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Archives for September 2014

Given the talent on the Patriots DL this year, could you educate your readers a bit as to how different this will make the defense this year? And could you make some comparison of how the defense can look with this talent and Bill’s coaching? Could we do the NYG Nascar? StLouis DL? Or Vikings of the past?

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I think there are two big differences. First is the promise of Siliga. He can be paired with Wilfork inside for better run-stopping, or he can be used to rotate with Wilfork as the main space eater inside. I really think he fits this defense well and should eventually replace Wilfork’s role.

The second is Dominique Easley, a player I was drooling over the second I watched some film of him exploding off the ball. The lack of interior rush has been a recurring theme here on the blog since it’s inception and Easley finally looks like the legit answer to those problems.

In the past the Pats relied on more nose tackle/ 3-4 defensive end types inside. Big bodies, but not guys who could get off the ball with great quickness and attack. I think this had a direct effect on the overall pass rush problems, especially the defense’s struggles on third down.

I mean no offense to Wilfork. He was arguably the best defensive interior linemen in the NFL from 2010-2012. But they overused him and as a result he was less effective as a pass rusher, especially at the end of games.

So now you’ve got an interior DL rotation that is versatile, including Chris Jones, who can bring some pass rush as well, and Joe Vellano, who gives you everything he has.

So really, Belichick can do whatever he wants on the interior of the DL, double space eaters or double pass rushers. Depending on the opponent and situation, all options are on the table.

So I still expect a 34/43 hybrid, where half the defense could be playing the 34, two-gap front, while the other half is playing a penetrating 43. 

Chandler Jones and Ninkovich are really key, because there isn’t much depth behind them and they’ll be asked to do a lot — including setting the edge and rushing the edge.

Whether or no Buchanan or Moore can become a reliable rotational player behind them is a huge question. An injury to Ninkovich or Jones could be a real problem.

After watching the Seahawks holistic approach on defense last night, it occurred to me that this might the first Patriots defense in 10 years that can truly do the same thing. The secondary will keep the ball in the QBs hands longer and enable a solid pass rush (which has been truly missing from the pat’s defensive game plan) or the pass rush could force the ball out of the QB’s hands and enable interceptions. So where do you think we will see the numbers go up: Sacks or Interceptions? Both??

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I think the number switch that will be most affected is on third down conversions. So there might actually be LESS interceptions and sacks, but only because the defense is finally getting off the field.

The real question that comes to my mind after watching the Seahawks defense is could the Pats go back to playing as much “base” defense as the Seahawks do? I still tend to think they’ll play to their strengths and play more sub with multiple defensive backs, but there’s certainly an argument to be made on the effectiveness of keeping a seven man box and continually generating pressure. Just depends on how much you trust your LBs/SS in coverage.

New England Patriots Gameplan: Week 1 at Miami

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The New England Patriots open their 2014 season on the road in Miami against the Dolphins, and as all divisional matchups in Week 1 go, this one will be down to the wire.

Season openers are always filled with mistakes, turnovers and general sloppiness. Teams don’t know exactly what to expect, they haven’t been tackling much, and with gameplans that have been in incubation since April, there are always some surprises.

Offensive Strategy: Picking a method of attack is even tougher this season because the Patriots have a great “inventory” (as Brady puts it) of offensive firepower… at least here in Week 1 it looks that way. 

I’m going with what I think will be the bread-and-butter of 2014, 11 personnel as the primary package. Edelman is a constant but the surprise could be a combination of using both LaFell and Dobson on the outside, with Vereen in the backfield. Hooman should be the primary tight end until the red zone, when Gronk (assuming he plays) enters the game.

The key – attacking their undersized corners with the Pats’ big weapons, including Wright. Their linebackers are fast and need to be worn down using the third tackle-as-tight end package.

I’m not worried about pushing the pace of the offense at this point in the season, though I’m sure they’ll hurry up at select moments. But it’s more about execution, especially being on the road and in physically-demanding conditions. 

Defensive Strategy: Expecting a hybrid 34/43 with Wilfork/Vellano in the middle and Ninkovich/Chandler on the edges. Collins/Hightower are the OLBs and should be tasked with Charles Clay, Collins especially. With Mayo in the middle he’ll have an eye on Tannehill.

Man-to-man defense is the easiest coverage to run when there might be some unexpected wrinkles from the Dolphins offense, so let’s put Revis on Wallace, Dennard on Hartline and Arrington on Gibson. Though they’ll rotate, I’d bet Harmon plays more snaps than Chung.

Miami will definitely push the pace so it will be important to keep substitutions to a minimum. Easing Siliga/Easley will be an important rotation on the DL, as will Buchanan/Moore at DE.

Rotating players to stay fresh in the heat might be challenging.

If Revis can neutralize Wallace, the Pats have a numbers advantage against Hartline, Gibson and Clay. That’s what Revis Island brings to the party.

The Dolphins should test the Patriots run defense. I would. No more Brandon Spikes, Hightower likely on the edge and Wilfork coming off an injury should tempt the Dolphins to  really attack the middle of the defense with their ground game. 

Keep Brady off the field. Chew clock. Hang on to the ball. It’s a good game plan vs. 12 if you can do it the entire game. 

Points of Emphasis

1. Clean Football – In a tight game, the mistakes often make the difference and a season opener in tough conditions is prime territory for a sloppy game. We all know the Patriots’ reliance on winning the turnover battle – with a better defense that could change this year – but this week it doesn’t. Playing safe with the ball and being aware of the situation are paramount in a game like this.

2. Attack the Middle of the OL – The Pats finally have the makings of a team whose pass rush must be respected and this is their debut. Expect a rotating number of faces lining up and down the defensive line to attack the interior of the Phins’ OL. Dominique Easley is expected to play and could have an impressive debut even in limited action.

3. Keep Their Heads Spinning on Defense – Tom Brady has a number of unique weapons at his disposal and it will be important to never let Miami get a bead on what they’re trying to do. This will be done by a constantly rotating set of personnel at receiver, tight end and running back. Imagine the difficulty of covering Edelman one snap, Tim Wright the next, then Kenbrell Thompkins the next.

4. Hold the (middle of the) Fort – Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer will have to be at their best against Miami’s talented edge rushers, but they should be up to the task. There have been plenty of questions surrounding the interior of the Pats’ line this offseason and there are even more now after Logan Mankins was dealt. Now is the time for Josh Kline, Ryan Wendell and Dan Connolly (and whoever else) to answer those questions.

And can the defense get back to stopping the run like they did before last year? Mayo moving back to middle linebacker is something to watch. 

5. Win – Getting the W is all that matters, no matter how ugly, you’ll take them however you can get them at this time of year. This could be the toughest divisional game of the season and if the Pats can come out of it 1-0 it would a great (and record-tying) start to the season.