DEFENSIVE
BACKS:
Starters -- LCB Devin McCourty, RCB Ras-I Dowling, SS Patrick Chung, FS Steve Gregory.
Backups -- CB Kyle Arrington, CB Alfonzo Dennard, DB Tavon Wilson, DB Sterling Moore, S James Ihedigbo, DB Will Allen, S Josh Barrett, S Sergio Brown, CB Marquice Cole, S Nate Ebner,
DB Ross Ventrone, DB Malcolm Williams.
McCourty is the key to the
New England secondary. After earning a trip to the Pro Bowl as a
first-round rookie, the second-year Patriots defensive captain was
abysmal last fall. He allowed receivers to get behind him with
regularity as opposing passers seemed to pick on him from the preseason
right through the Super Bowl. He even moved to safety for portions of
the end of last season. If McCourty can regain his rookie prowess it
would go a long way toward stabilizing the NFL's second-worst pass
defense. If not, the secondary will lack a coverage leader.
Dowling
started last September as a rookie second-round pick before landing on
IR with a hip injury. He's battled injuries all the way back to high
school, but the big corner will be once again penciled in as a starter
if he's healthy.
Chung missed eight games to injury last fall, and
heading into a contract year wants to prove he can be a durable,
consistent contributor in the back end. He does bring a certain spark
and energy to the secondary that it lacks in his absence.
Gregory was
brought in from San Diego to fill a gaping hole at free safety after
becoming a starter over the last two years with the Chargers. He's a
bit undersized but has decent ball skills and should help at a spot
that was essentially a revolving door of starters in 2011.
Arrington
should see plenty of time in the slot in nickel situations after having
tied for the league lead with seven interceptions last fall. He's been
a starter over the last two seasons and it wouldn't be surprising to
see him somehow land in the starting role yet again.
Dennard has a lot
of talent but dropped to the seventh round of April's draft due to
legal issues. Based just on talent, he'll compete for a role. Wilson
was a surprise second-round pick who played both corner and safety at
Illinois. His versatility will be put to use in New England's many sub
looks and multiple defensive back packages.
Moore joined the Patriots
during the middle of last season and by the end of the year may have
been the team's best cover man. Though the depth around him has
improved since that time, he has a chance to carve out a versatile role
for himself.
Allen signed as a veteran free agent in his 11th season.
He's not the player he once was, but was getting a lot of reps at
safety during the spring and could also battle for a spot based on his
versatility and experience.
Barrett and Ihedigbo are both returning
veterans who started at safety a year ago and bring a bit more size to
the position as they try to win jobs and roles for a unit that has a
lot to prove this summer and fall.
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