Patriots: 3 Defensive Players Who’ll Have a Standout Year

With a handful of new faces on the defensive side of the ball, look for these three players to have a standout year for the Patriots this season.

After losing a handful of key defensive starters and role players this offseason, the Patriots have retooled their defensive unit with the vision of producing an elite squad en route to once again being one of the best in the NFL.

To reset the defense, New England essentially needed to fill the holes left by key linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins, and Elandon Roberts.

Unlike the offense, coach Bill Belichick truly values his defense and it shows. He will methodically put together a defense with the concentration and patience of putting together a 2,000-piece puzzle. He knows, and has proven, that a successful defensive unit is absolutely necessary to win Super Bowls.

Here are the three players expected to have a standout season this year on Belichick’s retooled unit — some new faces, one old faithful.

3. Josh Uche, Linebacker

Josh Uche, who was drafted 60th overall, resembles the fast-paced, smash-mouth playing style of Van Noy. He is fast, elusive, a great open field tackler from the linebacker position, and is poised to have a great rookie season with the Patriots. Uche is considered to be elite when it comes to pressuring the quarterback, which he in fact led the nation in last year with a 26% pressure percentage.

It’ll be interesting to see how Uche is utilized this season in New England. He is a multidimensional, versatile linebacker that can line up and be effective in the middle, inside, or outside linebacker positions.

Uche’s versatility and potential is what landed him on the Patriots roster. While at Michigan, Uche lined up and played a Patriots style of the linebacker position. In doing so, he was mobile and moved around the defense, shadowed the A-Gap pre-snap and blitzed through. He also maintained coverage responsibilities due to his athleticism and speed.

"“We always studied the Patriots defense. I remember just watching film on Hightower and Van Noy and the way they run their stunts and everything. I was already familiarized with the defense. Going into the draft, I was like, ‘Man, if the Patriots grab me that’d be awesome because I already know some stuff they kind of do just because we implemented it into our scheme.'” – Josh Uche, via Next Pats Podcast"

Coincidentally, Uche reunites with his former Michigan Wolverine teammate, Chase Winovich, who will also be looking to make a big splash during his second year with the Pats.

2. Anfernee Jennings, Linebacker

The next player poised for a standout season in New England is the other highly-drafted rookie linebacker, Anfernee Jennings. Jennings was drafted 83rd overall out of New England’s college affiliate team, also known as the University of Alabama. It’s worth mentioning that Jennings’ 6’3“, 259-pound frame is similar to Jamie Collins (6’3“, 255), who has always been successful and incredibly athletic during his stints with the Patriots.

Jennings being a product of Alabama and playing under head coach Nick Saban automatically gives him an upper hand in how the Patriots run their defensive schemes. From alignment, verbiage, and technique, Jennings should have no problem carving a role for himself in Bill Belichick’s Patriots defense.

"“I talked to Coach Belichick last night. He plans on using me kind of the same way that I was used at Alabama – using my versatility, being able to stack it back off the ball and line up on the edge and move around, making the most of wherever he puts me.” – Anfernee Jennings, per CBS Boston WBZ"

In addition to playing for Belichick’s former assistant, Jennings has experience and knowledge of the right level of versatility. In doing so, he often switched sides and lined up on the edge (both with his hand down or standing over the edge), was pulled off the line into coverage, and played inside linebacker at times.

1. Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback

Last but not least, the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Gilmore. It seems as if Gilmore unlocked a new level of football IQ in regards to understanding opposing receivers and offenses last season than he ever had before.

We’re expecting him to follow through with his stellar performance and continue to shut down opposing receivers every week, which will be a tough task to say the least, as the receiving corps have immensely improved throughout the entire league from just a season ago.

Looking specifically at the AFC East, Gilmore will now be up against one of the best route runners in the league at least twice a year in Stefon Diggs, as well as DeVante Parker, who was one of the only receivers to be somewhat successful when covered by Gilmore last year.

Everyone may have been surprised when Belichick signed Gilmore to a five-year, $65 million contract in 2017, but he knew then what we all know now: that he was capable of becoming a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, making this signing one of the top acquisitions in Belichick’s/Patriots history.

I also foresee newly acquired veteran defensive lineman Beau Allen and veteran linebacker Brandon Copeland making a strong presence in their first season in New England.