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Wilfork: Sub Runs Killing Pats
Love when players get specific in their radio interviews as Vince did today. I clearly noticed the effect of sub runs in the second half upon rewatching the game tape, it’s especially noticeable when you see Gary Guyton on the field. Guyton had trouble as the Mike in the base defense last year. Not pinning this all on him, but clearly the Pats need to really focus on this area.
I can’t vouch for this guy but he seems to be a New York radio personality that had good sources when the whole Revis deal went down, and he’s saying that those same trusted sources are telling him the Pats are interested in Vincent Jackson.
You can see his twitter feed where he made the announcement here.
We had heard last year that the Pats have Vincent Jackson rated as their top wide receiver in the NFL (outside of Foxboro I assume) so it probably isn’t much of a secret that they think he’s a player.
The problem starts with Vincent Jackson wanting to be paid somewhere in the $9 million per year range while Randy Moss and Logan Mankins are already complaining about the Patriots and money. Don’t forget Wes Welker’s going to want a new deal pretty soon too. Not sure the Patriots could put together a compensation package that would attract Jackson, and if they did it might make waves in the locker room.
Clearly with seven picks in the first four rounds of the 2011 draft they could probably figure out a compensation package for the Chargers. Though San Diego would probably loathe sending him to New England.
On the field is the place it would make the most sense, especially if Randy Moss is gone after this year.
Meriweather Explains Why He’s Down the Depth Chart
After yesterday it’s hard not to think the Patriots really needs Meriweather to step up. This is the wrong point in his career to take a step backwards. In year four, after sneaking into the Pro Bowl, he really should be starting to make more big plays and making his presence felt. If he gets on track it would be greatly helpful for a team that badly needs him.
This is all I’m going to choose to remember from yesterday. Blocking out everything else.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/this-is-all-im-going-to-choose-to-remember-from/
General thoughts/feelings after the game. I don’t check the stats or look back at anything, just the gut reaction of what I saw unfold.
The good thing about week two losses is that by the end of the season they are a distant memory. But this loss today to the Jets has left me baffled.
Our offense looked like a machine in the first half, moving the ball on the Jets defense yard by yard, exerting their will. Brady was moving the ball around to multiple receivers and it seemed like there would be little the Jets could do to stop this offense.
But in the second half I was having flashbacks to 2009. I mean, this was a vintage 2009 game. First half they look great. The we gat a total collapse in the second half.
While Brady showed flashes of trust with Aaron Hernandez, Gronk and Tate were invisible in the second half. Losing Kevin Faulk didn’t help.
With the Jets missing Calvin Pace and Darrelle Revis this was a prime opportunity to take out a divisional rival on the road. When the teams meet again in December it will be the Jets who will probably have more talented players back on the field.
Last year the Pats could point to not having Welker when they lost there in week two, but this time all we’re left to say is that Brady is still developing chemistry with those not named Welker, Moss, or Faulk.
I’m sure Bill O’Brien’s name will be back in the news again this week. Debating his game plans and use of threats outside of Moss/Welker. Though not even they could do anything in the second half.
Brady has to take some of the responsibility as well, never seen someone go from so hot to so cold so fast.
Clearly the talent is there on this team, especially on offense. That’s what is so frustrating. It’s all there. When they were clicking versus the Jets they were unstoppable.
But somehow that all just came apart at half time.
And in the second half they weren’t even facing Revis. Jason Taylor was banged up! I don’t even know who was playing in their secondary. And the shmoes shut down an offense that had been clicking on all cylindars.
We all saw Hard Knocks. The Jets barely had 53 guys good enough to make out their roster. Their backups were torched in every preseason game.
How did this happen? I’m at a total loss.
If you’ve had a chance to check out the Patscast podcast one of the regular guests is Jay Shields. Jay is a Patriots-centric Mike Mayock on the show, and shares his insights on the Patriots schemes from an educated football background. In my unending quest to become a more knowledgeable football fan I’ve found Jay’s commentary to be fascinating. Below is a post that Jay made on the popular PatsFans.com messageboard, providing a little more insight into what the Jets do on defense and how you beat it. Enjoy (and I suggest you grab a pen and paper to illustrate Jay’s description.:
Let’s start with the two most basic concepts behind Ryan’s fundamental attack. His scheme relies upon attacking the blocking scheme of the offense and forcing a quick ball release. This is achieved through disguising the Mike backer, overloading a gap, and pressing receivers off of the line. In order to understand how this attacks blocking schemes, it is necessary to first understand the fundamentals of a pass blocking scheme.
Typically, the first call made after the offense breaks the huddle is the identification of the Mike linebacker. This is sometimes made by both the QB and center, othertimes just by the center. Think of the Mike backer as the strength of the defensive formation. Just as you would hear defenses call out “strong left”, offenses will call out “52 is Mike”. Almost everything in defensive football boiled down it it’s most basic, fundamental level flows through the Mike linebacker. This is in large part because of the premium on the middle of the field. Look at how defenses are built. Nose, Mike and Will, SS. Everything from flow to the football to coverage to blitzing runs through the Mike. From 2-gap 34 to Ryan 34 to Johnson 43 to Tampa-2, it all places a premium on the alignment and responsibility of the mike. If he’s not there to blitz or eat a blocker he is there to compensate for a weakened area. In the context of the passing game, he is your best key in the anticipation of a blitz or coverage. Take this read away and the offense is already in an anticipation disadvantage.
The next part of what makes Ryan’s scheme effective is the overload blitz. This is again an attack on the pass protection concept. As a very general rule, most protections rely upon the blocker to defend a zone of closeness. Take the man closest to your face, and put a premium on defending the most direct line to the football. This is in response to stunts and loops that are designed to confuse man blocking scheme. For example; the offense is set in a singleback set with the TE aligned to the right of the formation. The defense is in a basic 43 call. In a very basic call the tackle is responsible for the weakside end, and the guard is responsible for the 3-technique. When the ball is snapped the 3-tech drives across the face of the guard, drawing him inwards. The defensive end accelerates towards the outside shoulder of the tackle, pulling him outwards in his drop steps. There is now a large rushing lane opened in the B-gap. The Will backer attacks the B-gap and the back steps up to block the Will. Tackle has outside responsibility, guard has inside responsibility, back has blitzer. Same thing would have happened if the 3-tech shot the B-Gap, and the Mike came through the A gap. Now, let’s add a walked up free safety coming through the B-Gap off of the azz of the Will. No matter what the o-line does, someone is going to come free. This example isn’t perfect nor absolute but it does a good job of illustrating my point.
You can read the rest of Jay’s post here…
