New England Patriots: Securing future, Super Bowl return with 2018 NFL Draft

Adding pieces to the defense

The Patriots defense last season left something to be desired, to say the least. Needing to say more, it was downright awful when came to yards given up, ranking 29th with only the Colts, Giants, and Buccaneers conceding more yards to opposing offenses.

The bright spot and the reason Matt Patricia is now a head coach is that they weren’t generous in scoring, giving up just 18.5 points per contest. Their passing defense was a huge problem and one of the worse in the league in terms of allowing first-down completions (209). On third down, they were one of the worst units in the NFL, allowing nearly 37 percent of third downs to be converted.

Now that Matt Patricia is out as defensive coordinator, as first reported by CBS Sports, linebackers coach Brian Flores will take over play calling duties, though the title of coordinator won’t be attached. With or without Flores being officially being dubbed the DC, the Patriots will likely continue to run a system that utilizes a “hybrid scheme.”

It’s a style that puts pressure on opposing coordinators by using their personnel in a number of ways. This gives the Pats major flexibility as it pertains to the type of players that can draft. They key however, is drafting football player, guys that are intellectually gifted on the field. In the first round or with their second round pick, the Pats are likely to find the type of guy(s) that could fit their system-less system.