Tag Archives: Stephon Gilmore

Five things to watch at minicamp

The Patriots will kick off their mandatory three-day minicamp on Tuesday, giving us our first extended look at the 2019 version of the team. It should provide an opportunity to see Tom Brady for the first time this spring, as well as newcomer Michael Bennett and perhaps some others who have yet to make an appearance.

While the only difference between minicamp and the OTA session the media was invited to watch two weeks ago is the mandatory element, the non-padded practices do provide an opportunity to start assessing the potential depth chart and to watch the younger players operate in the Patriots system.

With no contact it’s difficult to judge performance – and Bill Belichick often cautions against doing that anyway as he views these workouts as instructional and not for evaluations. But three days of work, plus an additional OTA practice open to the media next week, will provide a glimpse of what we’ll see come the opening of training camp in late July.

Until then, here are five things we’ll be focusing on this week.

Brady’s presence – Assuming Brady will be back in the fold, it’s always news when the quarterback is involved. For the second straight spring he’s chosen to do his prep work on his own, which is unfortunate because it would be great to watch Brady work with rookie first-round pick N’Keal Harry a bit more extensively. Still, there should be some chances for the two to connect this week and we’ll likely hear from Brady at some point as well.

Finding Wynn – So far we’ve had just one chance to watch practice (May 23) and Isaiah Wynn was not present. Instead we saw left guard Joe Thuney man the left tackle spot in place of the departed Trent Brown. Wynn continues to recover from a torn Achilles that wiped out his rookie season and offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia said several weeks ago that he hadn’t yet been cleared for full on-field work. Although it’s not with pads, it would be nice to see Wynn in uniform and working his way back into form. If not, it will be worth watching to see if Thuney remains at left tackle, a position he played at a high level while earning All-ACC honors at N.C. State.

Crowded secondary – Joejuan Williams was drafted in the second round, one year after Duke Dawson was taken in the same round. The two corners join J.C. Jackson, Jason McCourty, Jonathan Jones and Keion Crossen in a fight for playing time with No. 1 corner Stephon Gilmore. Williams’ size is intriguing as a potential matchup weapon for Belichick, who could use a rotation of corners depending on a specific opponent from week to week. Williams should get a lot of chances to lock horns with Harry in a battle of tall, physical performers. We’ll be watching those closely.

Tight quarters – The tight end position is arguably the one that has drawn the most concern among Patriots fans this offseason following Rob Gronkowski’s retirement. The former All-Pro added a measure of finality to that over the weekend when he told reporters that rumors of a possible return could be put to rest. Whether that ultimately is true or not, it’s time to figure out how the position might look without him. Benjamin Watson will miss the first four games while serving a suspension for PED use, and we’ve yet to see veteran free agent addition Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Matt LaCosse looked like a candidate to fill a pass-catching role a couple of weeks ago, albeit in shorts under far-less-than-competitive circumstances. LaCosse moves well and it will be interesting to see what if any work he gets to do with Brady.

Bennett Brothers 2.0 – Michael Bennett has yet to make an appearance during practice but is expected to be in Foxborough this week. He ostensibly replaces Trey Flowers, and while at 33 he may not be able to handle the full workload, he possesses more explosiveness as a pass rusher. Again, shorts and T-shirts work will only tell so much but Bennett is an interesting character very much in the mold of his brother Martellus, who had a couple of stints as a Patriot. Bennett will be worth a look as well as a listen.

Original content from Patriots.com

The Patriots are Super Bowl Champs…Again

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The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl 53, winning their sixth Championship.

One year ago today, New England lost to Philadelphia in a game that most expected Super Bowl 53 to mirror. A game where the phrase, “Defense wins Championships” is crumpled up and thrown out of a window. A game that has more trick plays than punts, and offensive coaches have a field day. A lot can remembered about Super Bowl 52’s incredible offensive heavyweight bout. However, the one lasting memory for most New England fans is the defense choking when it mattered most.

If there were any predictions for the game last night, they most likely were centered around an offensive outburst. Most people were assuming this would be another bloodbath, similar to the Chiefs-Rams Week 11 matchup that ended 54-51. Maybe not to the extent of 105 combined points, but it is Tom Brady and Sean McVay so it was a possibility. What we got instead was pound for pound football that exemplified this Patriots team resolve in more ways than one.

One could argue Tom Brady would have already had six rings coming into the 2018 season. Brady did after all throw for 505 yards and three touchdowns in Super Bowl 52. But that still wasn’t enough to overcome Matt Patricia’s sorry excuse for a defense. The Malcolm Butler argument can be made all day long but nothing was slowing down Nick Foles that night. This year however, it was the defense who helped Brady capture his record sixth ‘chip.

From Stephon Gilmore to Dont’a Hightower to Jason McCourty, every defensive player on the field made a play. Whether it was Gilmore’s last minute interception or Jason McCourty’s touchdown saving pass breakup, it was the defense who won the game this time around. There has never been a Super Bowl performance quite like the one we saw last night, and Tom Brady and the offense are beyond grateful. Brian Flores forever left his mark on New England lore, helping architect the best defensive performance in Super Bowl history. He will be sorely missed when he heads south to Miami.

Even though getting yards wasn’t an issue offensively, getting past the Rams 40 yard line was. It seemed like every drive ended with a long field goal attempt or a punt at the L.A. 45. This field position certainly helped the defense, but scoring points would have been far more helpful.

If there was one diamond in the rough for the offense last night, it was Julian Edelman. JE11 turned in perhaps his best game in a Patriot uniform, totaling 141 yards on ten receptions. The Rams Pro Bowl caliber cornerbacks could do nothing to stay in coverage, and no matter what Nickell Robey-Coleman says, they could not stop him. This immaculate performance led the way for the offense, and landed Jules his first Super Bowl MVP.

Julian Edelman shined when it mattered most, taking home the MVP award for Super Bowl 53.

Rob Gronkowski, in what could be his final game, looked like vintage Gronk, going for 87 yards and setting up the game’s only touchdown. Other than those two, the only other Patriot to have a solid offensive night was Sony Michel, who once again scored and had over 90 yards rushing. This was his third straight postseason game with a score and at least 90 yards on the ground, and he could have a monster next year as long as the offensive line stays intact.

Sony Michel scored the only touchdown of the game, capping off his incredible 2018 postseason.

In the end, this game was what no one expected and few wanted. Most people in New England would tell you they wanted a blowout and at least 40 points. Most of America would tell you they wanted the same thing, but in the Rams favor. However, if you look past the boring incomplete passes and negative rushing attempts, you’ll find that this game is what the Patriots are all about. They’re not a one dimensional team like Kansas City, where if the offense doesn’t score then they have no chance of winning.

The New England Patriots always preach that it takes all three phases, offense, defense, special teams, to win football games. That’s what Super Bowl 53 was, an all around effort with each group coming up clutch when they needed to. Without each player doing their job and stepping up to the plate when it mattered most, we would be sitting here thinking about what could have been. Instead? We wake up six time Super Bowl Champions and get ready for our second parade in 100 days.

Patriots vs. Chiefs: AFC Title Game Preview

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Every dominant athlete has had a weakness in their career. Whether it be a venue or exploitable trait, no athlete is perfect. LeBron James could not win in Boston, until he created two separate super teams in Miami and Cleveland. Roger Federer has a difficult time playing on the clay at the French Open. Clayton Kershaw crumbles during the postseason, especially on the road. For Tom Brady, it’s playing in three specific cities: Denver, Miami, and Kansas City. On Sunday, Brady will attempt to win only his second game ever at Arrowhead Stadium. This time, however, he and the Patriots will be riding an unfamiliar mantra.

The Patriots Are Underdogs

For the past 68 games as a starter, including the postseason, Tom Brady has been favored to win. That is a statistic that will never be broken, and for good reason. It is absurd to be favored to win for basically 4 seasons of football, but they don’t call it a dynasty for nothing. This weekend, however, that streak will be buried.

The Chiefs are 3 point favorites to win the AFC Title game (which virtually means oddsmakers are calling this game a ‘pick ’em’ because the home team is automatically given 3 points). Last weekend in the Divisional round, if you listened to any major sports news outlet, you would have thought the Chargers were 12 point favorites. Every “analyst” was picking the Chargers to win by a landslide, and predicting the New England dynasty to crumble like a sandcastle after a wave rides over it. Of course, like usual, everyone was wrong and the Patriots won in dominating fashion. The experts are at again this week as well, and New England now truly feels like an underdog.

With this newfound underdog mentality, the Patriots ride into a hostile Kansas City. Home to the likely NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and one of the loudest sports venues in the world, this will be no easy task. Brady and the Patriots will need to find a way to stop this high-flying offense in front of their home crowd and in sub-freezing temperatures. How can they do it? By simply being the Patriots.

Defending Against The Chiefs

Bill Belichick is the best coach in the history of the NFL, bar none. There is no debate with Don Shula or Vince Lombardi or Bill Walsh, since those were much simpler times with no salary cap. However, this upcoming bout with the Chiefs will test his abilities to the maximum. If New England has a chance of beating KC, Belichick will need to implement a strong plan of attack for the defense. In their first matchup in Week 6, the Patriots made it a priority to not have Travis Kelce beat them. They accomplished this by bumping him at the line of scrimmage, making it more difficult to run his routes. They also double covered with him Patrick Chung and another linebacker, forcing Mahomes to throw it to other receivers. Expect a similar plan to be in play this weekend, but the Patriots have someone else entirely to worry about.

Tyreek Hill

Tyreek Hill is the most versatile receiver in football. His speed cannot be matched and his hands and catching ability are up there with Julio Jones and Antonio Brown. He can single handedly win games with his playmaking, as he almost did in Week 6. The Patriots in their last two meetings with Hill, have allowed a combined 275 yards and 4 touchdowns to the “Cheetah”. Hill cannot have it so easy this time around; Brian Flores and the defense needs to find a way to stop him. Expect the Patriots to use either Jason McCourty or J.C. Jackson on Hill with a double teaming safety over the top on all of his routes. Stephon Gilmore will likely take on the responsibility of shadowing Sammy Watkins.

MVPat

Patrick Mahomes has been the best player in football this year and it can’t really be argued otherwise. 50 touchdowns and 5,300 yards as a second year player is quite remarkable. The Patriots will do everything in their power to not have a repeat of Week 6, where Mahomes put up a 40 spot. In order to do this, and put less pressure on the offense, the Patriots will need to make the Chiefs run the ball. Patrick Mahomes, if given the opportunity, will throw all day long and that is not a winning recipe.

New England will need to sell out to stop the pass and include some schemes and packages to stop the run up front. Chiefs running back Damien Williams has had a fine shortened season, but is no Kareem Hunt. If the Patriots are able to limit the damage in the running game while making it tough on Mahomes, they will have a shot.

In addition to limiting the ground attack, New England will have to mix in some pressure packages. Getting to Philip Rivers is the main reason the Chargers performed so poorly offensively in the Divisional round. The front seven will need to replicate that performance in some way again this weekend. The Chiefs offensive line is fairly average, so look for Trey Flowers to have another big game.

Trey Flowers has been the best defensive lineman for New England all season. He will need to continue that dominance on Sunday.

Brady Being Brady

Like most games, the Patriots will need Tom Brady to be Tom Brady if they have a chance of winning. In years past, Brady has felt some of the pressure lifted off his shoulders. 2011 against Baltimore, he was abysmal but the defense and Billy Cundiff came through. 2014 against the Colts, LeGarrette Blount rolled up and down the field similar to how Jonas Gray did it earlier in the year. However, one key factor of those AFC Championships? They were in Foxboro.

This one is in Arrowhead, a venue Brady has a very hard time winning in. This will be his first time playing here since he was essentially benched in Week 4 of 2014. That game led to Trent Dilfer’s famous rant about the Patriots and sparked a Super Bowl run. The Patriots felt like underdogs after that game and were “On To Cincinnati” with that mantra in mind. This time around in Arrowhead? They feel the same way.

The Underdogs

After the Divisional Round win, many Patriot players, including Tom Brady and Devin McCourty, talked about how the media and the world thinks “they suck and can’t win games”. They are truly embracing the underdog role, similarly to how Philadelphia did last year. With this mentality in mind and a solid gameplan behind them, this game could go the Patriots’ way, even in Arrowhead Stadium against the likely NFL MVP.

Keys To The Game

The defense can’t let Mahomes beat them through the air and the offense needs to score rapidly so they don’t get behind early on the road. The sub-freezing temperatures bodes well for Tom Brady, as he is 24-5 in such games. The run game will once again have to play a huge role, helping to set up the play action. The Chiefs cornerbacks are below average at best and Brady should be able to pick them apart with decent offensive line help.

All in all, this game could go either way. The Patriots could very well come out flat like they did in Pittsburgh in Week 15. The Chiefs could score 14 in five minutes and from there the game is likely out of reach. Although, the Patriots could also storm out into the freezing, belligerent environment and remind everyone why they are called the best sports dynasty in history. This one is a toss up, and will come down to which team prepares better and is able to execute their game plan the best.

Stephon Gilmore named First Team All Pro

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The Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore was named First Team All Pro by the AP today. The shutdown corner has been worth every penny since arriving in New England last year. Gilmore has proven to be one of the elite cornerbacks in the NFL, and is arguably the Patriots MVP this season.

Stephon Gilmore By The Numbers

Gilmore only allowed a 71.8 passer rating, while braking up 20 passes, finishing second in that category. The two interceptions Gilmore had shows that quarterbacks were throwing away from him. Pro Football Focus already ranked Gilmore as the top rated player at his position. The First Team All Pro honor is no surprise, as Tom Brady also had plenty of praise for his teammate on Wednesday. Brady compared Gilmore to some of the greats, saying he is right up there with them. Players like Law, Talib and Revis, two of which are future HOF CB’s.

The Price was Right

This is Stephon Gilmore’s second Pro Bowl selection, but his first All Pro honor. Gilmore showed his value all year vs top notch opponents. The wide receivers Gilmore shadowed this year include DeAndre Hopkins, Antonio Brown, Stephon Diggs and Devante Adams, just to name a few. Gilmore raised the level of play from New England’s secondary as well. Jason McCourty and JC Jackson both have stepped up big time, and this secondary looks strong. The Patriots secondary has had some extremely impressive games in 2018 with Gilmore leading the way. The Vikings and Steelers dynamic WRs were no match for Gilmore and company.

Gilmore with the defensive play of the 2017 season

Stephon Gilmore started his Patriots tenure off slow, along with the rest of the defense last year. But as the season went on he improved each week, and made the play of the year breaking up a Blake Bortles pass attempt to finish the Jaguars off. Since that incredible play he continued to emerge as a top tier CB, and now is honored as the Top rated player at his position. The Patriots and fans hope that Gilmore won’t have anything to do with the Pro Bowl this year, as they’re all in for a Super Bowl run.

Patriots-Dolphins Preview

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The Dolphins’ Home Field Advantage

The way this Patriots team is built and the fact that the Dolphins’ best player, Xavien Howard, is out for the game will help Josh Gordon the most. The one issue is the game is in Miami, a place that always gives New England trouble.

Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Just in the past 5 years, the team is 1-4 in Miami. Historically the Patriots have not played well at Miami Gardens. The temperature is also expected to be relatively high too which may affect the game as well. The loss in Jacksonville is an example of the heat playing a factor against New England.

Bill Belichick won’t use the weather as an excuse, but we all know since 200, the Patriots have struggled in the heat. Former Patriot Tedy Bruschi said as much on ESPN when asked about why this team struggles in Miami.

Built for Success

The Patriots right now are just built for success. They are extremely healthy, have top 10 players in many categories including one of the best cornerback duos right now. Stephon Gilmore is questionable although Is likely to play, as he flew with the team for this matchup. The Patriots should be able to come out of this with a win. Look for Sony Michel and the running backs to have a big day.

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

New England should look to set up the run game early, using all three backs. Rotating the running backs will keep them from cramping up and running out of steam from the heat. Tom Brady will be able to take advantage of the injury riddled Dolphins. The running game will set up play action passes, and more defenders in the box.

Patriots-Dolphins Prediction

The Patriots come in as heavy favorites despite recent history, and I don’t think it will be a blowout. Miami has played well at home this year, at 6-6 they will be looking for revenge from week 4. The rash of injuries to this Dolphins team, along with New England coming in almost at 100% will be the difference today. Not the heat.

The Patriots are really starting to look better on offense, defense and are only missing one player. The Patriots will win the AFC East again today, for the 10th year in a row. The players will get up for this “hat and T-shirt game” as they continue to try and get that number one seed.

(Patriots 28 Miami 17)

Prediction: The Patriots Will Be Great Against the Pass

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There are few things more satisfying than watching A-Rod serve hungry Boston fans Wahlburgers because he lost a bet. Watching a hyper-focused and well-oiled Patriots secondary shutting down a passing attack is one of those things.

While the New England Patriots were preparing their game plans for the Houston Texans, I’m sure they approached it as another game. Prepare, watch video, practice, evaluate and repeat over and over again. Don’t leave anything to chance and allow for the unexpected. More unexpected than the entire Boston Globe sports staff choosing the Houston Texans to win? Smack my head.

What We Learned

In the end the end the preparations were over-preparing. A healthy Deshaun Watson came into Foxborough and accounted for almost 350 total yards and two TDs. Coming within an epic Brady comeback drive and a Cooks toe-tapping touchdown of winning the contest. Riding a wave of feel-good emotions would do the sophomore quarterback some good as he returned to the site of battle. Those positives vibes were for naught. He rushed for nearly the same yards but accounted for over 125 less air yards. Watching the game unfold I was stuck with one thought, “This secondary looks damn good!”

What We Know

Let’s look at the differences from the unit that allowed Foles to throw three TDs and 373 yards en route to a Super Bowl MVB (Most Valuable Backup) in February. Starters Stephon Gilmore and Eric Rowe were still the same. Malcolm Butler of Super Bowls past was in Belichick’s doghouse and played one snap prior to leaving in free agency for Nashville to join the Elvis Patriots. Devin McCourty was the same defensive mainstay that he has been for a number of years. Jason joined the crew in the offseason too.

And here are the important things: Jordan Richards – Gone, Johnson Bademosi – Gone. Both of them gave up key catches that sustained drives when the team needed just one stop. In their place, Jon Jones was becoming a quality slot corner and backup. A bevy of late round draft picks that forced out 2nd round pick Cyrus Jones. An improved pass rush and new defensive play caller, Brian Flores, would help apply pressure that helps the coverage guys immensely.

The Crew

What is the best way to use a group as talented as this? The coaching staff of the Patriots will put them in the best position to succeed. And based upon experience, scheme and physical attributes it may go something like this. Stephon Gilmore is the classic man coverage, shutdown corner. A long and lean six foot one inch and just over 200 pound. Quick, and instinctual he has shown to be worth every penny of his massive free agent contract. Eric Rowe is just as tall as Gilmore but a little heavier and not quite as explosive. He does bring some big slot coverage that is nice for his versatility. JC Jackson is your next big cornerback. He’s a little lighter, but just as exciting and will grow into his role. A good special teamers, he brings a lot for an undrafted free agent.

The next tier are the shorter, lighter cornerbacks. Jonathan Jones seems to be the third option at cornerback and is primarily used inside. The Super Bowl drama would have been reduced if Jones did not suffer the season ending injury against Jacksonville. Keion Cross is a rookie this season and was an inactive on Sunday and barring injuries this will probably he his role all season.

The unique thing about the Patriots secondary is the role of the safeties. The McCourty twins are converted corners. When the defense’s backs get pushed against the wall, Devin’s job changes to primarily covering a receiver. Duron Harmon plays a lot of deep and cover 2 safeties. Jason McCourty is still learning his new position and offers some depth for the corners. Patrick Chung is the only true strong safety and does well with covering pass catchers near the line of scrimmage.

Super Bowl Bound

What does all that mean? Bill Belichick can play chess while much of the league is playing checkers. When you want to change your game plan from week to week in order to exploit an opponent’s weakness, you need versatility and layers. This years cornerback crew offers that. Big outside wide receivers, shifty slot guys, and speedsters up the fieldall need a different plan. The defensive backs that are on the team offer a blueprint for success that ends with hoisting a trophy in Atlanta!

All photos courtesy of Getty images unless noted otherwise.

Be sure to check out other great articles for all your favorite Boston sports teams on Bostonsportsextra.com

Follow me on Twitter @ALykins32

The History of the New England Patriots by Jersey Number #24-#26

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NUMBER TWENTY-FOUR

We are into those jersey numbers where we’ll be talking repeatedly about a lot of defensive backs as well as a few running backs. Today, we’ll start with one of the finest Patriots defensive players in franchise history: Ty Law.

When ESPN’s “NFL PrimeTime” was in the peak of its powers, Chris Berman would famously say about opposing quarterbacks, “They fought the law and Ty Law won!” It’s likely Law will someday find himself in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Taken with their 1^st round choice in 1995, Law played his first ten seasons in New England. Law was arguably the most important player on the team for the 2001 and 2003 Super Bowl championship teams. In ’01, it was Law’s pick-six and excellent man to man coverage that put the Pats in a position to win against the heavily favored Rams.

Law’s Finest Plays

In 2003, Law’s performance against Peyton Manning and the Colts in the AFC Championship game was one for the ages. He knocked around Marvin Harrison and crew all day, as well as intercepting three passes. His coverage was so brutal and so tight, the league changed illegal contact rules during the subsequent off-season.

After Law left the Pats following their third Super Bowl win, he joined the Jets. As a member of the Jets, Law had his best season in 2005 with ten interceptions for 195 yards. Law retired after 2009 and was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2014.

Other 24’s

Law was the best DB to ever wear number 24, but not the first. That distinction belongs 1962 All-Star Dick Felt. Felt picked off 12 balls for Boston in the ‘60’s.

Running back Robert Weathers wore #24 for a few seasons in the ‘80’s where he played mostly special teams. His finest hour came in the 1985 AFC Championship at the Orange Bowl versus the Dolphins. He rushed for 87 yards in the slop as the Pats took advantage of grinding out the clock on a day Dan Marino and company were stuck in the mud.

Kyle Arrington wore 24, 25 and 27 during his Patriots career. Arrington was a dependable special-teamer and sometimes starting cornerback during the Belichick era. He played in two Super Bowls, but not well as you’ll recall. Indeed, his lackluster coverage of Seattle’s little-used Chris Matthews allowed Malcolm Butler to get into the game and my guess is you remember what happened from there.

Gilmore Makes the Play

The Patriots now employ veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore as the bearer of #24. He had an up and down tenure with the Bills before signing on with New England for huge money. As the 2017 season progressed, Gilmore improved. His penalty against Carolina cost the Pats the “W” in that one. However, Gilmore made a pivotal play in the AFC Championship game against the Jags and was practically the only person in Minnesota’s Stadium during Super Bowl LII to play any kind of defense.

NUMBER TWENTY-FIVE

Props to you if you remember Ross O’Hanley wearing #25 for the Patriots from 1960-1965. The 6’0” defensive back was a true New Englander, born and raised in Everett and playing at Boston College. Sadly, O’Hanley passed away due to a malignant brain tumor in 1972 and the tender age of 33.

Rick Sanford played free safety for the Patriots in the early 1980’s and scored on a 99-yard interception return in an otherwise crummy 1982 performance against the Bears.

Larry Whigham was probably the best #25 in team history as he played seven of his nine years in New England. Again, he was a core special teamer, but so good at his craft, he made the Pro Bowl twice.

Uh Rowe

Finally, there’s good ole’ Eric Rowe. Rowe played admirably in coverage of Julio Jones in Super Bowl LI. However, he was no match for Alshon Jeffery in Super Bowl LII. Rowe’s height would seem to give him an advantage on the outside but he’s failed to be consistent stopper as an Eagle and with the Pats.

NUMBER TWENTY-SIX

At #26, Eugene Wilson career started like a lion and ended like a lamb. He was the starting free safety for the most part during the Patriots 2003 and 2004 Super Bowl championship teams but was relegated to back up during the 2007 almost perfect season.

The play I remember the most from his career was Mushin Muhammed’s touchdown against him in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Wilson was burned badly on a play that gave the Panthers a 22-21 in the fourth quarter. Adding injury to insult, Wilson was lost for the game on the play.

Logan Ryan was another two-time Super Bowl champion who wore #26. Ryan was a solid, under-the-radar corner on the 2015 and 2016 teams. He played great football in postseason wins against Houston and Pittsburgh on the road to the Super Bowl LI championship. He signed with Tennessee following the season and was missed in 2017.

Another Great Corner

Since we started this article with one of the best defensive players in team history, we’ll end it that way. Raymond Clayborn was a starting cornerback for the Patriots for an unreal 12 seasons. It’s safe to say that will never happen again. Clayborn intercepted 36 career passes and made it to three Pro Bowls.

Otto Gruele Jr

He was primarily a kick returner in 1977 but was fantastic at that as well as he brought three to the house. In 1978, he was lined up across from Hall of Famer Mike Haynes forming the best cornerback duo in Pats’ history. After Haynes left for the Raiders midway through the 1983 season, Clayborn assumed the CB1 duties. He was at his best during the 1985 season leading New England to Super Bowl XX.

Jason McCourty: Just What the New England Patriots Needed

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So far, free agency has been a complete and utter frenzy for the New England Patriots. After losing Super Bowl LI, everyone in Patriots Nation wanted New England to get a big name cornerback. When that fell didn’t happen, hot takes were everywhere. Belichick was asleep at the wheel, and the 2018 Patriots defense was already a failure. However, the Patriots acquired longtime cornerback Jason McCourty from the Cleveland Browns, and he is just what the Patriots need.

Jason McCourty is Just What the New England Patriots Need

What the Patriots Need

With the departure of Malcolm Butler, there was no denying the Patriots needed to look into acquiring a cornerback to start opposite Stephon Gilmore. However, that need was a little overblown among Patriots fans due to how ugly the Super Bowl was. Yes, Eric Rowe struggled against Philadelphia Eagles receiver Alshon Jeffery, but once he switched off him he had a really good game.

The front seven and poor coaching decisions were the main reasons the defense played so poorly, so signing a top-tier cornerback wasn’t a necessity. If New England could get players to fix their front seven, then a typical number two cornerback would easily suffice in the secondary.

What Jason McCourty Brings

He’s not a superstar along the lines of Aqib Talib or Richard Sherman, but McCourty is still a quality starting NFL cornerback. Initially selected as a sixth-round pick in the 2009 NFL draft, McCourty has carved out a nine-year NFL career as a defensive back.

While the Cleveland Browns were terrible in 2017, McCourty was not. He had moments where he looked like a true number one cornerback, and finished the year as the 27^th ranked cornerback in the league, per Pro Football Focus. By comparison, Malcolm Butler finished the year ranked 51^st among cornerback. If McCourty can have a similar 2018, the Patriots should have one of the better cornerback duos in football.

Additionally, McCourty’s style of play is a perfect fit for the New England Patriots. McCourty is at his best when he’s playing press coverage, which perfectly aligns with what Gilmore excels at. When Gilmore and McCourty, the Patriots can run tough, physical man coverages and don’t have to worry about the corners getting beat off the line.

Lastly, McCourty does the little things well. Just like his twin brother and teammate, Devin McCourty, Jason McCourty is a great tackler. He’s not afraid to play the run, lower his shoulder and do the dirty work. Some cornerbacks shy away from making tackles, but McCourty is not one of them. Nobody values fundamentals more than Bill Belichick, which just gives McCourty more value on the Patriots.

Money Talks

While it would have been great to see Sherman, Talib, or Trumaine Johnson in a Patriots uniform, it would have taken a lot of money to make that happen. Per @patscap, The Patriots currently only have a bit over $21 million in cap space. Signing any one of those players would have taken up a sizable portion of that cap space.

Instead, the Patriots got the significantly cheaper option of Jason McCourty. McCourty only has a $3.6 million dollar cap hit in 2018. This minimal hit on the salary cap means that the Patriots got a good player without sacrificing roster depth.

Additionally, it cost nothing to get McCourty. The Patriots swapped their late sixth-round pick for the Browns early seventh. That small drop in draft positioning makes it such that the Patriots got McCourty essentially for free.

Had they signed a free agent, this would not be the case. Currently, New England will probably receive two third round compensation picks and an additional sixth rounder for the departures of Solder, Butler, and Lewis. If the Patriots had signed a free agent cornerback, that would affect their compensatory pick formula.

Obviously, there’s no way to know how much a free agent cornerback would have affected New England’s compensation picks, but now there’s no need to worry about that. Free agent signings are the only factors that play into the compensation formula. Since McCourty was acquired via trade, he has no effect on how the compensation picks are determined.

Cover image courtesy of NBC Sports.

New England’s Defensive State Ahead of the 2018 Off-Season

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In team sports, you often hear, “You win as a team and you lose as a team”. Rarely will you find a coach or staff that believes otherwise. Bill Belichick and his staff do not sway away from this mentality.

With that being said, it may not always be true.

The New England defense allowed over 538 yards on the grandest stage of them all. Philadelphia was an astounding 10-16 on third down conversions, 2-2 on fourth down conversions, and didn’t allow a sack.

This is not to take away from a brilliant performance from the Super Bowl MVP, Nick Foles, but the Patriots defense was non-existent Sunday night.

Aside from Stephon Gilmore, who was virtually lock-down, the Patriots’ secondary got scorched. Jordan Richards looked lost on numerous occasions. One of those included a key third down where he let up a 55-yard play to put the Eagles in scoring position. Eric Rowe allowed over 80-yards in coverage as well as a touchdown while serving as New England’s second corner… We won’t get into that.

If you haven’t figured out how to say goodbye to Malcolm Butler yet, I suggest reading this article.

The defensive-front couldn’t sustain consistent pressure on Nick Foles. Foles wasn’t pressured on play action, three step drops, five step drops, and RPO’s. In other words: HE WAS NEVER PRESSURED.

A combined effort highlighted by LeGarrette Blount and Jay Ajayi rushed for over 160-yards, a touchdown, and six first downs. Blount and Ajayi both gashed the Patriots with carries of over 25-yards.

The Patriots offense, however, was amazing.

Tom Brady, for the second straight Super Bowl, threw for over 500-yards. He tossed three touchdown passes and zero interceptions. All after one of his best targets, Brandin Cooks, left the game due to a head injury early on.

Not counting the 34-second drive to end the first half, Tom Brady led the Patriots on four straight drives of over seventy-five yards or more… each resulting in touchdowns. This strand ended with a beautiful strip-sack by Brandon Graham late in the fourth quarter.

CONCLUSION

After reviewing these points, while it may be a team effort, the defense lost New England the Super Bowl.

While there certainly are a few question marks on offense for New England, there is much more to be happy about. Among the uncertainties are Nate Solder, Danny Amendola, and Dion Lewis’ expiring contracts.

While Gronkowski has had his share of injuries, I am calling his bluff on potential retirement. Next season, health providing, the Patriots offense will have Cooks, Gronkowski, Edelman, and Hogan all at once. Also we can’t forget about the return of Malcolm Mitchell. I am not concerned about the offense.

The defense, however, will require much change.

Cornerback

During the Super Bowl, fans got to see a sneak peek of New England’s secondary without Malcolm Butler and no additions. Newsflash: IT WAS ATROCIOUS.

Outside of miscommunication against the Chiefs and Panthers, and poor performances against the Bills once, and the Steelers, Stephon Gilmore was great this season. It now seems clear to all why New England gave him ‘lock-down cornerback’ money.

PFF gave Stephon Gilmore an 89.1 grade for the season, ranking him the 8th best cornerback in the league.

According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, through the entire playoffs, Stephon Gilmore allowed 4-15 completed passes for 55-yards, with 6 pass breakups.

The New England Patriots have their clear-cut #1 cornerback for the future.

Devin McCourty is still playing great ball for New England, and position-mate Duron Harmon has been key as well.

For this last season, both Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon were ranked top-10 out of all free-safeties by Bleacher Report.

Patrick Chung, strong-safety, will also likely be keeping his starting job in New England next season. One could argue that Chung deserved Pro-Bowl honors this year. Chung’s ability to defend tight ends and play at the line of scrimmage makes him vital in New England.

CORNERBACK HELP FROM WITHIN

Cyrus Jones, former second round pick, looks to return from a torn ACL and compete for a job next season. Jones was far from a fan favorite a season ago after muffing multiple punts. The guy damn-near got booed out of Foxborough. Players like Edelman coming to his defense and touting his work ethic shouldn’t go unnoticed. How Bill views Cyrus’ potential could sway the Patriots’ search for a nickel cornerback.

While it may be hard to envision this right now, I would not be all that surprised to see Eric Rowe starting across from Gilmore next season. Most of Rowe’s 2017-2018 season was lost to injuries. Last season, as well as when he was healthy towards the end of this regular season, he looked like the guy to fill Butler’s shoes. There is no denying that Rowe started the Super Bowl on the wrong foot, but he is a good player. Whether he is #2 cornerback material is up to Bill.

The obvious need in this secondary is at the #2 cornerback position. Whether the improvements come from in-house, or not, remains to be seen.

While improvements at the cornerback position will be vital going forward, if the front seven continues to struggle at getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, the talent level in the secondary won’t matter a bit.

Pass Rush

Looking back, the eight-sack performance against the Tennessee Titans seems to be nothing more than an anomaly. The Patriots’ group of pass-rushers are very young, headlined by the leader of the group, Trey Flowers, and his sidekick, Deatrich Wise. Both having played their college ball at Arkansas, seem to be the head of the pack going forward for New England.

Trey Flowers proved that it is possible to have a good season as a pass rusher with low sack numbers, totaling at 6.5. With that being said, he led the team in that category, which is not close to the number you want your leading sack artist to have.

Things didn’t go as planned with the edge rushers for New England this season. Rob Ninkovich retired shortly before the season started, leaving a hole in leadership and skill level.

Also last off-season, the Patriots acquired former Super Bowl hero, Kony Ealy, from the Panthers. Needless to say, his time in Foxborough was short-lived.

Going into this offseason, there are improvements to be made with the pass rush, some may argue that it is the biggest area of need for New England.

I would expect New England to use one of their three picks in the first two rounds of the draft on pass rush. Whether that be defensive-end, or a 3-4 pass rush linebacker. This unit as a whole has struggled enough to where I wouldn’t be surprised if New England spent a decent penny in free agency to sure it up.

PASS RUSH HELP FROM WITHIN

Also what should be noted is the Patriots’ first draft choice last year, Derek Rivers, missed all of this season with a torn ACL.

Derek Rivers, a pass rush specialist in college, stands at 6-foot-4, 245-pounds. In four college seasons, Rivers compiled a total of 37.5-sacks. Having been the team’s first selection in the draft, expect Rivers to be some much needed help from within.

An obvious addition to multiple phases of the front-seven, is the return of Donta Hightower. Donta is without a doubt one of the NFL’s best all-around linebackers. His ability to play in coverage, manage the defense, and rush the passer was surely missed this season.

The everlasting issue with Hightower is his inability to play a full season. The key with Hightower is to not rely on him so heavily early in the season to give him his rest. Honestly, just hope his injuries come early rather than late, and not season-ending. With hopeful thinking, having Donta Hightower back for the entirety of next season will greatly impact the pass rush.

Linebackers

Continuing on with Dont’a Hightower: His impact on the linebacker core is unmatched. Dont’a takes pressure off of his teammates and does a great job at preventing any confusion. Having Dont’a back would be huge, but relying on his return is not something I recommend.

The Patriots made a great addition when bringing in Marquise Flowers, and the trade for Kyle Van Noy has been a complete success. That said, even with the Pro-Bowl caliber Hightower back, the linebacker position lacks depth. Specifically, they lack athletes at the linebacker position.

Too often, Patrick Chung has to take on a larger role than you would like him to because he is constantly moving down into the box in aid of the unathletic linebackers.

I don’t mean to tug on strings here, but the Patriots are in desperate need of a ‘Jamie Collins’ like linebacker. Someone with the speed to pick up wide receivers over the middle and can keep up with running-backs. The undersized linebacker who moves like a safety is exactly what you should expect the Patriots to be looking for from their first pick, to their last.

INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE

Other than maybe the safety position, interior defensive line may be the most solid group on defense. Led by the young defensive tackle out of Texas, Malcom Brown, this group can usually hold its own against most lines.

Again, the return of a healthy Donta Hightower, even though he doesn’t play defensive line, will help this unit immensely. Donta’s ability to line up over the center and coordinate the young defensive linemen like Malcom Brown, Ricky Jean-Francois, and Adam Butler will help their growth. Another key kog in this unity is veteran, Lawrence Guy. Guy came in as a free agent from Baltimore and contributed a large amount over the second half of the season.

Once vital big-man, Alan Branch, was a healthy scratch for the entire playoffs thanks to the emergence of Jean-Francois and the steady play of Guy. I wouldn’t be all that surprised to see him become a cap-casualty.

The most action I expect from this group would be the Patriots picking up Malcom Brown’s fifth-year option. The young guys will continue to grow and improve here.

Whether it be at the #2 or #3 cornerback positions, pass rush, linebacker position… or all of the above: This defense needs to get better. A lot better.