PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

defense

we normally don’t see the patriots blitz often if at all in games. with at least 3 corners that can play man should we expect a little more blitzing(not every play but more then we normally are accustomed to) this year

by

It’s an interesting question that will be something to really monitor this season because BB has never had the quality of corners on paper that he has right now.

One thing about defense though is that you never want to have to blitz. You want to get pressure with four. Of course that’s easier said that done. And really, the mainstream definition of a blitz is sending more than four guys, but some would tell you a real blitz is only when defensive backs are getting sent, which we saw occasionally with Arrington and Ryan last season.

Belichick is and will likely always be a fairly conservative defensive coach and it’s hard to argue with the results. But now that his theoretically has multiple corners who can man-up receivers and take them out of the equation, does he start sending more blitzes? Certainly seems like there’s a good chance.

But if I was a betting man I’d bet his blitz rate remains nearly unchanged.

Here’s the percentages of blitzes from last season. While some of it is dependent on how the games unfolded, the Pats are unlikely to ever blitz more than 30% of the snaps.

image

Don’t Stop Frontin’: The Mind-Boggling Multiplicity of NFL Defenses « Grantland

by

Don’t Stop Frontin’: The Mind-Boggling Multiplicity of NFL Defenses « Grantland

Good read, even if there isn’t a single mention of the Patriots, one the originators of the multiple front defense. As I’ve been saying for years, 3-4 vs. 4-3 is just semantics now, those vanilla defenses are just too easy for modern offenses to pick apart. Now you need a combination of athletes and space-eaters, moving around the front and not giving away their intention. Who’s blitzing? Who’s two-gapping? Who’s dropping? It gives the offense a ton to think about rather than the old straight-up 3-4 where it will be the same thing down after down.

Nick Caserio Press Conference Transcript

by

Nick Caserio Press Conference Transcript

Good tidbit:

Q: As far as the safety position goes for the Patriots, how much do you guys value having two guys that have distinct responsibilities – maybe that traditional free versus strong safety position? Is that important or do we make too much out of that?

NC: I think having versatile players that can do multiple things is important and how you deploy those players. Ultimately you try to play to a player’s strengths so whatever a player does well you try to put them in a position schematically where they can utilize those skills. We’ve had corners that have played safety, safeties that have played safety. That position, there are a lot of things that go into it. There’s a space game, there’s a tackling game, there’s instinctiveness, ball skills, all those types of things, they are applicable not only to the safety position but the corner position as well. Some corners actually look like safeties, some safeties look like corners. I think the defensive back group in general, having the degree of position versatility is certainly helpful, especially when you’re playing certain teams on a week to week basis, it doesn’t force you to make wholesale changes – ‘Well, if this guy is in the game, we have to put this guy in the game.’ Having guys that are multiple that might be utilized in multiple roles, there is certainly value in that.

by

We have to get off the field on third downs better. I think we had too many third-and-longs converted. That’s another thing that hurts you, when it’s third-and-15 and they run a screen and they get the first down. That comes down to assignments, guys running after the ball, running lanes where you’re at, it all works together.

Ninkovich: Long story not a happy ending – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

Been hitting on this theme recently in the last week – getting off the field on third down, there’s no defense in the NFL that has been worse over the last four seasons. It’s a critical area and one that could make an instant impact if improved.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/we-have-to-get-off-the-field-on-third-downs/

Hey Mike, can you talk a little bit about how a player like Darelle Revis empowers BB and the defensive coaching staff? “Revis Island” and “Shut Down Corner” cliches aside, what are some schemes and strategies that would have been unworkable, unwise, or even just uncharacteristic of the Patriots before they had Revis, but that are now possible or probable with him in the fold?

by

Good question and I think the answers are somewhat visible given what the defense evolved to with Aqib Talib in 2012. To really get a sense of the shift we need to go back to the late 2000’s.

Here’s the Pats D vs. Colts 2009.

image

At the snap, the undersized corners (Wilhite and Bodden) will turn and run. The Pats have a third safety on the field to cover Dallas Clark.

Here’s the Pats D vs. Broncos in 2013 AFCCG.

image

Now the corners attempt to jam and disrupt the timing right at the line of scrimmage. You can just tell by the difference in the corners presnap stances that they’re playing a different technique now – they’re lower, ready for contact, whereas before they’re getting ready to turn and run.

So that, in essence, is really what it is all about. The late-2000’s Pats were content to play more zone coverage and to use what they perceived as athletic and smart corners who could pattern-read and jump routes.

Asante Samuel was the perfect example of that kind of corner.

Whether it was quarterbacks getting too good or the rules allowing no contact downfield (or a little of both), zone coverage became easier and easier to pick apart. There’s still a place for zone coverage, you have to mix-and-match, but to play mostly zone will result in giving up more passing yardage than anyone else (like they did from 2010-2013).

Now you must take your chance to be physical with the wide receivers when you can be – within five yards of the line of scrimmage. That disrupts the timing of the offense and buys that extra second for the pass rush.

That also doesn’t mean that just because you’re pressing you have to play man. The Seahawks will press and then drop their corners into cover three. 

What Revis and Browner (and Dennard and Arrington and Ryan to other extents) allow the Pats to do is to win at the line of scrimmage.

If only we could stand Revis/Browner side-by-side to Samuel/Hobbs. That picture would be worth a thousand words.

Team Blitzing | ProFootballFocus.com

by

Team Blitzing | ProFootballFocus.com

This is a critical article if you want more insight into the Patriots pass rush. The Pats are ranked 25th overall in blitz percentage, obviously meaning that they really don’t blitz very much at all compared to the rest of the NFL.

When the Pats do blitz, they were fairly effective, ranking 13th in the NFL for pass rush productivity when sending more than four guys. But again, it didn’t happen very often.

Finally comes the real measure, and that is measuring the ability to get pressure with just their front four. In this the Pats were ranked 23rd.

I think in Bill Belichick’s world this is the most telling stat. When the Pats had a dominant defense this ranking would’ve been much higher because they had the ability to get pressure with just four guys, which would be their front three in the 3-4 and whichever LB they felt like sending on that play.

If you’re a conservative defensive team and you don’t blitz a lot, getting pressure with just four is critical to your defense. It might be the single most important element. This is why, for all the excitement the signings of Revis and Browner bring, it’s all about the front seven as I see it if this defense is going to be truly elite.

Also, here’s MMQB’s last pressure points ranking which similarly has the Pats in the early-20s for pass rush. Just not good enough. If Wilfork/Kelly can re-enter the rotation they will definitely help, but how limited will they be. Hopefully Armstead helps too.