Spikes definitely excels against the run, but that isn’t necessarily to say that he struggles against the pass. His overall coverage grade was +2.7, with two passes defensed and a red zone interception against the Jets so there were bright spots in the 119 coverage snaps he saw. The Patriots don’t aim to use Spikes in passing situations, but he has shown himself as a passable option if needed. With that said, don’t expect to see him covering anyone man-to-man anytime soon.
The fact that Spikes’ grade is so high in such a limited number of snaps highlights how well he has played when he has been on the field. The important caveat being when he is on the field. His aforementioned off-the-field troubles remain a concern and could result in 1) Spikes not being a secret for the wrong reasons or 2) him becoming a player for a team that doesn’t have Bill Belichick as the head coach.
Patriots’ fans should hope that he gets it straightened out because early indications are that he is a Superstar in the making.
