Flowers’ return would boost ‘D’
FOXBORO — The Patriots defense has clearly missed the presence of Trey Flowers after two consecutive clunkers, but there is hope that their top defensive end could return this week.
After sitting out with a concussion, Flowers was back at practice yesterday, which is huge news for a Patriots defensive front that’s been gashed in back-to-back losses to the Jaguars and Lions.
Following a strong Week 1 performance against the Texans, Flowers played just seven defensive snaps in Week 2 against the Jags before he left injured. Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville offense then torched the Patriots defense, and it was even more ugly in last week’s debacle in Detroit.
Flowers could only sit and watch.
“It’s always tough any time you’re not able to play,” he said. “It’s always tough, so you just have to control what you can control.”
Flowers was ruled a limited participant at practice yesterday, and sounded hopeful he could play Sunday against the unbeaten Dolphins.
“Yeah, I mean, I expect to work and be able to play,” Flowers said. “Whatever happens, happens.”
Flowers won’t solve all their issues, but the Patriots can’t get much worse on defense, and his return can only help.
Through three games, the Pats rank near the bottom of the NFL in most defensive categories. They’re 31st in sack percentage, and their four sacks are tied for 29th. They’re 31st in rushing defense, giving up 143.3 yards per game, which includes 159 to the Lions. Flowers, the team’s best pass rusher and edge setter, would help massively in both areas.
The Patriots had just five quarterback hits and no sacks against Jacksonville, and were far worse against Detroit. They produced just one hit on Matthew Stafford, a third-quarter sack by Deatrich Wise. Without Flowers, and beyond Wise, a defensive front that includes Adrian Clayborn, Lawrence Guy, Danny Shelton and others just hasn’t produced results.
But Flowers, who had 1.5 sacks in the Week 1 win over the Houston Texans and has led the team in sacks the last two seasons, didn’t watch the Lions game, thinking that everything would have changed if he was on the field.
“I couldn’t single-handedly change the game. I know that,” Flowers said. “But if I look and see as fast as just gaining knowledge on football, just football IQ , that’s one thing. But I’m not going to sit here and say I would have done this, would have done that, because obviously I’m at a different vantage point because I’m not in the game.”
The task doesn’t get easier against a Dolphins offense that has plenty of weapons, and quarterback Ryan Tannehill looking comfortable and confident through three games. Flowers said the key against the Dolphins and their speedy skill players is to be physical with them.
At 1-2, there’s some urgency in the Pats locker room, but Flowers and the defense are treating it like it’s a fresh slate.
“We understand it’s a long season and we’re looking forward to the Dolphins, and that’s the mindset,” Flowers said. “We’re not looking in the past as far as what happened the last few weeks. We’re on to the Dolphins.”