This is the kind of win that will get me through the bye week, and as someone who focuses on the defensive side of the ball like I do it was extremely gratifying to see the defense finally pick the offense up.
Random defensive thoughts and observations after watching it a second time:
– That was Brandon Spikes best game as a pro and it looks like he’s finally getting back on track after being derailed after the 45-3 game last year with the ADD medication suspension. I can’t say enough about how much I love what Spikes brings. If you saw the BB Football Life you’ll remember how one of his key talking points early on was how dull the defense seemed even after making a big play. Spikes brings just the kind of excitement and energy this defense has needed since Bruschi and Harrison left.
– Gary Guyton continues to be a weak link in my eyes. When Mayo returns I’d love to see him-Spikes-Ninkovich as the primary linebackers, and save Guyton for sub-packages. If even then as Spikes has shown improvement in pass defense. Guyton is never going to have the kind of physicality you need to win in the run game. He will be at his best when he’s kept only to passing down defense and even then I’m not sure he’ll ever be a true impact player.
– The pundits were killing Albert Haynesworth last week but I saw some real positives from him against the Jets, and he took another step against the Cowboys. As we predicted before the game his biggest impact was as an interior pass rusher though they did use him in a run down rotation as well. Finally the Pats were getting some push up the middle from him. There were numerous snaps that he bull rushed right into the pocket. Don’t doubt that Andre Carter’s big day had a lot to do with Haynesworth. I think the Pats management of Haynesworth has been masterful. If he can continue to build on his performance against the Cowboys the Patriots will have another dominant defensive lineman for the stretch run. But I might be one of the only Pats pundits out there who thinks Haynesworth is showing flashes of being unblockable and I’m not sure what everyone else is watching.
– Have to give some love to Kyle Love and Gerard Warren as well. Both had big plays in spots. The defensive tackles looked like the biggest question marks on the Patriots last week, after the Cowboys game it looks like it could be developing into a strength. Especially if you add Ron Brace and/or Brandon Deaderick to the mix.
– I’m starting to worry about Devin McCourty. Is he just playing bad or has a year of game tape given opposition a clue to his weaknesses? McCourty turning around his season is vital if the Pats are going to make a Super Bowl run.
– Me and Frenz talked alot about “specialization” of the Patriots defense this past off-season, however the last few games, partially due to injuries of course, the Patriots have been running minimal substitutions compared to the past couple of seasons. I think a lot of this has to do with Andre Carter and his ability to be a three down player.
– It’s hard to truly evaluate safety play on the broadcast copy of the game but I have to guess that James Ihedigbo is doing a decent job in his two games as a starting safety. He brings another physical presence with Chung back there. Should be interesting to see what happens when Josh Barrett returns.
