Patriots
“Everyone knows on the defensive aspect of the ball, the sky’s the restrict for us.”
The Patriots have loads of work to do after a 20-13 setback in opposition to the Raiders on Sunday afternoon.
However, talking after the loss, Patriots captain Harold Landry III supplied up loads of optimism about New England’s ceiling on the defensive aspect of the ball.
“I really feel like we got here out with good power. … I felt like you may see the glimpse of dominance that our protection has,” Landry stated.
Landry — who signed a three-year, $43.5 contract with New England in free company — was one of many brilliant spots on an in any other case dreary afternoon for the Patriots in opposition to Las Vegas.
Landry was a power in New England’s pass-rushing efforts in opposition to Raiders QB Geno Smith, closing out the sport with 2.5 sacks, 4 quarterback hits, and three tackles for a loss.
“Everyone knows on the defensive aspect of the ball, the sky’s the restrict for us,” Landry stated. “I feel for us it’s simply that consistency snapping in and snapping out and never having any lapses. You possibly can simply inform that we have now a lot potential on that aspect of the ball.
New England invested closely on protection as a part of a free-agency spending spree — with Landry a part of the wave of offseason signings that additionally included DT Milton Williams, LB Robert Spillane, CB Carlton Davis, EDGE Ok’Lavon Chaisson, and others.
The Patriots have been in a position to each generate strain in opposition to Smith and largely comprise rookie working again Ashton Jeanty on Sunday, with the Raiders ending with simply 56 whole yards on the bottom.
Landry was removed from the one Patriots free-agent pickup to indicate out on Sunday, as Williams — who inked a four-year, $104 million contract with New England — recorded two QB hits and 7 whole pressures.
In line with Subsequent Gen Stats, each Landry and Williams led the Patriots with seven pressures apiece in opposition to the Raiders. Throughout a 2024 season the place New England recorded a league-worst 28 sacks, there was just one recreation the place a Patriots participant generated seven-plus pressures (Keion White in opposition to the 49ers on Sept. 29, 2024).
Even with the upside present in New England’s go rush and offseason pickups like Landry, it was removed from an ideal exhibiting from the Patriots’ defensive unit.
Las Vegasmanaged to generate loads of explosive performs down the sector, with Smith closing out the win with 362 passing yards. The Raiders generated 9 gamers that resulted in 20 or extra yards.
The eventual return of Christian Gonzalez sooner or later from a nagging hamstring harm ought to assist New England snuff out a few of these chunk-yardage performs.
However, Landry believes the onus falls on the gamers on the sector Sunday to make sure that a repeat efficiency doesn’t play out on Week 2 in opposition to the Dolphins.
“It’s going to be to return in, be able to work, make the corrections. It’s important to be hungry to enhance,” Landry stated. “It’s Week 1. No one’s going to be speaking about this week in a pair weeks, you bought to be able to make the corrections, be essential of your self, and discover methods to enhance.
“Discover a technique to be extra constant, [Mike Vrabel] isn’t going to vary, he is aware of what it takes to win on this league, and he is aware of that the blokes simply bought to return in right here able to work.”
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