...if fact, being touted as one of the best second level units in the league.
And why not? Returning were a second year freak of nature at the strong in Dont'a Hightower, a tackling machine at the weak in Jerod Mayo, anchored by a frightening downhill run plugger in the middle known simply as, "The Predator" - a nickname that Brandon Spikes earned at the University of Florida where his menacing appearance on the field was as intimidating as the extra-terrestrial warrior in the late 80's sci-fi flick...
...an amazingly popular and successful film, given the thin plot and and marginally acceptable acting - in stark contrast to the ever-thickening plot that the Patriots defense has had to act on, the cast of characters thrown into the most dire of circumstances, enduring injury after injury but somehow able to not only survive, but to win most of their battles.
Spikes is the emotional leader of the defense that lost both of their captains to season ending injury, tackle Vince Wilfork to a torn Achilles tendon in week 4 and the afore mentioned Mayo to a torn pectoral muscle the following week at Cincinnati, and while the line has had it's issues filling in for Wilfork, the bigger issue has been trying to replace the production of Mayo as the weak side linebacker.
Specifically, how to replace his sideline to sideline run pursuit and, perhaps more importantly, pass coverage radius. As the weak side linebacker, Mayo usually had a lock down on the running backs in passing situations and, to this point, there has been no one really able to step up into that role - though veteran backup Dane Fletcher has inherited it for lack of a better option.
But, why isn't there a better option?
The answer to that lies in the fact that coach Bill Belichick went into this past April's draft with the mindset on defense to select for depth - projects that he and the coaching staff could mold into their own image, and who would eventually allow the team to morph into whatever it needed to be under any given circumstance.
But just as the depth in the secondary had their learning curve accelerated due to injuries to the starters, so has the depth in the linebacking corps - but while the starters on the back end are due to return, thus the depth just stemming the tide while getting valuable real-time snaps, Mayo will not be returning this season, and with second round pick Jamie Collins being brought along slowly to this point, the onus falls on Fletcher.
Fletcher's integration into the role of dime linebacker was supposed to happen last season, but a torn ACL in training camp forced the team to ride with what they had - the result being a muted desperation in this past offseason to find some depth who could handle the running backs swinging out of the backfield.
But Collins isn't quite there yet and no one knows why Beauharnais is a weekly healthy scratch - so with his 4.61 speed and hockey player's toughness and understanding of playing within himself - he played junior hockey for the Bozeman Icedogs while attending Montana State University on a football scholarship - the fourth year former college defensive end Fletcher is the man.
And that's not necessarily a bad thing, just a bit disappointing to Patriots fans, perhaps the coaching staff and surely for Collins himself that he hasn't earned a more prominent role on this defense as yet.
So with the loss of Mayo, the Patriots' linebacking corps has gone from one of the best in the league to a question mark. Hightower is a fantastic athlete and heady football player, but he doesn't have the speed to stay with tight ends on the strong side. Spikes has one direction and one speed, but if he connects with you square, you're toast.
And those are the starters, their deficiencies masked somewhat by Mayo's non-stop motor and football intelligence, but exposed as legitimate concerns without him - as a result, we've seen a lot of nickle and dime sub-packages, and teams have been able to run on them, the majority of the yardage coming off tackle and around the edges where corners and safeties are making the tackles.
This is not a recipe for success moving forward with most teams, but as Patriots' fans know so well, there is not a better game plan specific coach in the world than Belichick, and he has been able to make due with less in the past.
The switch to a 3-4 base defense was instituted two weeks ago, and the addition to the line of veteran run plugger Isaac Sopoaga at nose tackle has freed up Belichcik to do some creative things at linebacker - one being defensive end Rob Ninkovich converted to a more stand up role as a rush linebacker, then back to his end role in the 4-1-6 dime.
Pas rushing demon Chandler Jones and newly re-signed Andre Carter also provide like-versatility as stand up rush linebackers with even more depth provided by Michael Buchanan and, to a lesser extent, Jake Bequette.
This versatility from allows Hightower and Spikes some autonomy to be aggressive and make plays on the early downs, and also for Fletcher to be aggressive in the dime, as the line gets enough penetration that the running back has to stay in and protect, leaving Fletcher free to roam and identify the gap for the hug blitz if warranted.
The discussion on the Patriots' linebackers could go on and on, but the fact that Belichick has so many versatile hybrids littered throughout the front seven gives him many counter options to whatever the opposing offense can come up with to attack...
...kinda like what Belichick had in mind as far as the defense being able to morph into whatever it needs to be, just not anywhere as efficiently than if Mayo was still lacing 'em up and making plays.
No comments:
Post a Comment