Hours Before Kickoff: Week 13

What does it take to turn a good defense into a stout defense?

It’s a question that’s been wracking my brain for a while now. I look at the Patriots defense and I love what I see. The youth makeover has gone better than I expected. They have the potential to be great. But they’re not there yet.

Before the season started I felt they would be a bend but don’t break defense. I figured they would have to make up the difference by causing turnovers. Unfortunately the results have exceeded my prediction. They allow 399.1 yards per game, an NFL worst. Opponents are also averaging 24.2 points per game, 18th in the league. I wish the defense could be a lot more like scratch tickets –a whole lot of yards allowed, but very few jackpots.

I could pick the defense apart piece by piece and not find a clear solution to New England’s shortcomings. When healthy, the rotation along the defensive line can do it all. They anchor the point of attack on runs and the pass rush unit creates pressure. The safeties have been outstanding playmakers all season long. The cornerback play is improving, with rookie Devin McCourty making strides quickly. I can only imagine how much better it will be when Leigh Bodden returns next year.

If there was a unit to be criticized, it would be the linebackers. Let me make this clear: The ILBs have been great. Jerod Mayo leads the league in tackles and is an every down player. Brandon Spikes hasn’t played like a rookie all year long. Gary Guyton is very good in coverage and is still improving. And Dane Fletcher, a rookie free agent that rose from a long shot to playing defensive snaps deserves a lot of credit.

The one area that is truly lacking is pressure from the outside and that falls on the outside linebackers. After a 10-sack season, Tully Banta-Cain’s production is on pace to fall well short of his career high last year. Jermaine Cunningham has just one sack, though he did deliver the pressure that led to a game-sealing interception against Indianapolis. Rob Ninovich isn’t a consistent pass rusher. Shawn Crable was cut in favor of Pierre Woods, who was cut in favor of Eric Moore.

For goodness sakes CB Kyle Arrington is sometimes rushing the passer with a hand on the ground!

But a better pass rush doesn’t solve all the problems. The Patriots are playing a dangerous game with a generous defense that could cost the team dearly later.

Some people only care about the results. The only thing that matters are wins. I’m not like that. Yes it was a great win against Pittsburgh, but the Steelers shot themselves in the foot. Two trips into the red zone resulted in three points because one receiver dropped a pass, another ran the wrong adjustment route, and the kicker missed a 26-yard field goal.

Colts QB Peyton Manning nearly directed a 21-point comeback until the critical pressure by Cunningham led to a James Sanders interception. With all due respect to Manning, the game shouldn’t had been close after the offense turned the previous two interceptions into 10 points.

It’s a relief the Pats just find ways to come out just ahead, but I want to see New England get a big lead and put the opponent away in the second half. I finally saw that on Thanksgiving Day. The second half started with a McCourty interception. QB Tom Brady toyed with CB Alphonso Smith as receivers Deion Branch and Wes Welker took turns embarrassing the mouthy Smith.

The Detroit offense that gouged New England for 17 points in the first half mustered just seven the rest of the way. The defense made halftime adjustments like past Patriot Championship teams and shut down the Lions.

That is what I want to see from the defense. Stop making every quarterback look like All-Pros by allowing a 68.3 completion percentage. Crucial stops are great, but I’d rather see stops made throughout the game. That 51 third-down percentage is embarrassing. Get off the field in the first, second and third quarters and avoid situations where the game is in the balance in the fourth.

The defense becomes stout when they can make stops when they want to, not just when they have to.

A few things I’m looking for:

Cro’s Feet: CB Antonio Cromartie shut down Moss in the second half in the first meeting. How well can he handle the smaller, quicker wide outs?

New Faces: WR Santonio Holmes, OLB Calvin Pace, WR Deion Branch, RB Danny Woodhead, and G Logan Mankins didn’t play in the first game. They can be difference-makers.

Insult to Injury: S Jim Leonard broke his leg on Friday. Show no sympathy and go after his back-up with the tight ends.

From day one of the season, I felt the teams would split the season series. I’m not backing down from that prediction. The Patriots win a tough battle.