Mike Dussault

The Patriots were in their nickel defense for every snap but two in the game, a result of the Bills playing almost the entire game out of their three-wide package. The lone snaps the Patriots were in their base defense came on the Bills’ fifth drive, which brought linebacker Jamie Collins on the field for his lone two snaps of the day (he is the top backup and was tapped with Brandon Spikes off for dehydration issues).

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-patriots-were-in-their-nickel-defense-for/

I do not feel the safety was slow getting over. It appeared to me, watching the replay and the tape of the game this morning, it looked like Steve Gregory was helping on the tight end. Before the play, Gregory communicates to Hightower, who was covering the tight end. That’s why I thought Gregory was helping Hightower over the top, and I say that because the easiest throw in the red area is to the tight end in the middle of the field. The lower percentage throws are deep to the outside. You notice something else before the play, Talib is attempting to communicate with Arrington (the inside corner). The Bills are in a bunch formation, which means three receivers within a close proximity of each other. This can cause traffic problems and stresses propoer communication. As the play develops, Stevie Johnson breaks to the flat. Both Arrington and Talib sit on it (attempting to defend it). That’s where the breakdown occurred. One of them was supposed to have the 7 route to Woods, and the other was supposed to play deep to short on the flat route. You never want to have two defenders focused on a flat route when you have a receiver going deep and outside (the 7 route). Especially in the red area.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/i-do-not-feel-the-safety-was-slow-getting-over-it/