An Independent Patriots Blog
New England Patriots stat check: More TDs needed in red zone – ESPN Boston
What a difference a year makes….but again, what Pats offense is struggling most with is what Gronk does best. Not to say he steps in and is immediately the same dominant player, but still…
Mike Zimmer’s defense carries Cincinnati Bengals; 32 questions – NFL.com
Zimmer did his part by coming up with a plan that put his players in position to succeed. Convinced that the Patriots were intent on running the ball, he flooded the middle with constant pressure, ultimately turning New England one-dimensional. “I changed up the pressures,” Zimmer explained after the triumph. “I think they wanted to run. The first two times they ran play-action, we sacked him. That made it tough for them.”
On a day in which the defense kept the Patriots in the game, one play the unit would obviously like to have back was the third-and-15 situation that came after the Kelly-Mayo half-sack, as the Bengals were at their 2-yard line. The Patriots, in their sub defense, didn’t appear settled at the snap and in retrospect, one wonders if they would have benefitted from calling a timeout (they would later need those timeouts, of course). The result of the play was a 28-yard reception by receiver Marvin Jones down the left sideline. Cornerback Kyle Arrington trailed Jones in coverage and safety Devin McCourty might have been a little late getting over to the sideline, although he probably couldn’t have done much anyway.
Arguably the turning point play of the game.
Picked-up pieces from 2nd-half review – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston
https://www.patspropaganda.com/on-a-day-in-which-the-defense-kept-the-patriots-in/
Solid special-teams work by linebacker Dane Fletcher in punt coverage (two tackles in the first half). Random thought: While special-teams coverage doesn’t always translate to defense, perhaps Fletcher will be part of some sub packages in the coming weeks as the Patriots’ coaching staff works to figure out how to best utilize its personnel. Fletcher, who runs well, has played sparingly on defense this year but he is certainly showing up on special teams.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/solid-special-teams-work-by-linebacker-dane/
We’ll see when we get there, but my general thinking this early on is to take away the short passes. Make him beat us long, and make every catch Welker gets count with a good hit, they’ll add up by the 4th quarter. It’s kind of like teams used to play the Pats.
They’re going to score, but you have to try and limit their possessions (like the Pats have usually done). Belichick frequently has a new wrinkle just for Manning as well. I think that could involve Jamie Collins/Dane Fletcher/Duron Harmon in some capacity.
Of course there’s no easy answer and Manning is playing as well as anyone ever has at this point. But we’ll see where they’re at in 7 weeks, and where we’re at.
If they missed Vince Wilfork, it didn’t show. I guess you could quibble he might have stopped them on 4th & goal from the 1-centimeter line. But I thought they used the rotation Joe Vellano, Tommy Kelly and Chris Jones about as well as you could ask. And it didn’t appear they dumbed it down any for them. They mixed fronts. They put Vellano on the nose with Kelly as the weak side undertackle, then switched them on the next down. There was one play where Vellano was in 1-technique (on the center’s shoulder) and got snowplowed to the side by Kyle Cook for a gain. But on the next, 3rd & short, they spread both tackles out to 5-tech and brought Spikes and Mayo up into the interior gaps and they made the stops.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/if-they-missed-vince-wilfork-it-didnt-show-i/
