Patriots D

**chicagoravensfan** · 01-18-2012, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by Foley11

Remember that Moss was essentially a liability for the Patriots by 2009. It wasn't a fluke that he was cut early the next year.

Oh, please. In 2009 he had 83 receptions for 1264 yards with 13 TD. He had 3 TD catches in their Week 16 game. Liability!

**Ks1102** · 01-18-2012, 07:27 PM

I agree.....Moss had a killer year. However, he was taken out of the game by the Ravens. He was the number one weapon that year. I think this years they are more dificult to cover because of the number of guys to throw to most of which are close range recievers/ TE.

Originally Posted by chicagoravensfan

Oh, please. In 2009 he had 83 receptions for 1264 yards with 13 TD. He had 3 TD catches in their Week 16 game. Liability!

iggyman555 · 01-18-2012, 07:30 PM

LOL love these pats fans, i wish they would do research before posting.

**Ks1102** · 01-18-2012, 07:31 PM

Sorry, this has gotten off topic. We are now talking about the Ravens D (which is interesting). My initial post was that the Pats D is not as bad as the stats show. Plus it is not how they were playing but how they are playing now.

**The Excellector** · 01-18-2012, 07:32 PM

To stay on topic, my question to Patriots fans would be this: With the idea that the Patriots are better than their ranking, are they close enough to the caliber of the Houston Texans, to be able to take away Torrey Smith with single coverage and successfully stack the box to stop Ray Rice? In 2010, Rice only had eighty eight yards rushing. The time before that, the Ravens weren't hiding the fact that he was getting the ball and the Patriots did stack the box, but unsuccessfully.

How confident are you guys in the Patriots ability to take Rice out of the equation, the way that Houston did, while taking Torrey Smith out at the same time?

**RavenDavey** · 01-18-2012, 07:39 PM

in talking defenses...I see the Ravens forcing turnovers by intercepting Brady. the key for the Ravens is scoring TD's off of all the NE turnovers!

**HartLee** · 01-18-2012, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

To stay on topic, my question to Patriots fans would be this: With the idea that the Patriots are better than their ranking, are they close enough to the caliber of the Houston Texans, to be able to take away Torrey Smith with single coverage and successfully stack the box to stop Ray Rice? In 2010, Rice only had eighty eight yards rushing. The time before that, the Ravens weren't hiding the fact that he was getting the ball and the Patriots did stack the box, but unsuccessfully.

How confident are you guys in the Patriots ability to take Rice out of the equation, the way that Houston did, while taking Torrey Smith out at the same time?

The Patriots D is not in the same league as Houston's. Ravens should have a much easier time moving the ball than last week. I suspect that the Pats will gear up to stop Rice as usual and take their chances in single coverage on Smith. Flacco will definitely have some chances to take advantage down the field.

**The Excellector** · 01-18-2012, 11:39 PM

How confident are Patriots fans in their teams' ability to effectively stop Ray Rice?

**Boulderraven** · 01-18-2012, 11:49 PM

Ravens got a blessing in disguise playing fast, physical smart Texan D first then having to play NE next, nowhere as fast or as physical or well coached.

**MarkS** · 01-19-2012, 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by Ks1102

Sorry, this has gotten off topic. We are now talking about the Ravens D (which is interesting). My initial post was that the Pats D is not as bad as the stats show. Plus it is not how they were playing but how they are playing now.

OK, getting back on topic:

You say the Pats D is not as bad as the stats look, and they've been playing better down the stretch, let's see:

On the season, the Pats D ranked 15th, allowing an average of 21.4 pts/game.

In the last 6 regular season games, you guys allowed 20,24,27, 23,24 and 21 points. that's an average of 23.2 pts/game, WORSE than your overall season average.

Not once in the last 6 did you hold an opponent under 20 points. Furthermore, the teams you faced in that stretch were Philly, Indy, Wash, Denver, Miami and Buffalo. Not exactly the Packers or Saints. Only ONE of those teams has an offense ranked in the top-10 (Philly). Buffalo is squarely average, ranked 14th. The other 4 are all amongst the worst offenses in the NFL (ranked 20th or worse in scoring offense).

In short, your defense finished the year playing worse than you started, and against decidedly sub-par competition. Tell me again how they're underrated?

**Haloti92** · 01-19-2012, 01:17 AM

Originally Posted by MarkS

OK, getting back on topic:

You say the Pats D is not as bad as the stats look, and they've been playing better down the stretch, let's see:

On the season, the Pats D ranked 15th, allowing an average of 21.4 pts/game.

In the last 6 regular season games, you guys allowed 20,24,27, 23,24 and 21 points. that's an average of 23.2 pts/game, WORSE than your overall season average.

Not once in the last 6 did you hold an opponent under 20 points. Furthermore, the teams you faced in that stretch were Philly, Indy, Wash, Denver, Miami and Buffalo. Not exactly the Packers or Saints. Only ONE of those teams has an offense ranked in the top-10 (Philly). Buffalo is squarely average, ranked 14th. The other 4 are all amongst the worst offenses in the NFL (ranked 20th or worse in scoring offense).

In short, your defense finished the year playing worse than you started, and against decidedly sub-par competition. Tell me again how they're underrated?

I will play devil's advocate, because I agree they are not as bad as people here suggest (or hope). They are of course not a good defense.

For starters, you arbitrarily picked the last 6 games. Looking at the schedule I assume it is because the 7th-to-last game they allowed 3 points. (8th to last 16 points).

Secondly, they beat Philly 38-20 and let up a TD with 0:32 left in the game. 25 point lead (38-13) in closing minutes turns into 18 point win after allowing meaningless TD in final minute.

The Colts game they won 31-24, and admittedly it got a bit close, but they were up 31-3 to start the 4th quarter, and the last TD (to cut it to 7) was scored with 0:36 seconds left.

No excuses in the Washington game, it was a 34-27 win, but the Skins scored all points legitimately and the game was tied in the 3rd quarter.

Denver game (reg season), they went down 13-7 in the first quarter, had a 27-16 lead at half, 34-16 to start the 3rd, then allowed (and scored themselves) 1 TD in the 4th for a 41-23, 18 point win.

Miami game, they went down 17-0 in the first half, scored 27 straight points and with a 10 point lead (27-17) allowed a Miami TD with 1:48 left in the game. That was too close to be called prevent TD for sure.

Buffalo game, they went down 21-0 in the first quarter, scored 49 straight points, allowed no points for the final 3 quarters, and won by 4 TDs.

In short, multiple times they allowed points early and when they did they clamped down (assuming adjustments were made) and won, or they allowed meaningless points late.

The overall stats do not show the circumstances.

Their terrible yardage ranking is also affected, somewhat, by such circumstances (and every team has such games, but I don't think as many). For example in the Colts game, they allowed 114 yards thru 41 minutes (excellent), and built a 4 TD lead. Then in the final 19 minutes, they allowed 297 yards (absurd) and finished the game allowing over 400 yards (poor). There is no doubt they were trying, but up 3-4 TDs that late, you are in some kind of prevent or semi-prevent, or giving some people some rest.

**Ks1102** · 01-19-2012, 09:06 AM

You did the work for me. Of course this is not proof of a good D. Im just saying there are many circumstances that you can say that they are not as bad as said to be. Situationa football is being played here. And to a previous poster please dont get me wrong. I am not saying the Patd D is anything close to the Texans, they are not close. But I feel they do not need to be.
I think the Pats will try to contain Rice. I feel they will do a better job than in the past but he will not be nullified. I think the Pats will want to let Flacco try to win the game and or try to keep up with Brady. I think that will be the Pats game plan.

Originally Posted by Haloti92

I will play devil's advocate, because I agree they are not as bad as people here suggest (or hope). They are of course not a good defense.

For starters, you arbitrarily picked the last 6 games. Looking at the schedule I assume it is because the 7th-to-last game they allowed 3 points. (8th to last 16 points).

Secondly, they beat Philly 38-20 and let up a TD with 0:32 left in the game. 25 point lead (38-13) in closing minutes turns into 18 point win after allowing meaningless TD in final minute.

The Colts game they won 31-24, and admittedly it got a bit close, but they were up 31-3 to start the 4th quarter, and the last TD (to cut it to 7) was scored with 0:36 seconds left.

No excuses in the Washington game, it was a 34-27 win, but the Skins scored all points legitimately and the game was tied in the 3rd quarter.

Denver game (reg season), they went down 13-7 in the first quarter, had a 27-16 lead at half, 34-16 to start the 3rd, then allowed (and scored themselves) 1 TD in the 4th for a 41-23, 18 point win.

Miami game, they went down 17-0 in the first half, scored 27 straight points and with a 10 point lead (27-17) allowed a Miami TD with 1:48 left in the game. That was too close to be called prevent TD for sure.

Buffalo game, they went down 21-0 in the first quarter, scored 49 straight points, allowed no points for the final 3 quarters, and won by 4 TDs.

In short, multiple times they allowed points early and when they did they clamped down (assuming adjustments were made) and won, or they allowed meaningless points late.

The overall stats do not show the circumstances.

Their terrible yardage ranking is also affected, somewhat, by such circumstances (and every team has such games, but I don't think as many). For example in the Colts game, they allowed 114 yards thru 41 minutes (excellent), and built a 4 TD lead. Then in the final 19 minutes, they allowed 297 yards (absurd) and finished the game allowing over 400 yards (poor). There is no doubt they were trying, but up 3-4 TDs that late, you are in some kind of prevent or semi-prevent, or giving some people some rest.