DEFENSIVE NOTES
Personnel breakdown: 69% three-safety nickel package, 14% three-cornerback nickel package, 10% quarter package, 3% dime package, 2% base package 2 goalline package.**
Pressure rate: 27%
Blitz rate: 26.9%
Blitz efficacy: 7.86 yards allowed per play, TD
Yards per carry allowed: 4.1 Third downs: 6-13
Red-zone efficiency: 1-4 Sacks: Matt Judon 2.5, Deatrich Wise 0.5
QB hits: Chase Winovich Hurries: Christian Barmore 2, Davon Godchaux 2
Run stuffs: Team 2, Kyle Dugger, Godchaux, Deatrich Wise Interceptions: None
Pass deflections: Ja’Whaun Bentley
Missed tackles: Judon 3, Barmore 2, Godchaux 2, Hightower 2, Dugger, Jahlani Tavai, Devin McCourty
The Patriots fielded only 10 defenders on Taysom Hill’s gamesealing 4-yard touchdown run. Recognizing his defense was down a man, Chase Winovich sprinted off the sideline but was called back right at the snap.
The confusion was likely caused by the staff debuting new personnel groupings on back-to-back snaps versus New Orleans’ heavy two-quarterback package.
The play before, another direct snap to Hill with Jameis Winston split out wide, the Pats ran out their 3-4 base defense for the first time. The staff then called for a new goal-line grouping, which required four players to leaveand defensive tackles Christian Barmore and Carl Davis to enter with safety Kyle Dugger and an unknown fourth teammate.
The Saints quickly exploited the Pats’ light front by running Hill off the right side, a theme throughout the game.
New Orleans started six of its 10 drives by running right and averaged 4.8 yards per carry attacking between the center and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, an area they returned to in every critical situation. They averaged 4.1 yards per carry overall.
The Saints seemed to believe they had a mismatch in Ramczyk, who successfully blocked these runs against several Patriots defenders and in all types of situations; first, second and third downs, toward the short side of the field and the wide side and the strong and weak sides of formations.
Overall, the Patriots did enough against New Orleans’ run game, holding star running back Alvin Kamara to zero explosive plays on 27 touches.
Their chief trouble was pressuring Winston, who victimized the Pats’ blitz calls by going 6-of-7 in the face of extra rushers. Winston also committed a few turnover-worthy plays, but lucked out; most notably throwing the ball up for grabs on his second touchdown pass that found Marquez Callaway instead of a defender.
The Patriots also seemed to blow a coverage on Winston’s first touchdown, a short angle route to Kamara. Kyle Van Noy should have received help somewhere, unless the staff mistakenly trusted him in 1-on-1. Kyle Dugger, in man coverage, and Hightower, who blitzed, were the next closest defenders in the short middle.
The Pats’ inability to pressure with four and cover the box is partly a reflection on their slow, aging linebacker corps. Neither Hightower or Van Noy registered a single pressure, both staples of the team’s third-down package in the season opener.
Winston also went 6-of-8 for 71 yards and a touchdown over the middle of the field, despite the fact the Patriots played a third safety in the box on 70% of their snaps.
Ja’Whaun Bentley, who missed the second half due to an unspecified injury, won’t remedy this, either.
SOURCE: Statistics for passing depth, broken tackles, missed tackles and blitz rate courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
*12 personnel = one running back, two tight ends; 11 personnel = one running back, one tight end; 10 personnel = one running back, no tight ends; 21 personnel = two backs, one tight end; 22 personnel = two backs, two tight ends; 02 personnel
= no running backs, two tight ends.
**Nickel defense = five defensive backs; dime defense = six defensive backs; quarter defense = seven defensive backs