We’ve spent a lot of time this offseason bemoaning the Patriots’ lack of explosion on offense. But they might have an even bigger hole on defense.
NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry says he spoke recently with an NFL executive “familiar with the Patriots’ program” who described the team’s dearth of speed on defense “concerning.” That is a fair way to describe the Patriots’ defensive performance down the stretch. They couldn’t stop anybody when they needed to. Most notably, the Patriots only forced the Bills to punt once in their final two meetings.
The rash of top-flight quarterbacks moving to and around the AFC — Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Matt Ryan — could only further expose the Patriots. The Dolphins also added Tyreek Hill, perhaps the fastest and most dynamic receiver in the league.
As Perry mentions, there are signs the Patriots are addressing this issue. Tuesday’s acquisition of Jabrill Peppers, a versatile safety, should give Bill Belichick more flexibility to match up with other teams’ weapons. The Patriots also traded Chase Winovich to Cleveland for Mack Wilson, a smaller and speedier linebacker. At 6-foot-1, 233 pounds, Wilson is significantly smaller than organizational stalwarts such as Dont’a Hightower (260), Kyle Van Noy (250) and Jamie Collins (250). None of them are currently under contract with the club.
It would be unfair the paint the Patriots’ defense as a disaster. They allowed the second-fewest points in the NFL last season, tormenting opposing quarterbacks during their seven-game winning streak. But there’s no question: they looked overmatched against Buffalo.
You don’t need to be a plugged-in league executive to know that.
