For the big guys in the middle of the Patriots' defense, it's been more than two decades of unacclaimed dirty work.
Take up blockers. Two-gap. Hold the point. Stay in your gap. Don't go up the field. Forget pass-rushing stats that usually get guys paid.
If there was a picture in the dictionary next to Do You Job or The Patriot Way, it would be an agglomeration of the anonymous nose tackles that have held the fort since Vince Wilfork left town after the 2014 season.
Sealver Siliga. Malcom Brown. Ricky Jean-Francois. Danny Shelton. Beau Allen (never played). Akeem Spence. Carl Davis.
Brown and Shelton (Cleveland) were both first-round picks, like Wilfork, but make no mistake, they were neither household names nor difference-makers at the time. They were a means to an end. Bill Belichick basically viewed them as very heavy Patriots Plumbers' Putty — smash them into the holes of the opposing offensive lines, hoping they don't move. He never spent all that much money on them, but make no mistake, the nose tackles — then and now — are vital to Belichick's scheme.
The nose tackle is basically the engine block of this defense. If effective, the Patriots can drive for a while. If it's fragile, forget it. The Patriots aren't getting out of the driveway.
That was the case last season. Thanks to the Patriots losing huge in the Shelton-for-Allen free agency swap of 2020 (Allen never played for the team for an undisclosed physical issue and has not resurfaced in the league), the Patriots were pathetic against the run last season — they ranked dead-last in FootballOutsiders.com's rush DVOA. The trickle-down effect was huge, as the Patriots ranked 26th in overall defensive DVOA. Since the Patriots couldn't stop the run, they were among the worst in defense on first and second down, which led to subpar third-down defense.
Belichick was obviously disgusted by the mushy middle of his defense. With his fat checkbook this past offseason, he wrote a big one to Dolphins nose tackle Davon Godchaux for $9 million guaranteed, and $15 million for two seasons. It was virtually unprecedented for Belichick, but understandable. The Patriots can't play good team defense without a strong middle. Godchaux had played well against the Patriots in the same scheme, so it made a lot of sense.
But Godchaux, 6-3 and 310 pounds, did not get off to a good start with the Patriots. He was one of the primary reasons why the defense got off to a slow start in the first six games of the season and he was basically demoted as a result.
After averaging 23 snaps at nose tackle in the first six games, Godchaux averaged 15 over the next four games. But give the LSU product credit, he didn't pout or get selfish. He kept grinding and earning more playing time through his work in practice and the games. In games 11-13, Godchaux was back to 21.3 snaps per game on the interior.
That all built to a crescendo in Monday night's hard-earned victory over the Buffalo Bills when Godchaux dominated to the tune of 10 total tackles and six solo tackles. Both led the team. Godchaux had eight impactful plays overall, including four solo stuffed runs.
All of those numbers are virtually unprecedented for a nose tackle in this scheme and there's only one other performance that, in my mind, was better — Wilfork's wrecking ball performance against the Ravens in the 2011 AFC Championship Game.
There were a lot of similarities, but also some differences.
Against the Ravens, Wilfork dominated like never before via the pass rush.
He officially had six total tackles, a sack, and three tackles for a loss. He also had a half stuffed run (carries for 1 yard or less outside of short yardage), and four quarterback hurries (one on which he caused Mark Anderson’s sack) for a season-high five total quarterback pressures.
Godchaux did almost all his damage via the ground, which this game called for, but it was also out of character. Godchux entered with 3.5 stuffed runs in the previous 12 games combined.
The biggest similarity: both players logged an unusually high percentage of snaps. Wilfork played 95.7 percent of snaps against the Ravens. Godchaux logged 78 percent.
Godchaux was absolutely a beast in this game and should be celebrated because it seems like he has finally arrived as a Patriot. That being said, I wouldn't go overboard with the praise. Buffalo's interior offensive line of LG Ike Boettger, C Mitch Morse, and RG Daryl Williams is one of the worst in the league. Godchaux should have dominated in this game, and he did. He absolutely owned Morse, who was bad in Kansas City and worse in Buffalo.
Wilfork did his damage against one of the best interiors in that era — C Matt Birk, RG Marshal Yanda and LG Ben Grubbs. Birk and Yanda should be strong Hall of Fame candidates.
Still, the lesson remains the same. The Patriots can do great things as a defense, even reach a Super Bowl, as long as their nose tackle plays excellent football.
Wilfork proved that in 2011 on a bad defense overall. Will Godchaux a decade later? We shall see.
Here are the positional ratings against the Bills:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (3 out of 5)
Mac Jones only had three pass attempts and we gave him a minus on his boot action right because he should have just run with the ball — that's now two straight games he's had issues with that play (threw to Jakobi Meyers late to contribute to a missed field goal before halftime vs. Titans). .... But you don't run the ball like that without having a QB who can keep the team in good running plays against a defense putting 10 guys in the box. According to the film, it appeared that Jones did a very nice job with his checks at the line (alerting to the alternate play when he taps his helmet). And he's the perfect type of QB who doesn't mind dropping back three times. ... Thought his pass to Jonnu Smith was better than Smith made it appear because he again stopped his feet trying to catch the pass. But the wind being what it was, everyone gets a pass.
Running backs (4.5 out of 5)
Just phenomenal work by this group all the way around. ... Damien Harris had three plus plays but his fumble could have been a disaster. ... The vision and cutback on his TD was elite. ... Rhamondre Stevenson looked like John Riggins in this game with 10 impactful plays and zero minus plays. Had him for five broken tackles. The speed and velocity with which he runs is impressive. He looks more like a franchise back every game. ... Brandon Bolden (big two-pointer) just makes key plays every game. ... Jakob Johnson had a career-high five plus run blocks, including a great one on Harris' TD.
Receivers (2 out of 5)
Obviously a different game for this group and they were so-so at blocking. Smith had as many plus blocks as minuses, which is a solid day for him. ... N'Keal Harry's muffed punt was inexcusable even if he's never been back there before. ... Meyers, Hunter Henry and Kendrick Bourne had rough blocking days but they won.
Offensive line (4.5 out of 5)
If you take away Trent Brown and Mike Onwenu, this group was virtually perfect in a virtuoso performance, and those guys weren't even bad — they just weren't as good as the other four. ... All told, this group had 18 plus run blocks, which is unheard of. Ted Karras led the way with five, followed by David Andrews' four. ... In order of effectiveness: Andrews, Mason, Wynn, Karras, Brown, Onwenu.
DEFENSE
Defensive line (4.5 out of 5)
This is going to be weird to type but Matthew Judon had the only minus plays in this entire group (three). They totaled an astounding 24. That's owning the other offensive line, and the Patriots tuned up the pathetic Bills line (just illustrates the value of really good line play). ... We already touched on Godchaux, but Kyle Van Noy was also terrific setting a hard edge to Josh Allen's preferred right side.
Linebackers (3 out of 5)
The lack of action for this group just tells you how good the Patriots were on the line. Three plus plays and four minus plays for this group.
Secondary (3 out of 5)
A good game from this group overall but surprised to see Adrian Phillips have some issues in coverage (got bailed out by some drops). Call it the Kyle Dugger effect. ... Jalen Mills and Devin McCourty split the Gabriel Davis touchdown and Mills was lucky he was not flagged for pass interference on their next attempt at a touchdown. ... Joejuan Williams played four snaps and nearly gave up a touchdown to Stefon Diggs. Not good. Diggs just blew past him. .... Myles Bryant is just a ball player. Three plus plays, and just one so-so play in zone coverage.
FOUR UP
Davon Godchaux: Think we've covered that.
Rhamondre Stevenson: Quickly becoming one of the most physical runners in the league. He's going to be punishing down the stretch.
Kyle Van Noy: Played his role to a T being a pain the ass to Allen, who loves to roll right.
Wynn, Karras, Andrews, Mason: They were nearly without error in this game.
FOUR DOWN
N'Keal Harry: The fumble nearly ruined the game plan and his blocking was a bit overrated.
Joejuan Williams: Looked like a statue against Diggs. Williams is very lucky Diggs dropped a ball in his hands.
Jakobi Meyers: Had a rough time blocking in this type of game. Necessitated the switch to Harry.
Matthew Judon: Contributed to two of the biggest plays by the Bills. This is now consecutive weeks where he's slowed up. Perfect time for a bye.
