After a hot start to his Patriots career, defensive end Harold Landry has slowed a bit in recent weeks. He began the season with 3.5 sacks in his first two games, and was at 5.5 sacks on October 19, after Week 7 of the season. But from there it was a freeze-out: Landry did not have a sack or a tackle for loss for four straight weeks before he finally got to the Bengals‘ Joe Flacco in Week 12.
But there is some question as to whether Landry will be able to build on that momentum going forward. On Saturday, two days before facing the Giants in a Monday night showdown, coach Mike Vrabel announced that Landry would be questionable to play in the game because of a knee injury.
Vrabel announced that left guard Jared Wilson is out with the ankle injury that he suffered last week, and that special teams star Brenden Schooler, too, is out. Defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga is, like Landry, listed as questionable. Tonga has a chest injury.
Harold Landry, Patriots Pass Rush Weakening
The Patriots pass rush looked especially strong early in the year, behind the additions of Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson. It has slipped badly since, and now rates No. 17 on Pro Football Focus’s pass-rush rankings.
The Patriots need younger guys, like Elijah Ponder and Bradyn Swinson, to produce and provide depth.
Considering the Patriots unit was largely in flux before this year, linebackers coach Mike Smith is happy with where his guys are, he said earlier this month.
“I like it. We’ve got a mix of young guys and older guys,” Smith said. “I think Harold and KC are playing well. I think there are things we can get better on. I like where Ponder is, and I like the things that Ant can bring in as well. Ant’s got a specific skill based with his power and setting things off with his power. I love the way he sets the edge with the run. It’s just a good mixture of guys. They’ve been here with me since we got here.”
Patriots Wary of Giants Run Game
Against the Giants, the bigger concern is likely to be withstanding the running game. New York will get back quarterback Jaxson Dart, but they are an increasingly run-heavy group. The Giants have run the ball 362 times this season, second-most in the NFL, for 1,494 yards, which is ninth. Rookie Cam Skattebo is out, but Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary are still carrying the mantle.
In that regard, to loss of Tonga and fellow lineman Milton Williams (on IR with an ankle injury) might be the bigger blow on Monday.
“Good running football team, led by quarterbacks who are mobile and can run, whether that’s by design or play extension,” Vrabel said on Saturday.
“So, it’s just a testament to them and the way that they’re calling the game and the fact that they’re in games that are one-possession games. They have the lead and they’re able to run the football. I think they averaged 35 carries in the last three games and that’s a lot of carries. They’ve got good back and they’ve got multiple schemes.”
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