D-line ‘hungry’ to chew up run
FOXBORO — The Patriots are the NFL’s secondworst defense against the run. But forget what the statistics say. Watching the film is much worse.
The Texans amassed 167 yards in Week 1, the Jaguars 104 yards in Week 2. Then on Sunday, the Lions gashed the Pats for 159 yards, with Kerryon Johnson accounting for 101 yards on 16 carries to become the Lions’ first 100yard rusher since 2013.
“(Stopping the run) is my main priority,” said Patriots tackle Danny Shelton. “It’s annoying to see it on film.”
Members of the defensive line know they aren’t playing well, and know they have to improve starting Sunday against the unbeaten Dolphins.
“We look forward to next week . . . I’m hungry. I believe my teammates are hungry, too,” said defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. “I’m not saying we’re not worried about it. But it’s one of those things we learn from situations in the past. We use those to move forward.”
Wise said the players see the same things everyone else sees. But can it be fixed?
“Most definitely,” he said. Defensive tackle Malcom Brown said “everything needs work” right now, be it their fundamentals, their technique, playing with better pad level. But they’re working on it.
“You have an opportunity to improve on what you did the last week,” Brown said. “It really doesn’t matter what we did wrong, as long as we improve. That’s the big thing.”
Patriots offensive captain David Andrews was asked about people on the outside pushing panic buttons, and helping keep the team focused.
“We can only control what we can control. There’s lot of outside noise,” he said. “We haven’t played good enough. The only thing we can do is come in tomorrow, have a great day of practice, and start laying the foundation (for Sunday).”
Deal with it
The Pats have rarely had to rebound from losing back-to-back games, not to mention respond after being beaten in such a convincing fashion.
However, they do have a history of dealing with adversity and rising to challenges. During a conference call yesterday, coach Bill Belichick was asked if he felt this particular group had the physical and mental toughness to get through a stretch like this. Belichick said the toughness of this team is still to be determined.
“Look, that’s the National Football League. It’s a 16-game season. Every team faces adversity over the course of 16 games,” he said. “So, every team will have an opportunity to deal with it and it will happen more than once to everybody. So, when those opportunities come up, we’ll see how, again, individually each of us and collectively as a team how we fair.”
Ex-Pats ‘all in’
Dolphins coach Adam Gase, speaking with the Miami media, said there was “zero” significance” going to Foxboro with a two-game lead in the division. He also didn’t think it would be hard convincing his team that the 1-2 Patriots were still the same Patriots that have won the division nine straight years.
“I mean we’ve played three games. They’re always going to do the same things they always do. They get better every week,” Gase said. “They have a really good coaching staff and they have a Hall of Fame quarterback. The records are irrelevant right now. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Gase also lauded former Patriots Danny Amendola and Brandon Bolden, talking about what they both bring to the Dolphins.
“They love football. They love practicing. They bring great energy on game day. Whatever they have, they give it,” Gase said. “Those two are as professional as I’ve ever seen on NFL football players. Every day I see them, I’m glad they’re here. I probably tell them that. Those guys have been nothing but positive on our other guys. Those guys see those guys work. If you talk about guys that are all in on their profession and their craft, those guys are all in.”
Dorsett OK
Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett suffered an injury scare late in Sunday night’s loss to the Lions, but he’s expected to be “ready to go” for the Dolphins game, according to a source.
Dorsett landed hard on his right knee while running a deep route on a fourth-and-12. He was examined by the medical staff and returned for the Pats’ final series.
Dorsett has caught 10 passes for 112 yards this season. He was held without a catch on five targets against the Lions . . . .
The Patriots re-signed RB/returner Kenjon Barner. Barner originally signed on Sept. 11, but was released eight days later.