Matt Judon: Best Defensive Signing Since Gilmore/Harrison

[DropKickFlutie]

Wanted to recognize how great Matt Judon has been as an addition to the team. In the locker room he is an extremely positive person, with a happy-go-lucky personality (like Bourne). On the field he's been the best Patriot defender this season, a mini-LT. Judon has been as good a FA signing as Stephon Gilmore and Rodney Harrison.

Here is a detailed article with video clips that show why Matt Judon is 2nd in the NFL in sacks, 1st in tackles for loss, and also holds his own very well in run defense:

Lazar: Why LB Matt Judon is a Perfect Fit for Patriots - CLNS Media

After signing a four-year deal with the Patriots in the offseason, Judon is emerging as a superstar on the field and a leader inside the locker room.

www.clnsmedia.com

Judon will be wearing pink gloves or shoes this Sunday in recognition of his mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer in Feb'20 and who was found to be in remission 4 months ago:

Patriots' Matt Judon to wear pink in honor of mother's breast cancer battle

The high-energy linebacker, whose mother, Pieretta, is in remission, approaches cancer awareness with the same passion he shows on the field.

www.espn.com

Finally here's an article summarizing how Judon has been volunteering with Camp Sunshine, a place in Michigan for those mentally disabled, since 2014:

The Providence Journal

www.providencejournal.com

 

[Vindicate]

Would love a little breakdown of what type of player Judon is and what makes him so good. A scouting report, so-to-speak. I'm not super plugged into players from different teams, so while I knew Judon as a good player, I didn't/don't really know what specifically he excels at.

I need talking points when talking about him to Bengals fans here in Cincinnati

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

He needs to do better setting the edge and containing plays that go outside

 

[PP2]

Would love a little breakdown of what type of player Judon is and what makes him so good. A scouting report, so-to-speak. I'm not super plugged into players from different teams, so while I knew Judon as a good player, I didn't/don't really know what specifically he excels at.

I need talking points when talking about him to Bengals fans here in Cincinnati

He has a very impressive physical skill set- very athletic and explosive. Solid in both run and pass defense- there is very little weakness in his game. He can rush with speed or overpower with strength, drop in coverage, or set the edge. Has excellent instincts and is not easily fooled and often sniffs out plays. He has good eyes, and great hand skills in defeating blocks. His closing speed is deceptive- he's pretty fast and can run down scrambling QBs on his side of the field. So far the only knock that I can see on him is his change of direction skill- it seems average.

 

[jah]

So far, he's been the best player on the 2021 Patriots. The first 5 games of a big contract aren't always the best way to project the rest of the tenure, though, as Gilmore was getting the "bust" label at this time in 2017 right before he turned it around. On the other side of things, we actually liked Adalius Thomas quite a bit at the beginning of his time here.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

He needs to do better setting the edge and containing plays that go outside

I think Winovich and Uche have had issues setting the edge, Bentley has taken bad angles, and Godchaux gets blown off the line ? I think Barmore should always play over Godchaux and Jamie Collins should always play over Bentley. The defense gives up 140+ rushing yards a game but I don't think Judon is a weak link here.

The first article notes opposing teams only rush for 3.2 yards a carry on snaps that Judon plays, and BB plays Judon on 83% of all defensive snaps, so he's seen as a complete player by BB not just a pass rush specialist....

 

[Ring 6]

I think Winovich and Uche have had issues setting the edge, Bentley has taken bad angles, and Godchaux gets blown off the line ? I think Barmore should always play over Godchaux and Jamie Collins should always play over Bentley. The defense gives up 140+ rushing yards a game but I don't think Judon is a weak link here.

The first article notes opposing teams only rush for 3.2 yards a carry on snaps that Judon plays, and BB plays Judon on 83% of all defensive snaps, so he's seen as a complete player by BB not just a pass rush specialist....

Winovich and uche rarely play on running downs.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Winovich and uche rarely play on running downs.

They don't have a lot of snaps. But it's some other guys causing the runD issues, not Judon.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Would love a little breakdown of what type of player Judon is and what makes him so good. A scouting report, so-to-speak. I'm not super plugged into players from different teams, so while I knew Judon as a good player, I didn't/don't really know what specifically he excels at.

I need talking points when talking about him to Bengals fans here in Cincinnati

This is what I wrote in July ...

Judon is going to ball here. Absolutely our type. Versatile rusher you can move almost anywhere on there line. Mainly lining up 6, 7, 9 Tech but you can move him inside - 4i/5T. He's got a great jump, killer anticipation. Plus snap jumper that applies pressure asap. He's also got some real ankle & hip flexibility. He's a threat to run the arc every passing play. He's got plenty of power as well though. He's so good rushing 1/2 man he can turn around and bully someone's chest 5 feet off the line. Crafty, savvy rusher with active hands. His stride length and steps stick out and really make it difficult for tackles. Who are already at a disadvantage athletically, Judon can really mess with there eyes. Variety of moves but he clearly absorbed what Robert Quinn was teaching. Quinn is a sack master who taught Aaron Donald a thing or two. His cross-chop / euro step is stuff of legends and Judon is making him proud!

This Giants rush is just nasty. The jump, subtle fake inside, switching up strides. Euro with the chop. Amazing. You xan also see how his speed kills tackles. Onwenu comes out of the gate in trouble. Gains no depth on his first step. Maybe he was worried about a counter inside but Judon is fast and flexibility. Always remember a tackles butt is always supposed to be pointed at the QB. If it's not he's out of position. Pause his step and look where his butt is at. It's lost there.

Judon can stand his man up, set the edge & keep his outside shoulder clean. Plenty of strength to stack & shed. Good run defender/good run fits. Shows colors, crosses face to fit gaps. Sniffs out screens and misdirection with ease. Anything that looks "set up" he'll take a apart. Smart player with natural instincts, that show up every game. Again particularly on misdirection.

He helps with playing 43 principles out of a 34 which looks like our base. I'd imagine we're going to see a lot of Judon & KVN standing with 2 down. Hopefully Guy & Barmore by the end of the year.

Another thing that jumps out is the fact that hes so good standing, moving pre-snap. I could see a lot more amoeba / zombie looks with all the guys we have capable of moving and doing damage standing.

 

[Ring 6]

They don't have a lot of snaps. But it's some other guys causing the runD issues, not Judon.

Don’t disagree about Judon but it’s not winovich or uche, they are rarely on the field for runs.
A lot of it is probably the new scheme.

 

[The Trickster]

He needs to do better setting the edge and containing plays that go outside

I'm intrigued that is your main takeaway on Judon.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Matt Judon highlights, first month as a Patriot:

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I'm intrigued that is your main takeaway on Judon.

Set the edge and become a superstar... Just watch him over pursue

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Set the edge and become a superstar... Just watch him over pursue

I haven't seen him overpursue. I just posted a clip of some of his 2021 highlights. He seems like a highly intelligent player where you see he snifffs out exactly where the run is going and shuts it down ??

I agree the runD isn't great and I point to weak links in Godchaux, Bentley, and a lesser extent Uche, Wino, and Van Noy

 

[Ring 6]

He needs to do better setting the edge and containing plays that go outside

Do you have examples?

 

[50-yard-line]

Said it when they signed him. Watched a lot of Ravens games - he's always in the play, particularly if it's behind the line of scrimmage.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I’ve said this many times since he signed, he was a bargain signing. He’s not all world, but he’s a great value when many pass rushers are making a s**t ton of money these days. Did you know TJ Watt makes $28M per year? That is ridiculous.

And by the way I hate his red sleeves, but I think his sack celebration is funny.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

I’ve said this many times since he signed, he was a bargain signing. He’s not all world, but he’s a great value when many pass rushers are making a s**t ton of money these days. Did you know TJ Watt makes $28M per year? That is ridiculous.

And by the way I hate his red sleeves, but I think his sack celebration is funny.

Yeah what's going on with his sack celebration. I love that he is always so happy and positive, I wouldn't say the funniest person on the team but he certainly tries.

.

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

The knock on Judon after his signing was could he be "the guy". Many Ravens fans after he left said we got ripped off because he's can't be the spear of a defensive attack and that he benefitted from the Ravens talent around him. Some pats fans bought that.....said we over paid.....

Lie detector test determined that was a lie.

 

[catent]

Judon revealed the reason he wears the (red) sleeves. I put red in parentheses because it sounds like there isn't much meaning to the red color itself.

Judon indicated he wears the sleeves because Gillette has artificial turf. He explained (going back to previous seasons) that following games played on artificial turf his arms would get nicked/scuffed and he would have to change his sheets daily the week after those games because his arms would ooze/bleed every night.

I was watching his Ravens highlights on YouTube and he wore full-coverage white sleeves for some of his games (presumably the ones played on artificial surfaces) but went with a partial-coverage shooter-sleeve and bare-arm for games played on natural grass. I wonder if he'll drop the sleeves for any games this season that will be played on natural grass.

I also halfway wonder if that's part of the reason Kraft is exploring a return to natural grass.