Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - LOCKED ON PATRIOTS - Aug. 12, 2016 - Breaking down the Pats' defense after their explosive preseason opener

Episode Date: August 12, 2016

The Boston Herald's Jeff Howe examines the Pats' defensive playmakers in their preseason debut against the Saints. Who stood out, and what does it mean for 2016? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Learn more about our healthy benefits at fepblue.org slash getmore. What's up, everybody? This is Locked on Patriots. I'm your host, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. It is Friday, August 12th, and here is your podcast after the Patriots' victory in their preseason opener against the Saints. Little later than usual today on the start with the podcast, but I'll get into that in a second.

What I want to start with is just the Patriots' defense. We've done a lot of offensive talk this week, especially Jimmy Garoppolo. I'll get to the offensive breakdown for Monday's podcast, but today I really just want to get to the defense because we haven't given them enough attention over the course of the last week and a half since the podcast started. Remember, the daily Patriots podcast, Locked On Patriots, Monday through Friday. If you want to advertise on this, hit me up at jeff.howittbostonherald.com.

Like I keep saying, we're going to give this to you five days a week until we burn down the internet. So, again, late start. Normally, I've had these to you sometimes the night night before, usually worst case scenario, first thing in the morning. But look, it was a late night. The wife and baby are away for the weekend. So I woke up this morning at 10 a.m. Felt like I got hit by a bus. It felt like it was like six. But I haven't slept till 10 since. I mean, I can't even remember the last time. My daughter's 13 months old. so let's say it's probably been 13 and a half months since the last time I woke up this late. It felt fantastic. And then I got downstairs, started to break down the game film. I realized it's 7,000 degrees outside and was reminded very quickly that the AC in my first floor is blown. The game pass wouldn't work for a little while. So it's been just one of those mornings. It felt great at the start and then it really started to dip. But thank goodness Justin Moore released the album of the year today. So that's kind of gotten me through this. Now that you've gotten a glimpse into my personal life, I'm sure none of which you cared about, let's get to the good stuff.

The Patriots defense played really well last night, as we really expected them to. Now the starting unit played for the majority of the first half. They took out Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, and Malcolm Butler about midway through that process. And of course, Logan Ryan, who's been practicing in the red non-contact jersey, didn't play. Neither did Rob Ninkovich, who was going to be out for, I'd say, at least a month, probably maybe six to eight weeks. Worst case scenario, I i would say with that torn triceps muscle so without those two guys they played essentially their starting defense and they allowed 16 points one of those touchdown drives was on a 15 yard field because of the uh the breakdown and punt

coverage and another was look the saints just executed hit a couple long passes at the end of the first quarter and capitalized on that drive with a touchdown. So aside from that, it was all about the pressure. And we knew the front seven of this Patriots defense was going to be what carries this Patriots defense. Not to say they're not good in the back end because they've got some players in the back end too. But, man, these guys can bring it. And they certainly did. I think Jabal Sheard was probably the star,

even though my stats say a forced fumble and a quarterback hit, but he was a little more disruptive than that. He really garners a lot of the offense's attention. Jamie Collins made the play of the night. We know that. That pick six based off of a deflected ball, Patrick Chung in coverage. Chung had a pretty good start to the preseason after the best season of his career, no question.

Jamie Collins brings that ball back to the house. Said it earlier this week, he's my pick for the defensive player of the year. I think he's going to have just a tremendous season. I think the Patriots need to do their best to lock up Collins and Hightower as soon as possible, assuming those guys are ready to play ball with the contract talks, because their prices are only going to escalate, assuming they stay healthy this season. He's been really good all summer long. And if you had made it to Gillette at any point this summer for any of their first 12 practices, or I should say the first 11 because that 12th was a walkthrough, then you realized that Trey Flowers was ready to have another good summer.

Played really well as a rookie, fourth-round pick out of Arkansas. In his three preseason games, missed one because of a shoulder injury. The knee was kind of a problem for him last year too but in his first preseason he had a sack remember against aaron rogers when he jumped off the top rope also had three pressures three quarterback hits and a pass breakup in his first preseason but those injuries just kind of caught up to him it was a tough veteran depth chart for those young guys including juni uh chino grissom and Rufus Johnson who are again back this season tough for those young guys to really crack that rotation and because of Flowers injuries

he was uh he was scratched 10 times last season on game days which was the most of anybody on the Patriots roster before he was ultimately put on IR December 1st. So Flowers came out flying last night, had another one of the best plays of the game with the strip sack on McCown, recovers the fumble, brings it back to the house for a 17-yard touchdown. Just a really good athletic play, but that was, it was a snowball effect for him. That thing was coming for really the entirety of the game. He worked a little bit with the starters, rotated in. I would expect that to continue into the season because this isn't a two-week fluke, I don't think. Trey Flowers has just an awesome motor. Even when he wasn't in on the play, you could see him kind of sprinting off to the edge if there was a ball thrown toward the

sideline. This guy just never stopped running and it was really really impressive to see because it was play after play after play after play and I don't care if he came from Arkansas it was hot it was humid it was disgusting out at Gillette Stadium last night so to be able to continue bringing that energy on a play-by-play basis that was impressive that's what you want to see out of those young guys who are trying to get as much snaps as possible. Flowers really brought it. He had three pressures, aside from that strip sack and fumble recovery for a touchdown. He had three pressures, and he drew a holding penalty.

So he was in the Saints' backfield all night. He was really, really disruptive. And he also had to run stuff, which I call i take those and i jot those down anytime a player stops a running play at or behind the line of scrimmage i call that a run stuff so flowers made a stop for no gain there too so uh that's one two six plays right there uh where he just made an impact on defense and some of that was with the second team, but that's fine. You know what? He's going to get a lot of run with the second team against second-teamers, and if he dominates,

that's what you want to see out of a kid who is trying to earn as much playing time as possible during the regular season. Now, we'll see what the next month brings. The Patriots are now inside of a month away from their season opener against the Cardinals. Rob Nankovich almost certainly won't be ready for that one. So you're looking at Jabal Sheard as their top defensive end and a guy who I would project to play 90 to 95% of the snaps.

And then you've got Chris Long and Shea McClellan, who are kind of two and three on that depth chart right now. We'll see what they do with Shea McClellan. He played on the edge. He played off the line a little bit against the Saints. Still not entirely sure where they're going to put him more often than not. But I would expect it to be on the defensive edge in the nickel because, quite frankly, the nickel is now the new base in the NFL.

So Chris Long played well last night, drew a holding penalty, and snuffed out a screen play on a wide receiver screen. So he was good. And if you can get Trey Flowers in as that fourth guy or even that third guy, let's say Chris Long is the starter opposite of Jabal Sheard. Chris Long is not going to play 90% of the snaps. Shane McClellan is not going to play 90% of the snaps. So you're going to have a rotation. You're going to need a guy like Trey Flowers who can come in, who is athletic, fast, physical, good against the run, can play on all three downs. Patriots have a really, really good situation right now on the defensive edge. And even when Rob Nikovich comes back, I mean, at some point, some of these other guys are going to get nicked up too. So you're just going to have to have as many guys that you can throw out there on the field as possible.

And that's a great situation because really, you look back to 2011 when Belichick really started to make that switch to a 4-3 on more of a full-time basis in the base defense. And that's when they had Andre Carter and Mark Anderson with Rob Ninkovich rotating in behind them as their defensive ends. That's when they had three. But after that, Anderson and Carter were gone. So you had Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich in 2012, 2013, 2014. And those guys were used just way too frequently. Chandler Jones, you know, started to wear down. Rob Ninkovich, I don't want to say he wore down because he continuously played. but when you ask a guy to play 95% of the snaps over the course of a season,

it's only natural to think that he's not going to be as good at the end as he was at the beginning, or maybe the motor won't last into the 60th minute of the game the way that it was in the first half, really, or whatever. So having a rotation, having guys that you can put out there and trust on a play-by-play basis is important the Patriots have tried to bring in guys you know Michael Buchanan was a guy that they brought in with a late round pick there's a handful of guys just like that Jake Beckett they they would put them on the field for for passing downs they'd end up losing containment a quarterback would break from the pocket and kind of you know gain some yards there maybe they weren't as good against the run so

flowers is that guy you know mcclellan and long are those guys jabal sheard and rob ninkovich have proven they are those guys in the patriot system so the bill belichick is not going to have to rely on just two or even just three defensive ends this season and that's extremely important again because your ability to bring wave after wave after wave on the defensive edge is really important for a defensive success so flowers development is is really it's huge for the patriots because if all those guys even say healthy and you've got five defensive ends that you can throw out there and dress on your 46-man roster on a weekly basis, you're golden.

That's a great, great problem to have to try to figure out how to get all these guys playing time. So a good start for that defensive front. Javalshird has been, I've said it over and over again this week, he's been unblockable so far in training camp. Whether it's going against the Patriots tackles or this week the Saints tackles, he's been tremendous. And he's really going to be the catalyst

of that defensive edge. And even if they play some 3-4 looks or some 3-3 nickels, you can have Dante Hightower on the edge too to just to mix up the looks a little bit and Hightower played well last night so just again I keep saying it it was a good start Terrence Knighton drew a holding penalty so you got Knighton and Long two of the big free agent acquisitions on defense in free agency both of those guys drew holding penalties in the preseason opener so a good start for both of them Alan Branch drew a chop block Rufus Johnson had a pressure Gino

Grissom had a sack and a pressure very late in the fourth quarter so you got Grissom and Johnson who are both battling to make the team I'd be surprised especially because you're gonna have to hold a spot for Ninkovich in that first month of the season, unless something goes completely awry and they need to put him on IR, but that's not the plan at this point. I don't think Grissom and Johnson are both going to make the 53-man roster, so that competition between those two guys is really good. I thought Johnson was slightly more disruptive against the Saints in the preseason opener than Grissom, despite the fact that Grissom had the sack and then the pressure on the final play of the game or the final Saints offensive snap of the game. But that's going to be a tough battle to watch or a fun battle to watch,

but a tough competition for those guys who are both trying to earn jobs. And even if they do, they're going to have to figure it out a little bit on special teams. Now the Patriots invested a third round pick on Grissom in 2015, whereas Johnson was really a roster competition sort of addition in 2015. And you know, he got the illness after a pretty good summer in his own right and was put on IR. So if it comes down to it, if all things being equal, Grissom's going to get the nod over Johnson just because the Patriots have invested more in him. at this point with the way those veterans are playing and with the way Trey Flowers

has kind of exploded over the last couple weeks it's going to be hard for either Grissom or Johnson whoever makes the team to even get a spot on the game day roster so really really interesting the way that that position has developed so far to this point in the summer a long long long way to go injuries uh young players some sometimes fall off so we'll see how it shapes up it's not like they have to make any of these decisions right now again they've got inside of a month now before the regular season opener so you're talking about almost three weeks before the roster cards roster cuts start to happen. So bring it down to the back end now.

Some interesting coverage stats. And Malcolm Butler wasn't tested, so that's a good start for him. Cyrus Jones played well. I had Saints quarterbacks at 2 of 2 for 31 yards when throwing at Cyrus Jones. Now, one of those was a nine yarder to Michael Thomas, who has been really uncoverable all summer long. We talked to Saints writers who just rave about Michael Thomas. So a nine yarder to him, no big deal. There was a 22 yarder at the end of the first quarter to Willie Sneed, who was a really good

slot receiver. And I gave that to Cyrus Jones. I'm not entirely comfortable giving that one to Cyrus Jones, just because there was a busted zone. There was some confusion on defense and I wasn't entirely, it seemed like Cyrus Jones should have fallen off of his zone and taken up Sneed on that short throw over the middle there. But I'm still not even entirely comfortable that that's how it should have been. I was curious because Justin Coleman was playing the left corner at that point, and he followed his guy in man coverage while Jones dropped into more of a soft zone. When again, I think if he, the reason why I gave it to him is because Coleman was in man on the other side of the field,

I was wondering if Jones probably should have been in man or probably should have aborted the zone coverage and and taken Willie Snead over there instead of maybe a linebacker or whoever just so again that's why I gave it to Jones sometimes these stats are imperfect I'm the first to admit that I told you guys that a lot last year when I really started to track these a little more aggressively. So whatever, whether it was 2 of 2 for 31 yards or 1 of 1 for 9 yards, the important thing was I liked his physical ability and really an interesting development, which might not mean anything for the long haul, but hey, we have one game to work off of when trying to examine what this team is doing right now when the Patriots moved to their base defense early in last night's

game when starters were still out there Malcolm Butler and Cyrus Jones were the two cornerbacks and Justin Coleman came off the field so now this is going to change when Logan Ryan's healthy enough to play in these games but does that mean Cyrus Jones has overtaken Justin Coleman on the depth chart or does it mean they're just trying to get Cyrus Jones more snaps because they know what they have in Coleman after he had a nice rookie season it could be either one of those and again there's time for this situation to develop you remember last year they started Darryl Roberts in that preseason opener after he had a really good training camp so sometimes they just want to get these young guys as much activity as possible, and that's really what it could come down to.

Justin Coleman gave up two passes or two completions for 62 yards, a 37-yarder to Brandon Cooks on just a beautiful throw on the opening play of the game from Drew Brees to Cooks, who is also uncoverable. I'm not going to hold Coleman. I'm not going to hold that one against Coleman too much. I mean, that was just good offensive execution. And then there was a 25 yarder to Michael Thomas on that play that was reviewed toward the end of the first quarter, which again, just a great athletic play by Michael Thomas to pull down that ball on the sideline.

And so the numbers don't look great for Coleman, but when you look at each individual play, how much more could he have really done? Now, yeah, he lost Thomas down the sideline, maybe a better throw and it's a longer game, but you know, we're just, we're picking nits at this point. The numbers are what they are. He also did have a pass breakup on a dump off to Tim Hightower when he was a little more physical, made sure Hightower couldn't haul in that catch and Justin Coleman had an illegal hands penalty so that was an offsetting call

but uh whatever an eventful night for Justin Coleman some plays I'm sure he would have liked to have back because these guys are perfectionists that's why they've gotten to this level but again this is a competition that is hardly done there's There's a long way to go on this one. Patrick Chung, when being targeted, one of two. There was an 11-yarder to Kobe Fleener. He also had a pass breakup. He sort of dislodged that ball that was intercepted by Jamie Collins. I think his presence kind of made the catch a little more difficult for Brandon Coleman.

So I gave Chung the pass break up on that play. Shea McClellan gave up a little pass to the sideline. You know, whatever, seven yards. Chris Long, same thing, gave up a four-yarder when he was responsible for coverage. Who cares? I don't really hold those against guys who are essentially pass rushers, defensive ends, three, four outside linebackers, however you want to term them, edge guys who just kind of had to fall into the flat and kind of cover a guy

quarterbacks usually going to go to that matchup as often as they possibly can then you'll look a little more down the depth chart craven leblanc just a tremendous interception in the end zone there when quarterbacks are targeting leblanc one of three for four yards LeBlanc had that pick uh in the end zone again and and was responsible for another incompletion so a nice start for him and Jonathan Jones had a tough night sort of now quarterbacks were five of seven for 40 yards and a touchdown when targeting Jones I didn't get a great look at that touchdown because the replays on Game Rewind were non-existent. And they kind of lost attention to the coverage in the end zone on the live portion of the broadcast. But it did look like Jones got beat to the inside there.

It was his man. And it was a four-yard score to Bell. So he gave up five completions. But you're looking at a nine-er, a 12 yarder, a nine yarder, a six yarder, and then the four yard touchdown. Now, I remember, don't take this the wrong way. I'm prefacing this strongly. I'm not comparing Jonathan Jones to Darrell Rivas, but I remember Darrell Rivas gave up

a few passes a couple of years ago. I think it was in that Oakland game. And somebody was like, hey, yeah, you gave up like four or five balls there. And it was for a total of like 17 yards or something ridiculous like that and Rivas just sort of laughed at the question it was a stupid question but Rivas laughed at the question was like man I gave up you know completions of four yards six yards you know who cares you know if you're giving up completions that short you tip your cap and you move on that's it's not the end of the world but you're giving up completions that short, you tip your cap and you move on. It's not the end of the world. But giving up five completions, you know that's something that Jon Jones is going to get a chance to work with.

He also had a pass breakup on a nice play in the end zone to Michael Thomas. So you give him a lot of credit for that. Could have been a better throw, but who cares? Jon Jones made the play. So he's been their fifth cornerback so far in camp. I wonder if Craven LeBlanc is going to be able to push him a little more for that same with you know John Jones already overtook Darrell Roberts for that fifth cornerback spot so again we'll see if LeBlanc is able to make a little noise after a good preseason debut Roberts was 0 of 1 when targeted did have a 27 yard

defensive pass interference penalty. So a somewhat uneventful night aside from that flag for Roberts. And then you look at EJ Biggers, gave up a 28-yarder, 1 of 2 when quarterbacks were throwing at him. Biggers is a very, very much, very much a long shot to make the team. So, yeah, it's whatever. You know, it's all about the young guys I guess when you start to get down there Cedric Thompson one of two for six yards and throwing at him a couple linebackers had active nights Saints were two of two for 15 yards when throwing at Ramon Humber and three of four for 34 yards when throwing to Camu Grugier-Hill, who was a nice, young, athletic-looking linebacker

and got as much playing time as I expected he would get in that Saints game. He looks like a guy who's probably going to make the team at this point. He's just got good speed. He's around the ball a lot. And gave up two seven-yarders over the middle and then a 20-yarder. And he broke up a pass. So I would say that was a good start for Grugier Hill in his first NFL game. You look at the linebacker depth chart, you know he's started with Hightower and Collins. And then Jonathan Freeney's been in the red non-contact jersey. Didn't get a chance to play last night. He's the third guy in the depth chart.

And then I think you're looking at Grugier Hill, who's the fourth linebacker right now i think he's better than alandon roberts i think he's better than ramon humber so i don't know if they're going to carry for you know it also depends on what you call brandon king is he a linebacker is he a safety whatever you call him he's going to be on the roster maybe you account for him when you're trying to figure out how many linebackers are going to make the roster but i think if you draw the line in the sand at four with grugier hill and then you tack on uh brandon king then i think you've got your group right there it's going to be tough for alandon roberts or ramon humber to make the 53 man roster without an injury above them in the depth chart and the patriots don't want to see any of those guys go down for obvious reasons so again really really good start for the Patriots defense I gotta get

back to this thing I'm gonna break down the offense we're gonna get into Jimmy Garoppolo's preseason opener on Monday's podcast I want to look take a good long look at the offensive line there's some interesting things there some good stuff some mistakes we'll get into that in monday's show we'll probably hit on the offensive line uh pretty heavily and then we'll see what happened with the running game tyler gaffney had a good run is he gonna push lagarrett blunt for his job i'm not quite sure but you know that just the fact that you're seeing tyler gaffney in a game for the first time is a really nice development for him, his third NFL season. This is the first time he's made it this deep in August,

which is kind of crazy to say, but, you know, he got hurt in his first ever practice play with Carolina in 2014. He was hurt on August 1st during his first camp with the Patriots last year. So got out there, had a nice debut. So there's a lot to look at on the offensive side of the ball. We'll hit you back on Monday's show with all of that stuff. You guys have a fantastic weekend. This is Locked on Patriots.

I'm Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. We'll see you next week. Is democracy in danger or decline? Condoleezza Rice, William Galston, and Carlos Gutierrez and others take on this question in the fall edition of The Catalyst, Thank you.