Patriots tried something new in practice, and it helped spark a dominant defense

CHICAGO — A different Patriots team took the field Sunday at Soldier Field.

This one was physical. They dramatically improved running the ball and stopping the run. They sacked rookie quarterback Caleb Williams nine times in a 19-3 win over the Bears. Coverage held up, and defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington got creative with his third-down pass-rush calls.

This team was anything but soft. And yes, competition has to be considered, and the Bears played a terrible game with Williams under center. But the Patriots’ defense has cratered against some of the NFL’s worst offenses this season, so this was a dramatic improvement.

“I thought the guys really answered the challenge that we had all during the week,” head coach Jerod Mayo said Sunday after the game. “We talked about having a physical Wednesday, and I thought that showed up today really in all three phases.”

The Patriots began Wednesday’s practice differently. For the first time all season, after individual drills, the offensive line and defensive line competed in a half-line drill.

So, the Patriots’ center, right guard, right tackle and tight end or the center, left guard, left tackle and tight end went up against half of the defensive line practicing a fully-padded run blocking and run defense drill.

The Patriots would call inside zone or outside zone and the offense and defense would “bang up” at the snap.

“We’re supposed to use our fundamentals that Coach (Scott) Peters teaches us in (individual drills),” left tackle Vederian Lowe said Sunday. “Staying low, inside hands, make sure we have the right hat leverage. And the defense is using the fundamentals that their coaches teach them. Peek in and then trying to play off whenever the running back declares his cut.

“And it’s just a really good drill, because that’s exactly how it happens in games. So that was just a really big point of emphasis that day was physicality. And that drill is physical, because you’re just going right up against each other, and it’s just who’s gonna win. So it was a good tone-setter, I would say, for practice and for the week.”

It worked on both sides of the ball. The Patriots’ running backs had been averaging less than 2 yards per carry over the last four weeks. On Sunday, the Patriots ran 35 times for 144 yards. And a run defense that’s been gashed week after week allowed just 73 yards on 20 carries.

The defense as a whole didn’t allow a touchdown.

“This week was hard, but it was much-needed. It was proven today,” defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale said Sunday.

Added defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms, who had a sack and three run stops, “Just real competition between each other. We’re still a family, but at the end of the day, we’re going to work.”

Stopping the run and jumping out to a 13-3 lead in the first half forced the Bears to rely on Williams and their passing game. Williams was just 16-of-30 for 120 yards and was sacked nine times.

Anfernee Jennings, who’s taken on a bigger role since the Patriots traded Joshua Uche to the Chiefs, led the way with two sacks and six total pressures. Defensive end Deatrich Wise also sacked Williams twice, and Pharms, linebacker Jahlani Tavai, defensive end Keion White and safeties Dell Pettus and Brenden Schooler each had one sack.

“It started with stopping the run, rattling a rookie quarterback, just getting after them,” defensive tackle Davon Godchaux said. “That was the big thing about it. Stopping the run helped everybody. And everybody was able to — third down was able to get a sack, all of it starts with stopping the run. They couldn’t run up the middle. I was knocking it back at the nose tackle, sometimes at the 4i (technique). Once you play physical defense like that, we can beat anybody. Just shows you right there. I mean, even though it was a rookie quarterback, it was a lot of good plays out there.”

The Patriots’ secondary forced a few of those sacks with sticky coverage, as well. No Patriots defender allowed more than 21 yards, per PFF’s in-game tracking, despite going against three dangerous receivers in D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, none of whom gained over 44 yards.

Mayo gave a special shoutout to Jonathan Jones, who played all over the defense, splitting his snaps between safety, cornerback and in the slot. Pettus, cornerback Christian Gonzalez and safeties Marte Mapu and Jaylinn Hawkins all had strong performances, as well.

“Coverage was huge,” Mayo said. “All of those guys in the back end, we have the young safeties out there, and Gonzo continues to play at a very high level. I’d also say Jon Jones, he’s one of those guys you can put him in as a slot corner, put him outside, put him in the back end, just a veteran player that goes in that box of, he’s a football player.”

The Patriots have lacked consistency like they’ve lacked toughness at times this season. Next week against the Rams, they have to prove that they can bring the same level of physicality.

It be worth running back that half-line running drill this Wednesday.