YOU HAD ME AT FIRST DOWN
Notes on PFF’s Patriots grades: Week 2 Cardinals
The grades are out for the Patriots-Cardinals game, and here some numbers that stand out to me.
Top Defensive Player: Chandler Jones (4.7)
Top Offensive Player: Sebastian Vollmer (3.3)
Worst Defensive Player: Jermaine Cunningham (-1.3)
Worst Offensive Player: Logan Mankins (-1.9)
Amazingly the top four players on offense were the offensive lineman. All graded out highly in pass protection, and average in run blocking.
I don’t know how Donald Thomas ended up with the 4th best score. I thought he was the worst player on offense. But apparently that was Logan Mankins.
Gronk had his worst graded regular season game since 2010 in Cleveland (-1.7). He had a -2.0 in the Super Bowl but I don’t count that one since he was on one ankle.
Brandon Spikes was the second highest graded defender (4.6) and had an impressive 7 stops (solo defensive tackle that constitute an offensive failure).
Spikes however was picked on in coverage a bit, allowing 3 catches of the 4 times he was thrown at for 26 yards.
Ninkovich bounced back after an average week in Tennessee with a 1.6, including 2 QB hurries, and 3 stops. He did have 2 missed tackles as well.
Kyle Arrington had a rough day in coverage with a -1.9. He was thrown at 5 times and all were completions for 62 total yards.
Devin McCourty had one of his best days in coverage. He was thrown at 4 times and gave up 0 completions.
A rare non-dominant day for Vince Wilfork, grading out an a -0.6. He still had a sack, 2 QB hurries and 2 stops though.
Patriots were brutal running to the left side, not surprisingly with Calais Campbell sitting over there. -2.4 running behind the tight end on the left, and -3.9 running behind Mankins at LG.
They had their most success running right behind the center, but still only scoring a measly 1.0.
The grader only qualified 8 of 50 plays as having Brady under pressure. Also only had 8 blitzes for the Cardinals.
The middle flat was yet again where the Pats did their most damage in the passing game. Brady was 10-11 for 87 yards and a TD there. To the outside flats Brady was 8-10 for 49 yards
From 10-20 yards Brady was 5-13 for 54 yards. For 20+ yards he was 2-6 for 61 yards.
Return game was average with McCourty scoring a -0.2 on 2 kick off returns, and Welker and Edelman combining for a 0.8 on 2 punt returns.
Patriots 3rd Down Defense – Week 2 :Ian’s New England Patriots Blog
Patriots 3rd Down Defense – Week 2 :Ian’s New England Patriots Blog
If you’re looking for silver linings from Sunday, check out Ian Logue’s breakdown of the third down defense. Yes it’s still Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals but we still got torched by teams like that last year.
Patriots 3rd Down Defense – Week 2 :Ian’s New England Patriots Blog
Patriots 3rd Down Defense – Week 2 :Ian’s New England Patriots Blog
Great breakdown of the third downs from Ian Logue at PatsFans.com.
The Arizona game was just one game. If anything, it should serve as a valuable teaching moment for one of the league’s youngest teams. Quickly learning the utmost importance of being “the same guy every day” will go a long way toward determining what kind of team the Patriots will be come January.
Pats must achieve consistency – BostonHerald.com
Nice read from Matt Chatham.
Wes Welker’s reduced role part of evolving offense – ESPN Boston
Wes Welker’s reduced role part of evolving offense – ESPN Boston
Mike Reiss hops on the “What’s up with Wes” train and sums it up:
Welker simply is no longer the focal point of the attack, likely because of a combination of merit and an evolving offense.
New information regarding the injury to Aaron Hernandez reveals he suffered a low – not high – ankle sprain during the first quarter of Sunday’s 20-18 loss to the Cardinals. According to a source, the recovery is indeed expected at 4-6 weeks with optimism toward the earlier end of that timeline.
Source: Low ankle sprain for Hernandez
This is really good news. As recently as this morning I was still worried we might not see Hernando again this season. I mean a high ankle sprain that required surgery could’ve done just that. And we all saw how much pain Hernando looked like he was in. This is a very positive development. Thank Hoodie!