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Interesting Patriots Nuggets from Reiss-Bruschi Podcast

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Interesting Patriots Nuggets from Reiss-Bruschi Podcast

As I mentioned earlier today the Mike Reiss-Tedy Bruschi ESPN podcast has to be the greatest Patriots media addition for the 2010 season. Some little things of interest to pass along:

Bruschi spoke of what it means to have that veteran “savvy” and specifically mentioned how veterans don’t take false steps forward biting on play action, something the young Pats D has been getting killed on all year. This is an outstanding example of how experience can dramatically improve a defense.

I’m pretty familiar with the Inside Linebacker spots in the 34 defense (called “Mike” and “Will”) but one thing that Tedy pointed out that I thought was interesting is how the run reads for the Will are pretty simple, with only two reads.

Mike Reiss wondered if the Patriots might open in a 4-3 defense to throw off ex Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees. Pees knows the Patriots system and personnel inside and out, so going to a 4-3 might be a good way to throw the Ravens game plan off. However we haven’t seen any 4-3 this year (unlike 2009) so I would find it pretty surprising. That includes training camp, where in 2009 there was a lot of 4-3 being run. In 2010 there wasn’t any reported. Though a line of Brace, Wilfork, Wright and Warren could hold up pretty well.

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I don’t know, I’d say there has been less of that since time has gone on,” Belichick said. “So, they’ll have to defend some other guys, we’ll see how they choose to do it. I think teams have been playing more of what they play, less specific coverages for a specific player — Wes, Randy,” he continued. “Not that we don’t see them, just I’d say less, a lower frequency. I’d say things changed kind of in ‘07 and then in ‘08, and in ‘09, they gradually declined.

Bill Belichick on coverages changing with the departure of Randy Moss. (via The Rapsheet)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/i-dont-know-id-say-there-has-been-less-of-that/

Baldy: Pats Scheme Outdated

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Baldy: Pats Scheme Outdated

Those who know me know I worship at the alter of NFL Network’s Playbook. There’s no slant (especially not “Quick Slants), just broken down film showing who’s good/bad and why. Today Brian "Baldy” Baldinger, he of the loose, dangly pinky, came on EEI and had some not so sweet things to say about the Patriots 34 defensive scheme. Here’s a sampling:

“I don’t believe the style of defense that Bill [Belichick] is playing right now can win championships,” Baldinger said. “I don’t believe that you can sit there in your zone defenses with your strict and straight 3-4 defense. There’s not a lot of disguise to what they do. It makes it a little bit easier on quarterbacks." 

Look I get what Baldy is saying, but what’s he’s leaving out is that it’s a lot easier to scheme and disguise when you have a veteran defense. We saw plenty of that when Bruschi, Vrabel, Harrison et al were playing. Did Belichick suddenly decide that a straight forward style of defense was better? No. 

It will take time before the young players on defense have mastered the basic techniques required to play defense at the NFL level. Even I can see they are playing simple defenses, but I would guess that as the season progresses there will be more and more disguise and complications added in.

We must be patient Patriots Nation. Championship defenses are not built from scratch in two seasons.