Pats Pulpit
You can look at volume statistics, efficiency metrics or advanced analytics, in the passing game or against the run, and you will get the same result: the Los Angeles Chargers defense has been one of the best in the NFL during the regular season.
Naturally, the group highlighted by Pro Bowl safety Derwin James will present a challenge for the New England Patriots come Sunday night’s wild card playoff game. Why exactly is it that, though? As was broken down by Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on Thursday, there are a variety of reasons for that.
Usually, we try to interweave coaches’ or players’ statements into a larger narrative. However, in this case, it makes sense to give McDaniels the floor uninterrupted (his statements do come from more than one question at his presser on Thursday and have been edited slightly for better readability, but the main points remain):
Their size, their physicality. They play with great power up front. They’re not easy to to move in the running game. They do a really good job of playing things that they’re good at, and then during the course of the game, you’re going to play some situational plays where they’re going to make it as complicated as you’ve seen all year. I think Jesse [Minter]’s done a tremendous job of — they’re really good at their core and then they’re going to have some game plan elements that challenge you schematically as well. This is a really tough preparation because the players are really, really good. They play sound football. They don’t beat themselves. They don’t give up a lot of big plays. They’re going to make you execute and drive the ball and then they’re really good in situational football. So, this is as good a unit as we play. There’s no question about it. …
Very few repeated looks. They’re going to challenge your ability to identify where they’re at. They’re a team that will send guys — anybody could blitz in in certain situations. They’ll challenge your eye discipline, your rules. And then your ability to, once you identify it, then it’s are you tough enough to stand in there and slug it out? Because that is not going to be a small thing on Sunday night. We’re going to need every ounce of our toughness, our details, our techniques, our fundamentals, and our execution to consistently do anything well against this unit because they’re really good. …
The first thing is identify post-snap, what am I dealing with? And then if there’s a body that’s going to match to you, you’re going to need to use really good top-of-the-route physicality and techniques to get open and create some separation. And then if it’s clearly playing more like zone, then we’re going to need great spacing and all the things that you need to do well against that, too. So, again, another reason why I think that this is a really good...
