With a major need for veteran talent in the secondary, the New England Patriots made a big statement by landing none other than the league's interception leader. Kevin Byard came off a career year and looked tailor-made for this team's needs.
That said, his signing drew mixed reviews. For starters, he's already 33, so his play should decline soon. More than that, he had a career year under DB coach Al Harris, and history hasn't been kind to players after they leave his tutelage.
Fast forward to today, and after three underwhelming performances, the former Chicago Bears star might be running out of chances to shut down that narrative. He hasn't been much of a factor, especially in the takeaway department.
Kevin Byard must validate his Patriots signing by doing what he does best
For the second time in his career, Kevin Byard led the league in interceptions last season. It was also the second time he picked off at least seven passes, and his fourth season with at least five interceptions.
So far, he hasn't picked off a single pass or forced a fumble. He's got a grand total of 14 tackles (7 solo), one pressure, and one run stop. While he's allowed only two catches, he hasn't really stood out in coverage or against the run.
NFL fans have already seen this before. It happened to Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland on the Dallas Cowboys when Harris was their DBs coach; both fell off after All-Pro-caliber seasons after becoming ballhawks under his watch.
Harris helped Ben Johnson's team lead the league in interceptions last season, with Nahshon Wright also picking off five passes. He knows how to develop his players' ball-hawking instincts, but they don't always keep it up after leaving his side.
Few players improve after age 32, and the Patriots probably bought high when they gave Byard a one-year deal worth up to $9 million. At least they won't be tied to him long-term if he doesn't improve his production soon.
The Patriots' defense has been much better than one might tell by their 1-2 record, so it's not like his play has been a problem. But as one of the team's most flamboyant offseason additions, the veteran safety has certainly left plenty to be desired.
Things haven't gone according to plan so far for Mike Vrabel's team, and while it's hard to single out as the only one to blame for the slow start to the season, this team clearly needs a catalyst. Moreover, the standard has to be higher for everyone, especially newcomers.
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