FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | AFC Divisional Round Preview

Really interesting stuff…

Talib has surprisingly poor charting numbers since he joined the Patriots at midseason (9.3 yards allowed per pass and just a 38 percent Success Rate based on our current data), but the five games with Talib in the starting lineup were undoubtedly the best five-game stretch for the Patriots’ defense all season.

You can see the team’s improvement with each move, and then a decline when Dennard and Talib get hurt:

• Weeks 1-6 (McCourty and Arrington starting): 23.9% DVOA vs. pass
• Weeks 7-10 (Dennard and Arrington starting, McCourty moves to safety): 8.6% DVOA vs. pass
• Weeks 11-15 (Dennard and Talib starting, Arrington moves to nickel): 4.5% DVOA vs. pass
• Weeks 16-17 (Dennard and Talib injured, Arrington and McCourty start at cornerback again): 13.9% DVOA vs. pass