Secondary Thoughts...

[Brady6]

I think people need to stop looking at the secondary players as corners and safeties and start looking at them all as defensive backs. Devin McCourty is a modern day Ronnie Lott in terms of versatility, Lott spent the first 3-4 years of his career at LCB, moved to FS but still lined up at CB many times. McCourty does that, Chung is a hybrid coverage LB, Harmon would be starting on just about any other team besides us or Seattle. Richards is another player who can play different spots.

The top 6 players are:

- McCourty
- Butler
- Chung
- Ryan
- Harmon
- Coleman/Richards

That mix is made up with 1 first rounder, 2 second rounder’s, 2 third rounder’s, and 2 UDFA. This belief that we have limited talent back there is just untrue, we have high draft picks and 2 very talented UDFAs who slid through the cracks. For what it is worth, Seattle’s secondary is made up of 1 first round pick, 1 fifth round pick, 1 sixth round pick, 1 seventh round pick, and 2 UDFAs.

Our secondary will be in really good shape come playoff time, aside from McCourty and Chung every player we have has not even scratched the surface of what they can be.

>>> Let me just stop any foolish Lott vs. McCourty debates before they even start by saying, the comparison was only in regards to versatility between corner and safety, it was not a suggestion that McCourty is as good as Lott was. For what it is worth, I was entering middle school when Lott retired.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Thank you so much for this splendid post....you really demonstrate how versatile our defense is, and how each player is put in a scheme that plays to their strengths. This proves that Belichick (and Matt Patricia) know how to put players in a position to succeed!

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

I am not concerned about the players. More the depth.

 

[Brady6]

I am not concerned about the players. More the depth.

What team do you feel has a deep secondary? If you segment the CBs we lack depth but overall our secondary has a lot of depth. Look at them all as DBs and you'll see we are in good shape.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

What team do you feel has a deep secondary? If you segment the CBs we lack depth but overall our secondary has a lot of depth. Look at them all as DBs and you'll see we are in good shape.

Yes the CBs. Need to stay healthy

 

[Brady6]

Yes the CBs. Need to stay healthy

If Butler or Ryan went down they'd move McCourty to CB full time and start Harmon.

Melvin started for Baltimore in the playoff game last year.

 

[Rhodey]

The bottom line is: The Pats have not lost this year and have great defensive stats.

And please be reminded that projections for using this groups- without the current additions/subtractions -were not as good as the play and results indicate.

When it comes to football, BB knows more than the rest...including you and me.

 

[rads2005]

I think people need to stop looking at the secondary players as corners and safeties and start looking at them all as defensive backs. Devin McCourty is a modern day Ronnie Lott in terms of versatility, Lott spent the first 3-4 years of his career at LCB, moved to FS but still lined up at CB many times. McCourty does that, Chung is a hybrid coverage LB, Harmon would be starting on just about any other team besides us or Seattle. Richards is another player who can play different spots.

The top 6 players are:

- McCourty
- Butler
- Chung
- Ryan
- Harmon
- Coleman/Richards

That mix is made up with 1 first rounder, 2 second rounder’s, 2 third rounder’s, and 2 UDFA. This belief that we have limited talent back there is just untrue, we have high draft picks and 2 very talented UDFAs who slid through the cracks. For what it is worth, Seattle’s secondary is made up of 1 first round pick, 1 fifth round pick, 1 sixth round pick, 1 seventh round pick, and 2 UDFAs.

Our secondary will be in really good shape come playoff time, aside from McCourty and Chung every player we have has not even scratched the surface of what they can be.

>>> Let me just stop any foolish Lott vs. McCourty debates before they even start by saying, the comparison was only in regards to versatility between corner and safety, it was not a suggestion that McCourty is as good as Lott was. For what it is worth, I was entering middle school when Lott retired.

I don't think anyone disagrees the safeties are pretty good. Your first paragraph talks about McCourty, Chung, Harmon, and Richards. The cornerbacks are a different story, however. Ryan has been okay recently but is not the fastest and has had an inconsistent career. Butler has been a solid corner but not as a #1. The #3 corner are castoffs like Coleman. Yes the safeties can help, but no they can't cover for all the cornerback deficiencies. It will be worrisome playoff time, but hopefully the offense, front 7 and the safeties can compensate.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Totally agree man, and that's why I'm not panicking over the CB personnel. Judging by the lack of big moves in fa/trades for a CB, bb isn't panicked either.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Once again, great post.

The more I look at it, the more I realize that our safeties are the linchpin of our secondary.....though I question how much of this is by design or by necessity.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Patriots' Secondary Finding Success Thanks To NFL's Best Safety Group

• Throw out the Madden position titles when it comes to the Patriots’ defenders. There’s a reason McCourty, Harmon and Richards are listed on the Patriots’ roster as defensive backs.

• Devin McCourty, who signed a five-year, $47.5 million contract this offseason, is the superstar who can do it all. His primary role is deep at free safety, but he’s also played near the line of scrimmage more this season, covering tight ends and wide receivers while also being involved in run defense.

• Duron Harmon takes over the deep role — allowing McCourty to move down — in obvious passing situations and has shown off impressively improved range in his third season — and it was already great in 2014.

• Patrick Chung stays comfortably near the line of scrimmage, where his specialty is run defense and one-on-one coverage, mostly against tight ends, though he did match up against speedy Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton in Week 6.

• Rookie Jordan Richards has taken over the Patriots’ “money” dime defensive back role and can either contribute as a Cover-2 deep safety or play in the box as a pseudo linebacker.

• The system is working. Exceptionally well, in fact. Quarterbacks have a 52.4 passer rating while throwing in the vicinity of the Patriots’ safeties. McCourty, Chung, Harmon and Richards have allowed 26 completions on 49 attempts for 232 yards with three touchdowns, four interceptions and nine pass breakups. The Patriots have given up just two plays of over 40 yards this season, and the defense as a whole has allowed just an 85.2 passer rating — good for ninth in the NFL. McCourty, Chung and Harmon all rank among the league’s top 15 safeties, according to Pro Football Focus’ ratings, making them the best stable in the NFL.

 

[BobDigital]

I knew Harmon was doing well but when you actually look at those stats it is hard not to think he should be a probowler or at least in consideration. I really am high on Richards and have been for a while. I prefer him being out there over Coleman who i just think needs more time and is not ready to see many snaps.

I don't have any issue with this group really if they stay healthy. That is the key though. I really didn't see the need for a top CB before the deadline though it would have been nice. It is very hard to field a defense without any weaknesses though and seeing how strong we are at DL, LB & S I believe we can continue to cover up CB pretty well.

 

[Bruins29]

The bottom line is: The Pats have not lost this year and have great defensive stats.

Yes although 3rd down D needs a little work. They are keeping the points down.

 

[Guts]

We are in a much better shape than 11, that's for sure only year I felt we had a secondary that I wouldn't be holding my breath on 3rd down was 14 obviously, but this group has slowly grown on me. Accepting the fact that they're gonna give up plays here and there, loving the fact that they're not giving those big big plays.

 

[Rhodey]

We are in a much better shape than 11, that's for sure only year I felt we had a secondary that I wouldn't be holding my breath on 3rd down was 14 obviously, but this group has slowly grown on me. Accepting the fact that they're gonna give up plays here and there, loving the fact that they're not giving those big big plays.

In fact, I just read a stat in a NESN article, today, pointing out that they've only allowed 2 plays over 40 yards. Of course, where we want to limit this is in those big situations in those big games. And let's pause for a minute...we're lucky we can have this type of dialog (i.e. about the big games), as fans.

Patriots' Secondary Finding Success Thanks To NFL's Best Safety Group

 

[Rhodey]

I am not concerned about the players. More the depth.

I'm more concerned with depth in regards to keeping the team fresh and having holes due to injuries. However, it seems that every year, the Pats put players into their system and they work out..very well. Take a look what David Andrews is doing!

Bottom line: Players associated with the NE Pats franchise are typically a cut above the rest. Personally, I like a lot of practice squad players. When the come up, they play and play well.

Is it correct to view any team via a prism that has a Pro Bowl player at every position? And then to have stats going through the roof every consecutive year? Fans have a tendency to expect that from pro athletes. Its unfair and not realistic.

Note: I didn't make reference to a salary cap.

 

[JMC00]

Yes although 3rd down D needs a little work. They are keeping the points down.

45.9 (40 of 87) thru 7 games last year
40.0 (38 of 95) thru 7 games this year.

 

[Bruins29]

45.9 (40 of 87) thru 7 games last year
40.0 (38 of 95) thru 7 games this year.

JM dont get me wrong. I am not one of those "We cant be any good at anything without a Revis."

I am thrilled about those stats in comparison to the last years stats when we had a "shut down" crew.

I was more referring to where we place in the NFL now. However out stats probably reflect some teams trying to come back from behind and the pats allowing some longer clock killing drives.

Bottom line, D is around top 10 and keeping points off the board and never mind the D, the TEAM is better than last year.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

2015 New England Patriots Midseason Review: Nickel is the New Normal Defensive Package

 

[Joker]

I don't think anyone disagrees the safeties are pretty good. Your first paragraph talks about McCourty, Chung, Harmon, and Richards. The cornerbacks are a different story, however. Ryan has been okay recently but is not the fastest and has had an inconsistent career. Butler has been a solid corner but not as a #1. The #3 corner are castoffs like Coleman. Yes the safeties can help, but no they can't cover for all the cornerback deficiencies. It will be worrisome playoff time, but hopefully the offense, front 7 and the safeties can compensate.

WTF is THIS bull? Butler IS playing as a "1...for EIGHT GAMES now. You MISS this part? The Pats are EIGHT AND OH. Ryan is just OK and the safeties will be extremely HARD PRESSED TO COVER THE MUTLTITUDE OF CORNER DEFICIENCIES??????
You must be one of these gaa gaa Revis freaks...either that or you're straight up trolling. Tell me this,who are these fantastic gaa gaa corners on other teams that you are so in love with yiou'd rather have than Butler? Must be 31 of them, eh...?

amazingly spoiled fanbase...Butler is not solid as a number 1...jeezus krist I've read it all, now.

BTW, thanx for the informative post, B 6....