Pats are going to need a big day on the ground Sunday. The Jets flooded their secondary with seven defensive backs the first time around. If they try to pull that again it’s going to be all about the running game.
But you heard it here first, the secret weapon this weekend is Kevin Faulk. His experience in blitz pickup should be invaluable.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/pats-are-going-to-need-a-big-day-on-the-ground/
YOU CAN’T SPELL ELITE WITHOUT ELI
You also can’t spell toilet.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/myespn-you-cant-spell-elite-without-eli-you/
Boston Globe/Bedard: Haynesworth a lost cause, but Ochocinco isn’t
Boston Globe/Bedard: Haynesworth a lost cause, but Ochocinco isn’t
I’m not quite sure why everyone is so angry at Chad Ochocinco but this article from Bedard confirms what I saw after re-watching the Giants game. I don’t want to say Ochocinco is close because he’s more than close. Brady just has to trust him and deliver the ball quickly and accurately like he usually does.
I don’t want to get on TFB here but everyone complains about how the Patriots can’t develop wide receivers but maybe it’s time for Brady to start trusting guys not named Welker or Branch a little more. He’s going to have to if the Pats are to have a chance at beating the Jets this weekend.
Patriots 3rd down defense showing signs of improvement
When you look at the 3rd down defense for the 2010 Patriots it was atrocious. Just five times were they better than average (40%) and seven times were they below unacceptable (50%). They finished the year with a dreadful 47% of third down conversions allowed, bad enough for last in the NFL.
It was an area that we discussed for much of last off-season, and a factor in the “we need a pass rusher” craze. Despite all the criticism the 2011 Pats defense has taken they’ve actually been improved on third down.
Let’s look at their 3rd down percentages for the first half of the season:
- Miami: 2/14: 14%
- San Diego: 10/12: 83%
- Buffalo: 4/11 = 36%
- Oakland: 8/13 = 61%
- Jets: 3/11 = 27%
- Dallas: 4/12 = 33%
- Pittsburgh: 10/16 = 62%
- Giants: 4/14 = 28%
Through eight games the Pats have already been under 40% as many times as they were in 2010. And while they have three performances of over 50% they are 2-1 in those games.
The 2010 were also elite on third down (under 30%) just once all season, while the 2011 Pats have already topped that mark three times in the first half of the season.
You can conjure up a lot of negative stats about the 2011 Pats defense, but the improvements on third down are not debatable. They still may be 28th (44%) in the NFL on 3rd down, but I expect them to be far closer to the top of the NFL by the end of the end of the season, especially when you look at the numbers in three of the last four games.
If there really is a Football God up there please let Brandon Spikes have made a miraculous recovery and let him be at practice today. I know it’s probably not going to happen but with the Jets back to their ground and pound way the Pats are going to be in real trouble if they have to rely on Gary Guyton at MLB again. This is the most distressing injury problem of the week for sure. Maybe we can get Dane Fletcher back as a consolation?
https://www.patspropaganda.com/if-there-really-is-a-football-god-up-there-please/
