Patrick Chung? Expectations/Analysis

Pat Chung was our top pick last year. I would be really interested in the opinions, expectations and analysis of all the outstanding posters here of this kid. I was glad we drafted him, I just thought it was a little higher than he was expected to go. What do you all anticipate from him this year and beyond?

Chung should be starting! He has the talent and a clear passion for the game.
I think he's due for a big year!

I am not entirely sure what to expect, honestly. I wanted us to draft him, and cheered when we did, but he didn't play as much as I had hoped (20% of defensive snaps). I love his attitude, his hard work, his willingness to hit, etc. Anyone remember that return against the Colts where he absolutely mugged the Indy special teamer? I think he knocked the guy to the ground four or five times. Just destroyed him. Or how about those beautiful blitzes on Henne? Mm. I'd love to see more of that.

If Chung can improve in coverage, then I imagine he has a good chance to start. I'm not sure that he cracks the starting lineup until midseason, though. I look forward to when he gets more playing time, for sure. :singing:

reamer said:

I am not entirely sure what to expect, honestly. I wanted us to draft him, and cheered when we did, but he didn't play as much as I had hoped (20% of defensive snaps). I love his attitude, his hard work, his willingness to hit, etc. Anyone remember that return against the Colts where he absolutely mugged the Indy special teamer? I think he knocked the guy to the ground four or five times. Just destroyed him. Or how about those beautiful blitzes on Henne? Mm. I'd love to see more of that.

If Chung can improve in coverage, then I imagine he has a good chance to start. I'm not sure that he cracks the starting lineup until midseason, though. I look forward to when he gets more playing time, for sure. :singing:

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I think the only thing keeping him from having a lot of playing time last year was Sander's communication. From what i have read, the communication in the secondary was lacking at best without Sanders in there. Perhaps a year of experience for most of the secondary will allow the more talented Chung to become a starter.

My impressions from last season is that he was a great special teamer, and an UNGUIDED missile on Defense. If he can learn to control his play, I think he will eventually evolve into a starter along with Merriweather at safety. It could be THIS season. At any rate he will definitely see that 20% number go up. He is probably the best potential blitzer we have among the DBs. We shall see.

These posts are all exactly what I was looking for. Thx and keep the analysis coming. I too, have high hopes for him this coming season. I really liked what I saw in limited "rush the passer" opportunities, but there is a heckava lot more to a starting safety than that. Appreciate the input on him so far! :rocker:

I see Chung as a great special teamer. This is what I said when we drafted him. I was roundly criticized. Well, I didn't seen him as a future probowl candidate then or now.

As a safety, I don't see him starting. Sanders is the captain of the secondary and calls signals. Chung is a developing safety, with a long way to go.

I hope that there is not such a dropoff when he is needed at safety (as a result of injury).

I wish to add absolutely nothing to this thread by asserting that Pat Chung is not allowed to run full speed because it would double (or halt, depending on the side of the field,) the Earth's rotation, causing time to pass too quickly or to halt entirely, and screwing up growing seasons.

But seriously...

I question whether his defensive instincts are truly so horrible that he won't at least rise to the level of the "good" Eugene Wilson, for example (before the long decline into oblivion).

Still waiting and seeing - thus far Vollmer and Edelman have been the big stars of that draft class, but it's really early to make that decision. After year 1 we thought Asante Samuel was "the sorriest corner in the league," as was once said of Ellis Hobbs. By the end of his rookie deal he was worth too much (to somebody) for us to keep him at all.

I know, I know, "good riddance." But he did have skills.

Anyhoo - MG, what about him (in your view) dooms Chung to ST, or are you saying he just has not yet demonstrated any special defensive potential (which I would agree with)?

Chung is one of a long line of young players that have a real shot at contributing, and how well he/they do will determine how good the Patriots are this year.

I see him competing for time with Sanders, and I disagree with MG, I think he is more then just a special teamer, I think he has the potential to be a quality starting safety in this league.

There is a long way to go and a lot can happen, but if you put a gun to my head I would say Chung is gonna be the starter by years end.

There was an interview with BB (not sure if it was a presser) where he spoke about Chung. He said that Chung would often make the wrong initial read, but would "somehow" recover in time to make a play. BB almost seemed at a loss as to explain how Chung was able to recover. The interview really gives the impression that BB really likes him and that Chung may become a special player some day.

Chung is a driven, a hard worker and has a great attitude. If he proves to be coachable, he'll be a beast. I wish i could find that darn interview.

On Chung: "When someone is that tallented and works as hard as he does, it's only a matter of time before he becomes great" -BB sometime mid to late season 2009

In my eyes, Chung is going to become an elite 34 SS. He has exceptional fluidity, understands angles, has good fundamental man technique, and has exceptional closing burst to compliment his excellent pop. Obviously, all of the physical tools are there.

When I see it written that he drops for pushups after bad reps, was a 19 year old vocal leader in college, adresses media members as "Sir" and "Ma'am", and is amongst the hardest workers on the team; I know he is going to get it as a soph.

Expect great things from Chung in 2010 and beyond. The kid is going to be special.

If he doesn't start this season, Ill be dissapointed.

jays52 said:

On Chung: "When someone is that tallented and works as hard as he does, it's only a matter of time before he becomes great" -BB sometime mid to late season 2009

In my eyes, Chung is going to become an elite 34 SS. He has exceptional fluidity, understands angles, has good fundamental man technique, and has exceptional closing burst to compliment his excellent pop. Obviously, all of the physical tools are there.

When I see it written that he drops for pushups after bad reps, was a 19 year old vocal leader in college, adresses media members as "Sir" and "Ma'am", and is amongst the hardest workers on the team; I know he is going to get it as a soph.

Expect great things from Chung in 2010 and beyond. The kid is going to be special.

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I am very bullish on Chung being a big time player. The controlling factors will be his recognition and coverage techniques. The desire and work ethic is there. He can be another Rodney Harrison, if he improves those 2 areas.


Rodney was a very smart player can P Chung measure up his study habits?

patsfan13 said:

I am very bullish on Chung being a big time player. The controlling factors will be his recognition and coverage techniques. The desire and work ethic is there. He can be another Rodney Harrison, if he improves those 2 areas.


Rodney was a very smart player can P Chung measure up his study habits?

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I like this summation a lot........ So much so, I wished I had the brain-power to write it. I am very "bullish" on Chung also.....

Well I have to say you guys are daring to project potential past my 1-year-jaded dreams... right along the lines of my draft-day dreams...

Secretly I agree w/everything here, but am limiting upside to "good" not "great" because you can always hope for a very cool jigsaw puzzle then be surprised when there's a red ryder BB gun under the tree.

PatsFanInVa said:

Well I have to say you guys are daring to project potential past my 1-year-jaded dreams... right along the lines of my draft-day dreams...

Secretly I agree w/everything here, but am limiting upside to "good" not "great" because you can always hope for a very cool jigsaw puzzle then be surprised when there's a red ryder BB gun under the tree.

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With a compass in the stock?

Last preseason I didn't think there was a whole lot to like about the rookie. We saw him out of position a lot in those exhibition games, but he seems to of learned quick enough that he got out on the field in the latter half of the past season. That's something he earned and with 3 safeties ahead of him on the depth chart.

Comparing him to Meriweather, Meriweather also got out on the field towards the end of his rookie season, and it wasn't until the end of his second year when things were starting to click for him. Using a similar timetable, we can approximate that by the end of this season Chung's play might mature to starter-level. That being said, Meriweather was starting a lot of games in 2008 (which we don't expect of Chung), but I think the advantage Chung has over Meriweather is that I think he's smarter than Brandon (who I don't think is too bright). So again, he may just improve enough in his sophomore year that he becomes a legitimate starter, based on the improvement of Meriweather in his first and second years in the league.

Worker and a hitter, no doubt. I'd like to see him cover someone and look a little more fluid.

I mean, I'm all for the work ethic and character/intelligence, but there is a certain instinctive and smooth reaction that would be reassuring.

There's no doubt he will crank people.

Patrick Chung is a physical presence. It would be good for this defense for him to be on the field but only if he can understand the defense, the coverages, what they're trying to do, and make the right reads on what the offense is trying to do, etc.

Safeties call plays in the secondary so it's going to be a tough adjustment for him. But I think once he gets the mental aspect of the game down, then he can just let it come to him, and that's when we'll see the best of Patrick Chung. We haven't seen it yet, but if he ever puts it together it could be REALLY GOOD.

can't. cover.