What do you guys think about the Patriots defense now?

[DaBronxPats14]

What I always thought, that they needed to find themselves out with new players and schemes early on and then eventually it would get better with time.

 

[mosi]

They are average at best, the BB patriots average!

 

[Soliel]

I’d have to say it’s in playoff form now or close.

 

[Ring 6]

I think Gilmore was worth every penny and this secondary is special.

 

[jimnance]

I think Gilmore was worth every penny and this secondary is special.

I think most of us felt Butler,Gilmore and Dmac would all be good-but JJ?
That kid can flat-out ball. He has starters talent and is now the clear#3 ahead of rowe- and Rowe ain't too shabby either.
Harmon and Chung both also playing well.
One thing I really like about our cbs is the diversity- a good mix of shorter, quicker fast guys and taller fast guys. But all 4 of them are fast and physical.
And it was really needed. Once High was lost, we needed these guys to step up and they have.

 

[Ring 6]

I think most of us felt Butler,Gilmore and Dmac would all be good-but JJ?
That kid can flat-out ball. He has starters talent and is now the clear#3 ahead of rowe- and Rowe ain't too shabby either.
Harmon and Chung both also playing well.
One thing I really like about our cbs is the diversity- a good mix of shorter, quicker fast guys and taller fast guys. But all 4 of them are fast and physical.
And it was really needed. Once High was lost, we needed these guys to step up and they have.

I feel better in 2017 having a great secondary than a great front 7

 

[jimnance]

I feel better in 2017 having a great secondary than a great front 7

I agree. The way the game has evolved, a great secondary that can play a lot of different ways and do a lot of different things well, has more impact than a pass rush. And it also helps the pass rush.

 

[Ring 6]

I agree. The way the game has evolved, a great secondary that can play a lot of different ways and do a lot of different things well, has more impact than a pass rush. And it also helps the pass rush.

You can’t totally stop a pass offense any more but what shows you the cuversge is great is that qbs are throwing to guys who are covered pretty tight and every pass is contested.
BB is going to have fun game planning in the post season with this group.

 

[jimnance]

You can’t totally stop a pass offense any more but what shows you the cuversge is great is that qbs are throwing to guys who are covered pretty tight and every pass is contested.
BB is going to have fun game planning in the post season with this group.

You'd think after all these years of watching BB do this over and over and over again, losing star players to injury and still winning big-time, that I'd be ho-hum about what he's doing this year.
But it really is amazing to watch.

 

[Ring 6]

You'd think after all these years of watching BB do this over and over and over again, losing star players to injury and still winning big-time, that I'd be ho-hum about what he's doing this year.
But it really is amazing to watch.

I think we need to understand he is, over the course of a season, building a team, and a defense and taking it in a direction and replacing a piece that has to be replaced is just part of it.

 

[scott99]

They have to get heathy. Van Noy hurt 2 games in a row, can’t afford to lose him. Need Flowers back for the Steelers game. Need to be healthy heading into the playoffs

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

They have done a heck of a job and likely will be tested in two weeks against the squealers.

 

[jimnance]

I think we need to understand he is, over the course of a season, building a team, and a defense and taking it in a direction and replacing a piece that has to be replaced is just part of it.

That's easy to say BUT replacing a player like Hightower is not easy.

 

[Ring 6]

That's easy to say BUT replacing a player like Hightower is not easy.

Not at all. Just saying that the way he coaches it there is s momentum of improvement which helps overcome loss of talent if it happens. Like Collins was never missed last year.

 

[mosslost]

Im loving the way we've been playing, in special the secondary, but i cant completely erase my fears... namely the DLine.

First of all, we cant generate pass-rush. Some of it is by design, but when ****ty QBs have up to 4 seconds to release, whe are doing something wrong. Hopefully this Dolphins game is an indication of the future, which, considering how much we improved from the beginning of the season, it might well be.

Secondly, we need to stop the run better. So far, it isnt a big problem: since we've been having a lead in games, stopping the run isnt a priority, but come playoff time, when the games get tougher, this inability might be our undoing. With Brown coming back, we might improve, so let's stay hopeful. Also, IMO this is Branch's last year here, since he's not being as good as last season

In a side note: it's unbelievable what we're getting out of our LBs. This roster (without HT), by name alone, could have been one of the worst in the NFL and yet we have been pretty damn solid all around. Come to think of it, every guy Brian Flowers works with improves tremendously. He'll be a DC sooner rather than later

down to 18 PPG average and dropping..

 

[jimnance]

Not at all. Just saying that the way he coaches it there is s momentum of improvement which helps overcome loss of talent if it happens. Like Collins was never missed last year.

There are many things that make BB the goat,but 3 that really jump out at me:
1. He maximizes guys' talent- often when other teams couldn't
2. His 2nd and 3rd stringers and even practice squad are consistently better prepared to produce on the field than any other teams.
3. Going along with what you pointed out- they consistently GET BETTER as the year goes on,when it really counts.

 

[JayNM]

down to 18 PPG average and dropping..

Yep, i know. Gotta improve on the Run D still, but Lee looks like a steal.

 

[Guts]

Holding a divisional opponent fighting for their playoff lives at their backyard to 3pts is pretty damn impressive.

 

[maineman209]

Again, the Pats played better offenses in the first half of the season. In the second half, not so much. I get that you have to play the teams on your schedule but let's not get crazy. They beat Tie-rod for 3 quarters and a rookie 5th rounder for 1.

And only allowed 3 points.

I don't think it's at all crazy to think that the defense has been performing at a playoff caliber level recently, especially over the past six games.

They're not flawless. They're not pitching shutouts every week. But they have been consistently holding poor offenses to what one might expect a playoff caliber defense to (even while compensating for injuries and incorporating a couple of new players).

 

[RobertWeathers]

I feel better in 2017 having a great secondary than a great front 7

True but vs a power running team like NO the personnel matchups are not in out favor as much.

With that said I think the run D is good enough