I couldn't be a carpenter today, it rained, so I started to post and it just grew. OOPS..
Its tough watching the defense this year, there was a lot of hope in the preseason. The front 4 looked to be dominate, and I felt the pressure from the d-line, would help our young DBs in the passing game. Now in week 13 its obvious that we are too banged up to stop even a 1st year starter at QB, and even if we weren't banged up we don't have any experience in the back field to stop much, and the front 4 cannot move the pocket in a way which would benefit their ability to put pressure on the QB.
It would be reasonable for us to draft needs on the defense. It would be great to get a pass rush, and try to find some better cover guys at FS, SS, CB and at LB. But thats a whole lot of wishing. What people are proposing is an overhaul of the defense. People even feel as BB would attempt to play a 3-4 next year. I don't see it.
Our core players are not experienced enough to play the 3-4, and I don't even think we have the talent on the defensive side of the ball to play 3-4.
In order to get back to the good old days, we would need to find at least 2 good line backers who can fall in to coverage and actually block a pass. WE would need 2 smart DE who are experienced enough to fill gaps, forcing running backs to freelance out to the side lines. And, we need 2 smart safeties, who can impact the run game as well as to make sure receivers don't find their way deep, 1 on 1 with a corner. And thats just to start.
All of this isn't coming out of the draft and even if BB did find a way to draft a defense it would be at least 2 or 3 years before they played up to BB's standards. You will not see BB blitz much if he knows his team is incapable of picking up the open receivers.
So yeah the defense is a work in progress and until BB finds players worth building a defense around, you will not see much progress on that side of the ball. We win with the offense so if we don't continue to add depth around Brady, things will get worse quickly.
For example we play a 2/3 TE formation so often its shocking to know we only carry 2 TEs on this team. Thats risky if you ask me. If Arron and Gronk go down to injury, thats the last time you will see the 2 TE formation, and it would be devastating to our run game.
What I hope BB does in this current draft. First, improve the run game. We have a lot of depth at RB, they even have talent. Right now NE is ranked 21st at running the ball, its was not long ago that we were ranked 10th in the league. If BB stuck to the running game the numbers would be better, but we have Brady and so its not shocking that the offense would want Brady to throw as much as as he does. But...
Thats where the problem starts, teams play against Brady, not against the running game. Its shocking to see a run game only go for 4 or 5 yards when the defense is playing against the pass. Where are the huge gains on the ground that are common on teams that have effective run games. Its rare, really rare to see NE rush for 15 yards, even more rare to see a TD come from a 20+ rushing gain.
I think the problem with the run game starts with the o-line, and our inability to get blockers down field to pick up potential tacklers. Now its tough to claim where improvement can be made. Nate might take over for Light. Cannon might take over of waters. Koppen might be healthy next year. Its a mixed bag between too young, too old and the fact that the unit hasn't play much together on the field.
WE have even brought in some FA to fill voids on the o-line, who knows if BB likes these guys enough to keep them on the team next year, at least until the roster is cut down to 52.
The problem with the run game might not even be a player issue, it could just be a coaching issue, or our running scheme just doesn't allow the big gain.
Brady is getting older and he will need a more effective run game if he wishes to prolong his tenure in this league. So something needs to change. There are many people on this forum who feel that the TE formations might be the answer. More TEs on the field, means more blockers. I feel they are right and would support their claims.
Nate Solder has even shown an ability to get down field and lay blocks on DBs and line backers when he is in at TE on the 3 TE formation. If Nate becomes a starter at tackle, we loose his ability to play TE. Nate is a great player. I think it would be best if we drafted an additional tackle, let Nate be the versatile player he is. He adds depth for the o-line when an injury comes along, and when a situation calls for him to play TE, we have the ability to get him involved in the run game. In the short term it will have a big impact. In the long term, who knows, he might eventually just play tackle in place of Light when that time comes.
Its apparent to me that BB will need to address the depth at TE. So some how he will need to address that. Getting it done in FA would be much harder than it would be to do it early in the draft, but the kid would have to be coached up to be a starter on this team. Directly he would have to have instinctual blocking skills and power, if he wants to take Nate's job. BB has brought in many TEs, even Robs brother, Dan Gronkowski, but in the end BB gave Nate the roll. Which mean to me that if you can't block as a TE and create running lanes, you will not be in NE long.
In the end I see BB picking up a tackle and a good pass catching run blocking TE in the 1st round. In the 2nd round we pick up another corner/ safety and a center. The 3rd round pick would be a wide receiver. The majority of the defensive issues would be addressed after the first 3 rounds.
I see BB playing a 4-3 defense next year. More 2/3 TE formations, with a better commitment to the run game.
