Don't judge the Patriots defense on these first 3 weeks
The New England Patriots are 3-0 for the first time since the 2007 season. Whether this years team can go 16-0 is another question. And this years Patriots team is still very tough to evaluate, unlike the 07 Patriots. For example, the defense has conceded just 34 points in these three games. So can this defense make up for the shortcomings on offense?
Based on today's evidence, it's still too early to tell.
Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing the pressure the Pats showed the QB on Sunday. Seeing Tommy Kelly and Chandler Jones in the backfield was a good sight to see, against a good offensive line. Seeing Aqib Talib with his 3rd pick of the year to set up a perhaps game killing FG was great. But don't get too ahead of yourselves when you think the defense is on a big upturn.
Firstly, for the last few years, the Patriots have always been good at stopping the run, so it was no surprise to me that Doug Martin didn't do his usual business. With such a strong front 7, including three run stuffing linebackers, this game wasn't going to be about him. It was going to be about Josh Freeman.
As usual, Freeman stunk up the place. Freeman was short on targets to begin with, with his first 2 TEs unavailable (sound familiar?), and Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams were his only recognisable targets. As Aqib Talib dealt with Jackson effectively, Williams torched whoever was covering him. Whether it was Kyle Arrington or Alfonzo Dennard, Williams was getting separation and catching the ball - when it was thrown decently.
However, when he went down, Freeman had nowhere to go. When Jackson went down, the game was over. Williams tried to get back, but he wasn't the same guy. Pass defense became easy, especially as the field got shorter. This also resulted in Martin becoming even more ineffective as the teams only good skill position guy remaining. Even the Patriots pass D can deal with that.
If Rian Lindell had made his first, relatively simple FG attempt, and then left the Patriots in a 6 point hole with the offense stalling, this game could have gone a lot differently. Add to this the Jets receivers dropping a lot of passes and a couple of easy TD throws for EJ Manuel in week 1, and has this defense improved that much?
Well, we can judge that on next Sunday's game at the Atlanta Falcons...
Just because they only conceded 3 points, doesn't mean the defense is impenetrable. Just as the Patriots are 3-0, but they are far from perfect. This defense cannot be judged on keeping the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 34 points. Football isn't played on paper, and this defense will have bigger tests to come. That's when we can judge if this defense can supplement Tom Brady and the offense enough for a Super Bowl run...
You can follow me on Twitter @BrendanAnnely
Based on today's evidence, it's still too early to tell.
Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing the pressure the Pats showed the QB on Sunday. Seeing Tommy Kelly and Chandler Jones in the backfield was a good sight to see, against a good offensive line. Seeing Aqib Talib with his 3rd pick of the year to set up a perhaps game killing FG was great. But don't get too ahead of yourselves when you think the defense is on a big upturn.
Firstly, for the last few years, the Patriots have always been good at stopping the run, so it was no surprise to me that Doug Martin didn't do his usual business. With such a strong front 7, including three run stuffing linebackers, this game wasn't going to be about him. It was going to be about Josh Freeman.
As usual, Freeman stunk up the place. Freeman was short on targets to begin with, with his first 2 TEs unavailable (sound familiar?), and Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams were his only recognisable targets. As Aqib Talib dealt with Jackson effectively, Williams torched whoever was covering him. Whether it was Kyle Arrington or Alfonzo Dennard, Williams was getting separation and catching the ball - when it was thrown decently.
However, when he went down, Freeman had nowhere to go. When Jackson went down, the game was over. Williams tried to get back, but he wasn't the same guy. Pass defense became easy, especially as the field got shorter. This also resulted in Martin becoming even more ineffective as the teams only good skill position guy remaining. Even the Patriots pass D can deal with that.If Rian Lindell had made his first, relatively simple FG attempt, and then left the Patriots in a 6 point hole with the offense stalling, this game could have gone a lot differently. Add to this the Jets receivers dropping a lot of passes and a couple of easy TD throws for EJ Manuel in week 1, and has this defense improved that much?
Well, we can judge that on next Sunday's game at the Atlanta Falcons...
Just because they only conceded 3 points, doesn't mean the defense is impenetrable. Just as the Patriots are 3-0, but they are far from perfect. This defense cannot be judged on keeping the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 34 points. Football isn't played on paper, and this defense will have bigger tests to come. That's when we can judge if this defense can supplement Tom Brady and the offense enough for a Super Bowl run...
You can follow me on Twitter @BrendanAnnely
