defense

This performance highlighted the depth and improvement in the secondary in 2013, as the Patriots went seven players deep, spending most of the game in either their nickel (5 defensive backs) or dime package (6 defensive backs) as they essentially viewed Saints tight ends Jimmy Graham and Benjamin Watson as receivers. Third-round draft choices Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon played critical snaps and held their ground. Harmon’s playing time came after CB Aqib Talib left with injury in the third quarter, with the Patriots moving Devin McCourty into Talib’s role against Graham.

Said it yesterday that this was the turning point in the game, glad to see Bedard broke it down for us. Great stuff, except for the part with the Patriots defense being unprepared. Derp…

After reviewing the coaches’ film from NFL Game Rewind, it’s still difficult to tell what coverage the Patriots were supposed to be playing—that’s how unprepared they were at the snap. It appears that all of the Patriots’ defensive backs were out of position: cornerbacks Aqib Talib (31), Alfonso Dennard (37), Kyle Arrington (25) and safeties Devin McCourty (32) and Steve Gregory (28). Dennard was in the middle of the field at the snap but recovered nicely. There are three explanations for the play. Either the Patriots were in quarters coverage (the three cornerbacks and McCourty split the deep part of the field into quarters) with Gregory playing a robber or lurker position (he’s a free player looking to read and rob the quarterback in the middle of the field); the Patriots were playing two-deep safeties with man coverage underneath; or the Patriots were playing man free with a robber (man coverage underneath one deep safety).

Look, it was as good of a first quarter to the season that we’ve seen in a long time from the defense, but there’s still a long way to go and it looks like they’re just about to face their biggest obstacle of the season after the loss of Wilfork.

Although I think the pass rush has still be lacking at times, overall they’re playing great team defense, with solid tackling. It’s not always perfect, but they’ve limited their mistakes and the big plays they’ve given up. 

Talib has emerged as a legitimate defensive weapon, but I still think we have yet to see the best out of Chandler Jones and Michael Buchanan. There are plenty of huge tests coming in the 2nd quarter of the season, the defense will need to keep developing and figure out just who they will be without Big Vince in the middle.

Rookies slowly getting more and more time. But who’d have thought Joe Vellano would be the one getting the most snaps?

Ryan, a rookie, played all 20 of his snaps in the second half, with 19 coming in the dime package, which seemed to be an in-game adjustment aimed at containing tight end Tony Gonzalez.