Patriots Gridiron News: 3 thoughts of concern following debacle in Detroit
No defensive urgency at all
Once again, the New England Patriots defense just let a team go up and down the field and do whatever they want, especially on third down.
More from Chowder and Champions
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
Usually, when an offense struggles, the defense can pick up the team. That is not the case with these Patriots. With Tom Brady and his lack of playmakers struggling, the defensive unit led by Devin McCourty, Stephon Gilmore and Dont’a Hightower have to step up and show some kind of urgency.
McCourty, Hightower and Duron Harmon have been on this team long enough to know how to respond to losing games as badly as they did in Jacksonville and again last night. The concern here, is they just may not have the players to do anything about it this season.
The underneath stuff, the lack of pass rush, the lack of athleticism in the linebacker group. Shall we go on?
Add to that Bill Belichick getting out-coached the last two games and it feels hopeless right now. Players like Harmon aren’t totally concerned yet, but he knows his unit has to get their acts together.
"“Well, I wouldn’t say I’m worried, because we feel like the reason why we’re in this situation is because of ourselves,” Harmon said. “I mean, we have to tip our hats to the Lions, because obviously they played better than us. But we know we obviously can play a lot better. We have to get ourselves out of this mess and nobody’s going to help us, we have to do it ourselves.”"
Like the offense, the defense needs a spark from one of their veterans. That spark needs to come from Dont’a Hightower.