There are three New England Patriots defenders I can’t really wait to see when the real action starts up; the preseason games.
The first game will be on Thursday, August 12 at Gillette Stadium against the Washington Football Team. OK, I know many fans could care less about pre-season. I’m not one of them. I love it.
While there are actually many more players who are of interest on defense as well as the three that I’ll mention, these three are the top ones I am looking forward to seeing in action.
So here goes, the three top players I am looking forward to seeing the most on the much improved, ready-to-roll, New England Patriots defense.
Let’s first take a look at the newcomer, a former free agent who could be an absolute terrorizer of quarterbacks for the sack-needy New England Patriots first.
New England Patriots defender Matt Judon adds explosiveness off the edge
That would be Matt Judon, linebacker/edge rusher signed from the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason for big-bucks.
Judon is coming off two straight Pro Bowl seasons. That’s a clear sign that his talents are appreciated league-wide and, man, will they be appreciated in New England.
He notched 15.5 sacks over those two seasons, with nine and a half in 2019 (a real regular season), and 6.0 last season.
He’s a five-year veteran and he has to be tipped to lead the Patriots in sacks this season. If Judon can notch eight or so sacks, that will be an immediate improvement over last season’s leader Chase Winovich, who had just five and a half.
He’s a big dude at 6’3′ and over 260 pounds (or so). He and Dont’a Hightower on the line or as off-the-ball linebackers offer a lot of pass-rush options heading straight at opposing quarterbacks.
What is also appreciated is Judon’s experience, his determined attitude, and especially his toughness. That’s an aspect that was largely missing from last season’s version of the defense.
Now, it’s on hand in abundance. I just can’t wait to see Judon probably coming from the right side making plays in the opposition’s backfield all game long. Expect it.
The next New England Patriot I can’t wait to see is a familiar one, Kyle Van Noy (KVN)
Kyle Van Noy left New England for the Miami Dolphins after the 2019 season, much to the chagrin of this observer. He’s been a favorite.
After having a nice season for the ‘Phins, he was cast adrift by his former Patriots de facto defensive coordinator and now Miami head coach, Brian Flores. Not a good idea, Flo’.
It’s clear that that whole separation process left a very bad taste in KVN’s mouth. He wasn’t and still most likely isn’t very happy at all about that. That means good things for the Patriots’ defense.
Van Noy can do anything a linebacker is required to do. And he does it better than most. He can rush the passer. Stop the run. Play outside or inside. Cover. Basically, he can do it all. His six sacks last season for Miami would have led the Patriots team.
Not sure what they were thinking, but Miami will most likely regret that decision, especially on September 12th and January 9th next year. That’s when the two teams square off this season.
If I can’t wait to see all three of these players generally, I really can’t wait to see Van Noy specifically in those two games. He’ll be out for a little payback. Won’t that be grand!
Van Noy was missed on the New England Patriots in 2020 big-time, and in so many ways. Leadership. Personality. Top-notch playing ability. And, of course, that winning mentality.
All of it was missed. But, as the saying goes, “Heeeee’s baaaack!” I can’t wait to see him unleashed, again, by the Patriots against opposition offenses. Yessss!
The third New England Patriot defender I can’t wait to see is a rookie
Yup, he’s a rookie. The third guy I really can’t wait to see on defense this season. (Again, there really are others. but these are the top three.) It’s rookie defensive tackle/end, Christian Barmore.
Now before the critics land on me for having panned the pick, which I thought should have gone to a top offensive tackle, I’ll repeat this, as was a similar case on the Jimmy Garoppolo pick.
I didn’t like the pick at the time, but that didn’t mean I didn’t like the player. I just thought offensive tackle was a more pressing need. That’s all.
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Yet, seeing his 2020 season for the Crimson Tide, how could you not like what you saw of the Alabama product?
Barmore is listed at 6’5″ tall (that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but not by very much). He’s also listed at 310 pounds. That may just be underestimated. This is one big dude.
As he showed last season against the best college opposition in the SEC and the playoffs, he comes up big on the biggest stages. He was the defensive MVP in the FBS Championship game.
Barmore models his game after the late Reggie White, a magnificent player, and awesome person. They didn’t come any better.
Let’s just say for our younger readers, that Reggie White was one of, if not the best defensive ends/tackles who ever played the game.
He played 15 seasons in the NFL split between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers and notched 198 sacks over his career. No misprint, 198 sacks.
That’s an average of 13.5 sacks per season and in his last, he had only 5.5 at age 39, after coming out of a year’s retirement. That’s why he was probably the best ever.
If Christian Barmore can approximate those numbers in even a few seasons with the New England Patriots, he’ll be one of the greatest defensive linemen in the history of the team.
This young man has the size, the ability, and the background to excel in the NFL. If he does, he will be an awesome addition to an already very, might I say very, very solid Patriot defensive line.
That’s why I can’t wait to see what this young man can do wearing the red, white, blue, and silver of the Patriots.
There they are, the top three players “I can’t wait to see” for real on defense. The new guy in town is Matt Judon.
The returnee also residing on the second level is Kyle Van Noy. And, the new young man in town is defensive tackle/end Christian Barmore on the first level.
If these players, along with their very talented fellow teammates on defense do what is hoped, we’ll have a very nice season indeed here in New England.
If their teammates on offense do the same, get ready to line up for playoff tickets. We’ll be back and on a mission. That mission is called winning another Super Bowl.
So, don’t count the 2021 New England Patriots out. Don’t count them out at all. They are stocked and ready to roll, NFL.
They’ll be coming to a stadium near you anytime now. And, unless you’re a Patriots fan, you won’t want to see them. You won’t want to see them at all.