Bruschi’s Breakdown: New England Patriots-Kansas City Chiefs – ESPN Boston
Great stuff from Tedy and Reiss as always. A must-read.
An Independent Patriots Blog
Bruschi’s Breakdown: New England Patriots-Kansas City Chiefs – ESPN Boston
Great stuff from Tedy and Reiss as always. A must-read.
Very good question.
I think it’s a little too early to get too concerned about how Belichick is using Revis against the likes of the Raiders this early in the season. Could Revis take away any of the Oakland receivers by following them all over the field? Sure, but remember you’re also taking Revis out of the game essentially as well.
Belichick is a conservative defensive coach and the number of games he’s won proves that giving up yardage isn’t what loses you games. I know it can be frustrating to watch when teams are completing passes underneath over and over, until the Pats suddenly get a stop in the red zone or turnover. That isn’t luck. It’s by design.
Would it be more fun to watch Rex Ryan’s defense every week? Yup. But over the long haul is that kind of defense as effective when guys go down or adjustments are needed? I don’t think so.
It’s also worth pointing out that the best defenses mix and match zone and man coverages. Especially against the best quarterbacks, disguise and deception are key. The Patriots will be loaded with those kind of elements as move into the fall and winter.
Revis’ true worth will be revealed very soon and very often. The Pats play a murderers row of elite receivers this season and they haven’t seen a single one of them yet. But AJ Green, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Demaryius Thomas and plenty of other solid #1 WRs are coming down the pipe. If/when Revis locks down those guys, then we can talk about whether or not Belichick knows how to use Revis.
Questions, Comments, Complaints, Compliments, Whatever
Friday Q&A, let’s do this!
I’m not banging any defensive drums too loudly after the Tannehill, Cassel, Carr gauntlet, still in years past it didn’t really matter who the QB was. Now they just need to keep improving on third down – the other primary weakness of this defense.
2013: 55 20-plus (11th), 9 40-plus (15th)
2012: 74 20-plus (1st), 8 40-plus (14th)
2011: 79 20-plus (1st), 9 40-plus (17th)
2010: 55 20-plus (7th), 4 40-plus (30th)
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: 2014 DEFENSIVE EFFICIENCY RATINGS
Well, believe it or not but the Patriots are the number one defense in the NFL in Football Outsiders DVOA metric. They have the best pass defense by far, while their rushing defense ranks just 18th.
The offense? 23rd overall, being 20th in both rushing and passing. This is just about a complete reversal of where things have been in recent seasons. I’m a defense guy so maybe I should enjoy it? The problem is I’m also a Brady guy and I’d really prefer he not get killed before the bye week.
Against specific receivers the Pats are:
vs. #1 WR: 6th
vs #2 WR: 3rd
vs. Other WR: 3rd
vs. TE: 14th
vs. RB: 4th
We’ll see how these numbers stack up once we hit the iron of the schedule which is coming quickly at us.
Belichick breaks down the win over the Raiders
As always, a must-watch every week. All positive plays though…what I wouldn’t give for a good old fashioned BB destruction of the OL.
He included one of my Three GIF plays, the big defensive stop on 3rd-and-1.
Patriots lock up first round draft pick Chandler Jones. Good news and I have to say I am very much enjoying the lack of rookie signing drama across the league this year. Just not sold on the 95 number selection. Yet. If it’s even permanent. Only Hightower (see above, as well as at OTAs this […]