Zak Kuhr De facto DC. How is he doing?

[Dec54]

Big leap from LB coach. I think he has done really well considering.

 

[TommyD4207]

Big leap from LB coach. I think he has done really well considering.

They have to figure out that first drive stuff. They adjust really well after that, but at some point, I worry it will catch up to him.

Also, someone's gotta get on that zone defense, it needs to tighten up.

Minor nitpicks, considering how well they've played over the balance of the season, hard to say that he hasn't done really well, considering the circumstances.

 

[upstater1]

They have to figure out that first drive stuff. They adjust really well after that, but at some point, I worry it will catch up to him.

Also, someone's gotta get on that zone defense, it needs to tighten up.

Minor nitpicks, considering how well they've played over the balance of the season, hard to say that he hasn't done really well, considering the circumstances.

It's almost like they are playing possum. Giving the other team false confidence. The other team comes out in the 2nd drive prepared to attack zone, and the drive stalls. Patriots grab momentum.

It doesn't really make sense.

 

[signbabybrady]

I don't see how anyone could complain about the job he's done. He got put in a very tough spot and the defense is playing close to as good as anyone in the league top ten at least.

 

[Ring 6]

It's almost like they are playing possum. Giving the other team false confidence. The other team comes out in the 2nd drive prepared to attack zone, and the drive stalls. Patriots grab momentum.

It doesn't really make sense.

It’s really just a sample size issue. They aren’t doing anything different they have just happened to be less successful on first drives.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I think he's doing a fine job. Our LB/S coverage is week. Our pass rush off the edge is "ok" with Landry/Chaisson but there's no proven/reliable/consistent depth and by nature that's a rotational position which means we spend a lot of snaps with that being a weakness. That's a little tough to navigate as a coordinator but he's doing fine.

 

[DaBruinz]

I think he's relying too much on ZONE coverage. We have the guys in Gonzalez, Davis, and Jones that we should be able to consistently pay man.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

It's almost like they are playing possum. Giving the other team false confidence. The other team comes out in the 2nd drive prepared to attack zone, and the drive stalls. Patriots grab momentum.

It doesn't really make sense.

I don't think it's playing possum. I think they have some talent deficiencies on defense that are exploitable and opposing playcallers can script up specific ways to attack that. As the game wears on, we can adjust some to the specific ways they're attacking and funnel things into the stronger parts of our defense. Our CBs and DTs are awesome. Our S and EDGE play is weak. Our LBs are split - good vs run, weak in coverage. That leaves exploitable holes but also some things you can lean in on to compensate. First drive of the game, offense has th edge there because defense is more reactionary.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I think he's relying too much on ZONE coverage. We have the guys in Gonzalez, Davis, and Jones that we should be able to consistently pay man.

That requires someone to man up the RB and TE and we don't really have the guys for that. You can work in some combination coverages, but it's hard to just tell the CBs to plan man and everyone else zones. It doesn't work like that. We have a real issue defending good backs and TEs and zone helps with that.

 

[upstater1]

I don't think it's playing possum. I think they have some talent deficiencies on defense that are exploitable and opposing playcallers can script up specific ways to attack that. As the game wears on, we can adjust some to the specific ways they're attacking and funnel things into the stronger parts of our defense. Our CBs and DTs are awesome. Our S and EDGE play is weak. Our LBs are split - good vs run, weak in coverage. That leaves exploitable holes but also some things you can lean in on to compensate. First drive of the game, offense has th edge there because defense is more reactionary.

If you looked at the #s though, Mayfield and the Bucs thrive on zone defenses. They tear them apart.

But Baker and the Bucs are at the bottom of the league when it comes to passing against man coverage.

Not many teams have 2 or 3 excellent corners like the Patriots do, so the Bucs don't see many man-dominant defenses.

Everything was telling the Patriots: DO NOT PLAY ZONE.

Yet they did it anyone. And then went away from it on subsequent drives.

 

[maust]

They have to figure out that first drive stuff.

Apparently we are mistaken about that, it has something to do with the 'sample size' making them appear less successful on 1st drives than the evidence before our lying eyes is suggesting to us. Me, I mistakenly thought maybe the opponents scripted plays showed their hands in terms of how they wanted to attack the Pats D and the subsequent adjustments/corrections allowed for what had been shown. But it turns out the problem hasn't been that at all, the problem is the 'sample size.'

 

[PatsFan2]

I think he's relying too much on ZONE coverage. We have the guys in Gonzalez, Davis, and Jones that we should be able to consistently pay man.

Davis is not good in Man Coverage very overrated. A Rookie beat him twice yesterday I'm sure Pop is cooking him in practice. Please stay healthy Gonzo.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Davis is not good in Man Coverage very overrated. A Rookie beat him twice yesterday I'm sure Pop is cooking him in practice. Please stay healthy Gonzo.

He's one of the better press-man corners in the league. But sure lol.

 

[stinkypete]

Kuhr has been great. Two weeks in a row now the defense has made a critical stop against a potent offense late in the 4th. Nothing to complain about here.

I agree that we should have the horses at CB to play man. My guess is that the LB/S situation is forcing out hands for now. I expect this to be a big offseason priority.

 

[p8ryts]

It's almost like they are playing possum. Giving the other team false confidence. The other team comes out in the 2nd drive prepared to attack zone, and the drive stalls. Patriots grab momentum.

It doesn't really make sense.

It reminds me of 1969, Clive Rush coach, Mike Taliaferro QB. They frequently drove the field on the first possession followed by an inability to get a first down for the remainder of the game. That was a BADDD team, but they still schemed that first drive.

 

[DaBruinz]

That requires someone to man up the RB and TE and we don't really have the guys for that. You can work in some combination coverages, but it's hard to just tell the CBs to plan man and everyone else zones. It doesn't work like that. We have a real issue defending good backs and TEs and zone helps with that.

Gee.. And the Pats have never had a CB cover a TE or a RB.. OH WAIT. Sure they have. Flashback to 2014. The Pats had Revis, Browner, Arrington, Butler, McCourty, and Harmon as part of the Defensive backfield.

The Pats have Gonzalez, Davis, Austin, Jones, Hawkins, Woodson, and Woods.

They could easily shift Davis to the TE and either Marcus Jones or Austin to the outside with extra safety help. Or, move Marcus Jones to cover the RB while leaving Austin in the slot to cover the TE.

Contrary to your claims, these Backs/TEs have eaten up the Pats zone coverage and actually HELPED opposing teams, not hampered them. Yesterday was a perfect example.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Gee.. And the Pats have never had a CB cover a TE or a RB.. OH WAIT. Sure they have. Flashback to 2014. The Pats had Revis, Browner, Arrington, Butler, McCourty, and Harmon as part of the Defensive backfield.

The Pats have Gonzalez, Davis, Austin, Jones, Hawkins, Woodson, and Woods.

They could easily shift Davis to the TE and either Marcus Jones or Austin to the outside with extra safety help. Or, move Marcus Jones to cover the RB while leaving Austin in the slot to cover the TE.

Contrary to your claims, these Backs/TEs have eaten up the Pats zone coverage and actually HELPED opposing teams, not hampered them. Yesterday was a perfect example.

Austin and Woods suck. Hawkins and Woodson are not good options in man coverage on anyone with any level of receiving competence. You can't be serious comparing that list of coverage options to that stacked lineup we had in 2014. All the lineups you suggest where we put Austin in are bad ideas because Austin isn't good enough to play.

Part of good defense is deception so nothing wrong with trying to mix in more man to maybe cure what isn't working. But the downside of failed man coverage on backs/TEs is usually way worse than against zone. End of the day our group of players who cover backs and TEs just flat out isn't good, and there's only so much lipstick you can put on that pig. So there's a risk mitigation factor there where you just acknowledge the weakness and do your best to limit the damage it causes you too.

 

[PatsFan2]

Zak Kuhr is doing a nice job considering the circumstances...get well and come back soon TW.

 

[Toofy]

We donno if TW would have been as good as kuhr .

Kuhr looks legit according to me. Doing more with less. Davis and landry are underperforming and we had white and dugger who were ineffective. Despite that he has done a lot with rookies and few marquee and non marquee free agents .

Once we get our stud FS next season , things will start to inch up more. Landry and davis cannot be traded next year I guess . So let's hope they become decent contributors.

 

[jdlboot14]

Very hard to say if he's doing as well as Patricia or Stevie B. Some calls and situations aren't always anticipated well.
But one thing is certain, we were all doubting Williams after the Raiders game. We were expecting a better showing than it was. And something got better when we went to MIA in wk 2.