Here are some quick takes on the New England Patriots pre-season defense, and these takes are for the most part terrific.
The New England Patriots pre-season defense was solid even though most of the starters didn’t play much. However, it was better for new players trying to latch onto a spot.
As with the offense, some pretty good players will be released and play on other NFL squads in 2021.
That’s the reality, you can only keep 53 players on the roster (and maybe a few others can be stashed with the Foxborough knee problem. Shhh.)
Quick takes on the 2021 New England Patriots defense
The 2021 version of the Patriots’ defense looks to be miles ahead of the woeful group put on the field last season by head coach Bill Belichick.
As noted on offense, bundles of Mr. Robert Kraft’s money was spent to bolster the entire squad and a major amount went to buttress a porous defense that couldn’t stop the run at all in 2020.
The New England Patriots solid defensive line
The defensive line received a healthy dose of new talent. (Note: we’ll consider edge players as linebackers for the purpose of this discussion.)
The likely best free-agent addition came in Davon Godchaux. He was brought here to stop the run. Hopefully, he’ll do just that. If he does, it’s addition and subtraction. He came over from the Miami Dolphins.
Another addition, popular in this space, was former New York Jets lineman Henry Anderson. He’s a big presence and in the past when he was healthy, he was a disruptive interior and outside force.
Seeing Anderson logging major minutes in the final pre-season games may indicate he is on the roster bubble, however. We’ll have to wait and see on that one.
Another favorite listed here as a defensive end who got plenty of playing time against the Giants was Chase Winovich. It’s a pivotal year for this third-year player.
Wino seems to be breaking out of his quiet second-year campaign with 2.5 sacks in the past two preseason games.
Yet, as with Anderson, that load of snaps in their pre-season finale suggests he too may be on the bubble and susceptible to being traded, released, or put on the physically unable to perform list.
One older player at 29 who’s possibly carved out a position on the 53-man roster is Carl Davis. He’s a bit of a journeyman but he’s receiving solid reviews for his play in the pre-season.
New England is his fifth team but maybe he’s now found a home. Some believe he’s making a run at the 53-man roster. We’ll see on cutdown day.
Meanwhile, re-signed Lawrence Guy and Deatrich Wise Jr. are roster locks and not going anywhere. Neither are Pro Bowlers, but both are solid components of any defensive line.
The New England Patriots linebacking/edge crew
This is where things get really interesting for the Patriots. They get star Dont’a Hightower back after he opted out last season, and re-signed excellent former Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy away from the Dolphins.
Van Noy was summarily dismissed from Miami in a not-so-amicable parting of the ways. He’s a man on a mission, and his six sacks would have led New England last year.
That’s two upgrades from last season. In addition, in perhaps the most earth-shattering move of the entire off-season (absent maybe the Jones pick), they signed Matt Judon.
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Judon is a star who may not have received the bright lights and attention that he was due while he was with the Baltimore Ravens. Yet, Judon was a Pro-Bowler the past two seasons, that notwithstanding.
So far, even with his big-time contract, he’s been as advertised and more. He’s been a one-man wrecking crew when he played in the pre-season, which was sparingly.
Yet, Judon has already made his presence felt to such an extent that he is being touted as both a potential Defensive Player of the Year candidate and an All-Pro. Those are high compliments, indeed.
The Patriots also have second-year player Josh Uche available this season and he’s looking to have that proverbial Bill Belichick second-year breakout. And he just may.
Uche has shined in pre-season giving the Patriots yet another edge player to rush the quarterback, a skill that they were sorely lacking last season.
And to add just another positive, they drafted Ronnie Perkins of Oklahoma in the third round and he also has the makings of a solid player.
Inside, Ja’Whaun Bentley returns and, along with the versatile Hightower and Van Noy, he will cover that position nicely.
To add a little more frosting on the cake, Harvey Langi, a former Patriots draft pick is back after two years with the Jets (60 tackles last season) and playing with a vengeance.
The New England Patriots have to find a spot for this emerging talent. He’s been ferocious in the pre-season and looks like a keeper. Now onto the defensive backfield.
The New England Patriots defensive backs
Depending on the outcome of the Stephon Gilmore drama, the corners will be either Gilmore and J.C. Jackson or Jackson and someone else. Either way, they will be solid.
Jackson is a Pro-Bowler waiting to happen. Frankly, he should have been selected last season with nine interceptions to his credit. Bill Belichick not signing him to an extension is nonsensical.
The other starting corner then could be free agent signing Jalen Mills, Jonathan Jones (if healthy), or emerge from a number of others.
These include Joejuan Williams, D’Angelo Ross (who had a pick against the New York Giants), Myles Bryant, and new player, Shaun Wade, acquired from the Ravens in a trade who’s very likely to be around.
Continuing with the wealth of riches theme, safety is also loaded. The Patriots are stacked at the position. Stalwart Devin McCourty is back for his 12th season anchoring the Patriots’ backline.
A surefire Patriots Hall-of-Famer, McCourty just keeps on keeping on at free safety. He’s as solid as Plymouth Rock for the New England Patriots.
The starting strong safety is likely Adrian Philips who has impressed, with last year’s rookie standout Kyle Dugger waiting in the wings along with several versatile safety/corner types.
In sum, the New England Patriots entire defense, at all three levels, is loaded with talent and quality depth, that key component of any contending team. So what does all this mean?
Who knows, but it certainly makes the upcoming season look really interesting. This club is loaded for bear, as they say.
The offense is much stronger than last season (and a trade for a top wide receiver could make them a super-squad). And, the defense is loaded at all three levels.
So barring a spate of monstrous injuries at thin positions, it says here that the playoffs and possibly more are in the offing. Look out AFC, as for the Patriots … they’re baaaacccckkkkk!