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Archives for October 11, 2011

Rapsheet: Patriots third downs vs. Jets review

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Rapsheet: Patriots third downs vs. Jets review

As someone who has tracked third down defense obsessively the last two seasons this was a must-post for me. The numbers vs. the Jets were definitely a bit inflated due to the Jets offense being out of sync, but I definitely saw some positive growth on the Patriots defense.

The push that Haynesworth provided up the middle alone caused some hesitation from Sanchez.  Mike Wright could make even more of an impact in this department, hopefully he can get back this week because we’ll need him against the pass-happy Cowboys.

Sirius/Kirwan & Ryan: Belichick gives insight into going 4-3

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Sirius/Kirwan & Ryan: Belichick gives insight into going 4-3

Now here’s an explanation of why the Patriots switched from a 3-4 to a 4-3 that nobody had heard yet. Belichick explains that due to the shortened off-season and training camp it just seemed easier to install their nickel front and use that as the base than try to get into all the intricacies of the 3-4.

We’ve obviously written and talked a lot about the switch and usually we attributed it to wanting to get more pressure and be more attacking. I’m sure those were factors as well, but to hear BB say how big the lack of teaching time was in the decision was a little bit of a bombshell to me.

“We’ve played a mixture of odd fronts and even fronts, but I just felt like from a starting point – given the lack of spring opportunities to practice and meet, and the shortened training camp in terms of actual number of practices – that from a teaching standpoint we felt like there would be more carryover teaching our base defense and nickel defense really as one front,” Belichick explained (short audio clip here).

“We wanted a lot of carryover between our run responsibilities and run fits, and some of our pressure defenses and things like that. We’ll transition and build into some of our odds fronts, but we felt like in trying to evaluate young players, asking them to learn one system in a 3-4 and then learn another system in nickel [was too much]. As you know, we were in nickel defense just as much as we were 3-4 defense because of teams using multiple receivers on early downs and two-minute and all those kind of things.

"So we felt like it would be a better opportunity to evaluate our players and not try to over-install and put in a ton of defense. Try to cut it down a little bit and see if we could execute it better. Certainly, we have a long way to go but I do feel like we’re making progress, and I think our players at least understand what we’re doing.

"There are so many intricacies to a 3-4 defense that I just didn’t know if we’d be ready to handle them this year. Probably wouldn’t have been, to be honest with you.”

ESPN Boston: Where’s Cunningham

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ESPN Boston: Where’s Cunningham

I like when reporters ask good questions so hats off to whoever asked BB about Jermaine Cunningham today. Here’s what he had to say:

“I think one of the things that Jermaine has had to work through is the time he missed in training camp and the preseason,” said Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who noted Cunningham also had to deal with the transition from playing outside linebacker in last year’s 3-4 scheme, to being a defensive end in New England’s 4-3 base defense this season.

“This year we transitioned to a little bit more multiple defensive front, and that’s been an adjustment for him. Missing that time didn’t help him any. He’s worked hard and done a good job to get back on the field – getting rehab and getting back out there. I think he’s improving. He’s gotten a little better each week. He’s definitely on the upswing here. He’s a guy that we hop will be able to contribute for us.”

Personally I’m not getting too judgmental on Cunningham here in week six. Yes I find it a little surprising that for someone who played his college career as a defensive end in a similar system to what the Pats are running now that he’d have much of a learning curve going back to it.

Of course I’m sure there are different things he’s being asked to do, but with Andre Carter playing lights out it’s hard to really make a case that the Pats are dying to get Cunningham’s help.

From what I’ve seen in limited action this year is that he’s still a tough, physical player. He’s just not the 3 down linebacker/pass rusher a lot of us envisioned him being when he was drafted.

Let’s just remember that Belichick has had his eye on Cunningham since his early days at Florida. He’s still only in his second year and he was dinged early in camp. With a little time I think we’re going to start seeing some really good stuff from him on a rotational basis, and hopefully down the line he’s ready to take over for Andre Carter. Though with the way Carter is playing I don’t think it will be any time soon.

PFF/Palazzolo: Re-Focused Jets @ Patriots

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PFF/Palazzolo: Re-Focused Jets @ Patriots

Great stuff, here’s a nice little nugget on Andre Carter that confirms what we wrote about yesterday.

For a player who was signed to upgrade the pass rush, DE Andre Carter may have surprised his new employers by his stellar play against the run to this point (+6.0 Run Def on the season). On Sunday, Carter graded at +2.1 overall on and +2.6 Run Def. He was all over the field, making seven tackles, six of which were Stops. Carter showed great strength and leverage to beat LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson at the point of attack on two run plays. He then flashed his speed by attacking down the line of scrimmage, to hold HB LaDainian Tomlinson to a short gain. Carter was easily the best defender on the field for the Patriots and he is making a case to be considered one of the best 4-3 DEs in the league.