Mike Dussault

After yesterday’s swiss cheese defensive performance most of Patriots nation is probably wondering this morning how we’re going to stop the many strong offenses left on the 2010 schedule.

Well, let’s continue to remember that young defenses with good coaching are supposed to improve as the year goes by. We’re used to seeing veteran defenses around here, but as we’ve been preaching since the summer this is going to be an inconsistent bunch. We’ve seen a couple down performances for sure, but things are bound to turn around. The talent and coaching are too good to continue to put up poor performances.

So I think the panic will be overstated this week and expect/hope that we’ll see a much improved performance against the Dolphins. 

My notes on a much needed divisional win below, forgive me if they’re all about the defense but their development is my number one focus:

In a macro sense there’s a lot of movement and rotation being used on defense. Of course this is a signature of the defense, but at the same time you’re getting rookies and second-year players in multiple roles and I have to think some of it is getting to know what their strengths/weaknesses are so they can be better utilized.

Ron Brace continues to impress me at LDE. He’s showing great power consistently. He has to be one of the biggest surprises of the season after a shaky start to camp.

Patrick Chung is slowly becoming the leader of the secondary. That might not say much now but watch how this group grows over the coming games and seasons. You’re seeing a young defense take it’s lumps, but they’re still winning games.

Jermaine Cunningham continues to be used more and more in different spots. He played both OLB positions along with some DPR (designated pass rusher) work.

Rob Ninkovich is slowly becoming a key contributor at LOLB. We’ll have to wait for the defensive snap counts to come out but Cunningham replaced Tully more often than Ninkopoop.

Is there any doubt that Devin McCourty was well worth the first round selection? Imagining him and Bodden as our starting corners makes me think this defense would’ve been significantly better had Bodden not gone down.

Darius Butler is struggling right now. He didn’t start and when he did get in he made two mistakes that led to big plays. I thought we might see him at nickel but Wilhite remained as the 3rd corner. 

Meriweather is still playing so inconsistent. In a way I wish it wasn’t him who got the game sealing interception because that will make people forget about all the bonehead plays he made against the Bills. Maybe it’s just me but a lot of the time he just looks disinterested out there. 

Jerod Mayo has regained his form of 2008. He rarely leaves the field and is a calming presence at the center of the defense. He looks like he has all his speed back now, and that’s his greatest asset.

Anyone who says Vince Wilfork is just a nose tackle has no idea what they’re talking about. Wilfork can play all defensive line positions and often stays on the field in passing situations. He is by far the most vital cog on the defensive line.

Not that anyone really wants to hear this right now but three years from now the majority of this defense will still be intact and should be hitting their prime/peaking. We’ll look back and cringe thinking about these early days when they took their lumps. Trust the system and coaches. Show me a defense loaded with rookies and second year players that instantly just shut everyone down. Most young defenses aren’t even competitive.

I’ll write a lot about it this week but this game at Miami is a huge one for so many reasons.