Choose your DC wisely

[DeaconMoss]

Bowles?
Mangini?
Ryan?

This is what I know. NE, BAL, and PIT play some great 3-4 D. I want someone who knows how to run a 3-4 like that!

 

[DBOY3141]

Total defense:

NE 25
Dallas 23

Passing
NE 30
Dallas 26

Rushing
NE 11
Dallas 12

Tell me again how New England runs a great defense. New England wins because of Tom Brady....period.

 

[DeaconMoss]

Total defense:

NE 25
Dallas 23

Passing
NE 30
Dallas 26

Rushing
NE 11
Dallas 12

Tell me again how New England runs a great defense. New England wins because of Tom Brady....period.

And their D makes big plays at the key times in the game.

 

[DBOY3141]

And their D makes big plays at the key times in the game.

Like stopping Eli from throwing the game winning TD in the Super Bowl? Can't get more clutch than that.

New England is a great franchise, I won't deny that. But their defense has never been on par with Pittsburgh or Baltimore.

 

[Hostile]

And their D makes big plays at the key times in the game.

We had the exact same number of sacks and combined takeaways.

 

[CATCH17]

I want whoever Jason wants and I will hold he and Jerry 100% accountable if it doesn't work out.

If it does work out than I will give them all the praise too.

 

[RCowboyFan]

Like stopping Eli from throwing the game winning TD in the Super Bowl? Can't get more clutch than that.

New England is a great franchise, I won't deny that. But their defense has never been on par with Pittsburgh or Baltimore.

I even disagree about Baltimore a bit. But boy, fans and media never seem to look past the wins and see the flaws in NE D. They might reach SB, but NE is a very flawed D. THeir O is great, with Brady playing just out of his mind right now. But even O, their OL is a weakness, depending on type of D facing them.

Dallas D was bad this year, but NE was not much greater than Dallas. Better than Dallad D, sure, but not by a lot.

 

[CATCH17]

I even disagree about Baltimore a bit. But boy, fans and media never seem to look past the wins and see the flaws in NE D. They might reach SB, but NE is a very flawed D. THeir O is great, with Brady playing just out of his mind right now. But even O, their OL is a weakness, depending on type of D facing them.

Dallas D was bad this year, but NE was not much greater than Dallas. Better than Dallad D, sure, but not by a lot.

New England had a pretty good D 4 or 5 years back.


They have just made a lot of arrogant decisions in the past 4 or 5 years and they just aren't that special.


But when you have such a great ball control offense that cashes in points you can still win a ton of games.

 

[percyhoward]

New England wins because of Tom Brady....period.

It would be interesting to know how many of Brady's potential receivers are actually out running a pattern on a given play, as opposed to how many have to stay in to help with pass protection and then maybe release--or maybe not.

 

[InmanRoshi]

New England had a pretty good D 4 or 5 years back.


They have just made a lot of arrogant decisions in the past 4 or 5 years and they just aren't that special.

It's not arrogant decisions, it's players getting old, retiring and moving on.

Its been almost a decade since they won their first Superbowl. According to the natural lifecycle of franchises, this team should be 4-12 right now and rebuilding their for their next great team. It's a credit to them they don't have to rebuild, they reload.

Yeah, Brady is probably the biggest reason for it, but just the QB isn't enough. Manning and the Colts look like they're about at the end of the line.

 

[big dog cowboy]

We had the exact same number of sacks and combined takeaways.

That is very difficult to believe. Wow.

 

[KalEl]

And their D makes big plays at the key times in the game.

Thats because they usually have a huge lead and the defense sits back and defends the pass.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

I think NE has the youngest defense in the NFL this past season if I am not mistaken. The NE defense should get better with some experience. They at least have some upside. Can't say the same thing of the Dallas defense. Youth was not a reason why the Dallas defense sucked. Numerous veterans and players with 3-4 years experience playing like crap was a big reason.

 

[percyhoward]

For whoever's interested:

It would be interesting to know how many of Brady's potential receivers are actually out running a pattern on a given play, as opposed to how many have to stay in to help with pass protection and then maybe release--or maybe not.

Pro Football Focus will have those stats in April. In 2009, the Patriots were 6th in fewest extra blockers, and Dallas was 26th. I'm guessing that gap widened even more in 2010.

You want your O-Line to be good enough at pass protection that you can send out as many receivers as possible. The following info isn't a suggestion that we trade Witten, btw (we just need to free him up from his pass protection duties)--just a bit of an indicator of how many more potential receivers Brady has on any given pass attempt.

19% of Romo's passes were with 0 tight ends. (122.9 rating)
46% of Brady's passes were with 0 tight ends. (106.9 rating)

16% of Romo's passes were with 4+ WR's. (125.5 rating)
46% of Brady's passes were with 4+ WR's. (101.6 rating)