From an article I wrote for B/R this offseason, here are what I see as the biggest things the Pats defense needs to improve.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/from-an-article-i-wrote-for-br-this-offseason/
First, I’m gonna start with saying I’m a huge Rex Ryan defense fan. I love that whole Baltimore line, and I think you can see how well they usually do against Brady. My question is this: people keep talking about how to deploy Revis. It is said that Rex traditionally matched his best DB on the other teams 2nd best WR, then doubled the top receiver. Revis changed his philosophy up to putting his best CB on best WR. How should Bill use him? I think the best WR is always better than the best CB
It might come as a surprise to some but I’m a huge Rex fan as well – both for what he brings to the Pats-Jets rivalry and his defensive schemes.
You bring up a very good point, and this was something that I’ve heard rumblings about the Pats considering – to put Revis on WR #2 then bracket the #1 over the top and underneath.
There is certainly some merit to this philosophy.
Complicating matters is Brandon Browner’s size. In Seattle he was stuck on one side due to their system, but it seems to make sense that Browner might be best used following the bigger #1 corners that the Pats will see like Megatron, AJ Green, Demaryius, etc.
So how will BB use them? I don’t know. And neither does the rest of the NFL, so the Pats can use that to their advantage. It’s one thing going into a game knowing who your receivers are going to be covered by. It’s another when it could be Revis, it could be 6’4" Browner, it could be Logan Ryan or uber pest Alfonzo Dennard. You just don’t know.
So as much as an advantage as this varied personnel gives the Pats, there’s also a sizable advantage in the unpredictability as well.
Q: Specifically on third down, I don’t know how much you researched it, but if you did in the offseason, what stood out to you?
RN: We’ve got to get off the field. That’s huge. Some of the third-and-long situations, we weren’t able to get off the field. I know third-and-long screens hurt us last year, too, so specifically that play and the third-and-long situation as a whole, we’ve got to do a better job. Obviously, everything is working together, so coverage-rush, rush-coverage all works together. That’s just one area that we definitely need to work on this year.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/q-specifically-on-third-down-i-dont-know-how/
Welcome to football season; we’re here. It’s always an exciting time of year – the start of training camp.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/welcome-to-football-season-were-here-its/
Best Gronk play of 2013. So good to have him back out there. What a beast!
https://www.patspropaganda.com/best-gronk-play-of-2013-so-good-to-have-him-back/
Rob Gronkowski has been cleared by doctors and will not be placed on the active/PUP list to start training camp, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday morning.
Rob Gronkowski of New England Patriots cleared by doctors – ESPN Boston
Always nice to kick off the opening of training camp with some good news. Now I just wonder how many braces Gronk will be wearing on his body? Knee? Arm? Back? Let’s hope he’s got a full season in him this year. If he does the Pats’ offense (and Super Bowl chances) will be very good.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/rob-gronkowski-has-been-cleared-by-doctors-and/
Patriots Training Camp Preview: Safety
The New England Patriots finally found an answer at safety in 2013 in Devin McCourty, after years of instability and inconsistency at the position. McCourty became just the third player to be named an All Pro at two different positions.
But with the release of Steve Gregory, McCourty will have a new starter next to him in 2014, with second-year player Duron Harmon the favorite to land the role.
But how do the rest of the safeties match up should injuries strike? Here’s our final training camp positional preview with the safeties.
Devin McCourty is one of the top young safeties in the game. Now entering the final year of his rookie deal, the Patriots have reportedly entered into contract talks and for good reason.
McCourty could only get more expensive as he reaps the benefit of having Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner at cornerback.
Duron Harmon was a surprising third-round pick in 2013, but showed consistency and strong tackling skills as a rookie. While he’s not one of the prototypical strong safeties of a past era, Harmon can play on the back end or in the box.
Is he the proverbial “enforcer” that many Patriots fans have been clamoring for since Rodney Harrison retired? No, but the Patriots prefer a balanced back end approach anyway. Harmon has good range and seems like a good fit for Belichick’s style. That’s probably why he drafted him so high, right?
The Pats also brought back Patrick Chung, who spent 2013 with the Eagles. Chung should contribute on special teams and has the demeanor to make an impact in the box as a safety if necessary. Chung gets into trouble when asked to play man-to-man or on the back end. But let him come downhill and make tackles and he’ll deliver some heavy hits. He’s also the perfect kind of off-the-field citizen the Pats love.
Tavon Wilson had some promise as a rookie in 2012 after being thrown into the fire early after Steve Gregory was hurt, but Wilson was relegated to special teams-only in 2013. He’s likely facing a make-or-break season.
Nate Ebner has been solid as a special teams player in his first two seasons, even being asked to occasionally fill in on defense. But that’s not his specialty and he should once again be a special teams mainstay.
Ebner’s most direct competition might come from Kanorris Davis, who saw spot duty in three games as an undrafted rookie who kicked around from the practice squad to the active roster throughout the 2013 season.
There are some promising rookies looking to make an impact as well, including seventh-round pick Jemea Thomas who has good versatility to play a number of different spots in the secondary.
Shamiel Gary and Travis Hawkins were signed as undrafted rookies and will likely need an injury to make the roster. Both are practice squad candidates. Hawkins is out of Delaware but had an impressive pro day.
Projection:
McCourty is the only lock, while most assume Harmon will get the first shot playing next to him. But if Harmon falters or there’s an injury at the top of the depth chart, things could get dicey rather quickly.
Chung is a good third safety, but if he’s thrust into the starting job he would be a target in coverage.
There’s interesting unknowns who will likely get long looks. The competition between Wilson, Davis, Gary and Hawkins could be competing for one roster spot. Special teams performance might be what matters most.
If Harmon takes a solid step forward in his sophomore season, he and McCourty might make for the best Patriots safety tandem since the Super Bowl years. And their jobs will only be made easier by the high-quality cornerbacks on the roster.
And really, how much does it matter who plays next to McCourty given the talent in the secondary? But as always, the proven depth is only so thick.
Previously:
