That’s an area that will likely make or break things for the defense, and it was interesting to go back to last season and look at the drop-off in interceptions relative to the last few campaigns.<\/p>\n
To take it a step further, it was actually even a little staggering.<\/p>\n
Consider this: From 2020 to 2022, the Patriots ranked first (18 INTs), second (23 INTs), and third (19 INTs) in\u00a0interceptions.<\/p>\n
In 2023, they fell to 23rd with just 10 interceptions, tied with the Rams among the lowest in the league.<\/p>\n
Here’s a breakdown by season:<\/p>\n
2020 Patriots Interceptions<\/strong><\/h3>\nJ.C. Jackson – 9
\nDevin McCourty – 2
\nAdrian Phillips – 2
\nJonathan Jones – 2
\nStephon Gilmore – 1
\nChase Winovich – 1
\nMyles Bryant – 1
\nTotal: 18<\/strong><\/p>\n2021 Patriots Interceptions<\/strong><\/h3>\nJ.C. Jackson – 8
\nKyle Dugger – 4
\nAdrian Phillips – 4
\nDevin McCourty – 3
\nKyle Van Noy – 1
\nMyles Bryant – 1
\nJamie Collins – 1
\nJonathan Jones – 1
\nTotal: 23<\/strong><\/p>\n2022 Patriots Interceptions<\/strong><\/h3>\nJonathan Jones – 4
\nDevin McCourty – 4
\nKyle Dugger – 3
\nMarcus Jones – 2
\nJack Jones – 2
\nJalen Mills – 2
\nMyles Bryant – 1
\nJa’Whaun Bentley – 1
\nTotal: 19<\/strong><\/p>\n2023 Patriots Interceptions<\/strong><\/h3>\nKyle Dugger – 2
\nJabril Peppers – 2
\nJahlani Tavi – 2
\nMarte Mapu – 1
\nMyles Bryant – 1
\nAlex Austin – 1
\nChristian Gonzalez – 1
\nTOTAL: 10<\/strong><\/p>\nThe drop-off last season was fairly eye-opening, and unlike the Kansas City Chiefs, who were tied for third-lowest with just eight, the Patriots clearly don’t have the same offense to cover up that deficiency.<\/p>\n
Coming off that 4-13 campaign, there were certainly some factors that worked against them.\u00a0 Part of that result came from the absence of Christian Gonzalez, who very well could have ended up with a fairly good total given how terrific he was in coverage early on before getting hurt.\u00a0 The same could be set for Marcus Jones, who registered multiple interceptions during his own rookie season.<\/p>\n
The other aspect of this was the fact the Patriots spent quite a few games where they were playing from behind in 2023, which often leads to opponents being more conservative and taking less risks.\u00a0 That ends up leading to fewer opportunities for a defense that kept the score close, but obviously didn’t have an offense that could compliment it.<\/p>\n
![\"J.C.](\"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/USATSI_17115413_168390408_lowres-660x440.jpg\")
<\/p>\n(PHOTO: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\nLooking back at the numbers, it was also a reminder of just how unbalanced their defense has been in terms of having multiple contributors creating turnovers, with 2022 being the lone season where we saw several guys make meaningful contributions.\u00a0 Again, injuries certainly didn’t help that situation, with both Jones and Gonzalez going down, and J.C. Jackson suffering a setback after his return that saw him sidelined for the majority of last season.<\/p>\n
Add in the fact that Matthew Judon’s loss significantly impacted their pass rush, and it was a recipe for what turned out to be a significant drop-off in production from that group.<\/p>\n
Looking back, Jackson was obviously significant for this team in both 2020 and 2021, with the defensive back notching an incredible 17 interceptions during that span, amassing 9 and 8 in respective seasons.<\/p>\n
However, his return after the club acquired him from the Chargers early in 2023<\/strong><\/a> was disappointing.\u00a0 Jackson’s health was an issue last season, and his agent cited his client’s mental well-being as behind part of his issues.\u00a0 Knee and ankle injuries also ended up being an issue for him, which seemed to derail what had clearly been an impressive start for the former undrafted player out of Maryland.\u00a0 He remains unsigned after the club released him back in March<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\nJerod Mayo has continued to speak well of Jackson, with a report back in March indicating that the door was potentially still open for him should he get “his off-the-field issues in order”<\/strong><\/a> this offseason.<\/p>\nPrior to his release, Mayo said, “Look, I love J.C., coached him, saw him develop into a man.\u00a0 We\u2019ll see how that goes going forward.\u00a0 But, look, heck of a football player, two years removed from injury, he\u2019s probably going to move a lot better this year, so we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the meantime, whether or not a return is still in the cards for the veteran is still a mystery.<\/p>\n
For now, the club heads into this season with both Gonzalez and Jones back in the fold, along with Jonathan Jones, Shaun Wade, and Alex Austin.\u00a0 The potential X-factors from there will be what we see from Isaiah Bolden, who was off to a terrific preseason before his devastating injury, along with rookie Marcellas Dial.<\/p>\n
Mike Reiss caught up with Dial’s former defensive coordinator, Clayton White, who believes the rookie will surprise some people this season.<\/p>\n
“He has the size, strength and speed to play at that level,” White told Reiss<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 “But more importantly, I think he brings the intangibles and the will. He’s a great locker room guy, great team player and great special teams player, too.”<\/p>\nOverall, barring injuries, it’s a pretty athletic group and one that could potentially duplicate what we saw from the 2022 unit.\u00a0 But either way, they definitely need to be better than they were last year.\u00a0 Especially until this offense gets into gear.<\/p>\n
![\"Brian](\"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/USATSI_17412706_168390408_lowres-450x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n(PHOTO: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\nInteresting Coaching Dynamic<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nDevin McCourty – 2
\nAdrian Phillips – 2
\nJonathan Jones – 2
\nStephon Gilmore – 1
\nChase Winovich – 1
\nMyles Bryant – 1
\nTotal: 18<\/strong><\/p>\n
2021 Patriots Interceptions<\/strong><\/h3>\nJ.C. Jackson – 8
\nKyle Dugger – 4
\nAdrian Phillips – 4
\nDevin McCourty – 3
\nKyle Van Noy – 1
\nMyles Bryant – 1
\nJamie Collins – 1
\nJonathan Jones – 1
\nTotal: 23<\/strong><\/p>\n2022 Patriots Interceptions<\/strong><\/h3>\nJonathan Jones – 4
\nDevin McCourty – 4
\nKyle Dugger – 3
\nMarcus Jones – 2
\nJack Jones – 2
\nJalen Mills – 2
\nMyles Bryant – 1
\nJa’Whaun Bentley – 1
\nTotal: 19<\/strong><\/p>\n2023 Patriots Interceptions<\/strong><\/h3>\nKyle Dugger – 2
\nJabril Peppers – 2
\nJahlani Tavi – 2
\nMarte Mapu – 1
\nMyles Bryant – 1
\nAlex Austin – 1
\nChristian Gonzalez – 1
\nTOTAL: 10<\/strong><\/p>\nThe drop-off last season was fairly eye-opening, and unlike the Kansas City Chiefs, who were tied for third-lowest with just eight, the Patriots clearly don’t have the same offense to cover up that deficiency.<\/p>\n
Coming off that 4-13 campaign, there were certainly some factors that worked against them.\u00a0 Part of that result came from the absence of Christian Gonzalez, who very well could have ended up with a fairly good total given how terrific he was in coverage early on before getting hurt.\u00a0 The same could be set for Marcus Jones, who registered multiple interceptions during his own rookie season.<\/p>\n
The other aspect of this was the fact the Patriots spent quite a few games where they were playing from behind in 2023, which often leads to opponents being more conservative and taking less risks.\u00a0 That ends up leading to fewer opportunities for a defense that kept the score close, but obviously didn’t have an offense that could compliment it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n(PHOTO: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\nLooking back at the numbers, it was also a reminder of just how unbalanced their defense has been in terms of having multiple contributors creating turnovers, with 2022 being the lone season where we saw several guys make meaningful contributions.\u00a0 Again, injuries certainly didn’t help that situation, with both Jones and Gonzalez going down, and J.C. Jackson suffering a setback after his return that saw him sidelined for the majority of last season.<\/p>\n
Add in the fact that Matthew Judon’s loss significantly impacted their pass rush, and it was a recipe for what turned out to be a significant drop-off in production from that group.<\/p>\n
Looking back, Jackson was obviously significant for this team in both 2020 and 2021, with the defensive back notching an incredible 17 interceptions during that span, amassing 9 and 8 in respective seasons.<\/p>\n
However, his return after the club acquired him from the Chargers early in 2023<\/strong><\/a> was disappointing.\u00a0 Jackson’s health was an issue last season, and his agent cited his client’s mental well-being as behind part of his issues.\u00a0 Knee and ankle injuries also ended up being an issue for him, which seemed to derail what had clearly been an impressive start for the former undrafted player out of Maryland.\u00a0 He remains unsigned after the club released him back in March<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\nJerod Mayo has continued to speak well of Jackson, with a report back in March indicating that the door was potentially still open for him should he get “his off-the-field issues in order”<\/strong><\/a> this offseason.<\/p>\nPrior to his release, Mayo said, “Look, I love J.C., coached him, saw him develop into a man.\u00a0 We\u2019ll see how that goes going forward.\u00a0 But, look, heck of a football player, two years removed from injury, he\u2019s probably going to move a lot better this year, so we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the meantime, whether or not a return is still in the cards for the veteran is still a mystery.<\/p>\n
For now, the club heads into this season with both Gonzalez and Jones back in the fold, along with Jonathan Jones, Shaun Wade, and Alex Austin.\u00a0 The potential X-factors from there will be what we see from Isaiah Bolden, who was off to a terrific preseason before his devastating injury, along with rookie Marcellas Dial.<\/p>\n
Mike Reiss caught up with Dial’s former defensive coordinator, Clayton White, who believes the rookie will surprise some people this season.<\/p>\n
“He has the size, strength and speed to play at that level,” White told Reiss<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 “But more importantly, I think he brings the intangibles and the will. He’s a great locker room guy, great team player and great special teams player, too.”<\/p>\nOverall, barring injuries, it’s a pretty athletic group and one that could potentially duplicate what we saw from the 2022 unit.\u00a0 But either way, they definitely need to be better than they were last year.\u00a0 Especially until this offense gets into gear.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n(PHOTO: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\nInteresting Coaching Dynamic<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nKyle Dugger – 4
\nAdrian Phillips – 4
\nDevin McCourty – 3
\nKyle Van Noy – 1
\nMyles Bryant – 1
\nJamie Collins – 1
\nJonathan Jones – 1
\nTotal: 23<\/strong><\/p>\n
2022 Patriots Interceptions<\/strong><\/h3>\nJonathan Jones – 4
\nDevin McCourty – 4
\nKyle Dugger – 3
\nMarcus Jones – 2
\nJack Jones – 2
\nJalen Mills – 2
\nMyles Bryant – 1
\nJa’Whaun Bentley – 1
\nTotal: 19<\/strong><\/p>\n2023 Patriots Interceptions<\/strong><\/h3>\nKyle Dugger – 2
\nJabril Peppers – 2
\nJahlani Tavi – 2
\nMarte Mapu – 1
\nMyles Bryant – 1
\nAlex Austin – 1
\nChristian Gonzalez – 1
\nTOTAL: 10<\/strong><\/p>\nThe drop-off last season was fairly eye-opening, and unlike the Kansas City Chiefs, who were tied for third-lowest with just eight, the Patriots clearly don’t have the same offense to cover up that deficiency.<\/p>\n
Coming off that 4-13 campaign, there were certainly some factors that worked against them.\u00a0 Part of that result came from the absence of Christian Gonzalez, who very well could have ended up with a fairly good total given how terrific he was in coverage early on before getting hurt.\u00a0 The same could be set for Marcus Jones, who registered multiple interceptions during his own rookie season.<\/p>\n
The other aspect of this was the fact the Patriots spent quite a few games where they were playing from behind in 2023, which often leads to opponents being more conservative and taking less risks.\u00a0 That ends up leading to fewer opportunities for a defense that kept the score close, but obviously didn’t have an offense that could compliment it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n(PHOTO: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\nLooking back at the numbers, it was also a reminder of just how unbalanced their defense has been in terms of having multiple contributors creating turnovers, with 2022 being the lone season where we saw several guys make meaningful contributions.\u00a0 Again, injuries certainly didn’t help that situation, with both Jones and Gonzalez going down, and J.C. Jackson suffering a setback after his return that saw him sidelined for the majority of last season.<\/p>\n
Add in the fact that Matthew Judon’s loss significantly impacted their pass rush, and it was a recipe for what turned out to be a significant drop-off in production from that group.<\/p>\n
Looking back, Jackson was obviously significant for this team in both 2020 and 2021, with the defensive back notching an incredible 17 interceptions during that span, amassing 9 and 8 in respective seasons.<\/p>\n
However, his return after the club acquired him from the Chargers early in 2023<\/strong><\/a> was disappointing.\u00a0 Jackson’s health was an issue last season, and his agent cited his client’s mental well-being as behind part of his issues.\u00a0 Knee and ankle injuries also ended up being an issue for him, which seemed to derail what had clearly been an impressive start for the former undrafted player out of Maryland.\u00a0 He remains unsigned after the club released him back in March<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\nJerod Mayo has continued to speak well of Jackson, with a report back in March indicating that the door was potentially still open for him should he get “his off-the-field issues in order”<\/strong><\/a> this offseason.<\/p>\nPrior to his release, Mayo said, “Look, I love J.C., coached him, saw him develop into a man.\u00a0 We\u2019ll see how that goes going forward.\u00a0 But, look, heck of a football player, two years removed from injury, he\u2019s probably going to move a lot better this year, so we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the meantime, whether or not a return is still in the cards for the veteran is still a mystery.<\/p>\n
For now, the club heads into this season with both Gonzalez and Jones back in the fold, along with Jonathan Jones, Shaun Wade, and Alex Austin.\u00a0 The potential X-factors from there will be what we see from Isaiah Bolden, who was off to a terrific preseason before his devastating injury, along with rookie Marcellas Dial.<\/p>\n
Mike Reiss caught up with Dial’s former defensive coordinator, Clayton White, who believes the rookie will surprise some people this season.<\/p>\n
“He has the size, strength and speed to play at that level,” White told Reiss<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 “But more importantly, I think he brings the intangibles and the will. He’s a great locker room guy, great team player and great special teams player, too.”<\/p>\nOverall, barring injuries, it’s a pretty athletic group and one that could potentially duplicate what we saw from the 2022 unit.\u00a0 But either way, they definitely need to be better than they were last year.\u00a0 Especially until this offense gets into gear.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n(PHOTO: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\nInteresting Coaching Dynamic<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nDevin McCourty – 4
\nKyle Dugger – 3
\nMarcus Jones – 2
\nJack Jones – 2
\nJalen Mills – 2
\nMyles Bryant – 1
\nJa’Whaun Bentley – 1
\nTotal: 19<\/strong><\/p>\n
2023 Patriots Interceptions<\/strong><\/h3>\nKyle Dugger – 2
\nJabril Peppers – 2
\nJahlani Tavi – 2
\nMarte Mapu – 1
\nMyles Bryant – 1
\nAlex Austin – 1
\nChristian Gonzalez – 1
\nTOTAL: 10<\/strong><\/p>\nThe drop-off last season was fairly eye-opening, and unlike the Kansas City Chiefs, who were tied for third-lowest with just eight, the Patriots clearly don’t have the same offense to cover up that deficiency.<\/p>\n
Coming off that 4-13 campaign, there were certainly some factors that worked against them.\u00a0 Part of that result came from the absence of Christian Gonzalez, who very well could have ended up with a fairly good total given how terrific he was in coverage early on before getting hurt.\u00a0 The same could be set for Marcus Jones, who registered multiple interceptions during his own rookie season.<\/p>\n
The other aspect of this was the fact the Patriots spent quite a few games where they were playing from behind in 2023, which often leads to opponents being more conservative and taking less risks.\u00a0 That ends up leading to fewer opportunities for a defense that kept the score close, but obviously didn’t have an offense that could compliment it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n(PHOTO: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\nLooking back at the numbers, it was also a reminder of just how unbalanced their defense has been in terms of having multiple contributors creating turnovers, with 2022 being the lone season where we saw several guys make meaningful contributions.\u00a0 Again, injuries certainly didn’t help that situation, with both Jones and Gonzalez going down, and J.C. Jackson suffering a setback after his return that saw him sidelined for the majority of last season.<\/p>\n
Add in the fact that Matthew Judon’s loss significantly impacted their pass rush, and it was a recipe for what turned out to be a significant drop-off in production from that group.<\/p>\n
Looking back, Jackson was obviously significant for this team in both 2020 and 2021, with the defensive back notching an incredible 17 interceptions during that span, amassing 9 and 8 in respective seasons.<\/p>\n
However, his return after the club acquired him from the Chargers early in 2023<\/strong><\/a> was disappointing.\u00a0 Jackson’s health was an issue last season, and his agent cited his client’s mental well-being as behind part of his issues.\u00a0 Knee and ankle injuries also ended up being an issue for him, which seemed to derail what had clearly been an impressive start for the former undrafted player out of Maryland.\u00a0 He remains unsigned after the club released him back in March<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\nJerod Mayo has continued to speak well of Jackson, with a report back in March indicating that the door was potentially still open for him should he get “his off-the-field issues in order”<\/strong><\/a> this offseason.<\/p>\nPrior to his release, Mayo said, “Look, I love J.C., coached him, saw him develop into a man.\u00a0 We\u2019ll see how that goes going forward.\u00a0 But, look, heck of a football player, two years removed from injury, he\u2019s probably going to move a lot better this year, so we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the meantime, whether or not a return is still in the cards for the veteran is still a mystery.<\/p>\n
For now, the club heads into this season with both Gonzalez and Jones back in the fold, along with Jonathan Jones, Shaun Wade, and Alex Austin.\u00a0 The potential X-factors from there will be what we see from Isaiah Bolden, who was off to a terrific preseason before his devastating injury, along with rookie Marcellas Dial.<\/p>\n
Mike Reiss caught up with Dial’s former defensive coordinator, Clayton White, who believes the rookie will surprise some people this season.<\/p>\n
“He has the size, strength and speed to play at that level,” White told Reiss<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 “But more importantly, I think he brings the intangibles and the will. He’s a great locker room guy, great team player and great special teams player, too.”<\/p>\nOverall, barring injuries, it’s a pretty athletic group and one that could potentially duplicate what we saw from the 2022 unit.\u00a0 But either way, they definitely need to be better than they were last year.\u00a0 Especially until this offense gets into gear.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n(PHOTO: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\nInteresting Coaching Dynamic<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nJabril Peppers – 2
\nJahlani Tavi – 2
\nMarte Mapu – 1
\nMyles Bryant – 1
\nAlex Austin – 1
\nChristian Gonzalez – 1
\nTOTAL: 10<\/strong><\/p>\n
The drop-off last season was fairly eye-opening, and unlike the Kansas City Chiefs, who were tied for third-lowest with just eight, the Patriots clearly don’t have the same offense to cover up that deficiency.<\/p>\n
Coming off that 4-13 campaign, there were certainly some factors that worked against them.\u00a0 Part of that result came from the absence of Christian Gonzalez, who very well could have ended up with a fairly good total given how terrific he was in coverage early on before getting hurt.\u00a0 The same could be set for Marcus Jones, who registered multiple interceptions during his own rookie season.<\/p>\n
The other aspect of this was the fact the Patriots spent quite a few games where they were playing from behind in 2023, which often leads to opponents being more conservative and taking less risks.\u00a0 That ends up leading to fewer opportunities for a defense that kept the score close, but obviously didn’t have an offense that could compliment it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nLooking back at the numbers, it was also a reminder of just how unbalanced their defense has been in terms of having multiple contributors creating turnovers, with 2022 being the lone season where we saw several guys make meaningful contributions.\u00a0 Again, injuries certainly didn’t help that situation, with both Jones and Gonzalez going down, and J.C. Jackson suffering a setback after his return that saw him sidelined for the majority of last season.<\/p>\n
Add in the fact that Matthew Judon’s loss significantly impacted their pass rush, and it was a recipe for what turned out to be a significant drop-off in production from that group.<\/p>\n
Looking back, Jackson was obviously significant for this team in both 2020 and 2021, with the defensive back notching an incredible 17 interceptions during that span, amassing 9 and 8 in respective seasons.<\/p>\n
However, his return after the club acquired him from the Chargers early in 2023<\/strong><\/a> was disappointing.\u00a0 Jackson’s health was an issue last season, and his agent cited his client’s mental well-being as behind part of his issues.\u00a0 Knee and ankle injuries also ended up being an issue for him, which seemed to derail what had clearly been an impressive start for the former undrafted player out of Maryland.\u00a0 He remains unsigned after the club released him back in March<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Jerod Mayo has continued to speak well of Jackson, with a report back in March indicating that the door was potentially still open for him should he get “his off-the-field issues in order”<\/strong><\/a> this offseason.<\/p>\n Prior to his release, Mayo said, “Look, I love J.C., coached him, saw him develop into a man.\u00a0 We\u2019ll see how that goes going forward.\u00a0 But, look, heck of a football player, two years removed from injury, he\u2019s probably going to move a lot better this year, so we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n In the meantime, whether or not a return is still in the cards for the veteran is still a mystery.<\/p>\n For now, the club heads into this season with both Gonzalez and Jones back in the fold, along with Jonathan Jones, Shaun Wade, and Alex Austin.\u00a0 The potential X-factors from there will be what we see from Isaiah Bolden, who was off to a terrific preseason before his devastating injury, along with rookie Marcellas Dial.<\/p>\n Mike Reiss caught up with Dial’s former defensive coordinator, Clayton White, who believes the rookie will surprise some people this season.<\/p>\n “He has the size, strength and speed to play at that level,” White told Reiss<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 “But more importantly, I think he brings the intangibles and the will. He’s a great locker room guy, great team player and great special teams player, too.”<\/p>\n Overall, barring injuries, it’s a pretty athletic group and one that could potentially duplicate what we saw from the 2022 unit.\u00a0 But either way, they definitely need to be better than they were last year.\u00a0 Especially until this offense gets into gear.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nInteresting Coaching Dynamic<\/strong><\/h3>\n