{"id":6172,"date":"2016-05-12T09:25:34","date_gmt":"2016-05-12T13:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=6172"},"modified":"2016-05-12T09:29:35","modified_gmt":"2016-05-12T13:29:35","slug":"chris-long-another-patriots-redemption-project-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2016\/05\/12\/chris-long-another-patriots-redemption-project-defense\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Long, Another Patriots Redemption Project on Defense"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pats DE-A Big Under the Radar Signing This Spring<\/h2>\n

The Patriots signed DE Chris Long just hours after trading Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals for G Jonathan Cooper and a 2nd<\/sup> round draft pick. Coincidence? Hardly. It was a smart decision signing a formerly dominant edge rusher looking to reignite his game after suffering two serious injuries in 2014-15.<\/p>\n

Long missed 14 games those two lost seasons and was able to generate just four sacks, suffering an ankle injury and later a knee issue. Prior to that, Long, who turned 31 in March had an impressive run from 2010-13 where he generated 41.5 sacks and was one of the more dominant edge rushers in the game.<\/p>\n

Long, if he can stay healthy in 2016 is a\u00a0perfect fit for the Patriots defense in that he is the quintessential Bill Belichick-type player. Smart, competitive, comes from a football background and family, passionate about the game and with an unquenched thirst for winning. That\u2019s one thing Long hasn\u2019t experienced in his NFL career\u2026winning. He\u2019s never tasted the postseason and part of the draw for New England, why he took only a $2.375 million-dollar contract to come here was the opportunity to win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nThe Patriots are looking for DE Chris Long to return to health and his dominant form in 2016. (USA TODAY Images)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Long can look to other players who came to New England in the latter stages of their careers and found success with the Patriots. Roman Phifer, Ted Washington, Andre Carter, Mark Anderson, and of course Rodney Harrison were all important cogs on the Patriots defense in years that the team went to the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

Long fits right in with what the Patriots and most importantly Bill Belichick likes in his players. Just ask one of his closest confidantes and fellow coaches has to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe structure of the Patriots is based on players who are passionate about football and competition and winning,\u201d Long\u2019s former college coach and Belichick friend Al Groh said to WEEI\u2019s Chris Price. \u201cThey are intense about preparation, and at the same time, they value guys who are good teammates.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s passionate about football and winning, and he loves competition. He prepares relentlessly. Everybody who has ever played with or coached Chris said that they have never had a better teammate,\u201d added Groh.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s an excellent fit for the Patriots, and the Patriots are an excellent fit for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Patriots have been stockpiling big, physical players on the interior of the defensive line this spring. With Alan Branch and Malcom Brown already on the roster, the team added Terrance Knighton, Markus Kuhn, Frank Kearse and drafted Vincent Valentine in the 3rd<\/sup> round of the draft. They\u2019re big, immovable objects but aren\u2019t the most dynamic of pass rushers. That\u2019s where the edge rushers come in.<\/p>\n

Long is part of half a dozen Patriots defensive ends that the team will carry into OTAs and later into training camp. With Rob Ninkovich and Jabaal Sheard returning, Long won\u2019t be expected to play an inordinate amount of snaps and wear himself down. Rather, he may be tasked with being a sub-package, third down pass rusher.<\/p>\n

He could stay fresh, come in on passing situations and play with fire that marked his career that we\u2019ve come to expect since he was the 2nd<\/sup> overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft from the University of Virginia.<\/p>\n

The Patriots also have last year\u2019s draft picks in Geneo Grissom and Trey Flowers as well as Rufus Johnson who played well last summer before ending on IR early last season. With a slew of good edge rushers, the Patriots could also opt with sliding an edge rusher inside on obvious passing downs in a NASCAR package. We\u2019ve seen them do that with Jones and Sheard in the past and with Grissom and Flowers last preseason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Sheard-with-Grissom-inside-\"
\nThe Patriots have used their edge rushers inside, in a NASCAR-type package here rookie Geneo Grissom lines up inside Jabaal Sheard. (SBalestrieri image)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Long at 6\u20194, 275 could do that, but would probably be best served lining up on the edge. Ninkovich and Sheard should enter training camp as the team\u2019s starters but by\u00a0adding Long as a pure pass rusher just sounds like a success waiting to happen. And just what is the best news to come out of Long and the Pats since his signing? Silence.<\/p>\n

Nary a word has been spoken from Long nor about him since he\u2019s signed on. I am sure that\u2019s fine with Belichick. But for Long, it is just a sign that he\u2019s putting in the work and getting ready to fill a role for the Patriots that will hopefully take him thru 16 games and beyond this season.<\/p>\n

Uncharted waters for the veteran, but he can look to those other vets who came to New England and found success as well. He\u2019s taken over Jones\u2019 old number, #95 on the Pats roster. He\u2019ll be a clear player to focus on once training camp begins in earnest come late July.<\/p>\n

Then you\u2019ll be hearing his name quite a bit\u2026<\/p>\n

Follow me on Twitter\u00a0<\/em>@SteveB7SFG<\/em><\/a>\u00a0or email me at\u00a0<\/em>stevebpatsfans@gmail.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to our\u00a0<\/em>Patriots 4th<\/sup>\u00a0and 2<\/em><\/a>\u00a0podcast on blog talk radio as the writers Russ Goldman, Derek Havens and I from\u00a0<\/em>PatsFans.com<\/em><\/a>\u00a0discuss the latest Patriots news Wednesdays at 12 noon.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cHe\u2019s passionate about football and winning, He\u2019s an excellent fit for the Patriots, and the Patriots are an excellent fit for 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