The collapse of the pass defense

[patsinthesnow]

Some regression was expected but I don’t know how some of these metrics are possible with Gilmore, Jackson & Jones at CB.

236.1 ypg (16th)
passer rating 98.6 (25th)
yards per attempt 8.7 (32nd)
16 TDs (T-13)
11 INTs (T-4)
13 sacks (T-28th)

2019

180.4 ypg (2nd)
passer rating 62.8 (1st)
yards per attempt 6.0 (2nd)
13 TDs (1st)
25 INTs (1st)
47 sacks (T-7)

8.7 yards per attempt against is the worst in a long time. Is it that simple as LBs leaving?

 

[Doctor DDS]

I think the front 7 is really hurting the pass defense. Lack of consistent pressure and virtually no sacks is forcing the secondary to cover way too long and it is rare when we see the opposing QB throw under duress. Throw in the fact that this team has faced a much more difficult set of teams and QB's than last year and you see the results.

 

[farn]

The D, which showed well early in 2019, slid back a bit in the second half of last season. This season, it’s been up n down.

Yes, a less-than-stellar O does have an effect (“all three phases” BB always talks about), but I share your disappointment. I was expecting a regression in many areas - including D once the LBs left - but there are quite a few times this season that a big play in the defensive backfield could have turned the tide. And while some plays have been made, for this squad to be successful, they needed the safeties & corners to be awesome. Instead, a mixed bag. 4-6. Voilà.

 

[Triumph]

The 2019 numbers are skewed due the Boogeymen facing 4 post season teams the entire season - Buffalo, KC, Baltimore and Filthadelphia.

In 2020 the Pats faced 4 post season bound teams the first 4 games - Miami 6 - 4. Seattle 7 - 3, Las Vegas 6 - 4 and KC 9 - 1.

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[Nikolai]

I'd be interested to see a comparison of the time a QB has had to throw, release time, and yards against on those plays. I suspect the theory that the lack of pass rush is causing the problem is probably accurate. Even the best corners can't cover forever.

 

[italian pat patriot]

Grande Ted Johnson...i was his huge fan

 

[203Pat]

I think the two big factors are the lack of pressure on the QB and the regression of Jason McCourty. Last year We didn't have great pass rushers but we had enough guys in the front seven to scheme up pressure and get to the QB. This year we don't have our starting three LB's from last year and we are starting a guy who at best, should be a role player/run stuffer. Last year we saw the secondary as a whole regress when Jason McCourty got hurt. He played well until the injury and hasn't looked good since. He may be playing out his final days as a Patriot and possibly in the league and I don’t think he got enough credit for how well he played for about a year and a half.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Both mccourtys getting older, no chung and Hightower. Thats our 3 biggest leaders in ‘dynasty 2.0” and im thinking that has alot to do with the defense plummeting. And yes, lack of a pass rush. Recipe for disaster even if the personnel is still pretty talented on the backend.

 

[Joey007]

It doesn’t matter who you have back there.

If you have no pass rush, it’ll catch up to you in today’s game. Watson is too good to not be able to throw guys open if he’s not getting pressured.

 

[sb1]

Bill turned one of the worst defenses I have ever seen (2002) into one of the very best in one offseason. Hopefully the draft and cap space can be put to good use to make it happen again in 2021.

 

[PatsBoy12]

The defense overall was better last season. It's a unit at the end of the day.

 

[Boomer B]

We overrated them last year because of who they faced the first half of the season.

This year our front 7 is a mess. We get no consistent pass rush which leaves the secondary exposed.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

We overrated them last year because of who they faced the first half of the season.

This year our front 7 is a mess. We get no consistent pass rush which leaves the secondary exposed.

Last year was still far superior to this year. At least they shut down the bad teams and held some good ones in check (chiefs, Steelers with Ben). This year they are getting lit up by horrible teams. With any semblance of last years d we could be 6-4 and have somewhat of a shot.

 

[UrbanCowboy]

It seemed like the plan was to keep watson in the pocket rather than attack, and he obliged by doing a few shakes and then throwing lasers -- seemed like he had forever.

 

[sb1]

We overrated them last year because of who they faced the first half of the season.

This year our front 7 is a mess. We get no consistent pass rush which leaves the secondary exposed.

They were overrated by anyone calling them a historic defense, and they weren't very good in the Dolphins game but they were still a really good defense. Made up for it in the Titans game in the second half. Allowing only 14 points to an offense that scored a lot of points on the Ravens and KC in the playoffs.... shutting their offense out and forcing them to punt 5 times in the second half and picking them once should have been sufficient for a W.

If that was this year's quality of defense that playoff game would probably look a lot more like the 49ers game this year.

 

[sb1]

Last year was still far superior to this year. At least they shut down the bad teams and held some good ones in check (chiefs, Steelers with Ben). This year they are getting lit up by horrible teams. With any semblance of last years d we could be 6-4 and have somewhat of a shot.

Titans too. They did really well in the second half and it should have been enough for a win.

 

[203Pat]

It seemed like the plan was to keep watson in the pocket rather than attack, and he obliged by doing a few shakes and then throwing lasers -- seemed like he had forever.

We blitzed him quite a bit last year and he burned us as well. He is Lamar Jackson except he can throw the ball.

 

[1960Pats]

It's hard to get pressure when you're only rushing 3 players. You could have 8 Gilmores out there and it wouldn't matter.

 

[sean10mm]

Last year was still far superior to this year. At least they shut down the bad teams and held some good ones in check (chiefs, Steelers with Ben). This year they are getting lit up by horrible teams. With any semblance of last years d we could be 6-4 and have somewhat of a shot.

Pretty much, yeah. Competing this year was contingent on the D being somewhat in the ballpark of 2018-2019. Instead we have a front 7 that looks downright soft, leaving the back end hung out to dry.

Maybe not the best phrasing there but you get the idea.