New England Patriots Defensive Team/Special Teams

August 31, 2009 @ 01:00:00

By KFFL Staff
Edited by KFFL Staff

New England Patriots Defensive Team/Special Teams

Bye wk	Tot TD	Spec Tm TD	Fum TD	Int TD	Int	Fum Rec	Sacks	Safety
8	2	1	1	1	19	12	42	0

Pros: Sticking with their organizational philosophy, the Pats rely more on their scheme than which pieces they have to fill starting spots. They've cycled linebackers and defensive backs frequently and effectively in Bill Belichick's 3-4 setup. Their D-line remains strong, with plenty of depth. The Pats have also infused some youth at linebacker. New England ranked 10th against the pass (309.0 yards per game), and they had a strong secondary draft with cornerback Darius Butler and safety Patrick Chung.

Cons: New England relies more on containment than aggressiveness; they had just 22 takeaways last year, which ranked in the bottom half of the league. They aren't much for the sack, either: 30 last year, tied for 17th in the league. Linebacker Adalius Thomas is getting long in the tooth, Tedy Bruschi retired and linebacker Mike Vrabel is gone. Wideout Wes Welker has been a solid punt returner, but their kick return unit leaves more to be desired.

Fantasy tip: The Pats can be taken as a No. 1 defense because of their reliability. They're typically among the first 10 taken, usually around the 13th or 14th round. The Pats aren't as dynamic at recording turnovers as they once were, but you can't necessarily go wrong with them if you wait on taking a D unit.

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