PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Mike Dussault

On the Patriots 3rd Down Defense

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The Pats defense currently sit 32nd overall in the NFL in 3rd down stop percentage. While the Bears sit at #1 overall giving up a first only 30% of the time. The Patriots give up a first down 49% of the time.

A quick break down of the 3rd down performance by game:

  • CIN 8/15 = 53%
  • NYJ 6/13 = 46%
  • BUF 5/10 = 50%
  • MIA 10/15 = 66%
  • BAL 5/16 = 31%
  • SD 7/15 = 46%

Basically you want to see your 3rd down percentages below 40%. Only once have the Patriots done that this season, and the results were apparent on the field. Especially in the fourth quarter and overtime.

As you can see Miami was a horror show for New England on third down. Hopefully the trend below 50% since the bye week continues downward. Clearly that’s what will need to happen if the Patriots are to make some noise in the playoffs this year.

New England Patriots Game Plan: Minnesota Vikings

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Earlier this week I felt like this was a huge game for the Patriots to prove that they are indeed in the conversation of Super Bowl contenders. Sure, they’ve beaten two very good teams since the bye week, but it’s been the old school brand of Patriots football that we were more accustomed to in the early part of the decade. Playing solid football, capitalizing on the other teams mistakes, and most of all not beating themselves. But we have yet to see an all around dominating performance in all phases of the game.

You don’t really know what you’re getting with the Vikings this week. I remember being similarly nervous before the 2006 game against them, and that ended up being, in the words of Brad Childress “a surgical procedure”. What do the Patriots have to do to get the Vikings back on the operating table this weekend after the jump.

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Closer look at Danny Woodhead from USA Today.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/closer-look-at-danny-woodhead-from-usa-today/

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Finally, here’s the defensive lineman snap percentage graph. Brandon Deaderick and Ron Brace… clearly headed in opposite directions.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/finally-heres-the-defensive-lineman-snap/

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Here is the linebacker playtime graph. You should remember that Spikes and Guyton are used situationally, so games where Spikes plays more were against run teams, and when it was Guyton they were passing teams. But notice Dane Fletcher’s green line is climbing in each of the last three games. Will it continue this week?

https://www.patspropaganda.com/here-is-the-linebacker-playtime-graph-you-should/