Some players and coaches completely remove themselves from the game and ignore the playoffs altogether, but the New England Patriots should use this postseason as a reference tool. After all, there’s a reason why eight teams had longer seasons than the Patriots, and here are a few things the Pats could have — and should have — learned since losing to the Baltimore Ravens.
Everyone’s Favorite Chorus
All together now: The Patriots need to improve their pass rush. Now that the obvious has been stated, look at what a great pass rush can do for a team. Of the four teams that played in the conference championships, three of them had a player who finished in the top five in the league in regular-season sacks. Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen (14.5 sacks, ranked second), Indianapolis defensive end Dwight Freeney (13.5, third) and New Orleans defensive end Will Smith (13, fifth) all helped their defenses create chaos for opposing backfields.
Linebacker Calvin Pace led the Jets with eight sacks, a total that ranked 20th in the NFL, but New York’s pass rush was more about making quarterbacks uncomfortable than sack totals. Surprisingly, the Jets were tied for 18th in the league with 32 sacks — just one more than the Patriots — but their defense led the NFL in passer rating against (58.8), which was a direct result of the confusion they created with their blitzes.
Also, take note of Denver’s Elvis Dumervil, who led the league with 17 sacks this season. He had 10 sacks in the Broncos’ first six games, and they got out to a 6-0 start. By his standards, Dumervil slowed down in Denver’s next 10 games, and the Broncos finished 2-8. Granted, plenty of other things went wrong as the Broncos limped to the finish line, but their inability to spring Dumervil didn’t help.
An aggressive defense is vital for postseason success, and the Colts and Saints are each superb at creating pressure with their defensive linemen. It was also a trait that was characteristic of the Patriots during their Super Bowl runs, and it played a major role in the Ravens’ thrashing of New England in the first round of these playoffs.
Just look at how the momentum swung in the second half of the NFC championship game when the Vikings started putting heat on Saints quarterback Drew Brees. New Orleans’ offense was lifeless in the second half, and the Vikings nearly pulled off the victory despite their sloppiness with the ball.
Coaching Advantage
The Patriots are still lucky to have the best coach in the game, and while Bill Belichick‘s presence couldn’t help the Patriots win a playoff game this year, it certainly didn’t cost them one.
Meanwhile, the San Diego Chargers were widely viewed as the most talented team in the AFC this season, but they fell short under Norv Turner‘s guidance yet again. No, Turner didn’t choke on three field-goal attempts or throw a horrific second-half interception in the shadows of his own end zone, but it’s the same story every January in San Diego.
In the NFC, the Cowboys were probably the hottest team on that side of the bracket entering the postseason, and their resurgence in December played a role in Wade Phillips‘ contract extension. But the Cowboys got stomped by 31 points in Minnesota. Once again, the same old story.
For whatever reason, the Patriots didn’t always buy into Belichick’s message in 2009, and that needs to change in 2010. They’ve got a coach who will give them an opportunity to win every time they step onto the field, and the players need to repay him by following his orders. On the flip side, in Dallas and San Diego, the players undoubtedly have to question their leaders once the calendar turns to the new year.
Draft Impactful Rookies
The right rookies can help teams win playoff games, as the world saw with Jets running back Shonn Greene and Colts wide receiver Austin Collie.
Greene didn’t make a huge impact in the regular season, but he rushed for 263 yards and two touchdowns in the Jets’ two playoff victories. Collie — who was taken in the fourth round, four picks after the Pats selected offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger, who was inactive in 14 of their 17 games — had seven catches for a career-best 123 yards and one touchdown against the Jets. His big-time performance helped take pressure off of Reggie Wayne, who was blanketed by Darrelle Revis.
Minnesota wide receiver Percy Harvin, Arizona running back Beanie Wells and Baltimore tackle Michael Oher were a few other rookies who helped make a difference in the playoffs this season.
While the Patriots were heavily criticized for trading down in last April’s draft, they still wound up with one of their best rookie classes. Tackle Sebastian Vollmer and wide receiver Julian Edelman played key roles in the postseason, and cornerback Darius Butler, safety Pat Chung and long snapper Jake Ingram each made contributions throughout the regular season.
However, trading down doesn’t typically yield success, and it shouldn’t be the philosophy in the 2010 draft. The Patriots should get aggressive and reach for some more impactful rookies because they clearly can help teams win playoff games.
Versatility Kills
New Orleans’ Reggie Bush, Philly’s DeSean Jackson, New York’s Brad Smith and Harvin are a few dynamite threats who can change the game in a number of different ways. Each can carry the ball out of the backfield, run effective passing routes and return kicks and punts. Whenever they’re on the field, defenses have to adjust their thinking, and special-teams units have to be flawless with their coverages.
The Patriots think they have a similar weapon in Brandon Tate, but his rookie year was marred by a pair of knee injuries, so the jury is still out. Obviously, these players don’t grow on trees, but they’re becoming increasingly important in today’s NFL. Bush was a difference maker in the Saints’ playoff victory against Arizona, and his electricity could pay off in the Super Bowl.
