Mission-Airy

The key to shoring up pass defense is in creating turnovers.

Thursday November 3, 2011

Have you heard the news yet? Bill Belichick is a fraud! He’s been exposed! Not the same way Brett Favre was exposed when he sexted those now infamous pics to Jenn Sterger, but career-ending exposed nonetheless.

Now retired, Favre has more time to pursue other interests.

He’s not the “genius” everyone thought after-all. After listening to this week’s mass-media coverage, the 5-2 New England Patriots sound hopeless and bound for destitution.  Apparently, it’s been mere coincidence the Pats have a home record of 63-12 at Gillette Stadium since it opened in 2002, and are preparing this week to win their 32^nd straight regular-season home game. Now regular-season stats don’t wow me, especially when you lose at home in the playoffs, but it’s impressive to think that Tom Brady hasn’t lost as a starter at home since November 12, 2006, against the New York Jets.

Let’s not pretend that New England’s pass defense has been fun to watch so far this season.  They have allowed a much publicized league worst 323.1 passing yards per game for a total of 2,262 yards, also ranked last.  Heading into this week’s game against the Giants, the Patriots have Devin McCourty, Antwaun Molden, Phillip Adams, and Kyle Arrington listed as the cornerbacks on their depth chart. Scary. NFL defensive sharks smell blood in the water and have been throwing the ball 40.7 times per game, second most against any team.

The secondary is undeniably an area of concern that needs to be addressed in the off-season, and Belichick can’t afford to miss on any more draft picks. Looking at New England’s recent draft history, it makes you wonder how they have enjoyed so much success.  In 2007, they wasted the 24^th overall pick on Brandon Merriweather, who was cut before the start of this season, and lays claim to a wrap-sheet that would make Tupac throw up a “W”. Not one player remains on the Patriot’s from the 2007 draft-class.

In the 2008 draft, in an ill-fated attempt to shore up a secondary that saw Asante Samuel and Randall Gay walk in free-agency, and Rodney Harrison become Father-Time, the Pats drafted Terrence Wheatley, who was waved in the middle of last season. Knowing that might not be enough, they additionally used their 129^th pick on another corner, Jonathan Wilhite from Auburn. Wilhite was waved before the start of this season.

That was when Belichick was still picking winners. Those drafts pale in comparison the 2009 draft-class. In the second round of 2009, the Pats picked Patrick Chung and Darius Butler, both respectable picks, unless of course, you consider how they got them. The Pats traded the down the 23^rd over-all pick to Baltimore for the 26^th and 162^nd picks. The Ravens drafted Michael Oher.  In the Patriot’s defense, they needed defensive players, particularly at the linebacker and corner positions. They eyed Louis Delmas, the corner from Western Michigan, feeling they could trade down further to get him while acquiring more draft picks. So when they were on the clock with the 26^th pick, they traded down once again, this time to the Green Bay Packers for the 41^st, 73^rd, and 83^rd picks.  The Packers took Clay Matthews III, who last year finished the season with 13.5 sacks, and was second in the voting for NFL defensive player of the year.  Then they watched Louis Delmas go to the Lion’s with the 33^rd pick, one pick shy of being back on the clock, leaving them with Patrick Chung, the Chinese-Jamaican safety from the University of Oregon.  If Belichick was gambling by picking draftee’s through a bookie he’d have his legs broken.

With stats like that, why even bother showing up to Gillette Stadium this Sunday to face off against the Giants? Because turnovers change games, and since 2007 New England boasts an imposing +53 in the turnover margin, and have 131 takeaway’s during that span. That’s ridiculous. I was stunned to find out that their astonishing turn-over margin only ties them for first, with the Green Bay Packers. What about the Steeler’s D, with all their star power and frightening blitz packages? I know they haven’t allowed a 100 yard rusher since Moses parted the Red Sea. +11 turnovers. The Raven’s?  A perrenial top 5 defense led by Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis are +16. It was only last year that the Patriots led the league in turnover margin at +28, and yet, the panick button has already been pushed in Foxborough.

Even in 2011, the 5-2 Patriot’s still have hope. Though not wowing anyone with highlight-reel plays, they are standing firm with a +2 turnover margin (T-7^th), have forced 9 interceptions (T-7^th), and have 12 takeaways (T-12^th). That doesn’t put them in the talk of “elite”, but let’s not forget about the offense which is led by… what’s his name? There’s not enough room here to acknowledge the accomplishments of Tom Brady, and this article isn’t about their offense.  It’s a fact, NE has been ranked in the top five of virtually every offensive category since a slender and fit Charlie Weiss called the plays (OK, I made that part up), and a big reason is turnovers. Turnovers create short-field scoring opportunities for your offense while limiting the amount of time your defense is on the field- Football 101. And since 2007, nobody has created more turnovers than the Patriots. So sit back and relax Bostonian’s, and let the genius in the hoodie do the work.