A soft run defense is a bigger problem for the New England Patriots than a lack of weapons around Tom Brady.
Josh Gordon giving Tom Brady a deep threat won’t solve the New England Patriots’ biggest problem. Namely a soft run defense already threatening to derail the AFC kingpins’ bid for a third-straight Super Bowl appearance and fourth in the last five seasons.
The problem means Week 4’s visit from 3-0 AFC East rivals the Miami Dolphins is anything but a home banker.
Soft isn’t usually the word associated with a Bill Belichick defense. Even after the hoodie sacrificed yards for red-zone stinginess and pass rush for blanket coverage, the Pats usually exuded a toughness defensively.
Until now that is.
The 2018 NFL season is only three games old and the book on New England’s defense makes for depressing reading. Belichick’s unit is 20th in points and 28th in yards.
The latter number is borne from a feeble run D’ surrendering 143.3 yard per game, the second-most in the league. New England have allowed opposing runners 4.7 yards per carry.
It’s a failing with obvious consequences.
Running the ball effectively helps control the clock. Controlling the clock wears down a defense and keeps Brady stewing on the sidelines.
All those things came to a head during Week 3’s shock defeat to the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football.
The Lions, hardly the groundhogs of modern football, ran the ball 33 times and gained 159 yards. They owned the ball for 39:15, giving Brady ample time to perfect his scowl.
What put Detroit’s rare big day on the ground into context was the 101-yard effort produced by rookie Kerryon Johnson. It had been a while since the Lions had a triple-digit rusher:
Kerryon Johnson just became the Lions’ first 100-yard rusher in a game since @ReggieBush did it Week 13, 2013 vs the Packers.
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) September 24, 2018
Detroit had gone 70 consecutive games without a 100-yd rusher, the longest such drought by any team since the merger.
@AyeyoKEJO @Lions #NEvsDET
The streak being broken against New England was hardly a surprise. Being soft on the ground is not a new problem for the Patriots, who also allowed 4.7 yards per carry last season.
What is surprising is how teams are content to attack the heart of the Pats’ front seven.
The Lions pushed New England’s interior D-line all over Ford Field. Guards T.J. Lang and rookie Frank Ragnow toyed with Malcom Brown and Danny Shelton.
It was a similar story in Super Bowl 52 when the Philadelphia Eagles amassed 164 yards on the ground. LeGarrette Blount and Jay Ajayi both found joy up the gut.
Strength in the middle used to be a hallmark of a Belichick defense. Things haven’t been the same since big Vince Wilfork left town in 2015.
Wilfork, and to a lesser extent, Alan Branch, clogged the middle and filled running lanes. They dictated to offenses where they could run.
It usually made runners attack the edges. Aggressive force play by safeties like Patrick Chung and cornerbacks rarely afraid to hit meant the Patriots coped with most rushing attacks.
Last season’s problems were supposed to be fixed by the trade that brought Shelton from the Cleveland Browns. Putting the 345-pounder next to Brown invoked memories of Wilfork and Branch’s two-ton double act.
It’s not working because Brown and Shelton are losing too many battles inside.
Belichick won’t want to see a repeat in Miami, where the Dolphins can call on Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore. They are both strong between the tackles behind a capable O-line led by center Daniel Kilgore.
The Dolphins have the weapons on the ground and in the trenches to work over the soft middle of New England’s defense. Head coach Adam Gase still won’t be afraid to stretch the Pats’ front seven on the edges, though.
Gase has a useful weapon in diminutive speedster Albert Wilson, a shrewd free-agent pickup from the Kansas City Chiefs:
Albert Wilson's production on just 73 snaps see him named a Secret Superstar by @PFF_Neil this week.
— PFF (@PFF) September 27, 2018
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The Patriots have hit some issues offensively since Brady lost many of his main weapons. Letting Danny Amendola join the Dolphins never looked a smart move with Julian Edelman set to face a suspension.
Nor did letting Dion Lewis walk or trading Brandin Cooks.
Brady’s still good enough to work with what he has, notably Rob Gronkowski, James White and possibly Gordon.
His best efforts will still be for naught if the Patriots’ defense can’t get off the field.