bostonglobe
Through the first nine games of the season, the New England Patriots defense has been among the most man-coverage-heavy units in the NFL. However, as the season has progressed, opposing teams have taken notice of this tendency and adjusted accordingly. The better offenses have exploited New England's preference for man coverage by employing well-executed rubs and picks from bunch formations to create separation, as well as expertly run clear-out routes that force coverage switches and lead to communication breakdowns. These tactics were on full display in last Sunday's 45-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers, where receivers Matthew Golden and Christian Watson found just enough space off the line of scrimmage to inflict significant damage.
Moving forward, the Patriots' goal is clear: adjust to the adjustments. While they may incorporate more zone looks, they also need to find a way to counter those man-coverage beaters and get the pass defense back on track. Defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr acknowledged the challenge: "When you play really well at something in the beginning of the season, people start to adjust and adapt and attack it. So, you can't just live in one world and try to put those guys in some bad situations. At the end of the day, every call has a beater. We've just got to challenge and fight through the down and try to make a play."
Safety Kevin Byard likened the situation to a chess match. Now that opponents have found success, the onus is on the Patriots to counter. "We're a really good man team. We have the guys that can go out there and cover," Byard said. "Offenses are going to scheme stuff up to try to create space and get guys open. So, you have to be able to be multiple in what you do. You can major in one thing, but then you also have to have some switch-up calls. And I think that's just something that we can just continue to get better at."
Fundamentals and Communication
For the cornerbacks, the adjustment starts with fundamentals, particularly a heavy emphasis on communication. "It's pretty simple when it comes down to it, but whenever you're out on the field, it's complex," said cornerback Marcus Jones. "Whenever we play teams, we play a lot of man, and people know that. They tend to play basketball out there on the football field. There's picks, there's rubs. There's all of those things. Communication is the main piece out of it. We're going to need man, we're going to need vision and break. That's just how defense is. And whenever we do have those things going on, communication is at an all-time high knowing they may do something. It might be to where we're locked on to someone, or we might be switching. We never know until it comes down to the situation what they're running."
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez added: "You've got to communicate. When we're in man, we've got to know who's taking the out motion, or who's going out with the motion. Or if it's zone, what's the adjustment on that certain motion. It's things like that."
The safeties can also provide support to the corners while fostering a sense of connectivity throughout the defense. "We've got to be the one commanding things back there," said safety Craig Woodson. "Giving everybody the call [and] making sure we're all on the same page. If we're not on the same page, that leads to explosive plays and touchdowns."
Looking Ahead to the Lions
There are other factors to consider. The Detroit Lions feature several dynamic offensive weapons, including wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and tight end Sam LaPorta. Meanwhile, the Patriots will be without one of their starting cornerbacks, as Carlton Davis did not make the trip due to a knee injury.
If the Lions look to exploit New England's man-coverage schemes with pick plays or clear-out routes on Sunday, Woodson said the best response is a return to basics: focus on fundamentals, details, and getting the little things right. Byard echoed that sentiment, saying it will be the first step in rebounding from last Sunday's lopsided loss. "When you have a performance like that, you real deal have to get back to your core fundamental techniques and details, and not be trying to do somebody else's job or anything like that," Byard said. "Truth be told, I think with that performance, I think we can't do [anything] but get better. We didn't play well at all. But I just think with the confidence of this group and the confidence we had, that we have, and I think with the preparation we had this week, I don't think you'll see a performance like that being put on film [again]."
Originally reported by bostonglobe.