Patriots Nation Asks, We Answer: GG Mailbag Week Six
After a 29-0 Patriots win injected life and hope back into the Patriots’ season, I answer the biggest questions that Patriots Nation has heading into a showdown against the Browns
Heading into a long stretch of winnable games, the Patriots need to bring the best version of themselves to make the playoffs. The fans are looking to see where the team needs to elevate to sweep this upcoming stretch.
Answering Patriots Nation And Their Questions
Alan wants to know if this improved form will make a mark against the best teams in the league.
Time will tell whether it will actually lead to wins, but the elevated play on all sides of the ball will certainly help them. Offensively, they’re starting to take care of the ball and winning the line-of-scrimmage battle. This is something that often differentiates the best teams in the NFL from the rest, taking care of the ball and winning the trenches on both sides.
The defensive front is generating pass rush, something they rarely did in the Bills games last year, among others against the best in the NFL. Rather than just coming from the elite Judon, it’s coming from everywhere, with Godchaux, Wise, and Barmore also stepping up, and no real weak link in the front seven. A big weakness from last year was speed, and it especially showed against top teams. Having a linebacker group that is smaller and faster from last year has paid off and led to a versatile, shutdown defense, not to mention a secondary that gets after the play and the ball.
Offensively, it hasn’t quite come all into place yet. Still, the Patriots are succeeding in the run game, improving their playcalling, and becoming more explosive in the passing game (when Mac is in) because of Mac’s newfound aggression and improved throw velocity.
Tyler wants to know if the Patriots need to acquire an additional edge rusher
Probably not. Of course, adding an extra source of disruption to the front seven is always useful, but in the Patriots’ hierarchy of needs, it’s quite low. They have an elite edge rusher in Judon already having an incredible season so far, having gotten sacks in every game this year. Deatrich Wise is also exceeding expectations and doing an awesome job so far. On the interior, Lawrence Guy, Devon Godchaux, Christian Barmore are doing well and while you can never pressure a quarterback too much, there are bigger needs.
Where the Patriots could use some bolstering, actually, is the offensive line. While the unit is definitely improving, right tackle is a problem with Wynn and Cannon as the current options for the Patriots, and the Patriots could use an imposing presence there. Furthermore, with the struggles they’ve had against the run against both Baltimore and Green Bay, and the number of good rushing attacks, dual-threat QBs, or both that they will come up against, more linebacker help could always be useful, and they need some bigger hitters even thought their current group is strong and fast.
Rutvick wants to know how Belichick keeps developing these amazing corners out of nobodies?
It really is crazy to think about the number of corners that Belichick has taken with mid-late round picks or undrafted, as well as the players that have been way more successful as a Patriot than with any other team. JC Jackson had a great career with the Patriots, especially the last two seasons, and yet has had no interceptions and just one pass breakup this year. Kyle Arrington, Sterling Moore, Malcolm Butler, all relatively low-profile corners until they broke out with the Patriots.
It’s uncanny, honestly, when you look at the level that Patriots secondaries have produced, how unheralded the components of those secondaries have been. There are a few reasons for this. First of all, Belichick’s coverages are not simple, and he is adept at utilizing all of his corners, safeties and coverage linebackers to collectively contribute to a play, and combined with his innovative schemes, this gets more than 100% of the corner’s potential to be realized.
Furthermore, when it comes to corners, most teams think about the big four: speed, agility, reactions, and hands. There’s a f