PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

defense

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The defensive front fielded a line that included Rob Ninkovich, Smith, Chris Jones and Chandler Jones at one point. That could certainly be an interesting group of pass rushers to throw at an offensive line.

Ninkovich has taken a lot of reps standing on two feet in various sets and schemes to open camp. He does a lot of bumping and re-routing in those looks.

Innnnnteresting. Still can’t wait to see how Easley is integrated into these pass rush fronts.

Edelman shining, Hall of Fame drill and more Patriots Day 5 camp blogservations

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-defensive-front-fielded-a-line-that-included/

Could 2014 secondary be best of Bill Belichick Era? – WEEI | Christopher Price

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Could 2014 secondary be best of Bill Belichick Era? – WEEI | Christopher Price

Memmmmories…. How long ago does it seem when the Patriots had one of the absolute dominant defenses of the NFL? I don’t know how this group is going to come together. Sure, on paper, it looks like it could be great, but we all know how quickly injuries can derail things. Hopefully it all comes together like we think it could.

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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/

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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.

Rob Ninkovich Transcript: “Having Mayo, Wilfork back gives you more confidence”

https://www.patspropaganda.com/q-specifically-on-third-down-i-dont-know-how/

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The Patriots have a perfect personnel mix. Young veterans either entering or in their prime – Chandler Jones, Donta Hightower, Devin McCourty, Rob Ninkovich, Kyle Arrington, Brandon Browner and Mayo. Back-nine veterans with guile and talent – Wilfork and Kelly. Experienced young depth – Seaver Siliga, Chris Jones, Joe Vellano, Logan Ryan, Jamie Collins and Duron Harmon. One of the league’s best defenders in Revis. A head coach who made his legend as a defensive mastermind. There is no logical reason to think the Patriots defense will be the sore spot its been for the past five seasons.

With the tools in place to be a more pressure-oriented defense as opposed to reactive, the Patriots can change their MO and change their stripes from being a team reliant on Tom Brady to save them and one that sets him up to merely get the wins in the barn. That will be the biggest switch of all.

Camp questions: Will Pats ‘D’ be what we think it is? (via vidriodelmar)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-patriots-have-a-perfect-personnel-mix-young/

Are Hybrid Defensive Fronts the Future of NFL Defenses? | Bleacher Report

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Are Hybrid Defensive Fronts the Future of NFL Defenses? | Bleacher Report

Good read for those out there like me who really enjoy scheme reads. I think the one thing I’d add to this is that essentially nickel is the new base defense. If you’re talking about 3-4 or 4-3, an outdated conversation regardless, you’re really only referring to a team’s run-stopping defense.

The Patriots have been in the so called “base” around 36% of the time the last four seasons. The “sub” package, with five or more defensive backs? 61% of the snaps.

With this in mind, the interesting evolution to look at is away from nose tackles and run-stuffing middle linebackers (hi Brandon Spikes) and toward designated pass rushing defensive ends and slot cornerbacks. These are essentially starters now.

This is also what made/makes Vince Wilfork so special. He can two-gap as a zero-technique nose tackle, but he’s also quick enough to be a traditional one-gap defensive tackle. It’s also why Dominique Easley is now worth a first-round pick in the Patriots’ eyes, whereas in the mid-2000’s he wouldn’t have been.

Another player who is a modern defensive specimen is Jamie Collins, who has outside linebacker size but can run like a safety. In these new hybrid defensive fronts, the ideal players are hybrid defenders and I’d bet we’ll see the Patriots trying to acquire more and more of them.

how does the defense this year compare to the ones that won those super bowls going into the season (assume everyone is healthy)

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I guess we’ll find out, but on paper they seem to be the best defense they’ve fielded in an offseason since those days. I think the main difference is that you take some of the versatility and talent that the dynasty defenses had in their linebacking corps and put that into the cornerbacks.

It’s a different style of defense required these days. So if you put the dynasty front seven up against this front seven I don’t think the talent level is quite where it was when they peaked in 2004. 

What’s most interesting is that I’ve always subscribed to trying to re-build a similar front seven to get this defense back to where it needs to be. But this offseason the focus went to the defensive backs instead of investing in a third pass rusher like Julius Peppers, Demarcus Ware or Jared Allen.

The depth at linebacker is razor thin right now. Compare that to when you had Bruschi/Phifer/Johnson/Vrabel/Colvin/McGinest. Granted we’re comparing 3-4 to 4-3, but even with Ninkovich/Chandler classified as LBs with Mayo/Hightower/Collins, there’s still a noticeable dropoff.

I still believe this is the most reliable way to build a defense, with a great and deep front seven. What I took from the dynasty defense was that it didn’t really matter if you had the deepest and most talented secondary – if your front seven was consistently causing problems for the quarterback anyone could essentially do the coverage job.

Sure, they were much better off, and nearly impenetrable, when it was Ty Law and Tyrone Pool back there, but they did win a Super Bowl with rookie Asante Samuel and Randall Gay as well.

Now we’ll see if the reverse is true. Chandler and Ninkovich and whoever else is getting snaps at defensive end are good, but none are pure pass rushers. I have great hope for Easley, but he can’t do it all alone. We’ll probably see plenty of Chris Jones as well on the inside to get pressure.

So can the Pats talented array of cornerbacks stay healthy and productive all season long and buy the pass rush that extra second? Most especially in the playoffs when everything is on the line? That’s probably the biggest question facing the defense as a group this season.