In this example, the Browns are running GF counter with two pullers. So, edge-rusher Anfernee Jennings crashes down to the first puller, LB Jack Gibbens splatters the second puller, and S Jaylinn Hawkins is the force setting the edge, which allows LB Robert Spillane to overlap and pace out the runner for a two-yard loss. By keeping Spillane clean, he can read-and-react to the ball carrier, which is the Pats captain’s specialty.
Along with the 50-plus yard rusher stat, the Patriots defense ranks fifth in rush EPA and sixth in rush success rate (pending MNF). The results from their new run defense have been fantastic, while the attacking mindset has led to more negative runs than their old “build a wall” mentality in a two-gapping system. In the first eight weeks, the Patriots run defense has been a thing of beauty with the stats to back it up.
Quick-Hit Film Notes From Pats-Browns After Further Review
– My only play-calling nitpicks in this game were a few runs/boots into the wide-nine defensive ends, which are a staple of Schwartz’s defense. The Pats called tackle-trap from the low red-zone (-4), GT Counter (-3), and a boot to Garrett’s side (three-yard sack). Those plays stood no chance, and you wonder if we’re at the point where Maye can check out of those runs to get the offense into a better play.
– RB TreVeyon Henderson broke out for 75 rushing yards on 10 attempts with three runs over 10 yards and six successful carries. Henderson’s vision and patience were much better working outside the tackles, where he hit seven runs for 68 yards (9.7 YPC). Some of it was schemed up, but his 27-yard crack toss was good vision to cut back inside, and then Henderson broke the safety’s tackle to gain 15 yards after contact. Henderson also had a solid blitz pickup coming off a play-action fake where the Pats gained 19 yards on a crosser – a sign of growth. This was much better for all involved from a usage and performance standpoint. That said, Henderson’s late fumble was the lone blemish.
– WR Mack Hollins is on a two-game heater with five chunk gains over the last two weeks. This week, Hollins caught another hole shot from Maye (21 yards) and two big crossers off the double pass/play-action (19 yards each). Hollins also caught a series of outs, including a deep out for 13 yards. Hollins is blocking well, contributing to the run and play-action pass game. He’s been playing good all-around football.
– WR Kayshon Boutte continues to be one of the most efficient receivers in the NFL on a per-target basis. On Sunday, Boutte ran by backside coverage on a stutter-and-go for a 39-yard touchdown, found the open space between the numbers on a big dig to put the Pats into field goal range late in the first half, and ran a “squirrel” route perfectly for a 15-yard gain. Boutte did have a drop on a slant and a rare incompletion on a third-down slot fade, but the beat goes on with the Maye-to-Boutte connection. They’re eating up backside coverage on verticals.
– LG Jared Wilson’s run-blocking is rapidly improving as the season wears on, so kudos to the staff for sticking with the rookie. Wilson had eight-plus run blocks, an outstanding number, with some standout second-level climbs to seal off backside pursuit on the Pats toss schemes. When he gets into space where he can use his athleticism, there are some terrific flashes for Wilson. The pass-blocking is still up and down, with a sack allowed on a T/E stunt (Garrett) and some dented pockets against power. Wilson did have a plus-block picking up a stunt later in the game, though, and the run blocking is very encouraging.
– WR DeMario Douglas chucked S Grant Delpit at the top of the route on a stick-nod, creating separation that led to a 44-yard completion after Maye extended the play. Delpit wanted a flag, but the refs didn’t call Douglas for a push off. Douglas also had an 8-yard jet sweep that set up TE Hunter Henry’s touchdown. He’s making the most of his opportunities.
– WR Stefon Diggs caught an eight-yard slant followed by a one-yard touchdown, his first as a Patriot. The touchdown came on a McDaniels staple, the shield screen, where Hollins blocked for Diggs on the goal-line to punch the ball into the end zone. Although the shield screen usually has two blockers, like on Danny Amendola’s two-point conversion in Super Bowl LI, it was a similar play design.
– TE Austin Hooper caught a 21-yard seam-splitter and did some good work as an in-line blocker. This week, TE Hunter Henry’s blocking stood out on film, with three-plus blocks, including a great seal of the end on a bootleg to get Maye out of the pocket. Henry also caught his touchdown on a Y-Delay scheme off the boot, which was built off him staying into block on previous bootlegs. The Pats veteran TE duo is as reliable as it gets.
– RB Rhamondre Stevenson had a great nine-yard run on a lead-draw where he spun off contact to turn a short gain into a longer one. Stevenson also caught a 15-yard slant while flexing out in empty, which might’ve been a touchdown with a slightly better pass. Although this was a Henderson week, Stevenson did some gritty work.
– RT Morgan Moses had an up-and-down performance with Garrett’s hump move giving the veteran tackle problems. Moses gave up four total pressures, including a sack to Garrett against power, but did seal the edge while pulling in front of Henderson on both of the rookie’s explosive runs off tosses. Moses was left 1-on-1 with Garrett more than Campbell, and those reps went to the Browns star pass-rusher, but the veteran was a big part of the Patriots success in the run game.
– RG Mike Onwenu had some good second-level climbs in the run game and only allowed two hurries in pass protection, but he did have a false start on third-and-short that backed the Patriots into a third-and-6. Overall, Onwenu was solid outside of the penalty.
– The action went away from C Garrett Bradbury with all the outside running, and he pancaked a Browns linebacker on a second-level climb getting outside on a toss scheme. However, Bradbury was pushed back into the backfield on a third-and-1 run stuff in the first half.
– QB Pressures: Campbell (2 sacks), Wilson (sack, QB hit, hurry), Moses (sack, three hurries), Onwenu (two hurries), Bradbury (hurry), Stevenson (hurry).
– The Patriots had two coverage busts, and without knowing their assignments, it’s unclear who was at fault. One was on TE Harold Fannin Jr.’s 18-yard touchdown on FB leak, where the Browns deserve credit for anticipating cover-three and flooding the Pats deep zone. Still, with CB Carlton Davis III carrying the vertical release to that side of the field, someone has to cover Fannin. The other coverage miscue was when the Pats poorly sorted out a bunch formation. Browns WR Isaiah Bond was wide open had Gabriel seen the breakdown earlier. Luckily, the throw was late and took Bond out of bounds for an incomplete pass on third down (2nd QTR, 11:33).
– New England played a ton of disguised zone coverages again this week. Most likely, the idea was to confuse a young quarterback. With Gabriel only having a 30% success rate (fourth percentile), the game plan worked, while the Browns also might’ve gotten the Pats out of man coverage calls with their man-beaters on their opening drive. Overall, the Pats only played seven of Gabriel’s 37 drop-backs in man coverage (18.9%).
– From a pass-rush standpoint, HC Mike Vrabel has spoken about marrying rush and coverage, where the coverage takes away the quarterback’s initial read so that the rush can get home, and the rush prevents the quarterback from getting to the backside of progressions. On Sunday, it appeared the goal was to collapse the pocket on Gabriel, knowing the 5-foot-11 rookie wouldn’t be able to see over the trees, forcing the Browns QB to leave the pocket. The marriage between rush and coverage was mostly there, while Gabriel was just 3-of-6 for 47 yards and an interception on passes outside the tackle box.
– Although one blemish on a missed tackle led to a 21-yard catch, LB Robert Spillane is playing terrific football for this defense. Along with his interception, Spillane had three run stuffs and made another coverage stop as a short zone-dropper. Spillane is thriving against the run. He’s been doing a great job over the last six weeks.
– DT Milton Williams had six total pressures with his bull rush and rip move finishers. He also saved a short completion by batting down a pass and logged a run stuff. Williams is making the most of his chances to tee off on quarterbacks who don’t seem interested in holding the ball for too long.
– After sitting out the first quarter, DT Christian Barmore had five total pressures with his power/hump move and a run stuff on duo. He blew up the Browns flea-flicker attempt that might’ve had a chance, and used a hump move to force Gabriel into a safety via intentional ground in his own end zone. Five pressures in three quarters is just ridiculous.
– EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson stayed hot with three total pressures using his two-hand swipe, bull rush, and a T/E stunt pressure. Chaisson also had a stellar rep on the Browns double pass, picking up the running back who was the intended target on the throwback to blow up the play. That was an outstanding, heads-up play by Chaisson.
– EDGE Harold Landry III had two three pressures with a nice inside crossover rush and a few bull rushes. Landry also helped build the wall against duo on a few occasions and “spilled” the ball by firing downhill against pullers versus the Browns counter schemes.
– CB Christian Gonzalez was good in both man and zone coverages on Sunday. In man, Gonzo blanketed a go ball by WR Jerry Jeudy to get a fourth-down red zone stop. He also showed impressive click-and-close from his short zone to separate the ball from the receiver in a flat drop, while tackling the ball carrier in the flat for a coverage TFL, both in cover two zone. Gonzalez’s burst to shrink passing windows is improving each week as he gets his legs underneath him after missing training camp.
– CB Carlton Davis III jumped an out route for a near-interception, resulting in a third-down stop. However, Davis was called for another penalty— a defensive holding in coverage on third down, his sixth penalty of the season. Davis has been flagged in five of the last six games.
– CB Marcus Jones had a coverage TFL, playing the curl window and then breaking down on the flat. He also had a run stuff and a pass defensed on an under route on third down, where he sorted out a “follow” concept nicely with LB Jack Gibbens. Jones allowed some short zone completions, like a 9-yard slant to Fannin, but was solid overall.
– NT Khyiris Tonga continued his strong play with an RB screen stuff and two bull rush pressures with some strong work versus double teams. DTs Joshua Farmer (batted shovel pass) and Cory Durden (T/E pick pressure) were also solid in their snaps. They continue to be stout interior run-stopping depth with dirty work reps against the run every week.
– LB Jahlani Tavai had some nice moments on this film with a run stuff and a screen TFL where he pressed and played through a perimeter block to tackle Njoku. Tavai has adjusted well to this defense, albeit in a limited role.
– S Jaylinn Hawkins made an outstanding grab on his interception, where he plastered downfield to WR Isaiah Bond playing the deep-half in a cover-two scheme. Hawkins also filled nicely against the run, boxing the edge and filling the backside/cutback lanes in duo – a solid return.
– S Craig Woodson wasn’t around the action much, which is probably a good thing for a free safety, but he allowed an 11-yard touchdown to Njoku in garbage time. Woodson was in a good position to make a play on the ball, but Njoku made the catch. Woodson did have two run stuffs.
– LB Marte Mapu got legally picked on a 19-yard shallow crosser to Fannin on the Browns opening drive. Mapu was in man coverage on Fannin, and Cleveland had a mesh-style concept where Mapu had to run through some traffic. Ideally, Mapu recognizes Bond’s intersecting route faster so that he can run behind the Browns tight end to avoid the pick. Then, Mapu would just need to accelerate at the catch point and make the tackle short of the sticks in a trail technique – that’s all about awareness.
– QB Pressures: Jennings (sack), Williams (6), Barmore (5), Chaisson (3), Landry (3), Tonga (2), Spillane (2), Ponder (1), Durden (1). Run Stops: Spillane (3), Woodson (2), one each (Gonzalez, Barmore, Williams, Jones, Tavai, Davis).
– Coverage: Spillane (6/5/60 yards/INT), Jones (6/5/23 yards/PBU), Mapu (1/1/19 yards), Woodson (1/1/11 yards/TD), Gibbens (2/2/8 yards), Tavai (2/2/6 yards), Elliss (1/1/4 yards), Hawkins (3/1/4 yards/INT), Gonzalez (7/2/3 yards/PBU), Davis (1/0/0 yards), team (1/18 yards/TD).
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