Film notes: Patriots defense in Super Bowl LII

The game film has finally been posted, but I need to rewatch the game before I posted my comprehensive breakdowns tomorrow. Too much to see and log. Until that time, here are some of my game film notes, thoughts, charts and three up/down on each side of the ball (all pending game film review and in shorthand).

Offense

Next up: Defense



First quarter

• Harrison at DE


• Chung on Agholor. Rowe RC, Gilmore LC


• Marquis Flowers on third down vs. 11 personnel


• 3rd-and-4, 17 yards to Jeffrey, Rowe bites on double move


• 3-12 Kelce blocked 70 & 92. Rowe stops feet 15 yards to Smith


• Van Noy goes inside on 16-yard screen to Clement, gives up sideline


• Richards on Ertz in the red zone. Yikes.


• Guy shoved out of gap on Blount 36-yard run. McCourty caught up too.


• Rowe watching ball too soon on Jeffrey touchdown.

• 3-7, 19 yards to Ertz. Richards has no chance.


• 22 yards to Jeffrey … nothing Chung could do. Perfect pass and catch.


• Blount TD … Harrison turned at point of attack (POA), Roberts shoved out of his gap easily.


• 10-yard hook to Smith … Gilmore needs to be more aggressive.


• 3-4, 26 yards for Ajayi, Van Noy shoved out of gap (miss Hightower), Richards abused.


• Biggest play of the game to this point 3-3, Richards undressed on wheel route to Clement, 55 yards. Way too aggressive coming up on Clement. Harmon missed tackle.


• Either Lee or Van Noy needed to take Foles on TD.

• Chung on Clement, Bademosi on Agholor. This would be Butler’s role. Why not make the switch here?


• 3-6, 17 yards, Bademosi misses tackle to get off the field. That’s not talent, he’s a good tackler, that’s a failure in execution.


• McCourty missed tackle on 10-yard run for Blount


• 9:23, 9 yards by Ajayi, defensive line completely caved in. All of them.


• Chung concussion.


• Warmack in at LG.


• 3-1, Ertz for 14, Rowe doesn’t stay with Ertz. Why is he peeking into the backfield?


• 3-6, TD to Clement, what was McCourty doing? Flowers was right there but got no help. McCourty should have given more ground with two verticals.


• Chung’s first playback, Eagles went at him, 24 yards to Agholor. Smart by Eagles. They are definitely targeting specific players in different circumstances. Dwayne Joseph, the Eagles' director of pro scouting who I've known for years and saw at Patriots playoff games, must have done some job with his advanced scout.

• Tremendous awareness by M. Flowers on reverse swing to Agholor. That play was on film and one of the few the Patriots were prepared for.


• 3-6, 7 yards to Ertz. Gilmore a beat late vs. trips.


• 4-1, McCourty picked but close to the line and no way they're calling that in this spot. Well designed. Harmon had to respect wheel to Clement vs. Harrison.


• Patriots should have called timeout before Ertz touchdown. Not a good look. McCourty needed help.

• Why were Patriots so bad against Ertz when you knew he had to be stopped on third and fourth down?


• Why were the Patriots so discombobulated on defense? Butler?


• If Butler was riding pine, why not Bademosi vs. Agholor and Chung vs. Ertz? Seemed like you're weakening yourself at two spots instead of just one.