PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Mike Dussault

Film Review: Patriots vs. Panthers Defense Edition

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Alright, let’s just get this over with. I’ve seen enough breakdowns already all over the internet of just how terrible the Patriots defense was, but as always, taking a closer look at the All-22 film always reveals more than met the eye during the live broadcast watch.

As I pounded home on Patshow yesterday it’s really hard to know what the real problems on this defense are because blown coverages just make it so easy for the offense. People always look to the pass rush first and foremost but it’s hard to truly evaluate the front when receivers are running free through the secondary. Still, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the betting odds for the Patriots games are not looking good and deservedly so.

Here’s what stood out on the film review as we try to get this one in the rearview mirror as quickly as possible. Yay Thursday night football for once.

Via NFL Gamepass

 

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Patshow Live Episode 108: Panthers Recrap

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Here’s the latest episode of Patshow Live as we tear the defense a new one over their performance against the Panthers. Fitzy puppet stops by, we take a look at some of our favorite social media from the game and we break down one of the terrible defensive breakdowns from the loss. It’s all here on Patshow!

Pats Posits: No Rest for the Wicked (Bad Defense)

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Took some time to reflect upon the Patriots disappointing 33-30 loss to the Panthers and now it’s time to quickly put it to rest. To bury the proverbial football if you will. There’s already another game in three short days, and in this case it’s a really good thing.

I try to avoid overreacting to anything early in the season, at least until we’ve got a sample size to work with. Now, four games in, we have the sample size and yes, the defense has been historically bad. It’s almost unfathomable how many points they’ve given up. They’re dead last or close to it in every defensive stat out there and they deserve to be. There is no silver lining. No “yeah, but”. They’re all out of sync and admitted to as much after the game.

This isn’t a talent issue. This is a fundamental “play the coverage called” issue, so that’s why there actually is some hope for the defense. I’ve seen and blogged extensively about untalented defenses like those in 2010 and 2011. Those were hodge podge crews that survived because they played zone defense that allowed them to prey on turnovers while giving up epic amounts of yardage. This is a defense that can and should vary coverages like they’ve won two of the last three Super Bowls with.

Could the pass rush be better? Always, but when there are just wide open receivers or a screen pass where no one is within a mile of the ball, those are coverage lapses that cannot happen. The first couple weeks of the season? I’ll give you a slight pass. Four-straight games to start the season? Unacceptable. And historically bad.

128 points allowed through four games is the worst in team history. How is that possible? We’ve seen one- and two-win teams, but this, a team coming off a Super Bowl win, a perennial 12-win team, is THAT bad? Mind boggling.

Okay, let’s talk about the offense, who once again almost had a chance for a last-minute victory. It wasn’t perfect for them, but as far as NFL offenses go and what we’ve come to expect, they’re going to be fine.

Schematically I do worry about the pounding Brady is taking as the team goes more vertical, but I think the short passing game will continue to grow as the season goes along. Some pass protection issues, an inconsistent ground game? All things we’ve seen and overcome before. So while we can discuss and dissect plenty of minutiae, as long as he’s upright, Brady’s going to find ways to put up 30 points like he did today.

Can the defense get on the same page and hold opponents under 30? That right now is the question of 2017.

Here are a bunch more quick-hit posits as we all trudge into work on a victory-less Monday.

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Patriots’ Warm Butter Defense Can’t Stop Panthers

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The only feel-good moment from an otherwise maddening loss.

The Patriots fell to 2-2 on the season Sunday, losing to the Carolina Panthers 33-30 on a last-second field goal. The Panthers scored on six of their nine possessions, with a fumble, an interception and a punt the only time the Patriots defense got off the field without surrendering points.

Despite Tom Brady’s best efforts, leading the Pats back to tie the game from 14 points down late in the fourth quarter, the defense was unable to get a final stop, taking two penalties on the final drive that helped set up the wining field goal.

There’s little time to sulk, with a quick turnaround to a Thursday night game in Tampa Bay. Perhaps that’s for the best. But it’s unmistakable that this Patriots team has serious issues on both sides of the ball and they must get them fixed quickly.

Here’s how the grossness went down…

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A Look Back: Patriots – Panthers

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The Patriots and Panthers have met just six times, but there have been quite a few notable games, none moreso than Super Bowl 38, which remains to this day one of the most exciting Super Bowls of all time. When they renew the rivalry again at Gillette tomorrow there won’t be quite as much on the line but somehow their games always seem to be interesting.

In their first matchup in 1995, the Panthers’ first season in the league, the Patriots lost in overtime, en route to a disappointing 6-10 season. John Kasay‘s overtime field goal dropped the Pats to 2-6 as Kerry Collins threw for 306 yards and Derrick Moore (? lol) rushed for 119 yards.

Their second matchup didn’t come until the 2001 season and because of 9/11 was played on January 6th, usually when the playoffs had started. We’re used to the final game of the regular season being meaningless but this one gave the Pats the chance to win the second seed in the AFC. The Patriots pounded the one-win Panthers 38-6 and set the stage for the Tuck Rule game two weeks later in the final game at the old Foxborough Stadium.

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Patriots Gameplan: Week 4 vs. Carolina Panthers

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The Patriots close out the first quarter of their season on Sunday as they welcome the 2-1 Carolina Panthers. Yes, this is about the time we start to know exactly who the 2017 Patriots are. The next few games will really show what this team’s strengths and weaknesses are, though everyone already has their opinions despite just a three-game sample size.

The good? A resurgent deep passing attack that leads the league with 20 passing plays of 20 or more yards. The bad? A regressed big play defense that has given up 17 plays of 20 or more yards (14 passing, three rushing), bad enough for third-worst in the league. Of course there are other issues to monitor, but at this point it’s time to find out which of those are just because of the randomness and strengths of the first three opponents and which are real problems.

October is just about here and we should be getting away from the sloppiness that comes with the relaxed contact in training camps and general rust. The Patriots see September as an extension of the preseason, but now, things should start getting real.

Here’s the gameplan to close out the first quarter of the season at 3-1 with a win over a Panthers team that is very much a mirror image of the Patriots — dominant on one side of the ball, dreadful on the other.

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