PASS DEFENSE
Well, they didn’t allow any embarrassing long touchdown catches, so that’s an improvement over last week. But this unit allowed Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez to complete a career-high nine passes on attempts of 15 yards of more downfield. They also committed illegal contact and defensive holding penalties that have become commonplace as opposing quarterbacks drop back and target Patriots cornerbacks and safeties. the pass rush was effective at times, but 328 yards from Sanchez and this Jets offense isn’t acceptable.
defense
Patriots defensive possessions vs. Jets Drive Chart
https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-defensive-possessions-vs-jets-drive/
Does it feel like BB is prizing versatility on defense at the expense of talent?We have players who can play multple positions, but few outside of Big Vince and Spikes (jury’s still out on jones) seem to dominate
This is certainly a criticism that is coming to the forefront in the last week, and I don’t think it’s totally off-base. Spikes is the perfect example, he’s one of the few players that is truly a master of something, but limited in another. At the opposite end of the spectrum you Patrick Chung, who is okay at a lot of things, but not great at anything.
It comes back to value drafting, and you can understand why having guys who can do a number of things could be valuable, especially in the secondary.
Asante Samuel is a good example too. He’s an elite zone read corner, but tackling, man-to-man, and special teams are certainly not his thing.
So I certainly think the case can be made that the balance has shifted too much to guys who can do it all okay, but nothing great. The reason they’re losing games is because they’re not making plays (on either side of the ball) when the game is on the line, and part of that can be a function of just not having enough elite talent in certain spots.
Still, this is a defense that forces turnovers at an elite level so that has to count for something as well. Really I think it just comes down to finding a back end safety with range and leadership. Those are hard to come by these days, but one player like that could elevate the play of the entire secondary, especially someone like McCourty.
It Is What It Is » Mike Lombardi on D&C: Patriots DBs ‘have to get better’
It Is What It Is » Mike Lombardi on D&C: Patriots DBs ‘have to get better’
Must listen every week!
“It’s certainly a concern and obviously it has to rely on some of the players. I think what you saw, let’s be real honest here, Patrick Chung’s ball skills down the field have got to get better,” Lombardi said. “I don’t know how you make them better, how you make his instincts better on the ball down the field. I think not having Steve Gregory back there is certainly a concern. … They have to get better at making plays down the field. [Devin] McCourty, everyone. And I think ultimately its something that will be worked on. It’s a skill. … Instincts for DBs are something we don’t talk enough about, we always talk about size and speed. But I think instincts really play an important part, and ultimately, that’s a hard thing to coach.”
Matt Bowen breaks down the Pats secondary
Matt Bowen breaks down the Pats secondary
I changed the title of this one because it’s more than just panning Patrick Chung, but well worth a read for a little more X and O insight on the secondary from Matt Bowen.
At least there are some positives on Tavon Wilson…
How the Patriots defense can turn it around
The Patriots have lost three games in 2012 by a combined four points, and despite the thin line between 6-0 and 3-3, having a .500 record in mid-October is uncomfortable for a fan base accustomed to ruling the AFC East with an iron fist.
While the offense and defense share the blame for the up-and-down start, it’s been the defense that has re-established itself as the primary weak link. Tom Brady and the offense have had their moments of shaky play, but for the most part few would argue they lack the personnel or scheme to take this team far in the playoffs.
The defense though continues to struggle in ways we’ve seen for the better part of three seasons. Whether it’s the secondary or the pass rush the Pats just can’t seem to put it all together consistently for sixty minutes.
But there’s still much football to be played, and I haven’t given up hope that this is a defense that can win a Super Bowl. There certainly needs to be improvements in a few different areas, so here are three keys as I see them to solidifying the Pats defense.
1. Steve Gregory & Patrick Chung – Health & Consistency
We’ll start on the back end because the Pats have been the worst in the NFL for the second straight season at defending the long ball. Neither Chung nor Gregory are the second coming of Ed Reed, but if both can get healthy and put together a string of games together they’re both bound to improve.
Let’s not forget the Pats were worse through 6 games last year on big plays (37 20+ pass plays given up compared to 33 this year), and that was a less talented group. Now with Chung, Gregory and Tavon Wilson the Pats just need to string some games together with them all on the field. In a defense that relies on communication, disguise and intelligence you can’t understate the importance of experience.
If all of them can get back on the field the back end should tighten up, and just a couple less big plays per game would make a big difference. And at this point I believe Gregory and Wilson might be the best starting options.
2. Myron Pryor – The Great Unknown
Myron Pryor hasn’t played a full season since 2009 so it might be foolish to even attempt to count on him for anything, however he is exactly the kind of player the Pats need on the defensive line right now. In the 2011 opener against the Dolphins Pryor was a pass rushing force, grading out with a team-leading 3.9 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus.
What the Pats have struggled with is finding an interior rush presence; a disruptor who can get up the field. Mike Wright was the last good one they had, and the signing of Jonathan Fanene this past off-season was an attempt to fill that role, but that didn’t work out. With Pryor starting the season on the PUP list the Pats have been forced to use Jermaine Cunningham as their top interior rusher, a role that he has not excelled in.
If Pryor can somehow come back and live up to the pass rush flash we saw at various times over the 2009-2011 seasons it would add a much-needed dynamic to defensive front.
3. Dont’a Hightower and the Blitz
Hightower was praised for his versatility coming out of Alabama, which included rushing the passer with his hand down in passing situations. There’s no question the Pats are a conservative defense, but they must find a way to utilize Hightower and his skill for getting after the quarterback.
We were just starting to see some of it when he sacked Ryan Fitzpatrick on the play he was injured. He has a burst that helps him stand out and if Pryor is not the answer I’d look at trying Hightower as an interior rusher instead of Cunningham. He has the size to hold up. Or at the very least just start sending him on blitzes more often.
Bottom line, Hightower’s not especially needed in coverage so they should unleash him in a variety of ways to get after the quarterback.
Conclusion
Yes, the recurring theme here is that the Pats just need to get healthy, most importantly with Gregory and Hightower. The good news is that they seem close, and once they’re back out there it’s just a matter of them staying healthy and getting reps.
As for Pryor it might be a little pie in the sky thinking he’ll come in and be the interior presence they need, but I’m still holding out hope for it. He’s unlike any other defensive lineman they have.
A little health and experience will go a long way. The Patriots defense always improves and if these factors can all come together there’s no question in my mind they’ll be a better group than the one that fell just short of the Super Bowl last season.
Patriots coaches dropped the ball as well against Seahawks – Sports – The Boston Globe
Patriots coaches dropped the ball as well against Seahawks – Sports – The Boston Globe
As always we’re giving Greg Bedard the final word on the Seahawks before completely turning the page on the Jets. The breakdown of the head-scratching coaching decisions in this one gives some good context outside of the standard “our secondary sucks, we can’t close games” story lines. The thing about bad coaching games from the Pats though, don’t expect those to continue.
Here’s a little nugget on the pressure:
On the eight plays of 15 yards or more the Patriots gave up, Russell Wilson averaged four seconds on his release time. That’s an eternity. The Patriots blitzed on 27.3 percent of the 33 dropbacks. That’s a lot for them. They had five of their 12 total quarterback pressures (41.7 percent) on blitzes.