The Pats have the second ranked defense

[Uncle Rico]

Just think, if Gost makes that kick one of the story lines we'd hear all week in the media is how the Pats D went "from 32nd* to second."









*Yeah, I know. But they don't. Apparently.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Just think ..... with the Pats defense now taken care of, BB can focus his offseason efforts next year on getting the offense good ..... again

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Just think ..... with the Pats defense now taken care of, BB can focus his offseason efforts next year on getting the offense good ..... again

in this case, offseason is those times between monday and saturday.

We all know the offense will be a top 5 by season end.

 

[JJDChE]

I'm not arguing. I'm just saying that the only meaningful number is points against. By the end of the season last year the aggregate had the Pats last or something.

Points against determines the outcome, but yards aren't meaningless. They are an indicator, though the often don't tell the whole story. You can be pretty sure a defense than allows 250 yds/g is better than one that allows 400 yds/g.

If you needed to keep your opponent off the board on the last possession of the game, would you rather have a 250 yd/g defense or a 350 yd/g defense, even knowing the 350 yd/g defense allows less points?

 

[VJCPatriot]

I thought the Pats defense was 31st last year? No biggie. Anyways the Pats defense has been playing well. They really should have pulled out the game, but our last drive off the turnover was a headscratcher and Gost flat out missed what should have been the gamewinner.

The Pats have a tougher test next week in Baltimore. Ray Rice is a handful to stop and Joe Flacco has some weapons to throw to with Boldin and the emerging Pitta. So let's see who the most physical defense turns out to be! Brady will need strong protection or it will be a long day.

 

[Danger Zone]

I feel we are just one big move/trade (and some experience) away from having a top 5 defense.

We really need a top end corner to complete the defense, imho.

Combine that with a move to shore up the OG position, which can only help the defense, and we really might be there.

 

[IllegalContact]

in this case, offseason is those times between monday and saturday.

We all know the offense will be a top 5 by season end.

we do??????

 

[mgteich]

Locker and Kolb would have put up 300 yards this year, IF the 2012 offense was playing like the 2011 offense.

The key is not yards, but rather points allowed.

Both Locker and Kolb would have put at least 300 passing yards on the 2011 defense.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Yep sure. Points are the most important Stat. But I wish people would stop putting hardly any emphasis on being at the top of pass and run defense. If you are tops in all 3 categories that makes you an elite defense and quite fun to watch.

 

[jah]

If this was 2011 Pats would have given up 600 yards just in passing already.

And if you don't think so let me throw out some names and numbers

Chad Henne 417
Ryan Fitzpatrick 369 & 307
Jason Campbell 344
Vince Young 400
Mark Sanchez 306
Dan Orlovsky 353

Here are some corresponding numbers:

Chad Henne 38-24 (38-17 was the biggest Patriots lead)
Ryan Fitzpatrick 31-34 (21-0) and 49-21
Jason Campbell 31-19 (31-13)
Vince Young 38-20 (38-13)
Mark Sanchez 30-21 (27-14)
Dan Orlovsky 31-24 (31-3)

The only game where the Patriots weren't up by at least 3 scores at one point was a 13 point lead on the Jets (coincidentally the smallest yard total on your list). It's pretty obvious that the opponent is going to pass in that situation.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Good to see but it is still really early. You have to like what you see so far and the changes that have been made but I will reserve real judgement until they have played about 10 games. I think this defense is young and talented, as well as deeper than in previous years but they have to show that they can withstand the best QB's and offenses with strong showings, the first of which comes this coming Sunday against the Ravens, who are off to a really strong start offensively. I felt they would be a top 7-8 defense in points this season and feel even better about that now but it's still a long season and we will see.

Nice to see them start off so strong though.

 

[Kontradiction]

Locker and Kolb would have put up 300 yards this year, IF the 2012 offense was playing like the 2011 offense.

The key is not yards, but rather points allowed.

How do you figure this? The 2012 offense gave both opposing offenses more opportunities to score than the 2011 offense ever would have, and both quarterbacks were still held to sub 300 yard games.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

i think by even week 10 they will be top 5

 

[TheComeback]

The offense hasn't played well enough to get a big lead so QBs could get the garbage times yards that most of those were

A lot of these games weren't blowouts at all. The 2011 defense was pretty good at defending the end zone and the run, but they were terrible everywhere else on the field.

Week 1 vs Dolphins, it was 28-17 going into the third quarter. Not a blowout
Week 3 we LOST to the Bills. Fitzpatrick threw for 370 yards
The Redskins came within 5 yards of beating us after tearing up our defense in the 4th quarter
Week 16 vs the Dolphins, we barely won 27-24, and it was 20-17 with 9 minutes left. Moore threw for 280 yards, 3 TDs, at 9.5 yards per clip
Week 17 we got destroyed in the first quarter by Fitzpatrick because we tried to play man against them

Last year, the secondary was atrocious and they were one of the worst defenses in the NFL on third down. It definitely wasn't just "because of blowouts"

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Big thanks to this guy for helping the D turn it around

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

we do??????

I could always be wrong, but I'm not panicing and calling for massive changes or questioning BB (maybe got some for McD, but he also has to come up to speed as well).

And, I'm ntot saying I'm happy with the ofeense, but Dante will get the line worked out and they'll perform.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

Just let our "D" make a crucial stop to win another Superbowl and I'll pleased with that!

 

[ausbacker]

We'll get a better idea of the defense's improvement this week against Baltimore.

 

[1%er]

I believe in the defense and anyone who doesn't is not watching the games.

This defense is big, strong, athletic, and fast. And that is in every position across the board. It also is the most versatile group in the NFL.

You have Vince as the best Dlineman in the NFL surrounded by youth and talent unmatched by any other NFL team.

McCourty
Dowling
Chung
Wilson
Moore
Arrington
Love
Brace
Deaderick
Hightower
Mayo
Spikes
Jones
Cunningham
Dennard
Bequette

That is a list of 14 extremely talented player none of them older then 26. They have all contributed and performed well this season but none of them have even sniffed the surface of what they can do. They're all capable of playing even better.

The players in red are potential superstars, the players in italic would be starters on 60% of the teams in the NFL and the players in bold would be top reserves.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

This is the best our Secondary has been since 2007

The best our Linebackers have been since 2005