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Footbal Outsiders: Patriots fall to 5th in overall DVOA

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Footbal Outsiders: Patriots fall to 5th in overall DVOA

The breakdown:

  • Offense: 2nd overall
  • Defense: 30th overall
  • Special Teams: 10th overall

Another interesting thing to note on this Football Outsiders is their chart on the biggest halftime collapses for teams during weeks 1-3. The 2010 Patriots had the 8th all time biggest differential between first and second half. Of course they did turn it around, but it shows the kind of inconsistency you can expect out of a young defense especially early in the season.

“Yards passing are quickly becoming the most overrated stat in the NFL”

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“Yards passing are quickly becoming the most overrated stat in the NFL”

Am I just posting this because the Patriots D leads the league in passing yards given up? Maybe. But the landscape of the NFL has changed.

Despite Monday night’s defensive struggle, the NFL notes there have been 33 300-yard games this season.  That’s the most through three weeks of the season ever.

The second highest total through three weeks: 21 games, in 2009.  Small sample size, we know. But the record has been boosted by more than 50%.

A moment of positivity about the Patriots defense

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Everyone has been killing the Patriots defense ever since they got killed on Sunday, and I’ve been right there with them, but after watching the tape a few more times I’m not quite as depressed as I once was.

Let’s look at the 12 defensive series the Patriots had:

  1. 2 plays: Interception
  2. 10 plays: Interception
  3. 3 and Out: Punt
  4. 6 plays : Punt
  5. 8 plays: TOUCHDOWN
  6. 10 plays: FIELD GOAL

Halftime

  1. 3 and Out: Punt
  2. 7 plays: TOUCHDOWN (after Brady INT put Buffalo on NE 39)
  3. 3 plays: Punt
  4. 3 plays: Punt
  5. 2 plays: TOUCHDOWN (46 yards in penalties)
  6. 3 plays (and a few kneel downs): FIELD GOAL

So 12 series break down as such:

  • 5 Punts
  • 2 Interceptions
  • 3 Touchdowns
  • 2 Field Goals

Now clearly there are still problems, especially closing out the half and end of game. It seems the more pressure the situation provided the more likely the Pats D was to play sloppy.

But there is evidence that there are positives to build on from this performance no matter how much people want to point out all the stats that make this look like the worst defense in the history of football.

Top Five Injured Players the Patriots Need Back

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The NFL season is always a battle of attrition and I avoid making excuses due to injuries. As the Patriots proved when they were winning Super Bowls you must have a strong 53-man team with guys ready to step up when their number is called.

With that said there is no doubt the Patriots stand to improve if/when they get back some of their injured guys. My top five:

1. Patrick Chung – Not just because he’s my favorite player he’s the only veteran safety we have and brings the type of fiery leadership that the rest of the secondary can feed off of. I think Chung should be able to tough it out against the Raiders although he’ll probably have a sizable cast on his right wrist/hand. Just his experience alone should help settle the secondary a bit. I hope. Because it can’t get much worse.

2. Mike Wright – I was going to put Haynesworth here but the interior pass rush Wright can bring makes him slightly more valuable, at least at this point of the season. Of course as we saw last year, who knows if or when Wright will be back. Concussions are weird like that, especially when you have significant ones so close to eachother. But the Patriots are dying for someone to push the pocket. Haynesworth could be that guy down the road once he’s in shape enough to stay on the field. Am I high for thinking that’s realistic?

3. Albert Haynesworth – I am hoping his recent absence is more about maintenance and keeping Albert healthy than actual injuries but who knows. If Haynesworth can get back on the field he should cause some real disruption along the line, something that has been missing for the last two weeks. He didn’t look himself vs. the Chargers, hopefully a week off was just what he needed.

4. Aaron Hernandez – Obviously giving Tom Brady one more uncoverable target always helps, but right now its the defense that needs the most help.

5. Ras-I Dowling – Ras-I was a game time decision this week so signs look positive that he should be able to go this weekend. However it’s looking more and more like Ras-I is fairly injury prone. I feel like he’s had three injuries already going back to training camp. But he has good size and was showing some real positive signs the first two games of the season.

Just missed: Taylor Price – I’m not saying it’s time to pull the plug on Ochocinco but it would be nice to see Price get a chance to show what he can do. He had a great training camp before this nagging hamstring injury. He could really add an physical/speed element to the receiver corps that they lack right now.

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I’ll tell you what, me personally, I like to see a team like this. You get away from all the spread offenses for a little bit and actually get back to down and dirty football. That’s what they present. They present a physical team. They want to smash. They want to play smash-mouth football. They’re old school. That’s what they want to do. Once again, we’ll be challenged.

Vince Wilfork on the Raiders

https://www.patspropaganda.com/ill-tell-you-what-me-personally-i-like-to-see/

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Q: Different kind of test with the Patriots after the physical Jets?
McClain: This is just a finesse team. I mean, Tom Brady’s a smart guy, has many weapons around him, with his receivers as well as his tight ends. His tight ends are playing great right now.

Raiders’ Rolondo McClain

Thanks for the help turning our sites to Oakland, Rolando!

https://www.patspropaganda.com/q-different-kind-of-test-with-the-patriots-after/

Bruschi on Tap: Pats’ D must adjust to fast-break football

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Bruschi on Tap: Pats’ D must adjust to fast-break football

Good stuff as always here from Tedy and it makes you feel a little better. Unfortunately the only thing that will truly makes us all okay is not only beating the Raiders but stifling their offense.

The Patriots do have the talent on defense, but I’m going to give you two areas to focus on. Offenses will move the ball, that’s a league-wide issue, so focus on the red area and winning the turnover battle. If the Patriots are in the top half of the league in those two categories, this defense will be just fine.