New England Patriots: Fans should expect big things from Matt Judon
New England Patriots fans should expect big things from Matt Judon a free agent edge acquisition who came to the Patriots from the Ravens. Judon is an edge player whose forte is sacking quarterbacks.
It was announced on March 15th that Judon had signed a huge contract with the Patriots. This was a nice early sign to fans that New England was serious about remaking its poor 2020 team seemingly at all cost as later events would bear out.
Patriots fans should certainly be looking forward to increased quarterback sacks this season from Judon who has been a Pro Bowler the past two seasons.
Lasts season, on two many occasions there were quarterback pressures aplenty by the Patriots but too few sacks. The Patriot’s pass-rushers just couldn’t get the complete job accomplished.
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New England Patriots fans expectations should be high for Judon
Judon is no stranger to sacks. In 2019, the lasts season before the Covid-19 pandemic, Judon notched a healthy 9.5 sacks. That’s likely more than any other current Patriot has ever logged at least in the NFL.
While Judon’s sack production in 2020 slipped to 6.0 he can still be counted on certainly to match that total and hopefully exceed it. A double-digit total would be just the boost the Patriots’ defense could use.
Judon’s presence added to the returning Kyle Van Noy, who grabbed six sacks in 2020 for Miami and the returning (hopefully) Dont’a Hightower, should materially improve the Patriots moribund pass rush.
Last season’s leader was Chase Winovich with a meager 5.5 sacks. He disappointed. Much more was expected.
That type of pass-rush is clearly not going to get the job done so Bill Belichick moved to improve it. Not only did he add Judon and Van Noy, but he also drafted Christian Barmore from Alabama in the second round.
Barmore had eight sacks in 11 games for the national champions mostly from an interior rushing position. If he can translate even close to that total to the NFL he will be a difference-maker. Also drafted in the third round was Ronnie Perkins from Oklahoma who in an abbreviated season of only six games bagged 5.5 sacks.
These moves all signify that Belichick was far from satisfied with his pass-rush last season. Players like Winovich and last season’s second-round pick Josh Uche have been put on notice that they need to produce where it matters, in sacks.
Sorry to disillusion observers and fans who fixate on other pass-rush metrics, but “pressures” and “quarterback hits” absent sacks are throw-away statistics. The plays that count are sacks that take away a down and maybe big yardage, as well. Hits and pressures are just nice ways of rewarding lesser performances that may not matter in the least.
The New England Patriots in 2021 are a team that has set its designs on reversing the poor record and performances generally in 2020. By spending a boatload of owner Bob Kraft’s money (more than he paid for the entire team when he purchased it), the team has made it clear that a 7-9 season and no playoffs is unacceptable.
Big signings in free agency, a solid (if unusual) draft, and bringing aboard a young quarterback all signal that this team is in transition. Hopefully, it will be to a better future than 2020 was in the past.
Now that the Julio Jones door is closed. dark. Next
Losing is unacceptable. Lots of money and effort has been put on the line. Matt Judon is one piece on defense who could be a huge one. We’ll see in a few months.