Jamie Collins had a rare candid moment this spring when he said he’d rather rush the quarterback than cover on passing downs.
Collins was repeating fellow linebacker Dont’a Hightower’s sentiments from a week earlier when he too stated that he’d rather pass rush than drop back. Neither player exactly has received his wish, but both have been given more opportunities this season to rush the quarterback, and head coach Bill Belichick’s decision to send his young linebackers has paid off.
Collins rushed San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers 11 times Sunday, and he recorded two sacks and a quarterback hit. Collins took on a greater role with Hightower out with a shoulder injury, and the second-year pro stepped up to the challenge.
For more, check out this week’s film review:
QUARTERBACK
— Tom Brady was pressured early and never fully seemed to trust his offensive line as the game wore on.
— Brady threw his fifth interception in as many weeks, when he felt pressure coming from his left side late in the second quarter. He threw off his back foot toward tight end Rob Gronkowski, but Brady’s pass sailed right into the waiting arms of linebacker Manti Te’o.
Left tackle Nate Solder was getting beat by Dwight Freeney, so left guard Dan Connolly chipped in to help, which freed up defensive tackle Corey Liuget to pressure Brady.
— Brady’s best throw was a second-quarter 19-yard completion to wide receiver Brandon LaFell that the quarterback was able to fit through a tight window.
Brady saw a mismatch with linebacker Melvin Ingram in coverage, but a flawed throw could have been picked off by safety Eric Weddle.
RUNNING BACKS
— LeGarrette Blount wasn’t given a ton of room to run by his offensive line. He was impossible to bring down on the Patriots’ first offensive drive, then the Patriots didn’t give the 6-foot, 250-pound running back a chance to run it in to the end zone from the 1-yard line and they had to settle for a field goal.
— Blount had one of his patented long runs, when he plowed through defenders for 23 yards late in the fourth quarter.
Blount shows patience and field vision when he can’t find space on the right side of the field. It’s not always pretty when Blount takes off for a big play, but he’s been excellent since rejoining the Patriots, averaging a league-leading 3.7 yards after contact.
WIDE RECEIVERS
— Wide receiver Julian Edelman found the end zone for the first time since the Patriots’ Week 10 bye. Edelman earned it on a 69-yard catch and run. He had his best game of the season, catching eight passes for 141 yards. He dropped one pass.
Brady froze Weddle with play action to fit his pass in to Edelman on the slant route. Edelman pulled away from cornerback Brandon Flowers and LaFell threw a key block on Shareece Wright.
— LaFell’s best catch was the 19-yard play above. His second-quarter fumble resulted in a Chargers’ 53-yard touchdown return.
TIGHT ENDS
— Gronkowski continues to add evidence why he might be the best tight end in the history of the NFL. The Chargers made the highly questionable decision to put Freeney, a 34-year-old pass rusher, on the tight end early in the second quarter, and Gronk made them pay with a 35-yard reception. Gronk also made cornerback Brandon Flowers look like a child when he boxed him out on a second-quarter touchdown.
Gronk made Freeney look downright clumsy here. His size/speed combination is unfair.
— Gronk was getting open over the middle of the field in the second quarter and started to show slight signs of frustration the ball wasn’t coming his way. That’s certainly nothing to be concerned about; Gronk was just being a competitor.
OFFENSIVE LINE
— Solder had a tough time against Ingram. Solder was beat for a sack and quarterback hit.
— The Patriots’ offensive line only gave up one sack, but Brady constantly was under pressure, and the line was responsible for six of Brady’s incompletions.
— Connolly had a nice bounce-back week after struggling against the Green Bay Packers while nursing an ankle injury.
DEFENSIVE LINE
— Pass rusher Akeem Ayers recorded three quarterback hits and three hurries. He also blew up tight end Antonio Gates on a rushing play early in the second quarter. Ayers didn’t make the tackle on Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, but he disrupted the play, allowing fellow defensive end Rob Ninkovich to make the stop for a 2-yard loss.
— Ayers’ best play came later in the quarter when he dropped back into coverage and picked off Rivers. Ayers still primarily lines up at defensive end, filling in for injured Chandler Jones, but Ayers has proven to be adept in coverage when he’s asked to drop back.
Since Collins is an accomplished pass rusher, Belichick is able to rush four and drop his defensive ends — Ayers and Rob Ninkovich — into coverage to give a different look. Collins and linebacker Jonathan Casillas rushed up the middle. Rivers obviously didn’t expect Ayers to be dropping into zone on this target to wideout Keenan Allen.
The Patriots were in a standard Cover 3, with cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner and safety Devin McCourty covering deep, allowing Ayers, Ninkovich, safety Duron Harmon and cornerback Kyle Arrington to take the middle of the field.
— As MassLive.com’s Kevin Duffy pointed out on Twitter, the Chargers’ running backs only ran the ball four times in the second half, and all of those plays went for negative yards.
— Defensive tackle Sealver Siliga returned from a foot injury that landed him on short-term injured reserve and played well. Siliga and midseason acquisition Alan Branch can help keep Vince Wilfork fresh by rotating.
Siliga shows off his strength, fending off center Chris Watt, and quickness to stop running back Ryan Mathews for just 1 yard.
LINEBACKERS
— Collins had a big game in Hightower’s absence. He recorded two sacks, led the team with nine tackles and wore the defensive communication device, calling plays as just a second-year player. Watch Collins blow past Chargers center Chris Watt for his second sack:
Watt received an earful from Rivers after allowing his second sack to Collins. The linebacker simply had to juke and swim past the rookie center.
— Midseason acquisition Casillas wasn’t perfect, but he was solid in coverage against Gates in his first start with the Patriots. He’s smooth dropping back in coverage and has great catch-up speed.
CORNERBACKS
— Revis allowed just one catch on one target for three yards to Allen. Revis was nearly immaculate in both man and zone coverage. The Patriots mostly ran man coverage, but they also use Cover-3 and Cover-2 looks.
— Browner allowed a touchdown and 44 yards to wideout Malcolm Floyd. He showed off his elite length with an impressive pass breakup. Browner also drew an offensive pass interference flag on the play.
Floyd pushed off just before the ball arrived. It didn’t matter since Browner still was able to get a hand on the ball despite being slightly out of position after the contact.
— Arrington covered receiver Eddie Royal both outside and in the slot. He allowed just two catches for 30 yards on five targets. Arrington has been one of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL this season.
SAFETIES
— The Patriots used four safeties against the Chargers: McCourty, Harmon, Patrick Chung and Tavon Wilson. McCourty and Chung defended Gates well, limiting him to one catch on three targets for four yards combined.
Photo via Denis Poroy/Associated Press