New England Patriots: Patrick Chung Knows Importance of Hard Work
By Nick Ziegler
New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung recently reflected on turning 30-years-old soon, and the hard work it takes to stay in shape.
Patrick Chung of the New England Patriots didn’t have a great start to his career in New England, but he has developed into a solid player for the Patriots.
Chung was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013 but returned to New England one year later. Heading into his ninth season, Chung has made a nice NFL career for himself.
"“It means I’m old,” Chung said to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. “It’s good. It’s a blessing to be able to play this long and to continue playing. Hopefully, I’ve got a lot more years left in me. I feel like I do.”"
Staying in the NFL in your 30s is not an easy thing to accomplish. Staying in great shape is a priority for Chung, and it has certainly helped him have a nice career.
"“Just keep doing the same things you’ve been doing to get you to this point,” Chung said to Howe. “You can do a little extra, but a little too extra might be too much. Just whatever you’ve been doing to keep your body in shape, ready to perform, is basically what you need to do.”"
Last season, Chung had a down year for New England. He really struggled against the pass, but he was strong against the run. In the Patriots’ defense, they frequently use three safeties. This allows Chung to play near the box, with Duron Harmon playing deep.
According to Pro Football Focus, Chung was ranked as 83rd among safeties based on their grading system. It was a big drop from 2015, as he received an 84.7 overall grade compared to the 56.7 grade in 2016.
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The Patriots’ defense once again looks good on paper heading into 2017. For Chung, he will try to bounce back from a down season in 2016 and help the Patriots win their sixth Super Bowl.