Quick turnaround this week so I’m jumping right in on the film review (before the A22 is released) to take a closer look at the last four Dolphins’ drives of the game. Miami scored three-straight touchdowns on 70-plus yard drives that ranged from five plays to nine plays, turning what should’ve been a blowout into a game that went down to the final play.
The Dolphins moved the ball with frightening ease, but it’s important to remember this is how the Patriots defense started off the game:
- Punt
- Punt
- Punt
- Punt
- Fumble
- Interception
- Field Goal
The Patriots defense is far better than what they showed on the final four drives before the game-sealing interception.
Let’s take a closer look at what was going on:
8:44 3rd quarter: 7 plays, 75 yards – TOUCHDOWN
Problem: Big Plays
Miami started to make things interesting with this no-huddle drive. The key plays? A 28-yarder pass to Parker, who made a spectacular one-handed catch, and the 24-yard touchdown pass to Stills. Parker’s was just one of those plays you have to tip the cap. Tannehill threw it immediately, negating any pass rush and Parker used his size to his advantage over Ryan.
Another key play was a third down scramble throw to Ajayi. At that point Miami was 2-of-6 on third down. Sheard should’ve had the sack but Tannehill snuck out of the pocket and delivered a late-play strike.
On Stills’ touchdown the Pats were in Cover-1 Man coverage, which left Justin Coleman isolated. When he bit on Stills’ out-and-up double move it was an easy pitch and catch for touchdown. Freeny was sent on a delayed blitz, but was just a moment too late to affect the throw. The other three rushers were stood up. This was an aggressive defense, definitely not a prevent soft zone. They just got burned.
2:04 3rd quarter: 5 plays, 88 yards: TOUCHDOWN
Problem: More Big Plays, Missed Tackles and Penalties
The Pats forced a third-and-1 initially on this possession, but a clever pick design cleared a passing lane for a 33-yarder to Landry. Initially there was a penalty called but the refs picked the flag up, saying the contact occurred at the line of scrimmage. The very next play went for 14-yards after Collins missed a tackle.
Then came a 20-yard pass interference call on Logan Ryan, who got lost in space and ran right into the receiver. Again the Pats were in Cover-1 Man, being aggressive, but Ryan’s miscue set the Dolphins up for their scoring play on the very next play.
The Pats did drop into zone coverage on Jordan Cameron‘s 12-yard touchdown pass. Tannehill squeezed it in between Jamie Collins and Patrick Chung with a great throw. The Pats’ three-man rush was no factor, but Tannehill needed little time to zip the pass in there.
10:49 4th quarter: 9 plays, 74 yards: TOUCHDOWN
Problem: Nobody Making Plays
Whereas big plays were the problem on the first two scoring drives, this third one was more about overall execution. The drive did feature two 15-yard plays and a 13-yarder as well. A first third down was converted when Justin Coleman was toasted by Landry at the line of scrimmage.
The combination of a Branch-Brown interior and the lack of effectiveness from Freeny and McClellin contributed to the overall lack of pressure on this drive.
Justin Coleman got lost in coverage on Stills’ 15-yard reception, Pats were in man coverage again though. On the touchdown run, Sheard lost the edge and Freeny lacked the speed to make the tackle.
Pats were on their heels and Tannehill was super comfortable and in rhythm. The Pats couldn’t get him out of that rhythm as all their pre-snap disguise seemed easily sorted and blocked by the Miami line.
1:04 4th quarter: 7 plays, 42 yards: INTERCEPTION
Problem: Big Plays. Again.
After the missed game-sealing field goal, the Pats needed a stop to preserve the win. 37 of the 42 yards on this drive came in two plays — a 20-yarder to Parker and a 17-yard scramble by Tannehill.
It appeared the Pats were in zone coverage for the Parker play, the first of the drive that immediately showed this one was going down to the last play. Zero disruption to the pocket by Long-McClellin-Flowers-Sheard.
On the scramble it was a three-man rush by the Pats. Collins was spying the running back but recognized the scramble too late to get Tannehill down. Not quite sure how Tannehill delivered a shoulder that stunned Patrick Chung before picking up an extra handful of yards.
The game was saved once again by Duron Harmon intercepting a pass in the end zone. The Pats escaped by grabbing a turnover, the saving grace for any defense in a horrible stretch like they were.
Overall, it was as poor a three-drive sample as you can find in recent Patriots defensive history, but they didn’t display any critical flaws. The big passing plays are a huge problem but one that is generally fixable. The lack of Hightower, Ninkovich and Johnson (perhaps) hurt when this became an all-pass-defense game. The Pats didn’t seem prepared for that.
Combine Jabaal Sheard‘s flat game with Brown and Branch failing to produce much pass rush on the inside and McClellin and Freeny being generally ineffective and all the problems were magnified.
But this defense is far too talented to worry that this what we should expect out of them. You can’t throw out the first six drives of the game and only focus on the last four. Hightower and Ninkovich will be back before long, and their impact will be significant. If Johnson can recapture his preseason magic he’ll be another key piece.
Let’s hope they bounce back and put together a full 60 minute game against the Texans.
Total team effort …
Over those last 4 drives I honestly cannot remember seeing a single well played effort by ANYBODY on the Defense ( with the exception of Harmons Int with 2 secs left )
Maybe off camera there was a db that covered their man / zone area or a linemen who occupied his gap correctly but that was the most pathetic display I’ve seen out of the Pats D since last season’s week 4 KC debacle .
Patricia / BB seemed utterly lost with what do over the last 20 mins .
McClellan / Freeney seem closer to garbage jag back-ups than multi-year contract earners ( Sheard was lost in yhe wash too – but gets a pass due to prior solid performances ) .
Tannehill is actually an under-rated ball carrier but that 4th quarter run made the entire Patriots D seem like the biggest P*ssys in the NFL ( especially considering their own QB was on his way to Boston General …due IMO to an aggressive and legal run through the numbers , pile-driving full-body-weight turf slam )
Nothings worse than having to watch a weak knee’d response to your Qb gettin’ viscously rag dolled….pffft.
Its situations like these that you’d like to see your D step up and answer the bell not cower in the corner until yhe final bell mercifully rings .
Apparently leadership ( or balls …or both ) maybe lacking on this unit ( Hightower’s absence ? )
I’d hoped Jamie Collins would have picked up the slack but it may have been one of the worse game Ive seen him play . Hard to imagine a Teddy led D ( or Jr. … or Brian Cox ) not applying at least a couple good licks in that second half .
Hopefully that 2nd half was just an aberration and going forward things will be handled differently ( not to say playing safe D doesnt have its occasional merits – but playing soft is F’d up )
All correct here. Was really disappointing, but I remember having some similar issues at time with 2007 defense. Yes, it’s still early in the season, and with some of the other starters back things have to look better.
I have been hoping / waiting for the D to assert it’s identity as an equal unit to the offense for a few years. But alas I must wait another week.
What was so surprising and disconcerting was the amount of man played? Or should we say “manzone” in this case. Whatever it is , it doesn’t work well, it has no physicality or toughness and builds opponents confidence.
Hell the Pats receivers deliver harder hits blocking than the Pats DB do defending their “manzones” , playing catch and tackle.
Show a little FU out there boys, if you gonna give up 15 yards at a clip might as well make em earn it or get flagged trying, same difference.
Witness RT lowering his shoulders and bowling over a Pats DB. That was man on man. At that point they, the Fins offense, knew they could beat the Pats.
Had it not been for a the Pats offense / o-line having the “balls” to win the game, or if Miami had a more seconds, that game was going into OT and a likely Miami win.
It is obvious that once again HT absence is the undoing of the Pats D. Without him Jamie Collins is not the same player and it would appear neither is the entire front 7. With no fear of A gaps being shot, QB’s can rest a bit easier, that puts a ton of pressure on the DB’s.
Still can’t figure out what Freeny and now McClelan do? I thought both Mingo and Rowe were great pickups hopefully they can be incorporated sooner than later. Along with Nink and the return of HT hopefully they can change the soft spots.
In the end it comes down to attitude and they need more of that 1st half attitude going forward.
McClellin and Freeny sure didn’t do much. Starting to wonder why McClellin was brought in.