Patriots: Getting defensive in the backfield, too
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
For all of the moves made on both sides of the ball over the past few years in New England, has there been any single spot more scrutinized than the defensive backfield?
They can cover. They can’t cover. They’re a tough, physical bunch. They’re soft. They’re aggressive against the run. They’re still soft in coverage. All compliments and complaints have merit over the past decade, since the Patriots won their first Super Bowl in 2001. One fact remains a constant, however. Usually when there’s a pass rush up front, the guys in the back more than hold up their end of the bargain.
Usually.
2010 was a weird year, as Patriot defensive backs led the league with 19 interceptions, but the pass defense rated only 30th out of 32 teams. And they were dead last in 3rd down conversions allowed.
Part of the inconsistency in the back had to do with youth. The new size up front certainly could help those numbers improve, and that has the guys in the back somewhat excited – yet cautious – all at the same time.
“You know what? We’ve got some good players (coming in), but I have to control what I can control,” said cornerback Leigh Bodden, a nine-year veteran who is working himself back from a season-ending shoulder injury last year. “I’ve got to do my job, I don’t care who’s out there in front of me, I have to take care of the guy that I’m guarding – in my zone – get in my playbook and know the plays, and just do the normal things. I can’t worry about who’s in front of me.
“I can’t rush for those guys, and those guys can’t cover for me,” Bodden continued. “I have to cover my guy, regardless. Anything can happen. They might fall. The quarterback might scramble, so I have to do my job and not worry about what those guys are doing.”
Bodden is still considered the leader in the backfield, even though he tore his rotator cuff before the season and ended up on the injured reserve list. His healthy return to the secondary, along with an improved rush up front, should mean good things. 55 tackles and 18 passes defended with five interceptions (leading the team) in 2009 are solid numbers, and he’s anxious to pick up where he left off.
“My shoulders’ great, I’ve been rehabbing, and taking care of it. It’s not bothering me at all right now,” Bodden explained. “My injury just made me work harder, to get back to playing the way I want to play.”
Bodden is also looking forward to joining the young guys in the secondary (Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington, Darius Butler) who filled in admirably at times a year ago. “Those guys are playing well. We’ve got to communicate like we’ve been doing, and just work at getting better and being a great (team) secondary,” Bodden said. “We talked friendly stuff (during the off-season) just to stay in communication with the guys because we’re friends.”
And he added, “I’m just looking forward to working hard, getting better every day and just helping the team any way I can.”
The competition in camp has been even, without too much separation between the players. Second round draftee Ras-I Dowling from Virginia has only been a part-time participant thus far due to injury, which can’t help his cause. It allows further opportunity for Jonathan Wilhite, 3rd-year corner Darius Butler and rookie Malcolm Williams, and with depth issues at safety following the release of Brandon McGowan, it could also afford a few extra looks this way.
After all, what’s a little extra scrutiny these days? It’s the name of the game, isn’t it?
Training Camp Notes
Injuries are piling up for other teams - including Patriots' opponents - during training camp. Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio says quarterback David Garrard is out after tweaking his back in practice last week. 1st round draft pick Blaine Gabbert out of Missouri will start, with veteran Luke McCown and 39-year-old Todd Bouman also seeing action. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew, defensive end Aaron Kampman, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton and tight end Marcedes Lewis probably won't play Thursday. Jaguars' starters will probably work a series or two...Bill Belichick mentioned Tuesday that “it’s probably right” to assume that if a player hasn’t been practicing, they probably won’t play in Thursday’s pre-season opener against Jacksonville. This includes Albert Haynesworth – he’s “in the day-to-day category” – according to Belichick, and also new arrival Shaun Ellis. Ellis has been placed on the active/PUP (physically unable to perform) list, and he can return to the field any time. On Haynesworth, Belichick offered this: “I think he'll be back out there as soon as he can. I think he's working really hard. Hopefully he'll be back out there in a matter of days. I don’t think we have a lot of guys that we won’t see until October or November or that kind of thing.” One roster move from Tuesday, as the team picked up rookie offensive lineman Mark Wetterer (6-4, 305, Louisville) off waivers from Cincinnati. To make room on the roster, the team released safety Ross Ventrone...
Without the benefit of two-a-day practices (perhaps a relative term in the eyes of the players), the subject of extra or extended playing time for veterans in the early pre-season came up…and was promptly shot down. “I doubt you’ll see it this week,” Belichick said…If you’re into such things, the first “Power Rankings” for the NFL are out…ESPN.com has the Patriots currently slotted at #2, behind the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers…the Patriots this season will wear a special patch (“MHK”) on their uniforms honoring Myra Kraft, wife of Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft and the chief mover-and-shaker behind the organizations’ charitable foundations…former Brown wide receiver Buddy Farnham got some looks at defensive back during Tuesday’s practice. Farnham saw some time in the secondary last season in the pre-season finale against the New York Giants, and spent the year on the team practice squad…
If you have the internet, and an Xbox game system at home, you apparently have the elements needed to host Chad Ochocinco for a week...maybe two. The Patriots wide receiver reports: "I’m going to do something different – I’m actually going to stay with a fan, probably the first two or three weeks of the season. So that should be fun until I get myself acclimated, I learn my way around and actually just find a place." Has he picked the fan yet? "No. I’m not sure how many Boston fans I have, but I’ll just pick somebody. I’m not sure how it’s going to work. They have to have internet and they have to have Xbox and that’s about it."
Training Camp Schedule
Wednesday
10:00 am – 11:15 am Practice inside Gillette Stadium (open to the public)
11:00 am – 1:00 pm Patriots Experience (final day)
Thursday
7:30 pm Kickoff vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Patch illustration courtesy of the New England Patriots & NFL.com
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It