FOXBORO — The outcome wasn’t what the Patriots needed, however their new look protection confirmed potential in Sunday’s 20-13 loss to the Raiders.
The Patriots restricted the Raiders to simply 2.3 yards per carry and sacked quarterback Geno Smith 4 instances whereas forcing an interception.
“I felt like you might see the glimpse of dominance that our protection has,” exterior linebacker Harold Landry, who led the staff with 2.5 sacks, stated Sunday.
In fact, it wasn’t all good, and Landry acknowledged that. The protection, led by head coach Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, allowed 362 yards and a landing to Smith. In addition they allowed a dashing landing to rookie operating again Ashton Jeanty and two discipline objectives from Daniel Carlson.
“Everyone knows on the defensive aspect of the ball, the sky’s the restrict for us,” Landry stated. “I believe for us it’s simply that consistency snapping in and snapping out and never having any lapses. You possibly can simply inform that we’ve got a lot potential on that aspect of the ball. We simply have to return to work, leaders have to guide, and we simply have to return to work tomorrow prepared to enhance, hungry to enhance. You possibly can see it, that is an thrilling protection, I’m excited to be part of it.”
The Patriots missed cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who missed Sunday’s recreation with a hamstring harm. There was additionally a questionable playcall on Smith’s landing, when the Patriots dropped defensive tackles Christian Barmore and Milton Williams into protection and blitzed cornerback Marcus Jones, forcing security Jaylinn Hawkins to tackle speedy huge receiver Tre Tucker, who scored on a 26-yard reception.