Ranking Top 10 performers through New England Patriots first three games
8. Chris Long
There were expectations for Long entering his first season with the Patriots, and so far, the former St. Louis (or Los Angeles if you want to get technical) Rams defensive end has been delivering. Long makes this list as the No. 7 Patriots performer of 2016 through Week 3.
Long’s stat line reads seven combined tackles, a sack a fumble recovery and two passes defended right now. Those are some solid numbers, especially when you take into account that starting cornerback Logan Ryan has as many passes defended.
One guy who has been approving of Long’s play thus far is Bill Belichick:
Bill Belichick on DE Chris Long: "All the positive things I heard about him are all true ... very professional, very dedicated."
— Karen Guregian (@kguregian) September 25, 2016
Really, there is nothing that the former owner of the Patriots’ No. 95 jersey, Chandler Jones, can do better than Long–in New England, that is. In other words, Long fulfills the same role that Jones would have in 2016. Long is doing the job that was laid out before him when he signed on with the Pats this offseason.
Next: 7. Martellus Bennett