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Patriots defensive back #31 Jonathan Jones celebrates a 2nd quarter interception. Bob Breidenbach/The Providence Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Patriots in desperate need of difference makers on defense

By Andrew Marshall | Last updated 9/29/22

There's a disconnect between what New England wants to do and what they can do defensively.

The Patriots aren't bad by any stretch on defense, just behind their lofty standards. New England hasn't finished outside of the top-10 in scoring defense since 2011. They were No.1 as recently as 2019 (14.1 ppg) when opponents had nearly double the interceptions (25) as passing touchdowns (13). They're currently giving up 23.7 ppg (22nd) thru 3 games, thanks in large part to Lamar Jackson.

Truthfully, the defense is playing just fine. The problem with New England's defense is that there aren't many glaring problems. There aren't many coverage busts or communication miscues, just fewer solutions. Even the franchise known for using players interchangeably as well as any still needs more true difference-makers.

Belichick calls Dont’a Hightower “Mr. February” because he always comes up clutch in the Super Bowl. ⁣
⁣
Stopped Marshawn at the goal line to set up the Malcolm Butler pick.

Strip sack on Matt Ryan down 28-12

Two sacks and three QB hits on Goff

Big loss for NE. pic.twitter.com/8vltSiCrb8
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) July 28, 2020

The Patriots might very well have two fewer Lombardi trophies if not for Dont'a Hightower's postseason heroics. Ja'Whaun Bentley has started in Hightower's absence before, but the dropoff is more noticeable without a great secondary. Kyle Dugger is working back from injury, Devin McCourty turned 35 this summer and converted safety Jalen Mills isn't Stephon Gilmore or Ty Law, understandably.

Belichick called defense more aggressively when they had an elite coverage unit. Back in 2019, they ran a version of 'Zero Blitz' plays, match coverages and simulated pressures, but rarely got burnt.

Per Pro Football Reference, they had 3 linebackers total over 75 blitzes in 2019 — Kyle Van Noy (115), Jamie Collins (90) and Dont'a Hightower (78). Since then, only Matt Judon has blitzed the quarterback over 50 times in a season (59 times in 2021).

New England's defense is complex. Defenses with high levels of structure often struggle against players who can break it. Vance Joseph talked with the 33rd Team last year discussing playcalling against mobile quarterbacks, mentioning that the second play within the play can essentially make the right defensive call wrong.

Lamar has some of the best field vision in the NFL, and his legs extended a number of drives Sunday. The offense is also allowed to make good plays too. Lamar's touchdowns to Mark Andrews and Devin Duvernay were well-covered.

Top cover guys and chesspiece linebackers aren't easy to find, signing Gilmore as they did in 2017 from the open market is a rarity. Blue-chip talents like Wille McGinnest or Richard Seymour don't grow on trees. The Pats have a great history of drafting defensive players near the top of the draft. Getting back to defensive dominance will take place in April. As of now, they don't have the horses to win the race.

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