Patriots kickoff 2016: A look at Patrick Chung
The New England Patriots open 2016 in 23 days, so we’re profiling the owner of the No. 23 jersey, veteran safety Patrick Chung.
Size: 5-foot-11, 207 pounds
College: Oregon
NFL experience: Seven seasons
Before being selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft, Chung started more games (51) than any other defensive player in Oregon history. The Patriots were fortunate to land him at No. 34 seven years ago, as Chung has panned out to be one of the better safeties in the NFL after a bit of a rocky start to his career. Chung has started 69 of 93 career games, and he’s accumulated 474 tackles, three sacks, 38 passes defended, eight interceptions and a pick six in that span.
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After a strong performance in the Patriots’ Super Bowl XLVI loss to the New York Giants, Chung landed with the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2013 offseason. It turned out to Chung’s worst year as a pro; in fact, he was one of the worst defensive backs in the league that season when he wasn’t sidelined with recurring injuries.
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Chung hopped back up to New England in 2014, and it was a great decision by both Chung and the Patriots to reunite. Chung started 15 of 16 regular season games that season, the most starts in his career to date; he was instrumental in the Patriots’ Super Bowl run. He kept up the good work in 2015, playing like one of the best strong safeties in the NFL. With Devin McCourty patrolling the deep ball and Chung lining up closer to the box to defend the run, the Patriots have an awesome pair of starting safeties.
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Certainly, Chung’s spot on the final roster is more than secure. Look for the Jamaican-born defensive back to perform as one of the elite safeties in the NFL for a third year in a row after that atrocious one-year stint in Philly.
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Tomorrow marks 22 days until the Patriots open 2016, so stop by Musket Fire as we profile the owner of the No. 22 jersey, Justin Coleman.