Lastly, New England hasn’t had their outside corners travel much into the slot, with Gonzalez (right) and CB Carlton Davis (left) playing sides. Carolina seemed to notice that, so they ran rookie WR Tetaiora McMillan out of the slot. Above, McMillan is running a route from the No. 3 spot in a 3×1 formation, drawing S Jaylinn Hawkins in man coverage. Hawkins does well to limit the damage, but the opponent’s best receiver being covered by a safety isn’t a favorable matchup for the defense. Vrabel hinted at this being an area of improvement when he credited Carolina for doing “a nice job early on moving guys around” while adding that the defense needed to “continue to disguise better” in his post-game press conference.
During the dynasty era, the Patriots would often play defense like this. Former coach Bill Belichick would watch the opposing play-caller empty the clip of the game-planned plays the opponent had been working on all week, make a few in-game adjustments and New England’s defense would settle down. When you have an offense that you know will score points, it’s sound strategy to let the game “declare” and then coach the adjustments rather than trying to guess what the opponent will do come Sunday. Following the win over the Panthers, Vrabel hinted that his defense might take a similar approach.
“If that’s the tradeoff for playing great defense the rest of the way, then we’ll have to go through those growing pains early in the game. I don’t anticipate that we should. It was good to see us respond, and we’ve done that. I’m proud of our guys for not going in the tank or complaining or pointing a finger or anything like that,” the head coach said.
The Patriots might lean into their identity as an adjustment-based defense, but they will likely see similar repeat plays in future games.
Quick-Hit Film Notes From Pats-Panthers After Further Review
– The one negative for the Pats O was that the run-game struggled again vs. the Panthers (-0.08 EPA/play, 26% success rate). Overall, they’re now last in the NFL in rush EPA (-0.39). If you take out the two jet motions, which gained a combined 32 yards, the Pats RB trio gained 65 rushing yards on 21 carries (3.1 average). And the early 21-yard explosive off jet motion set up their best run (22 yards by Stevenson). The metrics suggest New England is leaving meat on the bone with their run game. The Pats entered the week ranked fifth in run-blocking win rate and are fourth-best in average rushing yards before contact on runs by running backs (1.3 yards). They need more yards after contact and better vision by their backs to feel cutback lanes developing between the tackles.
– WR Stefon Diggs delivered a vintage performance in his first 100-yard game as a Patriot (six catches for 101 yards). Diggs hit on three explosive plays: a 33-yard backside crosser, a 22-yard dig route, and a 30-yard back-shoulder fade. I wouldn’t say Diggs’s role changed much from an alignment perspective, so any suggestions that he “replaced” DeMario Douglas as the full-time slot receiver are inaccurate. Diggs ran seven of his 19 routes from the slot, or 36.8%, which was actually less than the first three weeks (44.7%). The real change was that the Patriots began targeting him down the field, with his average target depth increasing from 6.9 yards in the first three games to 12.8 yards vs. the Panthers. It was great to see Diggs separating from man coverage while running downfield routes on the outside – that’s fantastic news for the Patriots if he’s starting to get his pre-ACL vertical juice back.
– RB Rhamondre Stevenson’s snaps (28) and touches (10) didn’t decrease after fumbling twice in Week 3, leading the Pats backs in both categories. However, he did seem to lose the goal-line carries to Gibson and Henderson. Stevenson took advantage of a good scheme on his 22-yard run and had a great five-yard run that looked dead in the backfield. But he missed a big cutback lane on an outside zone rep, which led to a stuff.
– TE Hunter Henry did well to gain depth in his route, scampering down the sideline on his 31-yard TD, and ran a great “ram” route to move the chains on third down in the red zone – a four-point play. The Pats are giving Hooper more of the in-line blocking duties, which makes sense, as Henry was on the scene for a run-stuff in this one.
– LT Will Campbell is already in command in these types of matchups. Carolina’s edge rushers aren’t anything to write home about, and Campbell pitched a shutout, mostly going against DJ Johnson and rookie Princley Umanmielen, which is what the No. 4 overall pick should do vs. this level of competition. Campbell also had a standout double-team block on Gibson’s touchdown run and looked smooth working to the second level on Henderson’s 11-yard jet sweep. The rookie left tackle hasn’t allowed a single pressure in two of his last three games.
– LG Ben Brown had two standout screen blocks and a pair of standout goal-line reps on Pats touchdown runs. Brown “finished in the end zone” with his man on both traditional TD runs, working an excellent double-team with Campbell on Gibson’s score and pulling to lead the way for Henderson on the rookie’s score. He did allow two pressures and 1.5 run stuffs as the game wore on, but it was a solid spot-start for Brown.
– C Garrett Bradbury had a plus-block on a positive screen play, but the Panthers tested his anchor more than other teams did in the first three weeks. Bradbury allowed two pressures to bull rushes in this game, while there was a mix-up on a duo run where he worked frontside, leaving RG Mike Onwenu to block two defenders on his own, resulting in a run TFL.
– RT Morgan Moses had standout blocks on TE Austin Hooper’s 24-yard screen and Henderson’s touchdown run, climbing to the second level on a combination block to finish with his man in the end zone. Like Campbell, he was also clean in pass protection. The Pats have been helping their OTs by chipping the ends to both sides or the non-slide side when they want to push the ball downfield. So far, that strategy is working. Moses was on the scene for two run stuffs.
– RG Mike Onwenu had two half-stuffs in the run game on a combination block and down block but only allowed one hurry in pass protection. From this perspective, Big Mike has another gear he can get to in the run game that would help create some bigger holes.
– TE Austin Hooper continues to be a great role player. Hooper caught a 24-yard screen, had a standout block on Gibson’s 21-yard sweep (++block), another good “sift” block on Stevenson’s 22-yard run, and converted quickly into a blocker on Maye’s touchdown. Hooper was called for a 15-yard face mask penalty, but he was mostly superb as a blocker.
– RB TreVeyon Henderson had an excellent five-yard TD run and got into some space on his 11-yard end-around. However, there appeared to be more yardage available on Henderson’s nine-yard check-down, and he was called for his third penalty of the season in pass protection. Like many rookie running backs, Henderson is experiencing growing pains with a dual-read system. On his hold, he’s reading off the inside blitz threat. When the inside blitzer drops, his eyes work outside. Henderson’s eyes were in the right place, but he lost his edge and pulled the outside blitzer down. Almost every first-year RB goes through these ups and downs. Some even redshirt.
– RB Antonio Gibson gained 19.7 yards after contact on his 21-yard jet sweep. He got great blocks from Hooper and Diggs, but also ran through a tackle attempt by the unblocked defender (Nic Scourton). The Pats need more from their backs in terms of yards after contact.
– WR Kayshon Boutte made a nice sliding catch working back to the ball when he snuck behind the defense on his 18-yard reception. Maye could’ve given him a better ball, but Boutte still made the play. WR Mack Hollins had a standout “crack” block (+22 run) and was available quickly on an under route on his touchdown, but Hollins needed to give Kyle Williams a clearer read on his end-around and was on the scene for another run stuff.
– QB Pressures: Brown (2), Bradbury (2), Onwenu (1), Moses (0), Campbell (0), Henderson (hold).
– DT Milton Williams might get retired from my “ups” list because he’s going to dominate every week. Williams deserves credit for Chaisson’s sack on a nasty crossover/swim move that beat LG Damien Lewis so badly that Panthers QB Bryce Young tripped over himself trying to run away from Williams. Williams also logged a run stuff on a third-and-long draw – he’s a game-wrecker who is drawing extra attention (10 double-teams this week).
– DT Christian Barmore had five total pressures, a drawn run hold and should’ve drawn another hold in the pass rush but it went uncalled. His back-to-back pressures (bull rush, swipe) single-handedly stalled Carolina’s second drive, which ended with Marcus Jones’s 87-yard punt return TD. The Pats have a legitimately great interior D-Line duo with Barmore and Williams – they’re both Tuesday-type players.
– CB Christian Gonzalez was beaten by rookie WR Tetairoa McMillan on a 16-yard comebacker while McMillan got away with a slight push off on a 15-yard back-shoulder slot fade. Besides that, Gonzo had some good zone/match reps as the backside CB and was tight in coverage on the rest of his man-to-man reps. They’ll have to decide how to cover the flat when they have Gonzo match in cover-two on the backside, but this was a fine film to get his feet wet. Gonzalez was on cruise control whenever he faced a Carolina wideout not named McMillan.
– CB Carlton Davis was shaky in his man coverage reps vs. McMillan, an impressive rookie receiver. Davis was called twice for tugging on McMillan’s jersey on in-breaking routes, and McMillan got late separation on a condensed fade, but Young overthrew it. Davis got called for an iffy DPI last week, but the two flags drawn by McMillan were legit.
– LB Robert Spillane has been playing much better over the last two weeks, logging two run stuffs. He showed great technique in scraping from the second level and mirroring the back into the gap before wrapping up the ball carrier. Spillane wasn’t exposed in coverage as much, allowing just two catches for 14 yards – this is more like it.
– EDGE Harold Landry read an over-setting tackle (sets too far outside opening the door inside) on an outside zone fake to beat the right tackle inside on a QB hit and played a few snaps at inside linebacker to give NT Khyiris Tonga some extra work in four-man fronts. Landry was called for a neutral zone infraction, though, and didn’t make any run stuffs with Carolina mostly running away from him.
– EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson was up-and-down. He had four total pressures, including winning inside on a nice spin move. He also drew a hold and had a run-stuff on a zone-read play on third down. However, Chaisson also missed a tackle and appeared to vacate an edge. The Pats seem to be still working on how to fit outside runs when their ends go inside on gap exchanges/stunts. Carolina got the edge a few times on Sunday.
– EDGE Keion White was more involved in this game with a season-high 41 snaps. White logged a pressure with a sudden bull rush and had a run stuff but also gave up the edge on a 10-yard run. There were some flashes of speed-to-power rushing over the left tackle from White.
– Rookie S Craig Woodson nearly had his first career interception when Young threw into his robber coverage on the dig route in the dagger concept. Woodson also had a nice coverage stop where he was all over a flat route, but he also missed a tackle and was in coverage on TE Tommy Tremble’s seven-yard touchdown to cap off the Panthers opening drive.
– S Jaylinn Hawkins got matched up on McMillan a few times in the slot. Hawkins had solid man coverage on a McMillan slot fade, while allowing a 9-yard catch in front of him on an inside hitch. Schematically, I don’t love that Hawkins is getting matched up on wideouts rather than having the corners travel inside. But that’s not on Hawkins, and he limited the damage whenever he was covering McMillan.
– LB Christian Elliss had a screen and a run-stuff in a more active game. The backside coverages when he’s at weakside linebacker and the Patriots are carrying vertical stems backside are challenging assignments for Elliss. He has a lot of space to cover on those schemes.
– LB Jack Gibbens logged three run stuffs and a pressure as an interior blitzer. Gibbens was freed up to shoot the A-Gap on a run TFL and showed a nice burst to fire into the backfield. Gibbens has a decent downhill trigger in the run game and can take on backs in the hole.
– S Kyle Dugger got his eyes in the wrong place a few times on a 9-yard catch and appeared to give up another 8-yard catch as a zone-dropper. Dugger has carved out a role as a slot safety in the Patriots “big” nickel packages. That’s a critical role against offenses that play heavy personnel groupings (12/21p) because it allows the Patriots to stay flexible in coverage while being stouter vs. the run without playing base defense.
– NT Khyiris Tonga played 40 percent of the snaps, 26 total, with the Patriots experimenting with him on some four-man lines with Landry playing off the ball. It was a good wrinkle to get a player who has earned more playing time on the field. Tonga logged a batted pass and a hurry.
– DT Joshua Farmer continues to be a solid block-eater at the point of attack with a few more good reps playing blocks with arm extension and a stout anchor. Farmer had a tackle against the run coming off a single block to make the play. He’ll provide some depth at DT.
– PR Marcus Jones made three Panthers miss and reached a top speed of 20.1 MPH on his 87-yard punt return touchdown. He then reversed field on another 61-yard return, where he got key blocks from LB Darius Harris, LB Marte Mapu, and LB Jack Gibbens, who did well to box out their blocks rather than making forceable contact blocking toward their own end zone, which would’ve been a penalty. Jones is a special, special returner.
– QB Pressures: Barmore (5), Chaisson (sack, 4), Landry (4), White (3), Williams (2), Tonga (1). Run stuffs: Gibbens (3), Elliss (2), Durden (2), Spillane (2), one each (Woodson, Pettus, White, Chaisson, Williams).
– Coverage: Gonzalez (3/2/31 yards), Gibbens (4/4/31 yards), Pettus (2/1/24 yards), Woods (2/1/22 yards), Elliss (3/3/22 yards), Jones (2/2/18 yards), Dugger (2/2/17 yards), Spillane (2/2/14 yards), Hawkins (2/1/9 yards), Mapu (2/1/8 yards), Woodson (3/3/7 yards/PBU), Austin (1/1/5 yards), Davis (2/0/DPI/hold).
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