Tag: Jason McCourty

Joey B. and Mattes Chop It Up About the Patriots’ Chopping Block

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Joey B: Ok Mattes, here we are.

To kick this off. Who do you see, Good performance or not, off the Pats roster after this game?

Mattes: Brian Hoyer. While a lot of people may be averse to placing so much confidence in the preseason play of a rookie QB, the fact is that Jarrett Stidham has looked pretty sharp. This is also a kid who was once viewed as a first- or second-round pick before a “down” season at Auburn last year. And above all, there are too many other depth questions at other positions throughout the roster to keep three QBs – something, by the way, that Belichick has done only TWICE in the past decade. It would just be straight foolish. I’d much rather keep an extra WR or DL than keep a mediocre-at-best backup QB who may never even need to see the field. I’d actually be pretty pissed if they do keep Hoyer. There’s no reason for him to be here anymore.

Joey B:  Agreed 100% on Hoyer. My only caveat would be I could see them keeping until after final cuts, which gives him less of a chance of getting snatched up right away and us a better chance of resigning him should something to Stidham or….I’m not saying his name.

I personally think it’s curtains for Duke Dawson. Despite his size and balls skills he just never has been able to actually cover anyone. Much like your stance on Hoyer, why keep an extra player here when we could use depth somewhere else.

You mentioned the WR group. Give me your 5 and 6 man versions of our corps after this week. Who stays and who goes?

Mattes: I agree; I don’t expect them to cut Hoyer tomorrow. In fact, I could see them trying to trade him to someone first. (Maybe the Colts?? I mean, they already have one former Pats backup QB, so why not another?) And I totally agree on Dawson, too. He was a real talented kid coming out of Florida, but injuries set him back pretty far, and there is just too much talent and depth at the corner position otherwise. Especially with guys like Jonathan Jones and Keion Crossen (one of my guys I said to watch in camp this year) playing so well – not to mention rookie JoeJuan Williams – I just don’t see how Dawson makes the final cut.

My prediction for the final group at wide receiver is as follows: Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon, N’Keal Harry, Phillip Dorsett, Jakobi Meyers, and Demaryius Thomas. Some may be surprised to see Thomas, who just got back onto the field this week, make the roster, but apparently the team loves him. He’s a great veteran influence in a very young/inexperienced group outside of Jules, and I think they want to see if the former perennial Pro Bowler still has something left in the tank before cutting bait. Also, people might be shocked to see Berrios not make the cut. To be honest, though, he really hasn’t done much to stand out this summer, and there are even reports that he’s struggled mightily in terms of getting past coverage and muscling through defenders in practice. He’s displayed some solid punt-return ability, but to this point he’s not really proven why he’s any more special than any other “slot guy with potential” throughout the league. Hopefully the Pats get lucky and can slide him to the practice squad, because there’s some potential there. But I don’t think he’s quite NFL ready yet.

Joey B: No arguments here, I don’t think Berrios makes it either. He just hasn’t panned out plain and simple. Also, am I wrong in remembering he has actually muffed a punt or two aside from his decent returning resume so far?

The only threat to Thomas might be Gunner Olszewski. the team seems high on the kid and he has that “scrappiness” they like. If they don’t keep him then definitely expect them to try and stash him on the practice squad.

The other overload of players I see us having is on the D-Line. Any surprising stayers or goers there?

Mattes: I just can’t see Olszewski making the cut. He’s a cool story, but he’s a flash in the pan. Maybe he’s another one who can sneak onto the P-squad or something.

And there aren’t really any big surprise cuts that I’m expecting. I would’ve said Duron Harmon, because while he has been a solid role player in the secondary for years, I think he’s hit his ceiling and perhaps the staff might’ve been willing to try and get some more young talent on the roster. Further, I think newcomer Terrence Brooks has already won the staff over, and he’s a special teams stud. However, with the whole Pat Chung situation, I think Harmon is pretty much a lock to make the team now.

One surprise roster “make,” though, is DT Byron Cowart. Cowart is a former five-star recruit who the team drafted in the fifth round out of Maryland this year. Due to being misused by the coaching staff and other “issues,” he slipped a bit in the draft, but he has been a monster this summer. He really broke out against the Titans in the second preseason game, and scouts around the league are saying the Pats might have nabbed one of the biggest steals of the draft with him. Especially after the team cut bait with Mike Pennel last week, I’m excited to see what this Cowart kid could do with this opportunity.

Joey B: Hmm Harmon would be a surprise. He’s just always been rock solid and I think between him and the snaps J.McCourty has seen at Safety the Pats have any Chung absence covered. I can’t see them entrusting a newcomer like Brooks with the magnitude of Chung’s role.

Cowart has indeed been a stud. He might take Derek Rivers spot which is kind of a shame considering his promise coming out.

I kicked this thought around with Friend Of The Blog, Patty B., but I think Phillip Dorsett could be a surprise cut. I have no tangible evidence to support this, but Dorsett has always been a “one or two big plays” guy rather than a steady presence and so I wouldn’t be completely shocked if the Pats lets him go in favor of one of the young guns. I hope not though.

Either way things are going to get interesting over the next week. Hold onto ya butts.

 

 

 

 

One Foot in and One Foot Out: Patriots to Watch in the Third Preseason Game

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Patriots.com – The Patriots will square off this Thursday against the Carolina Panthers in a preseason Week 3 matchup for the fifth time in the last six years and for the second straight season. The Patriots played at Carolina last season, a 25-14 loss.

Week 3 of the preseason is often called the “dress rehearsal” for the regular season. It is where a lot of projected starters play for extended periods of time, most notably the Quarterback, and where we get a real glimpse into who could start Week 1.

Beyond that, based on this game we could also infer, both via playing time and whether or not they play at all, who is on the verge of making the Patriots roster and, well, who isn’t. So besides seeing two solid quarters of Tom Brady under center before he mayyyybe comes out for a hand off next week, there will be some drama unfolding Thursday night as we can attempt to read into who is playing what match ups and when and what is says about their chances to be on the squad this year.

Lets take a look at a few of those guys who have both made strides and fell behind in their quest to play home games in the Greater Providence area this fall.

Well, The Winters Are Cold Here Anyway

Duke Dawson – Like a budding summer romance, I still remember the elation in the wordsmithing of all the sportswriters who championed the Patriots’ pick of the Florida Gator last fall.  What a steal in the second round. He’s fast, he has a nose for the ball, and like any Belichick corner he can tackle. Well, so far really all we’ve been able to deduce is that he can get burnt like toast. Throw that in the pot with the revelation of Jonathan Jones and J.C Jackson and the drafting and then development of Joejuan Williams this spring, stir it up, bake it, and what comes out are Duke Dawson left out cupcakes. with all of that said, The Pats are known to make a surprising move or two every camp, and Belichick has shown a hesitance to cut his early picks so soon (Chad Jackson got two years on the squad. Chad. Jackson).

What to look for – If Dawson does see legitimate action against Carolina then it’s possible The Pats will keep him and jettison Jason McCourty, who has had a weird summer (we’ll get to that). If he doesn’t play much at all or sparingly it means that thanks to his pedigree and draft position that Belichick and Co are most likely fishing for a trade partner. If he is indeed relegated to mop up duty then well, it is simply the end of the road for one of our three alliteral cornerbacks.

Braxton Berrios – The feet Berrios was given for hands aside, you can’t help but kind of feel for the other second year player on this list. First, he came in with fans and media speculating, probably incorrectly, that he was the heir apparent to Julian Edelman. Just a true blue NFL legend and now Super Bowl MVP, no big deal. Then he tore his Achilles and missed all of his first year, a huge blow for a guy transitioning to the pros with such expectations on his shoulders. Finally this year, when he was supposed to come into training camp with a clean slate and work his way onto the depth chart, UDFA rookie WR Jakobi Meyers came out of the woodwork to become the star of the Patriots’ summer (more on him later). So let’s assume Edelman (1), captain clutch Philip Dorsett (2), and 1st Rounder N’Keal Harry (3) are locks. Let’s also say that the team is at least going to give Demariyus Thomas (4) a shot in the next two weeks considering they’ve kept him thus far. If Meyers (5) crushes it in preseason game three then that leaves, usually, one more slot (6). Berrios is going to have to battle journeyman Maurice Harris, a converted CB named Gunner Olszewski, and a couple of other unknowns for the last spot. That’s also assuming we keep six WRs out of camp, which we may not. Tough going for a guy we had high hopes for at one point. But hey, there is always what I mentioned before about Belichick giving his high picks every chance to shine.

What to look for – Simply put if we don’t see Berrios in the slot for any meaningful downs when Brady is on the field then that is probably it. With that said, if he goes on to get fed later in the game then it could just be he’s penciled in as WR #6 and the team didn’t want to waste meaningful TB12 reps on him.

Mike Pennel – Pennel had some substance abuse issues (I’m guessing weed) a few years back but otherwise has been a quite solid, stout DT for the Jets and Packers. So it has been a big disappointment that he has been outplayed, and thoroughly, by Byron Cowart and at other times by David Parry. This one is the hardest to predict as Belichick prefers his DTs meaty and Pennel really fits that bill (wink nudge). Still, my guess is his seat is getting a bit hot.

What to look for – Pennel to make a play, plain and simple. Maybe more than one. If he gets dominated at the line and pulled that could be it for him in New England.
What….Are You?

Derek Rivers – Another once highly celebrated pick who missed his rookie year with an injury. Once labelled a steal, Rivers has yet to make good on the promise he flashed. This preseason he has been moved off the line a bit as the Pats are possibly going to show a lot more 3-4 fronts. Early reports on his performance were good but now Rivers is hurt again. All indications are that he’ll probably make the back end of the Pats LB rotation but it may be hard to justify since he never, you know, plays.

What to look for – Tough call considering Rivers might not play due to the aforementioned injury suffered against the Titans. What that translates to is that I gueeeesss if we see guys at the dead back of the group like Munson getting a lot of snaps it could mean they are saving a seat for Rivers. If he plays, he better see some quality first half time and hear his name called.

Jason McCourty – For the second year in a row it seems like McCourty is fighting for his spot. Last year there was speculation he’d be cut before becoming a damn good CB during the Pats Super Bowl run. But the more things change, the more they stay the same and with the emergence of both J.C Jackson and Jonathan Jones, McCourty seems to be on uneasy footing, even getting a look at Safety to see if there is anything there. That said, I don’t think his spot is in jeopardy. Although this is the strongest group of corners I can remember the team having. McCourty’s veteran presence and ability to play more than one spot should keep him employed.

What to look for – If he indeed sees some significant snaps at safety, even later in the game, my eyebrows may threaten to rise. Same if he sees next to none at CB. Those extremes aside, McCourty should be fine.

On The Bright Side

Jakobi Meyers – ::Bigggg exhale:: Folks there was a training camp not so far back where an unheralded, unheard of rookie made plays all over the field and made us fans think we’d found a steal. Another Brady-esque diamond in the rough. His name was Zach Sudfeld, and he was nicknamed “Mini-Gronk”, a reference to his All-Everything counterpart in the Tight End room (despite being the taller of the two). Sudfeld indeed had a hell of a summer. And then was cut. He had a cup of coffee with the Jets and probably one or two more teams before never being heard from again. Such is preseason. So I am REALLY trying not to get onto this Meyers bandwagon only to get my heart broken. I probably look like a BFI employee hanging off the garbage truck. But man has he looked good. He’s just a “football player”. Great hands, great routes, even seems to have built a rapport with Brady. I’ll stop here.

What to look for – Big snaps and a big performance with the 1’s means he’s in. Anything else I REALLY DON’T FUCKING KNOW.

Damien Harris – For all the talent the Pats have at RB we don’t really have a true rock toter behind Sony Michel, who himself can be scheduled to miss a few games per year. Therefore, Harris could become our true #2, seeing 12ish touches per contest. The huge question mark is whose touches is he taking? My guess? The more expensive and oft-injured Rex Burkhead, who although I did not write up here, may be on his way out. Anyway, Harris has shown impressive vision among other things this preseason.

What to look for – If the kid just goes out and has some fun he could lock up the back up spot, starting when Michel is hurt (which I don’t wish for but come on).

Chase Winovich – Another rookie. Despite being a high selection Winovich was immediately declared a developmental prospect and kind of a tweener. Guess what? The Pats love tweeners. Since he put on pads all “Wino” has done is spend so much time in opposing backfields he has forgotten which team he plays for. With Rivers hurt, Michael Bennett probably on some sort of “pitch count”, and the Pats love of switching up looks, Winovich probably should plan to play a lot.

What to look for – I dunno just a crack a beer and enjoy man. Kid is a lot of fun to watch.

 

Checking in on the Patriots Mess of a Salary Cap Situation

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Some fans in Pats Nation are a bit salted that, to this point, the team has still yet to make any significant moves so far in free agency. To be fair, it hasn’t even been 24 hours since free-agent signings and new trades became official. The Pats were also able to resign one of their own top free agents in Jason McCourty as well as receiver Phillip Dorsett. Also, the news of Michael Bennett’s acquisition – which is by no means insignificant – broke almost a week ago.

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I am pretty stoked that at least J-Mac’s been officially locked up once again.

Still, the team has also lost it’s starting left tackle (Trent Brown) and defensive keystone (Trey Flowers) over the past few days along with some wide receiver depth. While Bennett can serve as a more than serviceable replacement for Trey Flowers, what about everything else?

Again, folks, it is still SUPER early in the offseason. Plus, there’s that whole draft thing that happens every April, too. Ya know, the one during which the Pats will have six picks within the top-101 selections? That’s likely where many needs are going to be addressed.

But with how much talent there is in this year’s free-agent class, especially at wide receiver, I’ll admit that maybe it is a little disappointing we’ve received nothing but radio silence from Foxborough, besides the McCourty news and a few other minor re-signings. The team also brought in long-time special-teams standout/emergency running back Brandon Bolden after his one-year stint in Miami. Other than that, though, absolutely nada.

(UPDATE: The Patriots signed journeyman wide receiver Bruce Ellington to a one-year deal on Thursday afternoon. But, honestly, who the hell cares? In my book, it’s still “nada.”)

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One of Belichick’s all-time faves, Bolden, is back.

Perhaps it isn’t entirely by choice, though. I mentioned the other day that we might not be paying enough attention to some of the team’s current contracts, which could potentially have the front office hamstrung, no matter what they actually might want to do. Right now, Spotrac has the Patriots’ projected cap space at about $9.6 million – but, and this is key to mention, that is without accounting for any of this week’s re-signings, as the terms of those deals have still yet to be announced. As you can see, the team really doesn’t have as many resources as some might like to think they do.

While I highlighted Julian Edelman’s current deal as a speculative problem, here are a few other very real salary concerns that are worth mentioning:

  • Gronk, who has a cap hit over $11 million for this year, has STILL yet to declare whether or not he’s coming back. Truthfully, it’s an incredibly selfish move on his part. That’s over eight figures just sitting there in limbo while some of the best names continue to fly off the market. Ironically, there’s a guy out there, Jared Cook, who the team is reportedly interested in and who could ultimately replace Gronk at tight end. But, until No. 87 decides what he wants to do, it might not matter. (He and the team might actually already know and just aren’t saying anything, but right now he looks bad.)
  • The right side of the offensive line – Shaq Mason and Marcus Cannon – accounts for a combined 7.7 percent of the team’s total salary in terms of cap hit. While I will be the first one to sing the praises of the offensive line from last season, that does seem a bit high when comparing it to the rest of the roster. Especially when you consider that the O-line is more about how all five work together as a unit, and no one player really stood out above the rest, do we really need to be investing this much? Though I think Mason is one of the game’s elite young guards, moving Cannon – and his extensive injury history – would save the team about $4.7 million. (This one is very unlikely to happen due to the team’s almost non-existent lack of depth at the position, but it is an example of player maybe not entirely living up to his big contract.)
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After being ranked as PFF’s top-rated right tackle in 2016, Cannon has fallen back down to Earth quite a bit.

  • Adrian Clayborn was up-and-down in 2018 after signing with the team last offseason as the “big” free-agent addition. He really was a key contributor at times in terms of pressure, but at others he was entirely non-existent. The team might be thin at the position, but he’s just not worth an almost $6 million cap hit. Cutting him would leave $2 million in dead money, but it’s honestly worth it in my opinion. There is so much depth in terms of pass-rushers/edge defenders in this draft. And the team still has young guys like Deatrich Wise and Derek Rivers, both of whom I expect to take big leaps in 2019 if they can finally each get healthy. We truly don’t need Clayborn at that price.
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Relative to expectations, Clayborn was a bit of a dud.

  • Devin McCourty is set to make over $13 million in 2019 and is in the last year of his deal. I know he allegedly toyed with the idea of retirement recently, but perhaps a nice little extension would show him that the team truly values his presence and knows how important it is to keep him around. His brother is also signed to be here at least through the next two seasons. Plus, it would allow the team to spread out the money a bit more and free up some much-needed space in the short term.
  • Literally the same exact thing can be done with Tom Brady, who is also set to become a free agent next offseason, and his $27 million cap hit.

There are others as well who could be extended, cut, traded, etc., etc., etc. But to me, these are the ones that stand out the most.

As I said, there’s still a lot of time left in the offseason, but the clock is ticking in terms of bringing in truly premier talent. Earlier today, the Golden Tate rumors started up again, and with the pretty cold market he’s been met with so far, the team could get him at a real discount. But the guy is only going to wait so long, and he is honestly about as perfect a fit as it gets for this team and its system. I would hate to see him sign for $7 or $8 million per with another team, because that would be absolute highway robbery for a player that good.

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Please, Bill, make this happen somehow!!!

(ANOTHER UPDATE: Aaaand now Tate’s gone after signing for $9 million per year over four years with the Giants. COOL.)

Maybe they have a few things lined up behind closed doors and we’ll soon be hit with a flurry of successive contract-related news. Or maybe the team’s brass is sitting in a big conference room and scratching their heads. I’ve never had anything but good reason to trust in this team and it’s roster-building mastery, but all I’m saying is they’ve definitely got their hands full this year.

BREAKING: Patriots Resign Super Bowl Hero Jason McCourty

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Besides a few under-the-radar moves (re-signing John Simon; tendering Jonathan Jones and Josh Gordon; signing Brandon Bolden), the Pats have been silent through the first 2.5 days of the NFL free-agent “tampering period.” Again, even though trades and signings cannot become official until 4 p.m. today, we already know where most of the big names are going.

At the same time, the Pats also watched their starting left tackle and best defender from last season walk out the door. But fortunately, Jason McCourty will not be following behind them. Today, the Pats resigned the cornerback to a two-year deal:

McCourty was unbelievable for the Pats last year. After being acquired for peanuts from the Browns after a “down” season in 2017, Belichick reunited J-Mac with his twin brother Devin, and the two were an absolute force in the team’s secondary last year. Jason not only played in every single game, but he also ended up finishing as Pro Football Focus’s 11th-ranked cover corner out of 123 eligible players. He truly was elite.

And, for maybe the 200th time, I’m going to mention how Jason made the most important play of Super Bowl 53. Had Cooks caught that ball, that would’ve changed the whole momentum of the game heading into the fourth quarter, and Brady might still only have five rings. McCourty is seriously not getting enough credit for what he did. The effort and determination he displayed in order to get to Cooks’s spot in the end zone before he caught the ball was remarkable, and it was indicative of the type of play he displayed all year long.

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This really might’ve been one of the most important plays in team history.

Along with First-Team All-Pro Stephon Gilmore, rookie standout J.C. Jackson, and the team’s crop of other young talents at the position, McCourty helps give the Pats what should once again be one of the league’s very best defensive backfields heading into 2019.

Post-Weekend Robert Kraft Update and a Few Other Patriots Notes

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Folks throughout the nation are still trying to process the news that broke on Friday about Patriots owner Robert Kraft, with a full spectrum of reactions ranging from “So what? It’s his own personal life” to “HE NEEDS TO SELL THE TEAM!”

Myself and the boys already provided you with our initial reaction to the story in this week’s podcast, so I’m not here to rehash what I’ve already said. (To be entirely honest, it’s still a very fluid, very contentious, and very far-reaching story – for which we still don’t have all the facts – so I feel as though I’ve said all I needed to say so far.)

But many are wondering what’s going to happen next, and we did receive at least some more insight regarding the potential fallout, which all started very early on Monday morning with this tweet from ESPN’s Michele Steele:

Steele also notes later on in the thread that, to this point, Kraft is not being charged with anything implicating his involvement in any form of human trafficking.

The NFL also released their first official statement regarding the matter this morning:

So, as of lunch time on Monday, here’s what we know so far:

  1. Kraft is being charged with a misdemeanor and arrested for soliciting prostitution.
  2. Kraft, at least as it currently stands, is NOT being charged with any involvement (or knowledge of) human trafficking relating to the establishment he visited.
  3. The NFL is letting the full investigation play out before making a decision regarding how they plan to punish Kraft.

OK, so at least it didn’t get any worse than what we first learned on Friday.

When trying to project what type of punishment Kraft could receive from the NFL, it’s important to remember that the league is actually kind of limited by the CBA in regards to what it can do to reprimand owners. Besides issuing a “maximum fine” of $500,000 (which is NOTHING to Kraft), the league can simply choose to suspend him for a long time. They cannot technically force him to sell the team or step down in any way.

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Your move, Rog.

How long will they suspend him, you ask? That’s where it gets interesting. Everyone wants to bring up Indianapolis Colts owner/CEO Jim Irsay, who was suspended for six games and fined $500,000 back in 2014 after being arrested for driving under the influence (which came after a series of other previous drug-related “infractions”). Tom Benson and the Saints also lost $500,000, along with two draft picks, for the whole Bountygate scandal in 2012. And way before Roger Goodell’s time, former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo was fined and suspended for an entire year in the late ’90s after getting caught up in a gambling scandal.

But, in truth, a more recent example might serve as a more telling indicator of what may lie ahead. After being accused of years-long sexual misconduct and racism as owner of the Carolina Panthers, Jerry Richardson was pretty much shamed into selling the team last year AND ultimately ending up shelling out almost $3 million, all told. Especially after their mishandling of the Ray Rice situation – as well as the fact that they have STILL yet to determine any sort of punishment for Kareem Hunt – the NFL could look to make a similarly strong statement against Kraft as the one they took against Richardson; after all, these are owners who are (so they say) supposed to be held to a much higher standard.

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Richardson suffered a pretty harsh, and well-deserved, punishment just last year.

And that’s really the whole scoop on Kraft for now, with plenty more still to come in short order. Stay tuned.

In other Patriots news…

(Don’t Call It a Comeback): While we did receive word last week that safety Devin McCourty would be returning next season, we still don’t have an answer about Gronk. Apparently, he’s been seen around the team facility over the past couple of weeks, so that’s a good sign. But otherwise, all we’ve got so far is this quote from Gronk’s agent Drew Rosenhaus from last Tuesday:

“I checked in with Gronk a couple of days ago. I talked with the Patriots about it. Right now, Rob is thinking it through. He is giving it a lot of thought. Rob will certainly I think make a decision in the foreseeable future. I don’t want to put any pressure on him and give him a timeframe, but I would imagine it will be sometime in the next couple of weeks.” (h/t WEEI.com)

Cool. Thanks for literally nothing, Drew.

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What are ya thinking, big fella?

Hopefully, Gronk is considerate enough to let the team know his decision before the new league year and free agency starts on March 13.

(The Other McCourty Wants Back In, Too): After being reunited with his twin brother and having a career year topped off by a Super Bowl win in 2018, Jason McCourty made no secret of his desire to return to Foxborough when speaking to the media on Sunday. Unlike his brother, however, Jason is not already under contract and is instead set to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. In fact, he is one of 18 Pats players scheduled to hit the open market next month. Fortunately, though, besides maybe Stephen Gostkowski, he looks like the most likely to return, and I’m fully confident both sides will get something done quickly to make sure No. 30 is back in a Pats uniform next season.

(What About Flowers and Brown?): Technically, there haven’t been any concrete updates pertaining to Trey Flowers or Trent Brown – who are easily the team’s two biggest free agents – but it doesn’t change the fact the entire offseason is predicated on what happens next with these two (particularly Flowers). Just this morning, Bleacher Report posted a story about how Flowers could be the “NFL’s top free agent” this offseason, proving just how difficult it may be to bring the stud defensive end back – especially when you consider the team’s typical frugality relating to free agents in the past. Brown is likely off to greener pastures, but the Pats’ offseason truly cannot start until Flowers’s next move is known. I am praying that Bill & Co. open up the purse strings on this one. We can’t let Flowers walk. We just can’t.

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PAY THIS MAN, BILL!!!

(Sitting Pretty for the Draft): Last week, it was announced the Patriots would be given a league-high four compensatory picks in the upcoming draft, giving them two additional picks in the third round as well as an extra pick in each of the sixth and seventh rounds. That means the Pats now have seven picks in the first four rounds (!) of the 2019 NFL Draft, allowing them to bring in hoards of young talent this offseason or, even better, using the capital they have to make a shrewd trade for another helpful piece. No matter what they do with the picks, it’s a really nice position to be in.

That’s it for now, but with the 2019 league year set to kick off in just about three weeks, we’ll have plenty more in store for you along the way. So be sure to keep checking in with The 300s for all your Pats offseason news and updates!

DEVIN MCCOURTY IS NOT RETIRING

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ESPN – Safety Devin McCourty, who said he might retire if the Patriots won Super Bowl LIII, will be back for a 10th season in New England.

“Yeah, I’m gonna play,” McCourty told the Sports Spectrum podcast in an interview published Thursday.

Phewwwwwwwwwwww. That’s a big one off of our shoulders. No matter what we always are going to go through the free agency “shit our pants and wait” process every few years with the Pats – we’ll we worry about losing key FAs, lose them, get pissed at Belichick, and then end up winning anyway and realizing he’s smarter than us at football. But losing a key piece of our “D” to just flat out retiring out of nowhere, that would suck.

McCourty has been an anchor on our D and a leader overall for this team for awhile now. He had to be. There were some rough times on the non-Brady side of the ball. But whether it has been playing center field, strong safety, in the box, or basically as a coverage corner, McCourty has showed up and done his damn job. He’s not always perfect, but he gives it 120% no matter what.

We still have to wonder about the end of the line for #32. His brother, Jason, said Devin was just being dramatic when he said he might retire with a Super Bowl win this year. But the fact is that he is now a three-time Super Bowl champ, a two-time Pro Bowler, and an eight-time team captain. There is not a lot left for him to accomplish and by the end (and actually the beginning) of this season he’ll be 32 years old and will have played 10 years. That could be enough.

But for now we have our defensive stalwart back. We can turn our full worries to FA Trey Flowers and company. The original star from Rutgers remains safely at the back end of our “D” where he belongs.

Patriots 2018 Report Card (Part 2): Defense

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The new league year starts in less than a month (March 13), and the Pats will have a lot of decisions to make in the coming weeks, especially considering the fact that 18 (!) guys from this year’s championship squad are set to hit unrestricted free agency.

But again, before we hop into the future, I’m here to bring you Part 2 of our 2018 Patriots report card. Last week, we focused on Brady and the offense; this week, we’re grading out the defense.

Overall, the Pats finished with the league’s 21st-ranked defense, but they did allow the seventh-least amount of points per game. As we’ve seen with most Belichick defenses over the years, the boys played a lot of “bend but don’t break” ball this year, giving up some yards but still finishing with the fourth-best opponent’s scoring percentage, only behind Chicago, Baltimore, and Houston. They also had the fourth-best turnover percentage, hauling in 18 interceptions on the year. And they even grabbed 10 fumble recoveries, too, which was good for 12th.

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Now the new official head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Brian Flores did a great job with this unit in 2018.

The point is, the defense doesn’t get enough credit for just how important they were to the team’s success this season – especially in regards to the secondary, which featured First-Team All-Pro Stephon Gilmore and the dynamic McCourty twins duo.

To be honest, some guys (or groups) played much better than others, and, just like with the passing offense, the team certainly wasn’t without its flaws on the defensive side of the ball either.

Let’s look at the grade sheet…

Defensive Line: B

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The play of the defensive line starts and ends with Trey Flowers. Both Red and I have never made any secret of our love for the do-it-all defensive end, who has been the leader of the team’s front seven for the past three seasons. In fact, Flowers was so good in 2018 that Pro Football Focus ranked him at No. 21 on its list of the 101 best players from this past season. Primarily a defensive end, Flowers is actually one of the more versatile D-lineman in the league, playing almost a quarter of his snaps from the inside and wreaking havoc no matter where he lines up. It seems as though he finds his way into the backfield on almost every play, and his 78 pressures (including the postseason) were the second most in the league. His 7.5 sacks also led the team. (SPOILER ALERT: Flowers was the team’s defensive MVP this season; yes, even over Gilmore.)

The team has a gigantic decision to make this offseason, as the 25-year-old is set to hit the open market. Belichick needs to open up the purse and lock this guy down for the long term, as he truly could serve as the foundation of the team’s D for much of the next decade. Usually pretty frugal as a franchise, the Pats HAVE TO change course and do whatever it takes to bring this guy back. PLEASE.

Lawrence Guy was also outstanding, even though most casual fans may not know who the hell he is. That’s no disrespect to the big fella, but most run-stuffing defensive tackles don’t usually get the love they deserve. The Pats struggled mightily as a team against the run at points this season (which I blame mostly on the linebackers), but they still finished 11th in the league against the opposing ground attack. Guy was a huge reason why, finishing with an elite 91.1 run-stuffing grade from PFF and coming in at No. 83 on the same list of best players Flowers found himself on this year.

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This “Guy” deserves a ton of credit for his play this year. (Sorry, I had to.)

Malcolm Brown, another unrestricted free agent, was up and down this year. He lost more playing time than anticipated to second-year man Adam Butler. But overall, Brown was pretty consistent, or at least reliable, often taking on double teams that freed up others around him. Still, I wouldn’t say he did anything particularly special, and I’m predicting the team lets him walk this spring. (Also, Butler is a very underappreciated player on this line. Unlike Brown, Butler can rush the passer from the inside and has five sacks over the past two seasons. He came on strong as a rookie UDFA last season, and he could take a big leap forward with another solid showing in 2019.)

I thought Danny Shelton and Adrian Clayborn would’ve played a bigger roles after the Pats started last offseason off with a bang by bringing both guys in. Both were expected to make a much bigger impact, especially Clayborn. But, for some reason, each of them struggled to earn playing time in a crowded rotation, and Shelton was even benched entirely for one stretch of the season (before coming on strong in the playoffs). Both had their (brief) moments this year, but overall they were a major disappointment.

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Clayborn played nowhere even close to how a guy making over $6 million per year should.

Finally, injuries slowed the trajectory of young guys like Derek Rivers and Deatrich Wise, Jr. this year, but I’m still excited about their potential. In fact, Wise, who finished with 4.5 sacks on the year, was my pick for defensive MVP this preseason after a solid rookie year. I’m looking forward to what these two can still do next season if they start off with a good camp.

Linebackers: D+

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I really don’t have many great things to say about the team’s linebacking corps, and I’ve felt this way ever since the summer.

Let me just start by saying that Dont’a Hightower is one of the most overrated Patriots players in recent memory. Yes, he’s made some pretty big stops in his career in some pretty big moments, but the 28-year-old has noticeably slowed in recent years, often struggling to keep up with speedy opponents. He can still lay the wood on opposing ball-carriers, but that is only if he’s able to get to them first. And forget about pass-coverage, as both he and Kyle Van Noy allowed almost 70 percent of the passes they were targeted in coverage this postseason to be completed – and this was after the Pats already allowed the 11th-most receiving yards per game to opposing running backs throughout the regular season. There were also six games in which the Pats gave up over 130 yards on the ground.

At least Van Noy makes up for his poor coverage skills by being an above-average to excellent pass-rusher at times. His 3.5 sacks may not jump off the page, but he continuously applied pressure to opposing signal-callers all year, particularly in the postseason. He and Flowers were easily the team’s two best guys off the edge, and I believe Van Noy does play a pretty key role on the team’s D.

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For as much flak as I give Van Noy, he can be pretty important at times.

Elandon Roberts – literally the only other linebacker to see significant playing time in 2018 – is entirely forgettable at this point. While once looked upon to be a potential piece for the team’s future, he struggled to even stay on the field this year. There’s really nothing more to say about him.

Fortunately, the Pats still have preseason standout Ja’Whuan Bentley, a promising rookie who was lost for the year due to injury in Week 3 against Detroit. I’m excited about what he can bring to the table. But again, this unit is in desperate need of an upgrade this offseason, especially in terms of guys with sideline-to-sideline ability. This should be one of the team’s main areas of focus over the next few months.

Defensive Secondary: A-

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It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this is the unit receiving the highest grade, as the secondary was dominant at times this season. Remember, stats can be misleading; I realize the team finished 22nd against the pass, but that only means that they gave up a lot of yards – not points. Because truthfully, Stephon Gilmore routinely eliminated the opponent’s top weapon; in the 13 games he tracked receivers this year, he only allowed 42 catches on 90 targets for a measly 466 yards, per PFF. He was also selected as one of the league’s top two cornerbacks this season, earning his first All-Pro honors.

But it’s not all about Gilmore. As a team, the Pats finished 12th against thier opponents’ No. 2 receiver and fourth against “all other” wide receivers in terms of DVOA. Safeties Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, and Duron Harmon (who also served as a hyrbid linebacker at times) helped locked down the back end of the defense all year. They helped the team finish as the eighth-best against the tight end position as well.

Rookie J.C. Jackson was also a revelation. The undrafted free agent out of Maryland used a surprise standout preseason to springboard himself into a starting role opposite Gilmore as the season wore on. He did not come without his struggles, but his rapid ascension shows a lot of promise for him going forward.

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The rookie far exceeded expectations in 2018.

And finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give some special shine to Jason McCourty. The Pats went out and brought him in on a flyer this offseason, trading a low draft pick to snatch him away from the Cleveland Browns, who were likely going to cut him otherwise. While he was still a serviceable corner in 2017, he was on his second team and looking at a career crossroads before coming to New England. But in 2018? He finished with the 11th-highest coverage grade at the position, per PFF, and the seventh-best mark against the run. He also played the most snaps he’s played since 2012, and he is another guy the team must make a priority to re-sign this offseason.

Much like the offensive line, you could argue that this group also deserves to be a collective MVP. They were absolutely fantastic.

(Defensive MVP): Trey Flowers – Many might want to give the nod to Gilmore here, but I’ve said pretty much all I needed to say about the star defensive end above. Flowers is the engine that keeps the defense running. He was an absolute stud again in 2018.

(Biggest Surprise): Jason McCourty – For a guy who many weren’t even sure would make it out of training camp, he was vital to the team’s final outcome this season. Perhaps revitalized playing with his twin brother, here’s to hoping the double trouble continues in Foxborough moving forward.

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(Biggest Disappointment): The Linebackers – I’m really hoping the team makes an investment at this position this offseason. I’m just plain sick of watching these guys out there. Plain and simple.

Be sure to stay tuned to The 300s for all your Patriots offseason talk, which should ramp up even more in the coming weeks. No rest for the weary! On to 2019!

Patriots “We’re Champions AGAIN!!!” Super Bowl Postgame Reaction and Quick Hits

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A lot of people are going to want to sit there this morning and say that was one of the worst Super Bowls that they’ve ever watched. It felt long. It felt tedious. It felt just outright boringgg a times. And it did feature the lowest total amount of points scored in any title game in NFL history, as the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams by a score of only 13-3.

All that matters, though, is that the Pats came out victorious in the end, tying them with Pittsburgh for the most championships in NFL history (6) and making Tom Brady the ONLY NFL player in the history of the planet with six Super Bowl titles to his name.

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Julian Edelman, the game’s MVP, continued his long history of postseason dominance with another exceptional performance. His 141 receiving yards accounted for over a third of the Pats’ total offensive output in the game, and his 10 receptions were just under half of the total passes Brady completed overall in the game. Gronk also stepped up with six catches and 87 yards of his own, as the two combined for 228 of the team’s 262 total receiving yards.

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Jules put up a performance for the ages.

But this game was ALL about the defense, as both sides were absolutely dominant on that side of the ball. Here’s a few stats for you to illustrate just how tough it was for both teams to move the chains last night:

  • Neither Brady nor Jared Goff could surpass 262 yards through the air, and both quarterbacks finished with ratings well under 75 for the game. (Goff had a putrid 57.9 rating!) Each signal-caller also threw a pick without a score.
  • Both teams converted on only about 25 percent of their third-down opportunities, and the Pats failed on their only fourth-down attempt.
  • There were a total of 14 punts in the game for over 630 yards.
  • The Rams did not reach the red zone ONCE throughout the entire game.

So, while some may be quick to claim that both teams were “bad” last night, maybe it was actually just the fact that both defenses were so “good.” In today’s NFL, offense usually steals the show, but I thought it was actually refreshing to see both sides play some old-school, smash-mouth, grind-it-out pigskin. And considering that both the Pats and Rams were top-five scoring teams this year, what both defenses were able to do was all the more impressive.

Both team’s defensive success started with their pass-rush. After not getting touched all postseason, Brady was finally sacked and hit another four times. But the Patriots were even more aggressive coming at Goff; they were able to take the young fella down four times and hit him another 12 (!), forcing him to make horrible tosses all over the field last night. For as much as I crap on Kyle Van Noy and his pass-coverage skills, he was a monster up front for the Pats on Sunday, with one sack and three QB hits of his own. Dont’a Hightower also had two sacks.

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All right, Kyle. Enjoy this one. You deserved it last night.

However, I would be entirely remiss if I did not mention the incredible play of the Pats’ secondary. Everyone will mention Stephon Gilmore‘s game-ending interception, but I think that Jason McCourty may have single-handedly saved the game with one third-quarter play. With the Pats up by only three points and just over 18 minutes to play in the game, Brandin Cooks broke free down the seam and was sitting WIDE OPEN in the end zone for what should have been a cupcake touchdown for L.A. Yet McCourty never gave up his pursuit and followed the 40-yard bomb Goff threw all the way to Cooks’s body, ultimately using his arms to knock the ball right out of Cooks’s hands at the very last moment in front of the goal post. (You can watch the play here. It truly was a season-saving play by No. 30.)

The Pats then held the Rams to a 53-yard field goal, which would be their only score of the game. In total, the defense also defended another eight passes from Goff, and, above all, they held both Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson to 68 total yards on 20 touches. At one point, the Pats also forced the Rams to punt the ball eight straight times. The Patriots defense was the real Super Bowl MVP last night.

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This dude was pretty much M.I.A. in Atlanta on Sunday. His non-existence is truly what killed the Rams in this one.

Here’s a few more key takeaways from last night’s events:

  • I was all ready to write a fury-filled post today about Stephen Gostkowski AGAIN missing yet another field goal in a Super Bowl. On the Pats’ second drive of the game, Gostkowski missed a 46-yarder, after Brady threw a pick on the first drive, causing me to just stare blankly at the TV in complete fear and disbelief early on. BUT, the 13-year vet made up for it with two other successful kicks (and an extra point) which ended up being vital to the game’s final outcome. Still, that’s three straight times Gostkowski has missed a field goal on the game’s biggest stage, plus the one he missed in the 2015 AFC Championship in Denver. I’d still rather have him than most other guys in the league, but it’s never a given with him in pressure situations.
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Nice save last night, Steve. Nice save.

  • Even though it’s usually a bad sign when you notice your punter’s efforts in a particular game, I gotta give it up to Ryan Allen. Some casual Pats fans probably couldn’t even name the 28-year-old or pick him out of a lineup, but he pinned three of his five punts last night inside the 20. He was one of the reasons the Rams kept starting off with such poor field position all night long. Matthew Slater also kept proving why he’s one of the best special teams guys ever, as he was constantly the one chasing those punts down and preventing them from bouncing into the endzone. I just wanted to make sure I gave credit to some guys who I know will fly under the radar in most postgame pieces out there today.
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Long an unsung hero, Slater was vital to the team’s success again last night.

  • While both Sony Michel and Rex Burkhead ran the ball well last night, I was completely shocked by how little the running backs were used in this one. James White – who I shamelessly praised earlier this week – was completely invisible, in every sense of the word, touching the ball just three times for a total of nine yards. Surprisingly, however, White was on the field for just as many plays (27) as Michel, and both guys outsnapped Burkhead by eight plays. When you look at it, they all still played about a third of the team’s offensive snaps, and it seems as though they were simply called upon to be decoys last night, being used to draw coverage off of the primary targets Brady really wanted to go to. So, they didn’t really play “bad” at all; they just didn’t all get as much shine as usual. (And yes, game script was also a big factor here, too.)
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The rookie showed up with some big plays last night, including the game’s only touchdown.

  • If this really is Gronk’s swan song, what a way it was to go out. Sure, he didn’t have a throwback, tried-and-true GRONKINATOR performance, but he was the team’s second-leading receiver behind Edelman. He also played on 100 percent of the plays, and we all know this guy still isn’t fully healthy (and may never be again). But he still gutted it out, with a few huge grabs in the biggest moments, cementing his status as one of the greatest Pats ever. Hats off to you, No. 87!

In all honesty, there’s really not much more to say about the game last night, as it truly was a test of patience for everyone involved – players, coaches, and fans alike. Sometimes, it’s just like that, and it all comes down to whoever’s left standing at the end.

And for the sixth time in the past 18 years, the ones left standing were none other than your New England Patriots. We’re champs again, baby! We are champs AGAIN!!!

Patriots Bills Postgame Reaction and Quick Thoughts

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Yesterday, Red already hit you with a bit of a recap and a few postgame thoughts of his own. Now, ya boy Mattes is here to follow it up with even more reaction for the folks.

First and foremost, it’s very important to note the following: Yes, the Pats did indeed lock up the AFC East for the 1,456th time in a row (OK not really, but I’m running out of room in my closet for all these hats and T-shirts); however, they DID NOT lock up the No. 2 seed. Not quiteeeee yet. So before making plans to finally clean out the garage on Wild Card Weekend, I’d wait to see what happens next weekend against the Jets.

I’m not trying to be the turd in the punch bowl here. And as long as the Pats beat the Jets next Sunday, then the team will unquestionably head into the postseason with a bye. However, not only can the Texans still get the No. 2 seed, even after today’s heartbreaking loss to Philly, but even Baltimore can make a leap up to the second spot. No, but seriously:

For the record, I think we’ll pull it off…but we still gotta beat the Jets.

OK, now on to some reaction from this afternoon.

I won’t touch upon much of what Red already wrote here. But I will say that anyone who comes out of this one feeling “great” might need a bit of a reality check, as many of the same problems the team was facing heading into today were still painfully apparent (e.g. Brady’s knee; Gronk’s health/ability to move).

  • Compiling 273 yards on the ground in any game – let alone against a top-10 run defense – should always be applauded. Those yards also helped the Patriots control the clock, as they bested the Bills in time of possession by over 10 minutes. Those numbers are also all the more impressive and important when you consider the current state of the Patriots’ passing game. Sony Michel was solid but unspectacular, mixing in a few big runs with a consistent 3-5 yards on the majority of his other totes. But, outside of James White’s 27-yard TD run, White and Rex Burkhead were pretty lackluster on the ground. (Burkhead did have a solid four catches for 40 yards, though.)
  • Instead, it was Cordarrelle Patterson, and even Phillip Dorsett, who were responsible for for almost 29 percent of the team’s rushing yards on the day. The team finally seems like they’re picking the right spots to call those big WR sweeps – which I admittedly was not a huge fan of at first – and they could be a vital part of the offense moving forward, because the team’s going to need to get creative with the passing game looking as awful as it has.
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The big man was rumblin’ on Sunday afternoon.

  • BUT, OF COURSE, Patterson left the game and didn’t return after suffering a knee injury late in the third quarter. Hopefully, he’s OK. So far, though, all the news we have about it so far is this very “reassuring” tweet from NBC Sports’ Phil Perry:
  • And I have to once again make sure everyone realizes how incredibly good Jason McCourty has been this year. Yes, Josh Allen served him an absolute cupcake interception in the fourth quarter that anyone with a pulse would’ve had, but J-Mac, Stephon Gilmore, and J.C. Jackson – a guy we’ve been telling you about since this summer! – were all solid once again. OH, and McCourty also forced a fumble at the end of the third as the Bills were about to reach the red zone. This secondary is damn good.
  • Trey Flowers also continues to prove why he’s so underappreciated; he had no sacks on the day, but he was still everywhere on defense, finishing with five tackles and even drawing a holding penalty at one point. If he ever goes down, the D will go with him.
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Please don’t let this dude walk this spring. Open the purse, Bill!

  • Penalties continue to be a killer for this team lately. After getting called for 14 (!!!) against the Steelers last Sunday, some might think I’m overreacting to an outlier. However, the team was called for another five today, giving them 42 over their past five games alone (8.4 per game). That’s very uncharacteristic for this team, and it’s certainly not a good trend heading into postseason play.

So, again, while I’m very happy with the win, I’m definitely not heading into January with the warm and fuzzies. This team still needs some serious help to get anywhere close to Atlanta in February. A win against the Jets next week and a first-round bye would be an excellent way to start though.

Be sure to check in at the end of the week for the preview of the regular-season finale!

REAL TALK: Jason McCourty Has Been an Absolute STUD for the Patriots This Year

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If you’ve been following our coverage of the Pats all year long, you’re probably aware that Jason McCourty has been playing extremely well this season – but even I didn’t realize just how dominant he’s been.

Check this out from Rotoworld’s Evan Silva:

Basically, he is the seventh-ranked corner in the league this season, according to the most respected football ranking’s website on the planet. Yeah, he’s been that good.

After acquiring him for pennies this offseason from Cleveland, many weren’t even sure if he’d make the final roster after a slow start this summer. Seriously, though, people were talking about him being on the roster bubble all the way up until final cuts at the end of August.

Alas, the 31-year-old survived, not only making the team but pretty much outshining everyone, including his twin brother, in the Patriots secondary this season. Along with Stephon Gilmore, McCourty has been helping the Pats D steadily improve as the season has worn on; the team’s defense currently sits at No. 22 overall, with the pass D coming in at No. 24.

McCourty is due to become a free agent at season’s end, and he may have already outpriced himself a bit too high for the Pats liking with his play this year. But if the team can work at a deal to lock him up, perhaps even sooner than this offseason, it’d be a win for both sides. He seems to be rejuvenated playing with his brother Devin, who is signed through next season; he does all the little things that Bill loves from his players; and he’s a great presence in the locker room, serving as a great role model for the talented group of young guys the Pats currently have at the position.

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Come on, Bill! Let’s keep the Double Trouble going in Foxborough.

Jason McCourty has easily been one of the Pats’ best acquisitions over the past few seasons, especially at a position which they’ve typically struggled to find talent. Bill & Co. deserve a lot of credit for going out and getting him this past March.

Just wanted to make sure I gave some shine to a guy who really deserves it this year. Hats off to you, J-Mac. Keep it up!