...scary because it essentially melds the secondary with the linebacking corps in such a way that you'll probably need a program to recognize who's out on the field in sub packages, and the opposing
Such is the product of a depth chart full of hybrid players.
Oh, there is the base talent - the core, as it were, with names like Wilfork, Mayo, Spikes and McCourty stacked right up the middle and spread across all three levels of the defense, and all around the core is a collection of players that are individually talented, and when combined represent the best defense the Patriots have ever been able to field.
Much has been made of middle linebacker Brandon Spikes working out on his own in Florida this offseason, choosing to skip the Patriots' voluntary organized team activities, and the flogging that he's taking in the media is nothing short of hateful...
...but consider that he has stated that he is working himself into the best shape he's ever been in - perhaps in response to the criticism that he is a one-dimensional player and wanting to prove to his
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| Defensive captain Jerod Mayo |
Who's going to complain if he's taken the ignorant criticism and used it as positive motivation - along with the fact that he's entering a contract year - and becomes an even more intimidating run plugger? Certainly not defensive captain and signal caller, weakside linebacker Jerod Mayo, who had previously worked inside with Spikes before the team switched defensive bases from the 3-4 to the 4-3.
Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady gushed about the duo early last season, crediting their hard-nosed play for keeping the team in games when the offense was struggling to find it's rhythm.
Mayo is the heart of the defense - and Spikes is it's soul. Mayo has won awards and been to a couple of Pro Bowls. Spikes separates running backs from the football and has a celebration dance that would make the Funkadactyls proud. Mayo promotes the football-savvy, quiet, film studying, blue collar confidence while Spikes represents the brash, cocky swagger that can intimidate an opponent without a word being spoken.
They are the core of a linebacking corps that now has so many options that the team has no choice but to attack, a defense with so many interchangeable parts that they can effectively morph into just about anything they need - or want - to be...
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| Fletcher |
...which is a far cry from a skeleton thin group from last season that couldn't cover a running back to save their lives, and got regularly abused by tight ends. They could stop the run, but by the time the AFC Title game came around, even that was an even-odds proposition, what with the nagging injuries, staggering percentage of snaps and zero quality depth.
Part of that problem was just lack of athleticism with the reserves, which took a huge hit when Dane Fletcher went down with a torn ACL in the preseason.
Fletcher's absence was felt all through the unit, as his pass coverage skills and speed add a different dimension to the middle on passing downs. In his stead, Belichick tried a myriad of marginal athletes, hold overs Mike Rivera, Jeff Tarpinian and Niko Koutouvides among them, but none could replace the athleticism that Fletcher brought to the depth - and all could struggle to make the 53 man roster.
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| Koudouvides |
Lost in the horror, drama and intrigue of the 2013 offseason, Bill Belichick's under-the-radar free agency moves and seemingly mysterious defensive draft picks have actually enabled a dark chapter of the playbook that allows a defense to be able to attack the offense, rather than the stupid Bend-but-don't-break philosophy of the recent past...
...a part of the playbook that can be opened and attempted only with the proper mix of size, speed and versatility - and something that can only be accomplished when a team can go into a draft targeting a specific type of athlete to complete the puzzle, which
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| Collins |
Southern Mississippi's Jamie Collins was the first of Belichick's targets and set the tone for the rest of the draft, which was to select big, versatile depth with excellent pass coverage skills - and big kids with lots of upside don't get much more versatile than the 6' 4", 250 pound second round pick.
Collins started his college career as a strong safety, but injuries to the linebacking corps forced him to cover at outside linebacker, where he immediately shined. While not an elite pass rusher as a defensive end, he will still line up with his hand in the dirt on occasion, but his strength is in his ability to move effortlessly in coverage and punish ball carriers - taking full advantage of the 5 yard contact zone with receivers to knock them off their routes.
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| Edds |
4th year free agent pickup A. J. Edds has flashed the same versatility as Collins and is a gifted athlete, but needs to prove that his knees can hold up for an entire season. Originally a fourth round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2010, Edds has it all, similar in every way to Collins, but he's been on the Injured Reserved list more than on the field.
Having a full year to recover from an ACL tear, Edds has a big-time shot to see if he can finally get his career started. If healthy, Collins and Edd would cause nightmares for offenses in obvious passing downs, as both are good zone defenders and relentless in the pass rush.
By contrast, seventh round selection Steve Beauharnais isn't spectacular in any way, hence the late
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| Beauharnais |
...are you seeing a pattern here? Since Belichick already had a solid set of starting linebackers, he went crazy with linebacker/safety hybrids - virtual moving parts that could potentially and seamlessly cause utter bedlam.
In addition to bringing in the linebackers, he also pulled off the shocker of the NFL Draft by selecting safety Duron Harmon, whose combination of size and speed and experience at both safety positions will free up last season's draft shocker, safety Tavon Wilson and free agent intimidator Adrian Wilson to concentrate as nickel safeties, moving up into the box to become linebackers in most sub packages.
The transference between safety and linebacker comes more properly explained in the defensive secondary part of the camp preview, but for the purposes of this discussion we should consider that the Wilsons are going to spend plenty of time on the second level as coverage 'backers, as will nickleback Kyle Arrington, a disciplined slot corner and force against the run.
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| Hightower |
But the key to this unit, what allows the defense to venture into that dimly-lit chapter of the playbook that makes all of this possible, is last year's first round draft pick Dont'a Hightower.
If left to his own devises and sinister reasoning, Hightower would be the result of allowing Belichick access to an evil laboratory to construct his perfect linebacker. As a pass rusher, Hightower can be moved all over the alignment, able to beat tackles on the edge with solid technique and a violent initial punch and to blow up and overwhelm guards on the interior blitz.
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| Hightower breaking up a pass in camp |
Hightower swallows up running backs with his 6' 3", 270 pound frame on the strong side and sets a violent edge to turn running plays inside, and in pass coverage is an outstanding zone defender with a knack for redirecting backs and tight ends - all he needs is to be put in a position to pick his poison and turn him loose...
...which will be a lot easier this season than it was in his rookie campaign due to the potential of the depth behind him. As a matter of fact, Mayo, Spikes and Hightower will all benefit from the depth moves made by Belichick, regardless of who else makes the team.
Those three plus Collins and Fletcher are locks for the 53 man roster, with Edds and Beauharnais having a leg up to round out the unit, both making it if Belichick keeps seven - and if you consider the volleyballs (the Wilsons) as linebackers in the big nickel role, this unit is clearly one of the best and most versatile linebacker corps in the league.
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