Defense can’t let Texans get up off the mat
The Patriots defense had a coming out party, of sorts, against the Buccaneers last Sunday. Holding Tom Brady to just 19 points, with less than 300 yards passing, and no touchdown passes was a step in the right direction. And yet, it wasn’t perfect. The unit continues to have issues stopping the run. And, prior to the set of kneel downs by Brady to end the game, the Bucs also produced points on their final three drives with a touchdown and two field goals.
So there’s always work to do for Bill Belichick’s defense. The good news?
The Texans are on deck, and right now, their offense is a mess. Quarterback Deshaun Watson is on the sidelines hoping to be traded. Starter Tyrod Taylor is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, and Davis Mills hasn’t provided much in relief. The rookie looked completely overwhelmed and overmatched against Buffalo last week, throwing four picks in the 40-0 slaughter.
No doubt, Belichick will want to have the Patriots continue to torment the young Texans quarterback.
Here’s how the Patriots defense can keep the Texans off the board:
Spook Mills
The Patriots got a bit creative in defending Brady last week. And while they might not need to use all the same bells and whistles to try and unnerve Mills, they’ll still want to use a healthy dose of disguise to keep the rookie’s head spinning.
Mills probably had nightmares all week, after going 11 for 21 for just 87 yards, with four picks.
The former Stanford star, a third-round draft pick, is going through some of the usual growing pains, but it also doesn’t help not having much of a team around him.
Last week, he had minus-23 net yards passing in the first half. His overall passer rating for the three games he’s played is 50.4.
He’s accounted for five of the team’s seven turnovers. At this stage, he’s an interception waiting to happen.
Belichick praised Mills, but wasn’t over the top, which is how he typically responds when asked about the opposing quarterback.
“Pro-style quarterback. I think he’s got a good base,” said Belichick. “Like any rookie quarterback, he’s learning all the time, but I think you see a good talent level and a good ability to make the throws, and I think they’re doing a good job of trying to bring him along.”
It was hard for Belichick to say much more, given Mills has thrown five interceptions, with just two TD passes.
Eliminate Cooks
Brandin Cooks is their best receiver, and judging by the stats, the favorite target of Mills.
Through four games, Cooks has 28 catches for 369 yards and one TD. He has 20 more catches than the next closest receiver, which is running back David Johnson, who has eight.
“He’s probably targeted as much as any receiver in the league, and he’s dangerous on everything,” Belichick said of the former Pats receiver. “Obviously, he has tremendous speed. He’s a great deep-ball player. Super competitive. Tough kid ... he can turn a 5-yard gain into 20 in a hurry.”
The mission of eliminating Cooks falls on J.C. Jackson, who is now officially the top gun in the Patriots secondary, with Stephon Gilmore not returning after being traded to Carolina on Wednesday.
Last week, Jackson did well marking Bucs top receiver Mike Evans. Cooks is simply the next man up on his dance card. Take him away, and that should go a long way toward stifling Mills and the offense.
“He’s certainly a go-to guy for them in the passing game,” Belichick added about Cooks. “We’ve got to do a good job on him.”
Ground the run game
Given the Patriots struggles, the Texans are going to try to run the ball. And they’re going to keep running it, until the Patriots force them to stop.
If the Texans are successful pounding the rock, that would take some pressure off their rookie quarterback. But if the Pats can rise up and clamp down on the Texans running game, that will force Mills to pass more and put him right in their wheelhouse.
Last week, the Bills held the Texans to 48 yards on 18 carries.
Mark Ingram (52 carries, 171 yards) is the top back. David Johnson (16 carries, 67 yards) and Phillip Lindsay (24 carries, 31 yards) are also in the mix, while old friend Rex Burkhead is also a member of the Texans backfield.
Bottom line, if the Patriots want to flummox Mills, they’re going to have to stop the run first.