THIS PATRIOTS DEFENSE JUST NEEDS A BIG HUG
https://www.patspropaganda.com/this-patriots-defense-just-needs-a-big-hug/
An Independent Patriots Blog
THIS PATRIOTS DEFENSE JUST NEEDS A BIG HUG
https://www.patspropaganda.com/this-patriots-defense-just-needs-a-big-hug/
I must first say that I respect the hell out of the team that the Miami Dolphins have become since 2007. They’re still a little rough around the edges (see their game against the Jets) but they are a big, physical football team that is going to compete from start to end and force you to beat them.
I never like to blow the importance of games out of proportion, especially in early October, but the fact is that this game is going to tell a lot about where the New England Patriots are.
We don’t need to be reminded of how poorly the Patriots have been in big games as of late, especially on the road. Name the last big road game the Patriots won. You’d have to go back to the 2007 16-0 game against the Giants.
In many ways the Dolphins and Patriots are similar teams. Young on defense, but solid on offense with solid weaponry. While Miami’s defense might be slightly ahead of the Pats right now, the Patriots are ahead at quarterback.
The thing that we know for sure is that the Patriots will have to play 60 minutes to win. Their defense must play better than they have the past two weeks. They must win the game, it will not be handed to them.
So start getting excited now, we’re five days from learning a lot about the 2010 Patriots.
After three weeks the Patriots have by far the number one offense in the NFL as far as the Football Outsiders are concerned. Their defense? 27th. Sounds about right, doesn’t it? Special Teams are ranked 17th. Overall they’re 6th, up one spot from 7th last week.
The Top 10:
The Dolphins are ranked 11th (12th in offense, 15th in defense, 27th in special teams).
http://www.hulu.com/embed/kMbdSf8mAsNw_CrLfAjQmA
Patriots History Tuesday: 1985 Patriots
I have clear memories of the 1985 season and their magical playoff run. Wish I still had my Squish the Fish t-shirt. Perhaps that would be a good thing to go looking for on a swag hunt.
John Hannah was a guest on Bill Simmons’ BS Report last week and he spoke a little about how disappointed the team was after Tony Eason was named the starter for the Super Bowl. It probably played a large part in why they got blown out. Of course it might’ve had something to do with the defense they were playing who actually were the legendary ‘85 Bears.
Side note: The 2010 Patriots will wear ’85 throwbacks on Halloween and Thanksgiving this year.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-history-tuesday-1985-patriots-i-have/
Thru 3 games…
Base 3-4 Defese: 80 of 202 plays = 40%
Sub Packages: 118 of 202 plays = 60%
Short Yardage: 4 of 202 plays = 2%
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Percentage of Snaps Played (min. 25%)
Analysis
Most surprising to me from this is how little Gary Guyton has been used. Seemed to me like he was out there for more than 36% of the snaps.
Considering the Pats have been in subpackages more than their base it’s interesting that Gerard Warren is still playing slightly more than Pryor or Wright.
Meriweather is still playing nearly 2/3s of the snaps.
Ron Brace is really coming on strong and it reflects in the amount he’s playing.
Reiss Breaks Down Crable’s Snaps
I don’t know if Mike Reiss wanted to send me a personal present today but alas he has broken down each of Shawn Crable’s snaps against the Bills. The way I saw it was that this was a “get your feet” wet experience for Crable. He didn’t look out of place and really, in his first real game since his 2007 college season that’s really all you can expect. The Patriots continue to look for a pass rush spark, hopefully Crable continues to progress like Jermaine Cunningham has.
As expected today was “Pile on the Patriots Defense” day by all those who seemed shocked that this group of rookies and second/third year players are not instantly a shutdown defense. Yes, letting the Bills put up as much offense as they did was a little scary, but not entirely unexpected, unless you still thought Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, Ty Law and Willie McGinest were still playing for New England.
As far as all the pundits are concerned the vaunted Miami Dolphins offense is going to hang 77 points on the Patriots next Monday night, and New England’s only hope of winning will be to score 80.
The Patriots defensive woes have been just one of the few storylines that we’ve been getting hammered with ever since we stopped beating teams by forty points. Personally I’m just sick and tired of all the lazy journalism, the uniformed opinions, and faux outrage about all things surrounding the new Patriots.
I take a Vollmer-sized swing at all the moronic analysis after the jump…
Ty Warren’s quote below to Tom E. Curran after being released got me just as excited as another blockbuster free agent addition. "I think the team was looking to do some things differently on defense and I wasn’t in the plan. It doesn’t have anything to do with the test or anything else or related with Bill. […]