Thanks, that was it.Andre Tippet was a 6th degree blackbelt. McGinest I have no idea.
Thanks, that was it.Andre Tippet was a 6th degree blackbelt. McGinest I have no idea.
He was on the injury report this week so that may be why he didn't get the snaps the last couple of weeks.Anyone else find it weird that they're burying Wise on the depth chart? Ten snaps yesterday, only 16 vs KC. He was behind Keionta Davis to start the year and played fewer snaps than Derek Rivers yesterday. Despite this he is leading the team with 3.5 sacks. He banged up? Run defense / discipline lacking? I thought he would take a leap forward in year two but instead that 2017 draft class is looking like a total whiff.
This is indeed good, and also a good post, but probably important to note that all four of those were home games, right?12 games into the season, so not a small sample size. New England's pass defense ranks:
- 3rd in the NFL in completion percentage (61.7%)
- 3rd in the NFL in interceptions (14)
- 5th in the NFL in yards per attempt (6.8)
- 6th in the NFL in passer rating against (85.7)
They haven't played just the crummy teams either. Here's how they've done against the best passing offenses on their schedule:
vs. Green Bay
- Rodgers: 5th in NFL in passing yards, 21:1 TD:INT ratio
- GB: 6th ranked passing offense overall
- vs. NE: 24-43 (55.8%), 259 yds, 2 td, 0 int, 89.2 rating; GB scored 17 points
vs. Kansas City
- Mahomes: 2nd in NFL in passing yards, 2nd in YPA, 41 TD, 10 INT, 2nd in passer rating
- KC: 3rd ranked passing offense overall
- vs. NE: 23-36 (63.9%), 352 yds, 4 td, 2 int, 110.0 rating; KC scored 40 points
vs. Minnesota
- Cousins: 6th in NFL in passing yards, 23:9 TD:INT ratio (with the best WR duo in the league)
- Min: 7th ranked passing offense overall
- vs. NE: 32-44 (72.7%), 201 yds, 1 td, 2 int, 70.4 rating; Min scored 10 points
vs. Indianapolis
- Luck: 8th in NFL in passing yards, 32 td, 12 int
- Ind: 10th ranked passing offense overall
- vs. NE: 38-59 (64.4%), 365 yds, 3 td, 2 int, 84.4 rating; Ind scored 24 points
So against four of the top 8 passers in the NFL, the Pats' pass defense has allowed the following stat line:
117-182 (64.3%), 1,177 yds (6.46 ypa), 10 td, 7 int, 84.9 rating, 91 points allowed (22.8 per game)
That's pretty damned good in today's NFL.
Yep, I'm sure that's well worth noting.This is indeed good, and also a good post, but probably important to note that all four of those were home games, right?
Let's hope John Simon is the Steve Pearce of the 2018 Patriots.Does anyone have any insight into John Simon?
He has been here seven games, credited with a sack, 2 QB hits and 1 TFL from pro-football reference. From watching the games that sounds right, he hasn't 'shown' up in meaningful ways or made splashy plays. But his usage spiked over the past two games
42% of def snaps vs the Jets
37% of def snaps vs the Vikings
Previously he was bouncing between 6% to 20% of defensive snaps (with his first game as a Pat against Miami showing a higher usage at 40%)
Does anyone here that dissects the film or have a better eye for looking at what players are doing away from the ball have a read on him?
He isn't putting up counting stats like sacks or pressures, but is this a situation where Simon is playing a role that now allows other players to be used in a way that makes them more successful? For example, has Simon been good at something like setting the edge, allowing Flowers to move inside as a pass rusher more often? Or something along those lines.
The defense is playing well and there are probably many factors for that, I'm just curious if Simon is going to end up being one of those sneaky acquisitions of a role player that makes the team better or if he is just a just a warm body out there.
Saw a tweet that the Pats secondary is the most efficient tackling unit in the league. Unsure how the whole defense stacks up. They had a great day on Sunday.
A WEEI caller just mentioned that maybe the Patriots have just *one* "the other team needs a crazy play to win" unit they put out there, and that this unit has probably practiced against hook and ladder plays all season long. There's a reason why that's a one in a hundred kind of play. Even with Gronk out there I bet Miami doesn't convert that even one time in a hundred.It’s mind boggling. But they still should have won yesterday. I don’t even know why Gronkowski was on the field, it wasn’t a jump ball scenario. That loss was a disgrace.
The Chiefs may make HFA a moot point anyways. Where this could potentially loom large is the 2 seed. If Houston wins out and we lose to Pit, which is quite possible since we suck on the road, then this play will have literally cost a team that sucks on the road a much-needed bye. That would be tough to stomach.Gronk said after the game they've practiced the Hail Mary defense this season. No mention of the hook and lateral. Maybe another coaching mistake.
Let's say it's OK to have Gronk out there. The guy they took off for Gronk was Devin McCourty, perhaps their fastest player on D. That's a terrible decision.
I'll say it again, there are zero positives to be taken away from yesterday. I don't wanna hear, oh they blocked two punts or Brady played well. They fucked up their season. It was a total disaster and will probably be the reason the Pats don't reach another SB, because they've got no shot at HFA now. And they kicked it away in the most idiotic way possible.
Says who? KC without Hunt has won their last two, but neither was easy. They could have lost to Oakland and honestly should have lost yesterday at home to Baltimore. KC could get the #1 seed and lose to the #4/#5 seed in the divisional round. That's a totally legit possibility. If the Pats get the #2 seed - which is also still quite likely (though a lot less likely after the Miami debacle) - they'd suddenly be playing the AFCCG at home in that scenario.I think it’s best to come to terms with the realization we won’t be playing in February this year. We have a cap of the AFCCG.
I would really like to see the all-22 tape on this play, because I have no idea what the defense was supposed to be doing. They had four pass rushers (including Van Noy who seemed to be on a spy/delayed rush). Both #21 and #30 never entered camera range until it was too late -- were they both on the left side of the field, even though four of the five eligible receivers were on the right side?. #24 was just hanging out in the middle as if it were some kind of zone defense, even though there was no one there. And of course Gronkowski is basically useless in this situation. So that leaves 4 Miami playmakers on the right vs. only 3 Patriot DBs!?!Gronk said after the game they've practiced the Hail Mary defense this season. No mention of the hook and lateral. Maybe another coaching mistake.
No it’s not crazy, but it’s also not likely. They’d need a lot of things to fall their way and I don’t understand how that’s even up for debate. And that’s not even a knee jerk reaction to yesterday, they’re a flawed team. Doesn’t mean they can’t make it there but this season makes me think of the one (I forget the year) when they got whooped in NO and BB told TB that he couldn’t get them to play like he wanted. Something is off.Says who? KC without Hunt has won their last two, but neither was easy. They could have lost to Oakland and honestly should have lost yesterday at home to Baltimore. KC could get the #1 seed and lose to the #4/#5 seed in the divisional round. That's a totally legit possibility. If the Pats get the #2 seed - which is also still quite likely (though a lot less likely after the Miami debacle) - they'd suddenly be playing the AFCCG at home in that scenario.
They took a bit hit yesterday but it's not at all a crazy thought that they could still make the Super Bowl.
Van Noy wasn't really on a delayed rush, he broke right off and "covered" Drake in the flat / up the field. ALL 22 will show more but there's a wider shot of the play that shows KVN going towards / with Drake.I would really like to see the all-22 tape on this play, because I have no idea what the defense was supposed to be doing. They had four pass rushers (including Van Noy who seemed to be on a spy/delayed rush). Both #21 and #30 never entered camera range until it was too late -- were they both on the left side of the field, even though four of the five eligible receivers were on the right side?. #24 was just hanging out in the middle as if it were some kind of zone defense, even though there was no one there. And of course Gronkowski is basically useless in this situation. So that leaves 4 Miami playmakers on the right vs. only 3 Patriot DBs!!!
They're playing lanes. Gilmore was in a lane away from the play so that if the lateral goes that way it's defended.I would really like to see the all-22 tape on this play, because I have no idea what the defense was supposed to be doing. They had four pass rushers (including Van Noy who seemed to be on a spy/delayed rush). Both #21 and #30 never entered camera range until it was too late -- were they both on the left side of the field, even though four of the five eligible receivers were on the right side?. #24 was just hanging out in the middle as if it were some kind of zone defense, even though there was no one there. And of course Gronkowski is basically useless in this situation. So that leaves 4 Miami playmakers on the right vs. only 3 Patriot DBs!?!
No, Van Noy started on the left side of the play (Drake was on the right), then looped around to rush Tannehill -- Drake had already started running downfield before Van Noy turned around to follow him. Credit to Van Noy that he got close enough to try and make the play, but he was a good two or three steps behind.Van Noy wasn't really on a delayed rush, he broke right off and "covered" Drake in the flat / up the field. ALL 22 will show more but there's a wider shot of the play that shows KVN going towards / with Drake.
edit: and Van Noy is seen diving at Drakes heels right when he gets the ball
That's my point -- they seemed to have three people defending a possible lateral (Gilmore, Harmon, JMac) and only three DBs (plus Gronk) involved in the action. That allowed the three WRs to block the three DBs, leaving Gronk one-on-one against Drake, which is a massive mismatch. Is that really how they drew it up??They're playing lanes. Gilmore was in a lane away from the play so that if the lateral goes that way it's defended.
I have no idea. We sure as hell won't be getting a Belichick Breakdown on this one.That's my point -- they seemed to have three people defending a possible lateral (Gilmore, Harmon, JMac) and only three DBs (plus Gronk) involved in the action. That allowed the three WRs to block the three DBs, leaving Gronk one-on-one against Drake, which is a massive mismatch. Is that really how they drew it up??
Shelton was losing playing time before he was deactivated. He played 9 snaps @ NYJ and 10 snaps two weeks earlier. I think they just decided he's not good. Giving up a third for him looks like a pretty awful trade at this point.What has been disappointing for me is just how awful the D has been against the run. I really thought the Shelton acquisition was a wise one as they were in the bottom three in YPC allowed last year. This year they are tied for 27th in YPC allowed and Shelton has now been inactive for two consecutive games as a healthy scratch. Is he just not a fit in what the Pats are doing right now? With the Simon acquisition and others coming on it seems that they can generate pressure from the D line if needed but the ability to stop the run just hamstrings the defense in dealing with too many third and shorts.
They are very clearly better than last year, if only because they have been healthier. Last year they were relying on Eric Lee, Ricky Jean Francois, Marquis Flowers, and James Harrison.Shelton was losing playing time before he was deactivated. He played 9 snaps @ NYJ and 10 snaps two weeks earlier. I think they just decided he's not good. Giving up a third for him looks like a pretty awful trade at this point.
The Patriots have had worse defenses than this year's incarnation - heck, I sometimes think last year's group was worse - but I don't think they've ever had a D with so little identity. One week they rush well, one week they don't; one week they contain, tackle, and play disciplined, the next they look like idiots. They generate turnovers, then they don't; they bend-but-don't-break, then they give up huge plays the next week. They stop the run one week, get gashed the next. I don't understand it. I don't understand why they look so unprepared for road games. I don't know what they think this defense is or what it is trying to be. I think they have flashed in every area in some game or at some point but they have zero consistency. They held the Vikings to their season-low in yards and nearly points, then they give up Miami's season-high in points the next week. Very, very weird team.
How soon we forget........They are very clearly better than last year, if only because they have been healthier. Last year they were relying on Eric Lee, Ricky Jean Francois, Marquis Flowers, and James Harrison.
I think James Harrison could still help this team.They are very clearly better than last year, if only because they have been healthier. Last year they were relying on Eric Lee, Ricky Jean Francois, Marquis Flowers, and James Harrison.
Are we sure Danny Shelton is better than Ricky-Jean Francois? Are we sure Elandon Roberts is better than Marquis Flowers? Are we sure the mystery twins Keionta Davis and Derek Rivers are better than Harrison and Lee?They are very clearly better than last year, if only because they have been healthier. Last year they were relying on Eric Lee, Ricky Jean Francois, Marquis Flowers, and James Harrison.
That would be some feat. Road performances by Pats D this year:The Steeler running game has taken a huge hit. I'm not sure the Patriots will play much of anything besides some sort of nickel. I bet Roethlisberger has 300 yards and at least two scores, but I suspect the Patriots hold them to less than 28 points. And I think the Pats will score more than that. 38-27 Patriots.
Are we sure Danny Shelton is better than Ricky-Jean Francois? Are we sure Elandon Roberts is better than Marquis Flowers? Are we sure the mystery twins Keionta Davis and Derek Rivers are better than Harrison and Lee?
That would be some feat. Road performances by Pats D this year:
@ JAX (30th in scoring O): 31 points
@ DET (25th): 26 points
@ CHI (7th): 31
@ BUF (31th): 6
@ TEN (27th): 34
@ NYJ (26th): 13
@ MIA (22nd): 34
@ PIT (4th): ??
Keeping them under 30 would be minor miracle. Maybe a major miracle.
Shelton and more snaps for Wise is a significant upgrade over 94, who competes with Elandon Roberts for biggest waste of space on the roster. I am hopeful 94 is cut before the playoffs, as he is worthless at setting the edge/contain and usually rushes 10 yards past the QB on rushes, which also contributes to his worthlessness in prior said department. Free 94 - from the roster. 94 for waivers.Was the Shelton for Clayborn swap yesterday more for the opponent or something we see the rest of the way? The run D could not have been worse the last few weeks and hoping Shelton can at least be an upgrade over Adam Butler on early downs. While Butler gives them a pass rush from the interior he is being pushed downfield on runs.