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Justin Tuck’s four-sack game earns him Edge Rusher of the Week honors | The MMQB with Peter King
Wow, Patriots with their best pressure performance of the year I believe? 3rd overall with 12 hurries and 9 QB hits and 1 easy sack. Still only faced the third-fewest pass snaps so that upped their ranking a bit.
Great one from Nick Underhill…
In all, the Patriots have used 34 different combinations of players on the defensive line this season. The most popular grouping has been Ninkovich, Chandler Jones, Chris Jones and Vellano, who have logged 275 snaps together playing on the defensive line. The most popular three-man line has been Chris Jones, Vellano and Sopoaga, who have played 68 snaps together.
Good tweet from Matt Chatham showing how the Pats sold out against the pass and let the Broncos take what they could on the ground. Forcing continued execution and not allowing any big plays is “bend, don’t break” at its finest.
Up now on @weei w/ @MutWEEI and @LouMerloni to talk #Patriots #Broncos …referencing Pats D approach in this pic: pic.twitter.com/zNektNOlCu
— Matt Chatham (@chatham58) November 26, 2013
Contributions from linebackers Dane Fletcher and Jamie Collins, who haven’t been a big part of defensive plans prior to this point, stood out. Fletcher had played 68 total defensive snaps through the first nine games of the season and nearly matched the total on Sunday night, when he had a key forced fumble. Fletcher was thrust into action when linebacker Dont’a Hightower came out of the game late in the second quarter and didn’t play another snap the rest of the way. As for Collins, he was “active”, according to Bill Belichick. That was reflected in his snaps-to-tackle ratio, which was impressive (22 snaps, 10 tackles).
https://www.patspropaganda.com/contributions-from-linebackers-dane-fletcher-and/
Peyton Manning was uncomfortable with the pressure of the Patriots defense. He went 0-for-6 with an interception when throwing under duress. Five of those incompletions, including the interception, came in the second half. Manning finished with 150 passing yards, his first sub-200-yard game with the Broncos.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/peyton-manning-was-uncomfortable-with-the-pressure/
No team has more sacks in the past five games than the Patriots, both in raw tally (18) and ratio (one sack every 9.39 pass plays, well above the league average of one every 14.86 pass plays). It must be noted that their four opponents in that span – the Jets, Dolphins, Steelers and Panthers – are all among the league’s most sack-prone teams; they are four of the seven clubs to allow a sack more often than once every 12 pass plays. But Broncos Offensive Coordinator Adam Gase sees the Patriots’ recent pass-rushing form as a testament to their strengths, rather than their foes’ weaknesses.
“It’s probably more what they’re doing defensively. Their edge rushers don’t get the (publicity) a lot that these other guys get but they do a great job,“ said Gase.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/no-team-has-more-sacks-in-the-past-five-games-than/
Almost every significant play the Panthers had on offense was the result of Newton and the Panthers taking advantage of the Patriots’ aggressiveness. The 42-yard pass to Steve Smith in the first quarter? The Patriots rushed six defenders. The 9-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell? Also on a blitz, with the throw landing in the spot that a blitzing Dane Fletcher vacated. Newton’s 24-yard run on third and 6 in the second quarter? Another six-man pass rush, with Newton running right past a blitzing Dont’a Hightower. The crucial defensive holding call on Devin McCourty on third and 7 on the Panthers’ final drive? You guessed it — another blitz.
Patriots’ blitz could not contain Cam Newton – Sports – The Boston Globe
Interesting. Especially when it’s such an easy criticism crutch to say the Pats D needs to be more aggressive.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/almost-every-significant-play-the-panthers-had-on/
Practice report: Patriots, Buccaneers look sloppy – Extra Points – Boston.com Nice to see some love for Tavon, hasn’t had many positive mentions over the first few weeks. S Tavon Wilson: Fighting for a roster spot, he had a really nice interception of QB Josh Freeman on the goal line, batting a slant pass up […]