PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

defense

Patriots’ defense may never be great, but good enough – Patriots – Boston.com

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Patriots’ defense may never be great, but good enough – Patriots – Boston.com

Yup, I’m not sure they’re going to be great this year either. They certainly have the potential up front, but on the back end I’m not sure they do…

Couple notes on their strategy:

So the Patriots dialed up as many blitzes in the first half against Manning (seven) as they did in the previous two games combined. The Patriots scaled back the blitzes in the second half (three) with a big lead, but still ended with 10 against Manning on his 43 dropbacks outside of the 5-yard line. The Patriots blitzed 12 times total in their first four games.

The second key for the Patriots’ defense was to take away the inside throws that Manning loves. The Patriots kept the safeties tight (sometimes too tight as both Patrick Chung and Wilson were beat over the top), dropped the linebackers in Manning’s lanes, and even dropped the occasional defensive end into coverage underneath.

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The trickle-down effect from the absence of starting safety Steve Gregory saw rookie Tavon Wilson start in his place. Wilson usually plays a linebacker-type role in the dime package (6 defensive backs), but with him bumped up the depth chart, Ras-I Dowling assumed that role over rookie Nate Ebner. Perhaps this time of thinking might lead the coaching staff to consider Dowling at more of a traditional safety position in the coming weeks.

Defensive snaps: Changes in backfield – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-blog-56/

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Patriots Defensive Drive Chart vs. Broncos

Not too much new to take from this one. The Pats D forced enough turnovers to make the difference. The deep ball problems continue, but perhaps Dennard has something to offer that Sterling Moore doesn’t.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-defense-broncos-2/

Defensive snapshot via playing time – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

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Defensive snapshot via playing time – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

Really great breakdown of who we’ve seen the most of on defense broken down by postion. With Gregory out today someone’s going to see a rise in snaps. Our best guess, it’s Sterling Moore primarily, possibly at safety, with Ras-I getting back into the action on the outside.

Patriots pass defense continues scary trend against the deep ball

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One of the major problems for last year’s Patriots defense that seems to be rearing its ugly head again this year is the number of plays over 20-yards given up.

With the help of the Pro-Football-Reference.com play finder I took a look back over the last decade, since the first Super Bowl win, to see what the numbers have looked like since the rise and fall of the dynasty defense.

Granted the game is a bit different now, and passing offenses are far more dangerous now than they were when the Pats were winning Super Bowls, but I still found the numbers to be somewhat shocking.

Here are the numbers on plays over 20-yards given up since 2001, broken down per game to give a bit more context. Playoffs are included.

  • 2001: 70 = 3.7/game
  • 2002: 47 = 2.9/game
  • 2003: 53 = 2.8/game
  • 2004: 62 = 3.7/game
  • 2005: 64 = 3.6/game
  • 2006: 69 = 3.6/game
  • 2007: 51 = 2.7/game
  • 2008: 50 = 3.1/game
  • 2009: 55 = 3.2/game
  • 2010: 65 = 3.8/game
  • 2011: 93 = 4.9/game
  • 2012: 22 = 5.5/game

As you can see the numbers were the worst they’ve been in a decade in 2010 and have only gotten worse in the last two seasons.

One thing that is clear is that it’s the pass defense that is the problem. Even in 2011 they gave up just 6 runs of over 20-yards, leaving a staggering 87 passes over 20-yards. Since 2001 they’ve never given up more than 14 runs of over 20-yards and that happened in 2002. So the run defense has been basically unchanged. The issue is defending the deep ball.

Given that the Pats put up their highest sack totals (a somewhat flawed stat to be sure) in 2011 since 2007 you have to think at least a bit more of the focus for this problem has to go on the coverage. Of course the easiest place to start when you’re giving up a lot of long passes is the play of the safeties.

Now you can never read too much into one stat, but these numbers show a clear trend that illustrates a major part of the problems for the Patriots pass defense over the last few seasons. It’s an area to keep track of as 2012 progresses, and hopefully a trend they can reverse.

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It was a typical roller-coaster performance by the Patriots secondary. Even though they made Bills tight end Scott Chandler look like Rob Gronkowski on back-to-back touchdown grabs, while also allowing a 68-yard TD catch by Donald Jones, the Patriots had four interceptions. How often can you say that? You never know what to expect from this unit, week-to-week or even play-to-play.

New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-defense-28/

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So let’s run this down:

  • 5 Punts
  • 4 Interceptions
  • 4 Touchdowns
  • 2 Fumbles

Can we call this the Feast or Famine Defense?

https://www.patspropaganda.com/so-lets-run-this-down-5-punts-4-interceptions/