Sub package stat

In today's editions of the Boston Globe, the role of the sub-linebacker is explored with safety Tank Williams.

Williams was lining up at linebacker during Wednesday's organized team activity passing camp, a role he would most likely assume in sub packages. Sub packages are seemingly called on more in today's NFL, as more offenses are spreading the field with three-receiver and four-receiver packages.

In putting together the article, it would have been nice to have a concrete number of snaps that the Patriots employed a sub package in 2007. Sub packages usually come on the field in obvious passing situations.

In hopes of generating some type of ballpark figure, second-and-8 or longer, and third-and-8 or longer situations were explored. Those seemed like the times the Patriots would most often call on a sub package.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Patriots faced those situations 220 times last season.

So that number alone provides some context as to how important a sub defensive package can be.