{"id":92918,"date":"2021-11-26T20:18:22","date_gmt":"2021-11-27T01:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=92918"},"modified":"2021-12-06T11:30:55","modified_gmt":"2021-12-06T16:30:55","slug":"patriots-mailbag-debunking-the-narrative-that-the-pats-linebackers-are-bad-in-coverage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=92918","title":{"rendered":"Patriots Mailbag: Debunking the Narrative that the Pats’ Linebackers Are Bad in Coverage"},"content":{"rendered":"

When false narratives catch wind in today\u2019s sports world, there\u2019s no slowing it down regardless of how much we may try to debunk a myth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One of those myths involving the Patriots defense and roster construction that drives us particularly crazy is that the Pats lack speed and coverage ability at linebacker.<\/span><\/p>\n

If we made a dollar every time someone tweeted or wrote to us that New England needs more athletic inside linebackers, I\u2019d already retire to my house on Martha’s Vineyard.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let me hit you with some facts and the tape to back it up about the plodding and poor coverage players that make up the Patriots\u2019 linebacker group this season:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

First, New England ranks fifth in Football Outsiders\u2019 DVOA metric in defending passes between the numbers and is the second-best play-action pass defense in the NFL (6.4 pass YPA).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If the Patriots\u2019 linebackers couldn\u2019t cover, it would be impossible to produce those numbers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Second, above are opposing quarterbacks\u2019 stats on passes targeting the Patriots\u2019 linebackers this season, which are pretty darn good considering what the narratives out there suggest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n