Efficiently Spending On Defense

[mgteich]

The roster of the patriots has the patriots spending LESS than all but 4 teams on defense. To be in the top ten in points allowed is pretty good, given that kind of spending.

On the other hand, we spend over 60% of our cap money on offense and can't score fourteen points in key playoffs games.

And we continue to blame the defense. We should. They are not playoff quality. The secondary needs lots of help. The front seen is young and improving, but we still need at least a DT and a coverage linebacker. Personally, I think that the defensive coaches have done a great job on the defense, GIVEN how little resources that they have had to work with.

Last year, we added Jones, Hightower, Wilson, Bequette, Francis, Ebner and Dennard. The front office knows that there is a problem.

We need to move forward again this year. This requires the use of lots of free agent money on defensive backs and a high draft choice or two on defense.

 

[Deus Irae]

...We need to move forward again this year. This requires the use of lots of free agent money on defensive backs and a high draft choice or two on defense.

How so? Looking right now, it seems to me that the defense can be "fixed" with just a few moves, and most of them should be fairly low cost:

Sign one CB1
Dennard is CB2
Re-sign Arrington as the slot DB
Draft safety in round 1
McCourty at safety

Add a cover LB (several should spring loose post-draft, if not before), and do the usual depth work on the line. Done, save for rounding out the roster with competition for Dowling.

Next year is the year for OL/DL.


Where do you see a problem?

 

[Brady2Moss]

How so? Looking right now, it seems to me that the defense can be "fixed" with just a few moves, and most of them should be fairly low cost:

Sign one CB1
Dennard is CB2
Re-sign Arrington as the slot DB
Draft safety in round 1
McCourty at safety

Add a cover LB (several should spring loose post-draft, if not before), and do the usual depth work on the line. Done, save for rounding out the roster with competition for Dowling.

Next year is the year for OL/DL.


Where do you see a problem?

Agreed seems like a pretty simple fix given the depth of corners in free agency and safeties in the draft.

And obviously we are going to be bottom in spending on defense we have a bunch of high draft picks playing out their rookie deals.

 

[ivanvamp]

How so? Looking right now, it seems to me that the defense can be "fixed" with just a few moves, and most of them should be fairly low cost:

Sign one CB1
Dennard is CB2
Re-sign Arrington as the slot DB
Draft safety in round 1
McCourty at safety

Add a cover LB (several should spring loose post-draft, if not before), and do the usual depth work on the line. Done, save for rounding out the roster with competition for Dowling.

Next year is the year for OL/DL.


Where do you see a problem?

Pass rush. It needs real improvement, Deus. They got no pressure on Flacco in the AFCCG. He just stood back there all day long. Ninkovich is fine, and Chandler Jones shows promise, but they need a lot more help in that area. There are several intriguing players that could help: Freeney, Avril, Umenyiora, just to list a few well-known names. Of course, there are lesser-known guys as well with potential.

Obviously cost will be a major factor here, to go along with talent assessment. But regardless, it's one real significant area of need that they have to address. And as you know, I'm now on record as saying that in my opinion, Freeney would be ideal to bring in to use as a pass-rushing specialist. Not as an every-down guy, b/c I don't think he has enough left in the tank for that, and he won't be nearly as productive. But in a clear pass-situation scenario, just letting him reserve his energy for those downs (maybe 10-15 a game), he could be terrific. Plus I think he could really help Jones develop.

 

[cstjohn17]

This looks like one of deepest free agent classes in a while and reports are that the draft is also deep.

I expect a few modest moves before the draft and them they will shift through the remaining veteran free agents and make a few more pickups. I don't see any big splashes just a whole bunch of low cost darts being thrown at the board, hopefully one or two stick.

 

[JackBauer]

How so? Looking right now, it seems to me that the defense can be "fixed" with just a few moves, and most of them should be fairly low cost:

Sign one CB1
Dennard is CB2
Re-sign Arrington as the slot DB
Draft safety in round 1
McCourty at safety

Add a cover LB (several should spring loose post-draft, if not before), and do the usual depth work on the line. Done, save for rounding out the roster with competition for Dowling.

Next year is the year for OL/DL.


Where do you see a problem?

I think they need another DT.

 

[Ring 6]

How so? Looking right now, it seems to me that the defense can be "fixed" with just a few moves, and most of them should be fairly low cost:

Sign one CB1
Dennard is CB2
Re-sign Arrington as the slot DB
Draft safety in round 1
McCourty at safety

Add a cover LB (several should spring loose post-draft, if not before), and do the usual depth work on the line. Done, save for rounding out the roster with competition for Dowling.

Next year is the year for OL/DL.


Where do you see a problem?

That still leaves an abysmal pass rush that will expose the secondary no matter who is brought in.

 

[Ring 6]

Pass rush. It needs real improvement, Deus. They got no pressure on Flacco in the AFCCG. He just stood back there all day long. Ninkovich is fine, and Chandler Jones shows promise, but they need a lot more help in that area. There are several intriguing players that could help: Freeney, Avril, Umenyiora, just to list a few well-known names. Of course, there are lesser-known guys as well with potential.

Obviously cost will be a major factor here, to go along with talent assessment. But regardless, it's one real significant area of need that they have to address. And as you know, I'm now on record as saying that in my opinion, Freeney would be ideal to bring in to use as a pass-rushing specialist. Not as an every-down guy, b/c I don't think he has enough left in the tank for that, and he won't be nearly as productive. But in a clear pass-situation scenario, just letting him reserve his energy for those downs (maybe 10-15 a game), he could be terrific. Plus I think he could really help Jones develop.

Good post, with the exception of "Ninkovich is fine". He is the primary reason the pass rush was lacking, followed by the supporting pressure from the inside.

 

[voluntarysaftey]

DT and DE can use upgrades.
Wilfork and Jones are fine. Adding one more person of Jone's caliber would be great on the DL

I think LB is mostly okay -- Spikes, Hightower , and Mayo are all solid. Unfortunately none of them are really play makers like our championship LBs were. Hopefully atleast one of them becomes one. Would also be nice if they can improve in coverage.

 

[Deus Irae]

I think they need another DT.

What level of DT are you talking about? They signed Armstead out of Canada to help with the line. They've got

Wilfork
Love
Deaderick
Ninkovich
Jones
Francis


on the line right now. There are no great pass rushers expected to get loose in FA, and there's not any expected to fall to where the Patriots will be drafting. So, absent a surprise cut, what are you looking at beyond the normal camp competition? Are you looking at Pouha, if he gets cut by the Jets?

 

[DocHoliday]

DT and DE can use upgrades.
Wilfork and Jones are fine. Adding one more person of Jone's caliber would be great on the DL

I think LB is mostly okay -- Spikes, Hightower , and Mayo are all solid. Unfortunately none of them are really play makers like our championship LBs were. Hopefully atleast one of them becomes one. Would also be nice if they can improve in coverage.

Spikes isn't a playmaker?

 

[ThatllMoveTheChains!!!]

The roster of the patriots has the patriots spending LESS than all but 4 teams on defense. To be in the top ten in points allowed is pretty good, given that kind of spending.

On the other hand, we spend over 60% of our cap money on offense and can't score fourteen points in key playoffs games.

And we continue to blame the defense. We should. They are not playoff quality. The secondary needs lots of help. The front seen is young and improving, but we still need at least a DT and a coverage linebacker. Personally, I think that the defensive coaches have done a great job on the defense, GIVEN how little resources that they have had to work with.

Last year, we added Jones, Hightower, Wilson, Bequette, Francis, Ebner and Dennard. The front office knows that there is a problem.

We need to move forward again this year. This requires the use of lots of free agent money on defensive backs and a high draft choice or two on defense.

Do you happen to have the numbers available or a link to them?

A coverage LB would be nice, but I think it's too much of a role position in this defense to allow them to actually get a good one. I'd be happy to see them grab up a DL or two in the draft if they pop up at good value, and would prefer if they went the FA route trying to round out the DBs. It seem like they're really close to having a good unit on the backend and it makes more sense to pick up a "known" quantity rather than taking a gamble; also the unit seems in need of some veteran leadership.

I'd also be interested to see the FA and draft numbers split up by offense and defense. It has felt that 07- the defense has been an afterthought, but often perception is based on results rather than actual actions.

 

[ivanvamp]

Good post, with the exception of "Ninkovich is fine". He is the primary reason the pass rush was lacking, followed by the supporting pressure from the inside.

Ninkovich was 29th in the league in sacks with 8.0, and he had 5 forced fumbles. He made numerous big plays in huge spots. He's not exactly the second coming of Lawrence Taylor, but he's hardly one of the problems with this defense.

Here are his numbers. See if you notice a trend. (stats from: Rob Ninkovich Stats - New England Patriots - ESPN)

2009: 1.0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 stuff
2010: 4.0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 4 stuffs
2011: 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 stuffs
2012: 8.0 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 5 stuffs

 

[JackBauer]

What level of DT are you talking about? They signed Armstead out of Canada to help with the line. They've got

Wilfork
Love
Deaderick
Ninkovich
Jones
Francis


on the line right now. There are no great pass rushers expected to get loose in FA, and there's not any expected to fall to where the Patriots will be drafting. So, absent a surprise cut, what are you looking at beyond the normal camp competition? Are you looking at Pouha, if he gets cut by the Jets?

Can Armstead move inside on passing downs? If so, that would be a positive step. I wouldn't mind looking at either Pouha or DeVito. All I know is that none of Wilfork, Love, or Deaderick seem to be effective generating a consistent inside rush. Maybe if Pryor could stay healthy to save his life.......

 

[patsinthesnow]

Thats it, is there any site that displays # of pressures for every DE or DT in the league?

 

[Brady6]

Can Armstead move inside on passing downs? If so, that would be a positive step. I wouldn't mind looking at either Pouha or DeVito. All I know is that none of Wilfork, Love, or Deaderick seem to be effective generating a consistent inside rush. Maybe if Pryor could stay healthy to save his life.......

I do not think Pouha or DeVito would add much in the pass rush department..

 

[Brady6]

The roster of the patriots has the patriots spending LESS than all but 4 teams on defense. To be in the top ten in points allowed is pretty good, given that kind of spending.

On the other hand, we spend over 60% of our cap money on offense and can't score fourteen points in key playoffs games.

And we continue to blame the defense. We should. They are not playoff quality. The secondary needs lots of help. The front seen is young and improving, but we still need at least a DT and a coverage linebacker. Personally, I think that the defensive coaches have done a great job on the defense, GIVEN how little resources that they have had to work with.

Last year, we added Jones, Hightower, Wilson, Bequette, Francis, Ebner and Dennard. The front office knows that there is a problem.

We need to move forward again this year. This requires the use of lots of free agent money on defensive backs and a high draft choice or two on defense.

I would prefer we effectively spend on defense.. I think we need another dynamic athlete up front. Other than Melton I don't see that in UFA.

I'd address the secondary in UFA continue to develop the youth of Dennard, Wilson, McCourty, Dowling, Ebner and then use a first or second on another dynamic front 7 player. Drafting another safety a year after taking Wilson as a second rounder without even giving him a chance to succeed or fail seems like a waste.

 

[Deus Irae]

Can Armstead move inside on passing downs? If so, that would be a positive step.

That's been suggested by some here. I don't know how effective he'll be at it on the NFL level, but I doubt it would be much worse than what was out there last year.

I wouldn't mind looking at either Pouha or DeVito. All I know is that none of Wilfork, Love, or Deaderick seem to be effective generating a consistent inside rush. Maybe if Pryor could stay healthy to save his life.......

Both of those guys would be interesting, especially against the run. Neither solves the pass rush question, as far as an inside rush, but having a rotation of Pouha/Love/Wilfork would certainly be strong against the run up the middle.

I just don't know what sort of money they'll be looking for. Pouha might end up staying with the Jets for less rather than risking the market, for example.

Pass rush possibilities are pretty slim unless you're willing to drop big coin. After Spencer, Johnson, Bennett and Avril, you're already down to question marks in FA. A lower end player like Wallace Gilberry, or older players coming off down years like Vanden Bosch, Umenyiora and A. Carter are what's out there.

That's why I'm for fixing the secondary and receiving corps this year, and the lines next. I'm open to suggestions, but I just don't see much more than chewing gum and baling wire out there this year.

 

[voluntarysaftey]

Spikes isn't a playmaker?

Good run stopper; nothing special in coverage. Not a game changer. 1 career sack, 1 career interception

 

[Brady6]

That's been suggested by some here. I don't know how effective he'll be at it on the NFL level, but I doubt it would be much worse than what was out there last year.



Both of those guys would be interesting, especially against the run. Neither solves the pass rush question, as far as an inside rush, but having a rotation of Pouha/Love/Wilfork would certainly be strong against the run up the middle.

I just don't know what sort of money they'll be looking for. Pouha might end up staying with the Jets for less rather than risking the market, for example.

Pass rush possibilities are pretty slim unless you're willing to drop big coin. After Spencer, Johnson, Bennett and Avril, you're already down to question marks in FA. A lower end player like Wallace Gilberry, or older players coming off down years like Vanden Bosch, Umenyiora and A. Carter are what's out there.

That's why I'm for fixing the secondary and receiving corps this year, and the lines next. I'm open to suggestions, but I just don't see much more than chewing gum and baling wire out there this year.

Carter would be a solid depth guy knows the system, and a full year removed from the injury.