Primary Goals for the Secondary: Highlighting the Defensive Backfield

It’s June 26th, and the Patriots’ 2012 offseason has already proved to be more active and entertaining than in years’ past. With a gradual inflation in player personnel, this years’ offseason proves to be one that will be entertaining from a competitive standpoint.

Right now, you may be thinking, “But Austin, we’ve heard this before: the Patriots are stacked at the wide receiver position to elicit competitive tendencies and bring out the best in all eleven players currently in that unit!” – and you are most certainly right, but allow me to further drive this point home (perhaps beat a dead horse).

The defensive backfield has been a unit of great uncertainty since the departure of All-Pro Cornerback (and Super Bowl XLII-winning interception dropper…) Asante Samuel. Since Samuel left, we’ve seen Ellis Hobbs traded to Philly, Rodney Harrison retire by injury, and James Sanders cut from the squad.  All four we’re mainstays and role players in a veteran defense – a squad that many believed would take this Patriots defense into the future.

Sadly, the year is 2012, and there are no shutdown corners. There are no ball-hawking Safeties. There’s no bulldozer on the strong side that will make opposing receivers think twice about coming over the middle. Just… a bunch of guys. But 2012 is different. 2012 gives us opportunity, it gives the Patriots options. With 16 (Sixteen!) players in the defensive backfield unit, Coach Belichick’s approach to mass competition will likely pay off in dividends. While I am fully capable, I will not sit here and give you sixteen reasons why the Patriots’ defensive backfield will be successful this year. I will, however, give you three good reasons as to why you can expect better things from the back end in 2012.

Reason 1: Devin McCourty, CB/S. 3^rd Year. (All w/ Patriots)

Hold on, let me explain: McCourty was a disappointment last year. He gave Patriot Nation a textbook example of a good, old-fashioned sophomore slump. It sucked, I’m sure it sucked for him, but I’m as sure as the day is long that he has grown from it, and he will deliver an impressive 2012 campaign. Devin will emerge as one of the leaders in that defensive backfield, and his struggles in his sophomore year will serve as the guiding light for himself and the newcomers as we move into a revamped defensive unit. Furthermore, McCourty has proved his versatility – an asset Belichick covets more than any other quality in a player. In 2011, McCourty split his time between CB and S and, while he struggled, he did show the promise to improve, which will make him an invaluable asset to the secondary.

Reason 2:  Steve Gregory, S. 7^th Year (1^st w/ Patriots)

Steve Gregory is a player who really snuck into the locker room under the radar. While we were all hoping the Patriots would lock down LaRon Landry, or jump into the top 10 of the Draft to grab former Alabama (now Buccaneer) Safety Mark Barron, Steven Gregory signed with the team amidst very little fanfare of his arrival. The former Jets fan out of Syracuse brings with him a wealth of knowledge and impressive fundamentals. Because of this, Gregory seems to project as a player who will thrive in the Patriots’ defensive system. Much like Wes Welker did, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Steve Gregory make waves in the Patriots system and pan out to become one of the better acquisitions of the 2012 season. Furthermore, Gregory’s soft-spoken demeanor will allow him to become a positive presence in the locker room.

Reason 3: Patrick Chung. S. 4^th Year (All w/ Patriots)

It is definitely necessary for Patrick Chung to step up and emerge as a leader – not only for the secondary, but for the entire defense. Chung has had time to develop, and in that time he’s showed flashes of greatness (Week 4, 2010 vs. Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, Anyone?). The time has come, and with contract issues on the horizon, 2012 is a make-or-break year for Chung. The contract status for #25 has already become problematic for Bill belichick &Co. Chung’s contributions to this team could dictate the direction of this Patriots secondary for years to come, and that’s why I believe he is the most important player on the Patriots secondary this season.

So, while the Patriots don’t have a shutdown corner, a ball-hawk, or any All-Pro player in the secondary, they have what many other teams lack: A wealth of opportunity; a diverse group of talent, skill, and experience that should provide a healthy reserve of players to contribute in the defensive backfield throughout the 2012 campaign.