Had a chance to go back through the All-22 and as always, it was informative. In a lot of ways I don’t feel like I’ve truly seen the game until I watch the All-22, as you can see exactly who the personnel is at all times, what the formations are and what the coverages are.
Little bit more mixing coverages in this one, but on third downs it was all Cover-1 Man. Still plenty of zone throughout the game. In terms of fronts they were so varied, 4-3 under, 3-4. Little of everything.
I know it’s been a popular refrain this week to mention how many rushing yards the Broncos had when Hightower went out, but honestly he wasn’t overly impactful in run defense before he went out with the injury. I was expecting to see him at the center of most of the run tackles, but he was more often playing strong side linebacker where he did a good job setting the edge, or he was more concerned with coverage.
No, the problem with the run defense is that Freeny and Mayo aren’t that good. Both just lack any pop to make an impact and all of the significant runs the Broncos put together in the first half were often because Freeny was late to fill, went to the wrong hole or simply wasn’t strong enough to physically close a hole. So you put Collins back in there (with Hightower at some point) and they’ll be okay. But if I was attacking this Patriots defense I’d run right at Freeny. Mayo has been better in recent weeks but still lacks that pop he had before the injury. His missed tackle at the end of the first half on the touchdown run was a prime example.
I already wrote about him earlier but Malcom Brown continues to jump off the screen to me. So athletic inside, he consistently splits double teams and makes plays in the run game. He won’t pile on stats at his position but he’s as good a rookie defensive tackle as you’re going to find. Earlier in the third quarter Brown absolutely owned Evan Mathis on a run stop.
Jabaal Sheard is also having a great season and is the perfect fit we all thought he would be. Funny when things work out like that. But he was causing problems all night. Quick and strong off the ball, he’s a beast to deal with and this three-man rotation they have with him, Nink and Chan has been long-needed. He has such a shiftiness to him that makes it tough for blockers to know his intentions. Often it sets them up for a bull rush that they’re not prepared for.
The delayed middle linebacker blitz was a go-to in this one, but it just doesn’t have the same kind of effectiveness when it’s Mayo/Freeny instead of Hightower/Collins.
13:54 4th Quarter, Pats up 21-7, Broncos at the Pats’ 31 facing third-and-five after the Chris Harper muffed punt. This was the turning point of the game and it’s interesting that here is where the Pats sent a six-man blitz, a rarity for BB. Nobody found a rushing lane and Osweiler had the poise to find Emmanuel Sanders for 17 yards. The next play they’d score and it was a ball game. This is why being aggressive on defense can bite you on the ass.
McCourty’s missed tackle in the backfield on the second Broncos touchdown was pretty bad. How the running back got outside of Ryan and Butler too was a head scratcher. But again, not really a play Hightower would’ve had an effect on.
Nice goal line stand in the fourth quarter to force a field goal by the Broncos. Who would have ever though Logan Ryan would own Demaryius Thomas?
The three-and-out the defense forced with just under 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter is what I’ll prefer to remember about this game. Physical possession from Alan Branch and Tavon Wilson who both forced incomplete passes with pressure. Wilson drilled Osweiler. Didn’t remember that in the broadcast.
Now comes the last possession of regulation:
36 yard pass to Thomas: This was just a let it go and let your big receiver go up and get it. Could there have been some disruption to prevent Osweiler from stepping into it? Sure. But it’s hard to stop this play when everything clicks.
39 yard pass to Sanders: Flawless pass, barely any time for any rush to get to Osweiler. Just like the last big one to Thomas he just let it go. But perfect placement. Bravo Brock.
Finally the game winning touchdown in overtime was another toss sweep. You’ll notice the Pats have Sheard and Nink on the left side and no true defensive end on the right. But the key block comes on Chung, which effectively blocks not only Chung, but Freeny and Mayo too. There’s simply no defensive end to set the edge and that’s what springs Anderson because he only had to beat Branch in pursuit, McCourty, who can’t get off his block, and Harmon, who just whiffs in the open field.
So yeah, that sucks. Had Chandler Jones been in at his RDE spot, he very well would’ve blown this play up, so I think part of this has to fall on the coaches because the Broncos kept going to this toss sweep with success.
But overall I feel better now after reviewing the defense. Really it comes does to Collins/Hightower > Freeny/Mayo. Generally the run defense was good except for a few big runs, but I think generally it was because the linebackers were just not impact players. The defensive line played well, but once runs got past them there wasn’t anyone to clean it up like Collins and Hightower usually do.
The Broncos made some big key plays, but I think this is a much different game if Collins and Hightower were in there the whole time. Not to make excuses, but I just hope that’s what we have in any January rematch.