http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRG2-_uuhzo
Feels like we need a little kick ass Tom Brady video at the moment, eh?
(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/feels-like-we-need-a-little-kick-ass-tom-brady/
How big of a concern is the New England Patriots’ defense? – ESPN Boston
How big of a concern is the New England Patriots’ defense? – ESPN Boston
Filled with interesting stats like these:
The Patriots also held held their own in the red zone. While they’ve allowed their opponents 58 trips inside the 20 (third most in the NFL), only 81 percent of them have ended in scores of some sort. That’s the sixth-lowest rate in the NFL.
New England has six takeaways in the red zone, tied for second in the league behind the Falcons (seven). In terms of red zone touchdown-to-field goal ratio, the Patriots’ defense is around the middle of the pack (as compared to back of the pack in most other categories): 53.4 percent of opponent red zone trips ended in touchdowns, 18th best in NFL (average is 52.3 percent).
The Patriots allow 6.20 yards per play overall (31st in NFL), but in the red zone, that average drops to 2.61 yards per play (13th in the NFL).
Since the (first) day that Dane has been here, he’s worked really hard. He puts a lot into it. He studies hard, he prepares hard, he works hard. The biggest thing with him is just being able to stay on the field. He’s been held up a little bit with some of the injuries, but he’s a smart guy, he’s athletic, he runs well, he’s strong. The more you can play that position, the more confidence that you’re going to gain. I’d say you’ve noticed just in his play, it looks like he’s played a little more assertively, a little more aggressively. Part of that is he probably has a little more confidence in not only his health, but maybe a little more confidence in what he’s doing. Since he’s been here from day one, he’s made a conscious effort to improve as a football player and get better. He puts his head down, he works hard and when he’s been on the field, he’s made the most of his chances.
Nick Caserio
https://www.patspropaganda.com/since-the-first-day-that-dane-has-been-here/
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Patriots defense falls to 32nd in DVOA
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Patriots defense falls to 32nd in DVOA
There’s no way to sugar coat this one. Football Outsiders’ DVOA rankings (that basically measure efficiency) are ones that many NFL front offices do pay attention to and when they say your defense is bad it says something.
The Patriots have been 32nd or 31st the entire season vs. opposing #1 WRs. Against #2s and other wide receivers they’ve been hovering in the 20s.
The only thing this Patriots defense has done efficiently this season is cover running backs, where they’re ranked 9th overall. Even against Tight Ends they are ranked 28th.
I will be the first to say that this defense has had it’s moments this year. Moments when they stepped up and made a big play with everything on the line. However they have been horribly inconsistent, and often times non-existant.
They have the fight, but they have yet to show they can play sixty minutes, consistently every week. Can they put together three games against the iron of the AFC and NFC? At this moment it looks like a tall order.
But never say never when you have Tom Brady.
Patriots adjusted to Dolphins’ blitz – The Boston Globe
Patriots adjusted to Dolphins’ blitz – The Boston Globe
Great stuff from Bedard:
O’Brien and Brady have to be credited for changing course at halftime. O’Brien saw what the Dolphins were doing and decided to make things easier on his quarterback. In the first half, the Patriots ran just two plays with zero running backs on the field, and six with an empty set (no backs or receivers lined up next to Brady). The Patriots ran the first five plays of the second half with no backs on the field and an empty set. By the end of the second half, the Patriots had run 18 plays with no running backs, and 20 empty sets. That adjustment spread the Dolphins out more so Brady could tell where the blitzes were coming from. It also allowed the beat-up line to get a better idea of where the threats loomed. That helped Brady carry out the second big adjustment: getting rid of the ball quicker. Against 13 blitzes in the first half, Brady held the ball an average of 2.24 seconds. He was sacked twice, hurried three times, and knocked down twice for seven total quarterback pressures. In the second half, against 17 blitzes (only one of six rushers), Brady was hurried once and knocked down twice. Against those blitzes, Brady’s release time was 2.04 seconds. That’s an eternity for an offensive line.