Its\u2019s the bye week and I am conducting my analysis of the roster as it currently sits through 13 games.<\/p>\n
Defensive Line <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Lawrence Guy <\/strong>45 Tackles 1.5 Sacks \u2013 Guy was just nominated for the Walter Payton Man-of-the-Year for Community Service.\u00a0 On the field, he brings that same leadership.\u00a0 Steady force at DT.\u00a0 He is second on the DL in tackles.\u00a0\u00a0 Very glad we re-signed him.\u00a0 Started slowly as did the whole DL, but now the Patriots are very difficult to run on.<\/p>\n Davon Godchaux <\/strong>48 Tackles 1 Sack \u2013 Started very slow and some questioned his signing as a Free Agent.\u00a0 He is coming off a 10 tackle game against the Bills.\u00a0 That\u2019s phenomenal for an NT that is usually just occupying space and taking double-team blocks to free up LB to make the tackles.<\/p>\n Dietrich Wise <\/strong>34 Tackles 2 sacks \u2013 He is playing DT rather than DE.\u00a0 He is a tweener.\u00a0 Not big enough for a DT,\u00a0 not fluid enough to play the hybrid LB\/DE.\u00a0 He has long arms and he uses them to pressure the QB.\u00a0 He can be run on if you attack him directly.<\/p>\n Christian Barmore <\/strong>31 Tackles 1 sack \u2013 He has been a pleasant surprise in his rookie year.\u00a0 Barmore has been very disruptive and an excellent pass rusher from the DT position.\u00a0 It\u2019s not the sacks but the pressure he brings up the middle.\u00a0 He is not allowing the opposing QB to step up into the pocket and sets up the other defenders to make sacks. His run defense needs work (experience) as he is playing on passing downs mostly. \u00a0\u00a0I was down on Barmore when the Pats drafted him.\u00a0 I thought he was lazy.\u00a0 He has been the complete opposite and has bought into the Patriots Way.\u00a0 Glad I was so wrong.<\/p>\n Carl Davis <\/strong>16 Tackles 1 Sack \u2013 He is healthy which was his problem last season.\u00a0 He is the immovable object at NT and gives Godchaux some relief at the tough NT position without any drop-in play.<\/p>\n Henty Anderson (IR) <\/strong>4 Tackles \u2013 When healthy, Anderson was a big disappointment.\u00a0 I had high hopes for Anderson coming in as a Free Agent.\u00a0 He never seemed to grasp the defensive concept and didn\u2019t contribute much.<\/p>\n Dan Ekuale \u00a0(PS) <\/strong>3 Tackles 2 sacks (2 games) \u2013 I needed to add Ekuale because of his contribution in very limited snaps.\u00a0 He has a knack for getting pressure on the QB.\u00a0 He has been called up twice from the PS and had a sack in each game.\u00a0 I would expect that he will receive a futures contract from the Patriots at the end of the season and I think they have found a diamond in the rough with Eukale.\u00a0 In 2020, he signed with JAX and was elevated to the 53 man roster in September for the year.\u00a0 The third-year DT, in 16 games coming into this year, has 17 tackles and a sack.<\/p>\n Tashawn Bowers (MIN) <\/strong>1 sack \u2013 Need to acknowledge Bowers limited contribution before he was poached off the Practice Squad.<\/p>\n Bryon Cowart (PUP) <\/strong>has been out since pre-camp.\u00a0 I don\u2019t see him being activated and he will revert to IR for the season.<\/p>\n Edge <\/strong><\/p>\n Matt Judon \u00a0<\/strong> 49 Tackles 12.5 Sacks – He has come as advertised when they signed him to a lucrative Free Agent contract.\u00a0 Through 13 games he has 12.5 sacks and threatens to break the single-season record for 18.5 sacks set by Hal of Famer Andre Tippett.\u00a0 His pressure off the edge has been crucial in the run game as well.\u00a0 He is also excellent at holding the edge and forcing the runner inside.\u00a0\u00a0 Defensive MVP for Patriots.<\/p>\n Chase Winovich<\/strong> 7 Tackles 0 Sacks \u2013 He has regressed to nothing but a third-down pass-rushing specialist and special teams contributor.<\/p>\n Josh Uche \u00a0<\/strong>10 Tackles 3 Sacks \u2013 Uche was unstoppable in training camp and Pre-season games. \u00a0Then the regular season started and he was nowhere to be found.\u00a0 He did manage 3 sacks in 9 games.\u00a0 He is currently on IR and not sure if we will see him again this year.<\/p>\n Ronnie Perkins \u00a0<\/strong>After missing 10 games, he has been activated to the 53 man roster but has yet to make a play.\u00a0 The Patriots drafted Perkins knowing that he was hurt which dropped his draft stock and the Patriots were able to grab him late in the third round (96th<\/sup> overall).\u00a0 Perkins is transitioning from a hand in the dirt DE to OLB\/Edge rusher.\u00a0 Patriots coaches have been pleased with his progress, but he was inactive for the game Monday Night against the Bills.<\/p>\n Linebackers<\/strong><\/p>\n Dont\u2019a Hightower <\/strong>52 Tackles .5 sacks \u2013 He is the glue that holds the Defense together.\u00a0 Hightower started the season slowly.\u00a0 He seemed to be a step slow in his read and reaction.\u00a0 The year off due to him opting out had a direct effect on him.\u00a0 As his play improved, the Patriots Defense also improved.<\/p>\n Kyle Van Noy<\/strong>\u00a0 42 tackles 4 Sacks \u2013 Van Noy also started slow but his improved play has been noticeable.\u00a0 He has set the edge better than he has his entire career.\u00a0 Chipping in with 4 sacks helps.<\/p>\n Ja\u2019Whaun Bentley <\/strong>81 Tackles 1 Sack \u2013\u00a0 Bentley slimmed down and he has become a quicker player.\u00a0 The veteran reacts to run plays quickly.\u00a0 He is their number one run stuffer.<\/p>\n Jaime Collins <\/strong>7 Tackles 1 Sack 1 INT \u2013 Collins has not played much in the 6 games he has been active for the Patriots.\u00a0 His INT was a thing of beauty and athleticism.<\/p>\n Jahlani Tavai<\/strong> 9 Tackles 0 Sacks \u2013 The reclamation project from the Lions has been a fill-in player in the nine games he has been active.\u00a0 On Monday he was inactive as a healthy scratch. His contribution has been mostly on Special Teams.<\/p>\n Calvin Munson <\/strong>9 Tackles 0 Sacks \u2013 His contribution has been on Special Teams.\u00a0 Interesting he was active Monday Night and Tavai wasn\u2019t.\u00a0 Just goes to show how much Bill values Special Teams.<\/p>\n Brandon King <\/strong>8 Tackles 0 Sacks \u2013 King\u2019s a Special Teams Specialist only.\u00a0 All his tackles have been on Special Teams.<\/p>\n Camerone McGrone<\/strong> \u00a0(NFI) <\/strong>Rumor has it that McGrone may be ready to start practicing.\u00a0 He was drafted knowing he was hurt and this would be a Red Shirt year.\u00a0 At 6\u20191\u201d 238 lbs, he is more like Kyle Dugger than a true Inside Linebacker.<\/p>\n Terez Hall (PUP) <\/strong>No new all year on Hall which probably means its\u2019s wait till next year.<\/p>\n Raekwon McMillan (IR) <\/strong>Hurt in Preseason Training Camp, McMillan was playing well and I thought he had a chance to make the final 53.\u00a0\u00a0 I don\u2019t know the status of McMillan\u2019s contract for 2022.<\/p>\n \u00a0Harvey Langi (IR) <\/strong>3 tackles 0 Sacks \u2013 Langi only played in 7 games, mostly on Special Teams.<\/p>\n Secondary<\/strong><\/p>\n JC Jackson<\/strong> 44 Tackles\u00a0 7 INTs \u2013 With the departure of Stephon Gilmore, Jackson has emerged as the number one shutdown CB for the Patriots.\u00a0 He is second in the league with 7 Interceptions.\u00a0 Trevon Diggs leads with 9. Some players have a nose for the ball and Jackson also has the quick reactions to adjust to the ball in flight.\u00a0 He is going to get paid next year one way or another.\u00a0 I can see the Patriots franchise tagging him so they can work out a long-term deal the next year.\u00a0 They will be up against the cap in 2022, and unless Jackson agrees to backload his contract (I would think he would want to frontload it like Gilmore) then they would postpone a long-term deal until 2023.<\/p>\n Devin McCourty<\/strong> 44 tackles 2 Interceptions –\u00a0 The 12-year veteran and team Captain is the leader of the secondary.\u00a0 He inspires his teammates to give it their best effort every snap.\u00a0 This very well could be his final season as old man time is catching up with the 34 yo.\u00a0 I would say he is a step slower but he makes up for that with his experience and guile.<\/p>\n Kyle Dugger<\/strong> 80 tackles 3 Interceptions \u2013 Dugger has come as advertised when Bill Belichick made the bold move of trading out of the 1st<\/sup> round in 2020 and selected Dugger as his first pick overall in the 2nd<\/sup> round.\u00a0 Dugger was my draft binky in 2020 and I was incredibly happy they selected the DII player from Lenoir-Rhymes.\u00a0 He has proven this year that his selection was justified.\u00a0 He missed the Monday Might game on the COVID list, otherwise, he would lead the team in Tackles.\u00a0 He is just one behind Bentley.\u00a0 The Patriots often play a 3 safety Defense, sometimes called the Big Nickel.\u00a0 Either Dugger or Phillips plays more of a Linebacker position.\u00a0 Dugger is excellent against the run.<\/p>\n Adrian Phillips <\/strong>64 Tackles 4 INTs \u2013 Philips is third on the team in tackles.\u00a0 As mentioned about Dugger, Phillips plays the Big Nickel and is also a very good tackler against the run.\u00a0 Phillips has also chipped in with 4 INTs.\u00a0 Last season Phillips was very strong against the run and played more linebacker than Strong Safety.<\/p>\n Jalen Mills<\/strong> 32 Tackles 0 INTs \u2013 Mills has been a huge disappointment to me this year.\u00a0 He is the worst coverage back the team has.\u00a0 He was beaten by Gabriel Davis on Buffalo\u2019s 4th<\/sup> down pass attempt and if it wasn\u2019t for Myles Bryant’s terrific pass breakup, Mills would have been the Goat.\u00a0 I could see Mills getting replaced if not this year then next season.\u00a0 The Patriots have been bringing along Shaun Wade slowly.<\/p>\n Jon Jones<\/strong> \u00a020 Tackles 1 INT \u2013 Jones got hurt in the 6th<\/sup> game and has been put on Season Ending IR.\u00a0 He is a terrific slot corner and maybe more valuable in that difficult-to-play position than to start at LCB.\u00a0 The slot corner needs to have incredible quickness as well as speed.\u00a0 Bryant has filled in admirably.<\/p>\n Myles Bryant<\/strong> 28 Tackles 0 INTs \u2013 Through 9 games Bryant has done a gerat job replacing Jones as the slot corner.\u00a0 He also has the speed and instinct to play Safety and may be the heir apparent to Devin McCourty.\u00a0 He is a sure open field tackler.<\/p>\n Joejuan Williams<\/strong> \u00a020 Tackles 0 INT \u2013 In 11 games played, the third-year 2nd<\/sup> round pick has disappointed.\u00a0 He has yet to live up to the hype of a big cornerback or safety.\u00a0 He gets beat often in man coverage and is very susceptible to double moves.\u00a0\u00a0 I think Sean Davis will be pushing for his spot.<\/p>\n Shaun Wade<\/strong> 1 Tackle 0 INT \u2013 Wade has only been active for one game this year.\u00a0 He was a highly touted DB out of Ohio St.\u00a0 Wade is big for a CB at 6\u20191\u201d and he ran a 4.46 40 at his Pro Day.\u00a0 He was limited in what he could do because of a turf toe injury.\u00a0 Not sure if that injury has lingered into this year.\u00a0 He was a 5th<\/sup> rd pick by BAL in this year\u2019s draft and then traded to the Patriots.<\/p>\n Sean Davis <\/strong>– Davis has no stats so far as he saw his 1st<\/sup> action of the season on Monday Night.\u00a0 I was very surprised he was active and Wade wasn\u2019t.\u00a0 Even more surprised to see him in the game at crunch time.\u00a0 He was in the game before Phillips goy hurt and was also in coverage for Buffalo\u2019s final play.\u00a0 Davis was elevated from the Practice Squad for the Monday Night game and relegated back to the Practice Squad after the game.\u00a0 \u00a0Davis is big at 6\u20191 202 lbs. The 6-year vet was a 2nd<\/sup> round pick of Pittsburgh in 2016.<\/p>\n Cody Davis<\/strong> 11 Tackles 0 INT \u2013 When you put Special next to Cody Davis you must be talking about his Special Teams contribution.\u00a0 He leads the team in ST tackles with 9.\u00a0 He is the personal protector for punter Jake Bailey.<\/p>\n Joshua Bledsoe (NFI)<\/strong> \u2013 I believe Bledsoe has started to practice.\u00a0 This doesn\u2019t mean he will get activated.\u00a0 He will probably revert to IR for the season.\u00a0 This is the 23rd<\/sup> draft pick that the Patriots drafted knowing they were injured and willing to give them a red-shirt year.\u00a0 I was not impressed with Bledsoe at the Senior Bowl practices.\u00a0 I thought he was slow to react.\u00a0 He gets beat off the LOS and is always a half step behind.\u00a0 He is known as a hitter and a good open-field tackler.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Special Teams<\/strong><\/p>\n Kicker<\/strong><\/p>\n Nick Folk<\/strong> Team MVP!\u00a0 He has been phenomenal this year.\u00a0 33-36 on FGs, 29-33 XP, all three misses have been beyond 50 yards.\u00a0 He has 5 kicks made beyond 50.\u00a0 Tied his career-long with 3 53 yard kicks.\u00a0 This is from the man that played the Patriots in a Thursday Night game in week 5 at Tampa Bay in 2017.\u00a0 He missed 3 FGs in a 19-14 loss for TB.\u00a0 He was placed on IT the next week and released after the season.\u00a0 He was out of the NFL for two year until the Patriots signed him in October 2019.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t even make the 53 man roster out of camp this year.\u00a0 He was re-signed before the 1st<\/sup> game and has had an All-Pro Year.<\/p>\n Punter <\/strong><\/p>\n Jake Bailey <\/strong>Bailey hasn\u2019t had as good a year as he did last season when he made the Pro-Bowl.\u00a0 His efforts have been pretty good.\u00a0 He is excellent as a Kick-Off Specialist too.\u00a0 Bailey is ranked 19th<\/sup> in the league in NET yards per punt at just over 40 yards.<\/p>\n Punt Returner <\/strong><\/p>\n Gunner Olszewski <\/strong>has been 2nd<\/sup> in the league with a 12.3 punt return average.\u00a0 His two-year totals are the best in the league.<\/p>\n Gunners <\/strong>There is no better duo than Mattew Slater<\/strong> and Justin Bethel.\u00a0 <\/strong>Quite often you see the opposition get zero return yards due to Bailey\u2019s kicks and the outside pressure of these two.<\/p>\n Long Snapper <\/strong><\/p>\n Joe Cardona<\/strong> \u2013 He is steady and reliable.\u00a0 It’s an unsung art.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t hear his name then he didn\u2019t screw up and that\u2019s exactly what you want.<\/p>\n Kick-Off Returners <\/strong><\/p>\n The team has had Brandon Bolden<\/strong> and Gunner Olszewski<\/strong> back to return kick-offs.\u00a0 Olszewski has averaged a shade over 25 per KO return.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Its\u2019s the bye week and I am conducting my analysis of the Patriots roster as it currently sits through 13 games.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":38933,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_pfeai_meta_description":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[22712],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2021-patriots-season"],"yoast_head":"\n