Mike Reiss’ must-read Sunday thoughts are always interesting and todays are no exception, including a mention that the Pats are still playing a lot of man-to-man on defense when the assumption was they’d go to more zone with Revis and Browner. I was more upset about a scheme change than I was letting those guys go because I truly believe you HAVE to be able to play man defense in the NFL now. QBs are too good finding the weak spots in zone.
So while it’s nice to hear I still don’t think they’ll be playing as much man as last year. First because man defense is a lot easier to evaluate in the preseason and is better to get corners ready for the season. Second is that they’ll evolve into more pattern-reading, which is still man in a way, you just pick the man up after the route combinations have developed.
Revis and Browner were special at a physical press man, but there are more than just that way to play man. Regardless expect the same old “bend-don’t-break, red zone stop” style Belichick is famous for.
