PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Let’s talk about sacks. (Patriots Style)

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Before this season started I did this little sack analysis which came to the conclusion that the goal to hit for season sacks is 40. In the five best seasons of the 2000’s (‘01, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07) the Pats broke that plateau every time, but lately they’ve been in the low 30s.

Now I know this doesn’t include numbers like QB hits and pressures, so take it for what it is worth. I also don’t necessarily believe that higher sack numbers mean a better defense.

For example the 2007 team had six more sacks than the 2003 team and I think we can all agree the 2003 team was probably the best defense of the decade.

Regardless the Patriots now stand at 28 sacks with two games to play, good for eighteenth in the NFL.  It’s likely they will surpass their totals from the past two seasons (31, 31), so at least early on it appears the pass rush did improve somewhat this year.

When you take into account they’ve been without their two best interior rushers for the hardest stretch it’s even a little more impressive.

But it remains clear this team still lacks a feared pass rusher. TBC and his big head don’t need to be game-planned around. 

Right now the Patriots are a team of specialization, but lack a three down linebacker other than Jerod Mayo. The current pass rush specialist is Eric Moore, after stints of seeing Jermaine Cunningham and Shawn Crable in that role, and he’s looked harder to block than either of his predecessors. Perhaps the Pats could be onto something with him like the Dolphins got with Cameron Wake.

If you’d like to see an in-depth analysis of the sacks from the Packers game check out this great article by Richard Hill. 

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I didn’t realize that Clay Matthews had copyrighted this flex celebration. Somebody should go back in time and tell David Givens.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/i-didnt-realize-that-clay-matthews-had/

What’s it going to take for the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl?

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Even though I’m just a fan blogger I try to align my feelings and expectations with the philosophy that BB preaches. The goal is to win the Super Bowl.

I don’t care where the Patriots are ranked in anyone’s power rankings. I don’t really care about where they rank statistically. And I definitely don’t care what Tom Brady’s hair looks like.

What I care about is making the playoffs, preferably by winning the division, then peaking in the January and playing our best football when it’s all on the line.

All year long NFL fans see and hear the pundits go back and forth on their teams depending on how they did last Sunday.

Disappointing performance? They can be beat. Dominating performance? Book your tickets for the Super Bowl. 

I don’t ride that roller coaster.

So today when you’re hearing about the Packers have exposed the Patriots defense ignore it. The Patriots defense has been pretty much been what it’s been all season long. Teams can pass on them, and occasionally run on their subpackages, but they’re a “ballhawking” defense.

So if you were surprised by what you saw last night you must’ve just started following the Patriots after they beat the Bears and everyone started pronouncing them ‘unbeatable’.

Anyway, let’s look at the Patriots rationally and figure out what has to be done if this team is going to win their fourth Super Bowl this year.

KEY NUMBER ONE: GET HEALTHY

The lengthy absences of Mike Wright and Myron Pryor have been tough to overcome. They are the Pats primary interior rushers, and while newcomer Eric Moore has been generating some pressure off the edge he will be even more effective when offensive lines have to deal with the speed/strength that Pryor and Wright bring up the middle.

Alot of the problems yesterday were because Matt Flynn could step up into the pocket despite pressure coming off the edges. The Pats are now being forced to use Kyle Love, Vince Wilfork and Gerard Warren in nickel packages when their strengths are really more holding their ground, not getting upfield like Wright and Pryor can do. Their return is of the utmost importance, also because as veterans they are better against subpackage runs as well.

KEY NUMBER TWO: OFFENSE MUST CONTINUE TO CLICK

The numbers didn’t look overwhelming for the offense against the Green Bay but when you consider they put up 24 points in just 19 minutes of possession it looks a little better. They were a little flat yesterday, which is often the case when teams face a non-divisional opponent at the end of the season in a game that is not must-win.

Of all the things I think we can count on the offense putting up points is number one. But when you have a defense that struggles getting off the field you don’t have a lot of room for error. A huge part of this is to continue not turning the ball over.

KEY NUMBER THREE: KEEP GETTING INTS AND GET OFF THE FIELD ON 3RD DOWN

Take away the turnovers and this defense is as bad as the statistics say it is. Depending on turnovers is a recipe for disaster, that is why the Pats must put together a three game stretch in the playoffs where they only give up 40% of their third downs. That’s about average, but far better than the 50% they’re averaging this season. Here are their third down numbers this season, but they break down like this:

  • Elite (sub-35%): 2 games (vs. Ravens, vs. Jets)
  • Solid (36% – 45%): 3 games (Vikings, @ Steelers, @ Bears)
  • Poor (over 45%): 9 (everyone else)

It’s no accident that whenever the Pats are better than 45% on third down they win.

I like the Patriots chances if they can get Pryor and Wright back, as well as having Brandon Spikes return. But the play of the defense, especially on third down, will be where the Patriots Super Bowl hopes live or die.

Santonio Holmes Douchey First Down Celebration

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I’ve been trying to find a video of the Jets’ Santonio Holmes’ little “hold the ball out then drop it” first down celebration forever. Yesterday when I saw this little installment of it I had to share. The look on the refs face is pretty much the same one on my face after every time he pulls this crap.