PatsPropaganda

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rob ninkovich

Kirwan: Ninkovich honorable mention for NFL OLBs

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Kirwan: Ninkovich honorable mention for NFL OLBs

So Jerod Mayo is number two for ILBs on the list, and was called a young Ray Lewis by Pat Kirwan. This is of course awesome and exciting but I’m pumped to see Ninkopoop on there even if it is just honorable mention. Every other OLB on the list (top 10 and 5 honorable mentions) were either a high round draft pick, a high priced free agent, or both.

But not Ninkovich, he was a free agent the Pats got for nothing, and quickly signed to an extension in his first year with the team. Is he Clay Matthews or Demarcus Ware? No. But he’s yet another in a long list of examples of why the Patriots are consistently good with affordable players.

And as anyone who ever stops by this blog knows, I loves me some Ninkopoop. I just think he embodies a new generation of the Patriot way. Kicked around the league for a bit, but a tough, dedicated player who you can win games with. If he gets a little more consistent, especially in the tackling department, he could get even better.

The Adventure of Nink: Rob Ninkovich a building block for the Patriots

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When the Patriots signed an unknown long snapper/reserve 4-3 defensive end who had spent time with the Dolphins and Saints named Rob Ninkovich a week into 2009’s training camp no one thought much of it. The Patriots are always signing guys like this, and usually they don’t last very long.

Some were probably surprised when Ninkovich made the 2009 squad, I know I was, and it appeared early on that he was little more than just a special teamer, ala Larry Izzo. Nothing against Izzo, teams need guys like that, but there was no indication that the undersized Ninkovich was ever going to make an impact in the base defense.

He played on all special teams right out of the gate, and began to see some spot duty at outside linebacker as Adalius Thomas fell out of favor with the Patriots.

As is often the case with players that Bill Belichick likes, Ninkovich slowly began to see more and more time on the field in defensive situations as the 2009 season progressed, even earning a two year contract extension in early December.

In the last four games of the season he averaged 31% of the snaps as an outside linebacker.

Still, Patriots fans weren’t sure what to make of Ninkovich. Was he just a stop gap? A core special teams guy who was getting a shot in the base and sub defenses by default? Or was he a real building block as Belichick re-built his defense?

Clearly the contract extension and gradual increases in playing time and role indicated that the Patriots liked Ninkovich, but it was still unclear at the end of 2009 just what his ceiling might be. Most probably hoped he’d get beaten out by a rookie pass rusher in 2010 and his career with the Patriots would be over.

In 2010 Ninkovich continued to build on his 2009 season, seeing significant snaps throughout the season in an outside linebacker rotation with Jermaine Cunningham, Tully Banta-Cain, and later in the season Eric Moore. Yet despite a 4 sack, 2 interception, and 62 tackle season many Patriots fans remains skeptical that Ninkovich is anything more than a seat filler until the team could draft or sign a big name OLB.

However I believe that he’s a far bigger piece of the puzzle than most.

First, let’s begin with the below chart as an overview of Ninkovich’s playing time over the past two season. As you can see he has steadily improved and gotten more and more time as his Patriots career has progressed.

Patriots Rob Ninkovich

Now it’s clear that Ninkovich has strengths and weaknesses, as evidenced by the continued spikes in playing time over 2010. When you analyze which games he played more and less in, it’s apparent that the Patriots view his biggest strength as a 3-4 base defense run stopper.

If you compare his playing time spikes to Brandon Spikes’ you’ll notice a correlation. Both played their highest snap totals against the ground and pounders. The top three games Ninkovich played the highest percentage of the snaps (not counting the season ender vs. Miami) were:

  1. Ravens (75.3%)
  2. Browns (62.9%)
  3. Jets game one (60.8%)

The games he played least? Pass happy San Diego and Indianapolis.

Taking another look at the Ravens game and the Jets playoff game showed me a lot on Ninkovich. In the playoff game especially Ninkovich came to play, setting the edge with authority and demonstrating a relentless pass rush that forced pressure on Mark Sanchez a few times.

He had 2 passes defended and four tackles in that game, and it’s worth mentioning that the Pats D fell apart in the fourth quarter after Ninkovich had been lost with a knee injury. Not to say that was the reason why, but he brought an “A” effort against the Jets, and losing him with an already depleted OLB crew certainly hurt.

Some will remain unconvinced, despite 2010 being the first season that Ninkovich played consistently in a defense for an NFL team. They’ll look at his mere four sacks and conclude that he’s not the answer for the pass rush problems, especially since two of them came in the meaningless game seventeen.

Well let’s take a look at Mike Vrabel’s sack numbers over his career with the Pats: 3, 4.5, 9.5, 5.5, 4.5, 4.5, 12.5, 4. Doesn’t seem like Ninkovich is that far off does it? Vrabel took a similar path to the Patriots, and it wasn’t until his third season under BB’s tutelage that he really blossomed.

One thing that is continually marginalized is the effect of a player getting experience in the Belichick 3-4 defense. In a read and react defense the more experience you have, the quicker and better your reads are, and the more decisive your reactions will be.

With two full years in the system, and one playing extensively, I don’t think it’s a stretch to expect Ninkovich to become an even bigger impact outside linebacker for the Patriots.

When I watch him play against the physical Ravens and Jets teams I see a player who is tough and ready to take on blockers. It’s not always perfect with him for sure, he lost contain more than a couple times this past season, but his playing time would not continue to rise if Belichick did not see something in him.

I believe Ninkovich has demonstrated enough in all aspects of the game that he is definitely a player who will be a solid piece of an outside linebacker rotation for the Patriots, and not just an out-of-place special teamer who should be nothing more than a back up.

Patriots Rob Ninkovich

For a look at Ninkovich’s football journey, check out this piece from Mike Reiss.

Looking back at some 2010 New England Patriots tape

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Last night I was longing for some Patriots football so I took a look at the last two games of the 2010 season, the final win versus the Dolphins and yes, some of the playoff loss to the Jets (mostly second half).

I focused on a few different players to see what we might expect out of them in this coming season.

  • You’d think Darius Butler might’ve used the opportunity against Miami to show that he had improved since his brutal start to the season, but no such luck. He looked just as bad against a lifeless Dolphins squad as he did against the Jets in week 2 when Braylon Edwards “dougied” at him. Watching him struggle in the same ways he struggled earlier in the season gave me the feeling he better be spectacular in camp this summer if he wants to make the team.
  • Brian Hoyer’s laser touchdown to Brandon Tate against Miami was really an incredible play. Especially because Hoyer got absolutely blasted as he let go of the ball. That’s the kind of throw that will have other teams drooling. Tate laid out and managed to hang on with a great catch that should inspire some confidence he has some deep threat potential. Both players have bright careers ahead of them, and with Tate especially, I think we’ve only scratched the surface.
  • I really enjoy Dane Fletcher’s game, he’s steady and consistent. He can run, but he’s also a good tackler. Right now it would seem as though his base defense position would be at weak inside linebacker spot, however he was tried at OLB versus the Jets in December. Mostly he was used as a sub package spy/blitzer. Interestingly, I even noticed that he was used as an interior rusher in the A gap versus the Jets. The point is that BB used him all over the field, in just about every way you can use a linebacker, so I have to imagine this means bright things are ahead for Fletcher. He should really push Guyton hard this year for the top coverage linebacker role.
  • Jermaine Cunningham is a tough, physical player. Against the Colts especially he was a dominant force that gives tackles all they can handle. With a full year in the system I don’t think it’s too much to expect big things from Cunningham in year two. The biggest thing is just getting more and more experience, but he has the makings for a three down outside linebacker in my eyes.
  • Rob Ninkovich doesn’t garner a lot of excitement amongst Patriots fans, but I believe he’s one of the most unsung players on the roster. Ninkovich is one defender who showed up to play in the playoffs. He was consistently generating pressure, setting the edge, and dropping into coverage (2 passes defensed). He did lose contain/miss a tackle against Ladainian Tomlinson that resulted in a big gain, but otherwise he was out there making plays when it counted most. I think he’s a lot more of a building block that many of us give him credit for. Losing him to a knee injury in the third quarter of the Jets game definitely did not help. 
  • The play that ultimately did the Patriots in against the Jets was the first one of the fourth quarter. The Pats had just closed the game to 14-11 with an entire quarter to play. They were a stop away from a field goal to tie. Coming out of the break the Jets caught the Patriots in their run stopping defense and Sanchez hit Cotchery on an underneath cross through the slot that went for 58 yards. Two plays later the Sanchez threw a perfect touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes and the game was effectively over.
  • I also watched a bit of the San Diego game, and it was crazy how the offense was so similarly ineffective as they were for most of the playoff game. Had it not been for the Chargers turnovers the Patriots would never have won that game. In hindsight that performance really set the stage for what would happen the following week in Cleveland.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGmENqU

Film Breakdown: Browns pull a fast one on the Patriots

OK, I know this isn’t exactly a positive piece of Patriots propaganda here, but I always find hard core film breakdown interesting, and despite the result of this play (i.e. my favorite team looking dumb) I still enjoy seeing wha’ happen.

Biggest culprit? Ninkopoop completely losing contain to the point where he’s running past Mayo in pursuit of the wrong guy. Cunningham, coming from the opposite side, is closer to make a play than Ninkovich was.

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/film-breakdown-browns-pull-a-fast-one-on-the/

Some way late defensive observations from Patriots – Jets

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Yesterday I finally brought myself to rewatch the first half of the Patriots playoff debacle against the Jets. Only the defensive series.

During the season I always enjoyed going back on Tuesday and evaluating what the defense did without the emotion. Well it took me about a month to be able to watch this one without emotion, but I’m glad I did.

So it might be a little late for a full on defensive analysis but I think there’s something to be taken from who played. These was no room for error or experimentation so clearly whoever was playing were the players BB most believed in.

So anyway, here are just some quick hit thoughts…

  • I was impressed with the play of Rob Ninkovich and  Eric Moore at OLB early on. I think both of these guys will definitely be in the mix this summer regardless of what OLBs the Pats may or may not draft. They were strong against the run, and a big part of keeping the Jets out of sync in the first half.
  • Wasn’t impressed with Tully Banta-Cain, and I think it might be a pretty good bet that Moore takes his roster spot. He just doesn’t have the pass rush skills that worry opponents.
  • The defense really played pretty well in the first half, save a penalty on James Sanders, and a long completion given up by Darius Butler. The botched fake punt really put them in bad position and they folded, allowing a late touchdown. Hard to get too upset with them, but the long run by Tomlinson then the 3rd down touchdown to Edwards were poorly played.
  • Chung and Meriweather started at the safety spots, showing when it counts James Sanders is the 3rd safety. This also got Chung out of the nickelback position he had been mostly playing over the last month of the season. Chung does a lot of things well, but asking him to be just a nickel corner doesn’t take full advantage of what he can do.
  • Would Eric Moore have played so much if Jermaine Cunningham had been healthy? Hard to know.
  • Dane Fletcher was used in passing down nickel/dime packages, showing that he truly has potential. I think he will pose a real challenge to Gary Guyton in training camp this summer.

Second half observations coming when I can stomach watching it all fall apart…

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6n2Xu3xlXo

And now a moment with Rob Ninkovich.

Ninkopoop has a had a pretty good year as a 3-4 outside linebacker primarily as a run stopper, as well as a solid special teams player. His game against Miami was somewhat on an anomaly, he hasn’t had many, if any, big plays since then. 

But overall a solid player who will miss an occasional tackle but is technically sound most of the time.

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/and-now-a-moment-with-rob-ninkovich-ninkopoop/

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6n2Xu3xlXo

And now a moment with Rob Ninkovich.

Ninkopoop has a had a pretty good year as a 3-4 outside linebacker primarily as a run stopper, as well as a solid special teams player. His game against Miami was somewhat on an anomaly, he hasn’t had many, if any, big plays since then. 

But overall a solid player who will miss an occasional tackle but is technically sound most of the time.

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/and-now-a-moment-with-rob-ninkovich-ninkopoop-2/