Carmen Cygni Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Quote Patriots opponents have started in their own end of the field for 94 consecutive drives, the longest such streak in the NFL in the last 25 years. The last time a Patriots opponent started on New England’s side of the 50-yard line was in the first quarter of a Week 3 matchup against the Texans. Only two opponent drives have started on the Patriots’ side of the field all season. For comparison, the Patriots have started 17 drives in opponents’ territory this season. Furthermore, teams that have played the Patriots this season have an average starting field position of their own 24-yard line, which is the worst starting field position against any opponent in the NFL this season. Full article: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots/2017/12/lazar_patriots_winning_field_position_battle_at_historic_rate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
childofpudding Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Nice article. Definitely a testament to NE's longtime dedication to special teams, particularly kickoff and punt coverage this season. NE's defense has actually allowed the most yards per drive in the league, and their offense is middle of the pack when it comes to its average starting field position. But they are first in both offensive yards per drive, have the fewest TOs per drive, and are first in opponent average starting field position. https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/drivestatsoff https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/drivestatsdef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmen Cygni Posted December 7, 2017 Author Share Posted December 7, 2017 31 minutes ago, childofpudding said: Nice article. Definitely a testament to NE's longtime dedication to special teams, particularly kickoff and punt coverage this season. NE's defense has actually allowed the most yards per drive in the league, and their offense is middle of the pack when it comes to its average starting field position. But they are first in both offensive yards per drive, have the fewest TOs per drive, and are first in opponent average starting field position. https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/drivestatsoff https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/drivestatsdef Perfect example of the defensive philosophy "bend but don't break" as they've allowed a meager and league best 11.9 PPG since week 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadpulse Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 38 minutes ago, Carmen Cygni said: Perfect example of the defensive philosophy "bend but don't break" as they've allowed a meager and league best 11.9 PPG since week 5. Begs the question, would the bend but dont break philosophy be paying dividends if not for the historic rate the OP article shows? They give up the most yards per drive in the league, I wonder if the thing that saves them is how the opposing team has to drive further than most. I'd be curious to see the average opponent starting position of those first few games where the defense was porous as opposed to this recent stretch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soko Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 This is why Bill invests the amount of roster spots he does to guys that either A) only play special teams, or B) play mostly special teams and barely anything as a backup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renndawg37 Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Yet another testament as to why they are the best coached team in the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottishpatriot Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 It says a lot about special teams but it also speaks to the turnover battle. The Patriots don turn it over, but when they do, it happens in opposition territory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter2_1 Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 We have specialists on special team, whereas other teams have 3rd choice starters there. Think of all the specialists - Slater, Ebner, Bademosi, Bolden, King etc. BB dedicates an unprecedented amount of time and resources to ST and it's paying off. We've also had blocked FGs and punts and safeties etc. Even despite injuries to our two best special teamers. I really value field position, so this makes me happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
childofpudding Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 11 hours ago, Carmen Cygni said: Perfect example of the defensive philosophy "bend but don't break" as they've allowed a meager and league best 11.9 PPG since week 5. For sure. They've been stout in the RZ. It's really been a tale of two seasons with the defense. I thought it would get worse, or at least stay bad once Hightower went on IR, but they've gotten much better. Secondary has gelled and it's not giving up the kind of big plays it was earlier in the season. So as Deadpulse was alluding to some extent, the D forces you to methodically go down the field, bit by bit, in order to score. Combine that with a long distance to go, thanks to ST and the offense. Recipe for success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmen Cygni Posted December 7, 2017 Author Share Posted December 7, 2017 45 minutes ago, childofpudding said: For sure. They've been stout in the RZ. It's really been a tale of two seasons with the defense. I thought it would get worse, or at least stay bad once Hightower went on IR, but they've gotten much better. Secondary has gelled and it's not giving up the kind of big plays it was earlier in the season. So as Deadpulse was alluding to some extent, the D forces you to methodically go down the field, bit by bit, in order to score. Combine that with a long distance to go, thanks to ST and the offense. Recipe for success. Increases the chances for takeaways, too. Which they are tied for #7 in the league with 17. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmen Cygni Posted December 7, 2017 Author Share Posted December 7, 2017 1 hour ago, tonyto36 said: I think it is more a testament to Brady and the offense. Consistently get good drives and never turn it over. That being said I'd like to see where the Patriots fare on coverage units vs the league. Feels like we have to be up there. Bingo. Currently only 6.2% of their drives have resulted in a turnover. (2nd in the league to KC's 6.1%. League average is 11.3). They also lead the league in drives ending in a score at 51.2% (League average is 34.5%) Overall, just a phenomenally well coached and lead team all around. On one hand, it's awful for me being a Dolphin fan. On the other, it's great from a football perspective to watch and learn from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhunt2402 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 On 12/6/2017 at 11:36 PM, Deadpulse said: Begs the question, would the bend but dont break philosophy be paying dividends if not for the historic rate the OP article shows? They give up the most yards per drive in the league, I wonder if the thing that saves them is how the opposing team has to drive further than most. I'd be curious to see the average opponent starting position of those first few games where the defense was porous as opposed to this recent stretch. That's probably true in part, but you also have to consider that their yards allowed might be a product of their opponents starting so deep in their own territory all the time. Each contributes to the other. Additionally, we're always good in the red zone, and that hasn't changed this year since the first couple of weeks, so that's always a factor in keeping our scoring defense average low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadpulse Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 22 minutes ago, dhunt2402 said: That's probably true in part, but you also have to consider that their yards allowed might be a product of their opponents starting so deep in their own territory all the time. Each contributes to the other. Additionally, we're always good in the red zone, and that hasn't changed this year since the first couple of weeks, so that's always a factor in keeping our scoring defense average low. Based on TC practices that I have witnessed, I'd say they spend 70% of practice snaps on redzone offense and defense. Big reason why bend but dont break is a thing, both in why they give up yard and why they hold up in the RZ. They practice one way more than the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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