PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Mike Dussault

Thoughts from the free-agent trail – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN

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Thoughts from the free-agent trail – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN

Good summation of where we’re at so far in the “legal tampering period”. If the Pats are able to get a second round pick for Mallett I don’t know how they can turn that down.

As for Talib and Edelman, the market’s going to dictate what happens. But the Pats are experts at knowing what kind of offers will be out there and I’d bet they have competitive contracts on the table for both.

With the Redskins allegedly interested in Talib it makes me think he could be gone. They could offer him more than he could turn down.

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https://www.patspropaganda.com/7121/

If the pats do get that third DE, who do you think will move inside next to wilfork

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Depends on the game/gameplan (assuming Wilfork is back of course). Could be Tommy Kelly (assuming Kelly is back) against a run-heavy team. Or it could be Wilfork/Chandler/Ninkovich/Third DE in a pass-heavy game, or even throw Chris Jones/Armstead in there for Wilfork for an all-out pass rush game plan.

As much as I criticized the Pats in 2010 for all their specialization on defense, the Seahawks proved how you can make it work. The difference is the talent level. The 2010 Pats’ defense was not that talented nor experienced.

But now, with the pieces they have, it’s the makings of a very good specialized defense that can do a number of different things. We’ll see how well they build on it this spring, because there are certainly still a lot of questions.

Why do you think teams are so conservative, I don’t mean in terms of blitzing more or throwing on every down downfield, but being more aggressive, taking risks and etc.

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Because there are maybe 5 QBs in the NFL that can execute for 60 mins without a mistake. It’s just playing the odds. Sometimes they play great, mistake-free ball and you tip your cap to them. But most of the time the only sure-fire way to lose is giving them big chunks of yardage because you’re trying to throw all kinds of exotic blitzes at them.

And the Pats have given up more 20+ plays than anyone over the last few years. Their red zone defense has saved them in that regard.

Offensively it’s about taking what’s there. Taking risks by trying to force it results in turnovers and losses. 

Line up, make sure everyone has the call, try to get pressure with three or four guys and most of the time you’ll at least give yourself a chance to win. 

Not a pats question but I heard that romeo crennel runs an old school 34 where the dline is two gaping and that wade philips runs a 34 where the dline just one gaps, can you explain what each does and how it affects the linebackers

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Ah yes, my bread and butter. I can’t really speak to Romeo’s defense now, but with the Pats he ran the classic Fairbanks-Bullough 34.

The philosophy of that defense is for the front three linemen (two five-technique defensive ends lining up over the offensive tackles and a zero technique nose tackle lining up over the center) “building the wall”. 

What this means is that they attack the opponent across from them and try to control them, holding the line of scrimmage. Then it is the responsibility of the linebackers to fly around and make the plays.

The Patriots don’t run this defense much any more, it’s more of a specialized tool in the toolbox for really good running teams. Now they’ll mix and match more, with elements of it still existing, often on just one side of the field.

Wade Phillips and Dick Lebeau’s version of the 3-4 is more of an attacking 34 where the defensive linemen are attacking gaps instead of attacking their opponents.

The linebackers have to deal with more oncoming blockers but have less responsibility to make all the plays. This also enables things like the zone blitz that Lebeau created where a defensive lineman will drop into a coverage zone.

When I was first getting into serious blogging I asked this same question of Tedy Bruschi on a chat and his response was pretty cool:

Mike Dussault (Patriots Nation West) Hey Tedy, big fan, been wearing your jersey on game days for many years. Could you comment on the unique characteristics of a Bill Belichick 3-4 defense as compared to other 3-4 defenses around the NFL? Is it more read and react as oppose to defenses like the Steelers/Jets which are more attacking?

Tedy Bruschi Mike, I think you should be conducting this chat. You hit it on the head about the difference between the Patriots’ 3-4 and other teams.

wait I take back that earlier question on the free agent DE, BB doesn’t buy that whole aggressively attack the QB thing right? it was just so sweet seeing Carter and Anderson coming off the edges in 2011.

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From my perspective, a defensive end is priority number one in external free agency. They just can’t go into 2014 planning on running Ninkovich and Chandler into the ground playing almost every snap again.

Mark Anderson is the perfect model, that third guy who can be your designated pass rusher, but also fill in from time to time at defensive end. Buchanan gives some depth and I like him and would love to see him take a big leap forward, but they cannot rely upon that.

With the higher salary cap there will be a lot of big contracts thrown around, but I think the Pats have to make an investment in someone like Jared Allen or Lamarr Houston. 

It’s a matter of having guys who can win one-on-one without BB having to be overly aggressive with his scheme by sending extra guys on blitzes. Between Kelly/Wilfork and the young guys I think they’ll be okay at tackle one way or another, but they really need to add a third defensive end in free agency as I see it.