Nice Article on Cowart ... really like this kid

[Ian]

Nice read and looking forward to seeing what he can bring. Really like this group, probably one of the best they've had during Belichick's tenure and Cowart's been a nice surprise. He's obviously had a good preseason so far and has been fun to watch.

Have Rookie Byron Cowart’s Pass-Rush Skills Even Surprised Patriots?

Given his backstory from his draft profile (NFL Draft & Combine Profile - Byron Cowart | NFL.com), it really seems like this kid is better than anyone knew and it appears the Patriots might have lucked out with a player who looks like he could be a solid contributor in their defense. Feels like they finally had a year where they hit on several guys who could be impact players this season.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Have Rookie Byron Cowart’s Pass-Rush Skills Even Surprised Patriots?

Feels like they finally had a year where they hit on several guys who could be impact players this season.

It’s starting to look a lot like Christmas....

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I mentioned it the other day abt Stidham & Cowart. Both big time recruits, some of the biggest names in the country at one point coming out of hs.
Cowart definitely didn't progress or even scratch his surface.
Stidham was neither consistent or comfortable when he was there.

Reading Nick's statement after the draft pretty much said they discounted 2018.

Again both these last 2 draft classes look like hits.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I mentioned it the other day abt Stidham & Cowart. Both big time recruits, some of the biggest names in the country at one point coming out of hs.
Cowart definitely didn't progress or even scratch his surface.
Stidham was neither consistent or comfortable when he was there.

Reading Nick's statement after the draft pretty much said they discounted 2018.

Again both these last 2 draft classes look like hits.

Malzahn is not a good coach.

 

[50-yard-line]

Feels like they finally had a year where they hit on several guys who could be impact players this season.

Last year and this year:

Isaiah Wynn
Sony Michel
Duke Dawson
Ja'Whaun Bentley

First 5 rounds from last year, and looks like THREE major contributors in 4 picks.

To say nothing of UDFA JC Jackson.

Dawson's on the bubble, as are Berrios, Sam, Crossen, and Izzo, who were all picked 6th Round or lower. As is UDFA Trent Harris, though he seems a long shot. Amazingly, in year two on a team that won the Superbowl, only Danny Etling is out.

And this year:

N'Keal Harry
Joejuan Williams
Chase Winovich
Damion Harris
Hjalte Froholdt
Jarrett Stidham
Jake Bailey

All look like they're making the team and will contribute

Cajuste might get the IR, but he should be a contributor next year, if not later this year.

Cowart and Webster are on the bubble (but I really thing Cowart has a shot here).

And of course, UDFA Jakobi Meyers.

The sudden youth movement on the Patriots is really amazing. BB has remade a significant part of the team in short order.

 

[Sicilian]

He's a wild card for me. I see us carrying 4 "pure" DTs. Guy is a lock, and Shelton has been having a good camp, so I have him in. That leaves 2 of Pennel, Butler, and Cowart. I still think Pennel is the best of the 3, but no combination would really shock me.

 

[PP2]

I mentioned it the other day abt Stidham & Cowart. Both big time recruits, some of the biggest names in the country at one point coming out of hs.
Cowart definitely didn't progress or even scratch his surface.
Stidham was neither consistent or comfortable when he was there.

Reading Nick's statement after the draft pretty much said they discounted 2018.

Again both these last 2 draft classes look like hits.

I'm stunned at how misused he was in college. Like being the best at peeling apples in high school and getting recruited only to peel oranges in college.

 

[jah]

He's a wild card for me. I see us carrying 4 "pure" DTs. Guy is a lock, and Shelton has been having a good camp, so I have him in. That leaves 2 of Pennel, Butler, and Cowart. I still think Pennel is the best of the 3, but no combination would really shock me.

I think there's 2 distinct categories of DT in there you need to have balance between. Pennel and Shelton are your classic run stopping NT types, whereas Guy, Butler, and Cowart are penetrating DT/3 man front DE types.

Really, Guy fits both categories, so it's good to have him. I also agree about Shelton being in at the moment. So it's hard to say whether we truly need Pennel. I'm still hesitant to leave him off my roster right now.

At the other position I see Butler as only being viable in passing situations as he has been used in his career to date. Cowart has flashed for sure and no question the talent is there, but I wouldn't say he's earned much of anything yet. So it would be hard to justify keeping both of these guys even though one can back the other up.

I'm going with Guy, Shelton, Pennel, Butler for now, but something tells me we find a way to keep Cowart.

 

[patsinthesnow]

If the Pats are switching more to their 3-3-5/5-2 looks that they had in 2016 (when Branch was good) then this kid is making the team as a DE.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Malzahn is not a good coach.

Especially on the defensive side. I’m pretty sure he knows little to nothing about defense, just pure offense

 

[Vatahala]

At this point it seems like he won't make it thru waivers. So if he continues playing well in last 2 preseason games I think you trade someone like Butler and keep Cowart who you control for 4 years.

 

[Sicilian]

I'm going with Guy, Shelton, Pennel, Butler for now, but something tells me we find a way to keep Cowart.

I think that's where I'm at too, but that's purely on a basis of, "You've got a gun to my head and I have to choose right this second." The last two weeks of camp will be very interesting to watch on this front.

 

[SBLIII]

Cowart is better than Butler.

 

[50-yard-line]

At this point it seems like he won't make it thru waivers. So if he continues playing well in last 2 preseason games I think you trade someone like Butler and keep Cowart who you control for 4 years.

Butler is here cheap - $645k cap hit this year, BUT...it's his last year under contract.

I'd like them to keep both, but if they're close, I think you have to go with Cowart. given the number of fronts they're likely to run with this insanely diverse and talented LB and DB corps, they should be thick at DL.

Also, watching Cowart flash is a wow factor that you can't dismiss in a rookie. He could very well be something special in a short amount of time. I don't think you let that go.

 

[Urgent]

Yeah, interesting dynamic at DL.
The Pats really were most effective in that 3/3/5 alignment last season. So DL versatility is highly valued. Cowart has that versatility - he can play 34 DE or 43 DT. They are less reliant on the Wilfork/Washington role than years' past. So do they need two of Shelton & Pennell?

Cowart, generally, fits the DL role they want. Cowart, specifically, really under-performed in college. In 25 preseason snaps you have a small sample size. As Belichick has noted in the past, in preseason the offense doesn't generally audible out of a bad look against a specific defense - so you sometimes get mismatches. It's awfully early to project 25 preseason snaps to a regular season. If you could we'd be wearing Bam Childress shirts.

That said, I think most roster projections had a DT roster looking like Guy-Shelton-Pennell-Butler. Now Cowart looks more likely to unseat Pennell or Shelton.

 

[Brick27]

Can see the scenario of maybe having all 5 of Guy, Pennell, Shelton, Butler, Cowart. Believe 2014(?) and 2017 they started the year with 5 DTs.

The benefit of having Bentley back inside and adding the versatility of Collins might make them comfortable with Hightower, Collins, Van Noy, etc taking on some of those 4-3 DE/3-4 OLB type of responsibilities, and keep a 9th DL spot for Cowart rather than someone like Rivers. Especially if they are continuing emphasis on having 3 on the DL as it’s been discussed.

Whether it’s 4 or 5 DTs, would love to see Cowart stick and see how much can be untapped of his huge potential. It’s tough with the Pats in the sense that those “developmental” type spots always seem scarce given emphasis on special teams only players filling spots and just overall great rosters year-to-year. Great problems to have when we can sit here and discuss what our favorite team is going to do at the 4th DT spot, and genuinely feel like they can be a contributor.

 

[Zuma]

 

[Kontradiction]

Especially on the defensive side. I’m pretty sure he knows little to nothing about defense, just pure offense

You’re probably giving him too much credit even assuming he knows “little to” about defense. The guy doesn’t care in the least about the defensive side of the ball.

 

[Zuma]

Yeah, interesting dynamic at DL.
The Pats really were most effective in that 3/3/5 alignment last season. So DL versatility is highly valued. Cowart has that versatility - he can play 34 DE or 43 DT. They are less reliant on the Wilfork/Washington role than years' past. So do they need two of Shelton & Pennell?

I don't think having 2 large DT / NT types is as important as it once was. If they go with just one...I hope it's Shelton. He is playing well and hopefully he is motivated more then last year.

 

[BobDigital]

I'm getting more comfortable with the idea of cutting Butler for him which is probably the way the Pats would do it to keep him. I refuse to believe Pennel is really in danger until the minute he is cut.

The sad thing is I don't consider Butler a bad player. He is certainly above JAG level. 5 sacks in first 2 seasons is pretty good. Add in the reasonable amount of pressures and solid enough run defense and he is a guy who will absolutely make the day game 46 elsewhere.