The Boogeymen 2.0
The 2021 NFL season has already gone through free agency and now the draft. With all the moves Bill Belichick and the Patriots have done could this be the best defensive group Bill has ever had?
Lets break down this defense as of May 2nd.
Left Defensive Ends- Lawrence Guy will get the start with the depth pieces behind him Deatrich Wise, Montravius Adams Rashod Berry
Nose Tackle- Davon Godchaux (free agent from Miami) looks to help stop the run and David Andrews said he was the hardest NT he went up against the past few years. Behind him Byron Cowart, Akeem Spence, and Nick Thurman. Obviously we wont have this depth coming into the season but hopefully we can keep one on the practice squad.
Right Defensive Ends- Henry Anderson (free agent from NY Jets) and Christian Barmore (Rookie Alabama) will be in a fight for that starting job coming out of training camp. The steal of the 2nd round of the Draft was Barmore who was rated as a 1st round selection but feel in to Bill’s lap after trading with the Bengals. The highlights on this kid will make it move as a Patriots fan. Bill Murray and Tashawn Bower round out the depth chart.
Weak Side Linebacker- Matthew Judon (free agent Baltimore) is one of Bill’s prized free agents this off season. At 34.5 career sacks Bill will make this kid a stud in this league. He will be one of the most talked about defensive players on this team. With the guys in front of him he could have lanes to the Quarter back every play. At 28 he is in the prime of his career that could move him to an all pro.
Left Inside Linebacker- Ja’Whaun Bentley coming in to his 4th year it is make or break for him. Running this linebacking core last year with Dont’a out he was average at best. With all the new players coming in hopefully it takes the pressure off of him and he can be a very big asset for this team. Terez Hall will back him up or be on the practice squad come the fall.
Right Inside Linebacker- After taking last year off due to Covid-19 Dont’a Hightower is back to lead this front 7. Having him skip last year was a huge loss for this team you could see the simple mistakes that wouldn’t be had with Dont’a their. He is on the back 9 of his career but what a guy to have back with the younger players on this team to help mentor and show them the way of this defense. Raekwon McMillan (free agent Las Vegas) comes over to back him up which depth is key at this linebacker position. Injury history for this position is that someone always goes down and if we can have good depth that will be an important factor for this team.
Strong Side Linebacker- Kyle Van Noy (free agent Miami) and Chase Winovich with be splitting the reps when the season starts. Van Noy was a nobody until he came to this Patriots team. After becoming a house hold name in New England he took the money and went to Miami for a season only to be cut and brought back to New England. Motivation will be a big factor for Van Noy and hopefully can bring back that same intensity he had his first stint in New England. Winovich is one of those guys that you can see the potential but just is out in left field at times and makes him go on Belichick’s shit list. With these guys splitting reps it may help with the mistakes he was having with fatigue. Ronnie Perkins and LaRoy Reynolds round it out. With all the guys named mentioned above Bill will be able to move them around to different positions giving offensive lines nightmares. I am and you should be too extremely excited to see what Bill does with these guys.
Corner Backs- League leader in 2020 in interceptions JC Jackson comes back after one of his best years. Lined up on the other side is Stephon Gilmore, the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. With the front 7 rushing the quarter back will this be the best duo in the NFL in 2021? Jonathan Jones, Jalen Mills (free agent Philadelphia), Michael Jackson, and Dee Virgin will be the guys giving these two a break and moving in and out of the lineups.
Safeties- Devin Mccourty and Adrian Phillips will start the season at strong and free safeties. However, Kyle Dugger and Jalen Mills could sneak into starting roles midway through the season due to age with Devin and Adrian. We literally have 4 guys that could start on NFL teams that are on the Patriots. After writing all this and going through this defensive roster, first it moved. Knowing Bill has this all at his finger tips the schemes and role players that will become house hold names is going to be amazing. Second, if we aren’t top 3 in the NFL at seasons end I will be surprised and disgusted. Lastly, Super Bowl is back on. Lets Go!
