bunch:

Looks to me like one of the two players needed to follow Burton who just ran straight through. Both of them followed Miller on the crosser. Burton just sits down in space behind them and in front of Chung and it is an easy conversion.

I am pretty sure our friend Elandon Roberts is the guy in the red shoes that should have dropped. But that's just speculation.