Content Post The Patriots defense to this point

[PATSYLICIOUS]

We need Chaisson back. He's a key guy in this front 7. It's a knee injury but haven't seen any details.

It's hard to believe how ineffective White has been, I remember him as a rookie showing flashes, but since then nothing. Doesn't seem to have a pass rushing moves.

It stinks just imagine this defense if you add the white from early last year

 

[Real fan 02]

We have a 5 game sample , how are we doing?

Let's start with the run D first and unlike the back end situation it has been fairly consistent with the core players. So the run D is the easiest thing to talk about with some certainty.

Pats in run D is 5th in YPG surrendered with 85.6 and 4th in YPA surrendered with 3.51. These numbers support the eye test. They've face dangerous running QBs like Allen and to a lesser degree Smith.. But also good RB play from Cook, Achane, Jeanty (who has been solid) and the pretty deep Carolina back field... no it isn't like they haven't played anyone good here. Considering that, we should be able to expect this front to hold up well as long as they are healthy no matter who they play more or less. And for what it is worth they have only surrendered 2 rushing TDs... so in those short redzone situations, they are hard to convert on on the ground.

Tonga has been fantastic in his role. Barmore and Williams certainly are not liabilities in run defense. Landry has been stout vs the run too. Spillane has had some hiccups but has been solid. And everyone else has pitched in well too. At this point is is hard to look at this run D and not be very happy.


As for the pass D, it is harder to really say. The 3 games without Gonzo were... less than impressive. Now 2 games with him and everyone is in their rightful slot. One against the hapless Panthers... once against the dangerous Bills offense.

I guess all you can do is look at both parts and see the difference... First 3 games they surrendered 333, 297 and 139 yards for 256 average (these numbers subtract sacks btw). They also gave up passer rating grades of 102.8, 115.5 and 96.1... all vs QBs who really aren't that good.

Next they surrender with Gonzo in there 197 and 245 with passer ratings of 84 vs Young (Dalton is garbage time as were those 58 yards he got... but whatever) and 103.3 to one of the best QBs in the NFL. So averages out to 221 yards and around a 93 or so QB rating...

So a nice step up... not a big enough sample to know anything... but clearly some big time improvement.


These are more broad strokes and we can talk about individual players more... but what do you think about this D right now? How good is it?

Teams that stop the run and have good QB typically are playing in the postseason season.. I think us as patiots fans know this very well!!

The front 7 IMO opinion as a fan and Sunday observation observationist has fared pretty well all things considered. You pretty much have a special teams player and a rookie in Woodson as your starting safeties. No gonzo to begin the season. Now we are starting to see what the secondary course be with thier full compliment of guys. Told Josh Allen under 300 yards passing isn't a fluke.

The pressure has been fine. Barmore and Williams are the highest rated Defensive lineman that create pressure. Now farmer is pitching in. As you said Tonga has been great. As the games go on the unit will gel even more.

All things considered I feel the defense has been playing good enough to win, and were a large part in Sunday's win.

 

[ralmat55]

Genno Smith, the Raiders QB who’s play is horrendous and has a league-leading nine INTs, looked like an all pro against us.

I guess that’s the Patriots defense without Gonzo.

Game ones of a NFL schedule are highly unpredictable and an unreliable predictor of future results. The Pats D played a bad game against the Raiders allowing more explosive plays than in the last 4 games combined from my memory. The D play caller has also changed.

I severely dislike a defense that uses too many gimmicks like outside corner blitzes or dropping DTs into coverage. I’d like to see less of those used however.

 

[Real fan 02]

Game ones of a NFL schedule are highly unpredictable and an unreliable predictor of future results. The Pats D played a bad game against the Raiders allowing more explosive plays than in the last 4 games combined from my memory. The D play caller has also changed.

I severely dislike a defense that uses too many gimmicks like outside corner blitzes or dropping DTs into coverage. I’d like to see less of those used however.

I still believe this is a game plan defense. Corner Blitz, ect those are done to keep the QB guessing. Agreed on dropping DTs into coverage.

 

[jimnance]

I'll put our best 5 defenders up against anyone else's best 5 (especially having done zero research to validate my opinion lol)

Gonzo, Williams, Barmore, Davis, and Marcus Jones are as good as a core defense than anyone else has.

Landry is a very nice veteran piece, Woodson is very nice rookie, and Tonga is a very nice role player.

Thats 8 players that I really like. I hope I didn't forget someone.

I don't really love our linebackers but they are playing well vs the run not so much vs the pass. Kind of the norm for linebackers in the pass happy league.

Chaisson has been mostly very good

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I still believe this is a game plan defense. Corner Blitz, ect those are done to keep the QB guessing. Agreed on dropping DTs into coverage.

It probably will need to be this year until theres more help at lb/edge. I think we need one more legit force up front to be able to generate consistent pressure without the gimmicks. Vrabel has his work cut out for him currently. The hope is one more offseason we complete the defense

 

[TommyD4207]

I still believe this is a game plan defense. Corner Blitz, ect those are done to keep the QB guessing. Agreed on dropping DTs into coverage.

It is, and it's not like they blitz a lot. I mean, at least they didn't against Buffalo. They did a handful of times, but it's tough to do against Josh Allen.

Expect more blitzing this week, with man coverage on the back end.

 

[Real fan 02]

Chaisson has been mostly very good

Agreed. Chaisson presence was missed on the edges that is why we had to send guys from the secondary to blitz at times.

 

[Real fan 02]

I'll put our best 5 defenders up against anyone else's best 5 (especially having done zero research to validate my opinion lol)

Gonzo, Williams, Barmore, Davis, and Marcus Jones are as good as a core defense than anyone else has.

Landry is a very nice veteran piece, Woodson is very nice rookie, and Tonga is a very nice role player.

Thats 8 players that I really like. I hope I didn't forget someone.

I don't really love our linebackers but they are playing well vs the run not so much vs the pass. Kind of the norm for linebackers in the pass happy league.

Let's look at our division. Compare our top guys to Buffalos top defenders, NYJ, the fins. See below.


Buffalo- Milano, Oliver, Rousseau

Jets- sauce, quinnen Williams,

Miami- ???? Minkah?

Patiots- Gonzo, Williams, Barmore, Chaisson, Landry, Spillane, Marcus, Davis, Woodson, Tonga, farmer, white*

 

[signbabybrady]

I severely dislike a defense that uses too many gimmicks like outside corner blitzes or dropping DTs into coverage. I’d like to see less of those used however.

I agree with this except the slot corner Blitz. I find that to be more in line with a LB blitz just teams run in nickel so much that it makes sense to blitz that nickel every now and again.

 

[Real fan 02]

It is, and it's not like they blitz a lot. I mean, at least they didn't against Buffalo. They did a handful of times, but it's tough to do against Josh Allen.

Expect more blitzing this week, with man coverage on the back end.

Exactly correct. It's hard to really be upset with the defense because they did make it hard on Allen. We can live with the TEs making plays. We shut cook down and IMO I think we may have shown teams a formula against buffalo to slow Allen.

Same here.. they are a game plan D that wants to be aggressive. This QB rattler don't know to much about him??

 

[TommyD4207]

I agree with this except the slot corner Blitz. I find that to be more in line with a LB blitz just teams run in nickel so much that it makes sense to blitz that nickel every now and again.

Both Jones and Davis got pressure on corner blitzes against the Bills. Allen never saw either.

 

[Patsfan1645]

I fully expect the Pats to blitz much more this week. Rattler is not Josh Allen, he isn't as big and strong, he isnt going to make you pay if you cant get there like Allen can by either run or finding the open guy.

As much as I dislike the Bills you watch the game and cant help but be impressed with how good Allen is now. How easily he makes defenders miss and finds someone across the field throwing a dart to kill you for 20 yards. And if that aint bad enough he will just run it himself to get the yardage if he needs to and seems to enjoy contact. He is the benchmark at QB in the NFL right now.

 

[Real fan 02]

I fully expect the Pats to blitz much more this week. Rattler is not Josh Allen, he isn't as big and strong, he isnt going to make you pay if you cant get there like Allen can by either run or finding the open guy.

As much as I dislike the Bills you watch the game and cant help but be impressed with how good Allen is now. How easily he makes defenders miss and finds someone across the field throwing a dart to kill you for 20 yards. And if that aint bad enough he will just run it himself to get the yardage if he needs to and seems to enjoy contact. He is the benchmark at QB in the NFL right now.

This is why our defense deserves the credit. Allen is phenomenal and fortunately for us we have a young phenomenal QB similar. He is the best QB we will face all season.

 

[TommyD4207]

This is why our defense deserves the credit. Allen is phenomenal and fortunately for us we have a young phenomenal QB similar. He is the best QB we will face all season.

Nah, he is. ^

 

[Patsfan1645]

This is why our defense deserves the credit. Allen is phenomenal and fortunately for us we have a young phenomenal QB similar. He is the best QB we will face all season.

 

[Real fan 02]

Nah, he is. ^

Good QB.. but he's not Josh Allen. Lock up TBs wrs and rush 4 you can get to Mayfield... not Allen.

 

[Real fan 02]

Tommy says Mayfield... I still say Josh Allen IMO he's the best QB in the league. Mayfield still makes those Cleveland browns days..mistakes at times.

 

[Real fan 02]

Nah, he is. ^

 

[TommyD4207]

Tommy says Mayfield... I still say Josh Allen IMO he's the best QB in the league. Mayfield still makes those Cleveland browns days..mistakes at times.

And Josh Allen still makes 2018 Josh Allen Mistakes.

Mayfield's the MVP of the league right now, and I think he will be by the time the season's over as well. He's that dude.