Positional Battles to Watch In Foxborough: 'Backers and D'Backs

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

On a proven, veteran team such as the 2009 New England Patriots, positional battles and depth chart struggles are more than likely to occur along the periphery. There will not, for example, be any question as to who’s lining up under center, who’s the first, second, or third option at wide out, or who’ll be protecting Brady’s blindside. For the most part, Bill Belichick enters the upcoming season knowing full well who is supposed to be playing where on both sides of the ball. This peripheral alignments of depth, however, can be the crux to success, and the pinpoint of downfall.

Let us not forget last season: coming off their near perfect 2008-9 campaign, the Patriots didn’t seem to have many holes.  The secondary was worrisome coming off their Super Bowl blunders, but the battle between Matt Cassel and Matt Gutierrez for the right to become ensconced behind Brady as the second string quarterback was really the only pressing question of summer camp.

Most people were entirely bored with the pre-season competition because, well, we were all so certain that #12 was destined for another stellar, healthy season. As it turned out, the events that led up to Cassel winning the backup job turned out to be immensely important to the development of last year’s Patriots squad.

As I see it, this year’s team has two primary areas that must be addressed during the summer workouts, both of them on defense: the linebacker group, and the defensive backs. Let’s break them down separately and take a look at the personnel involved in what hopefully will become an improved defensive unit from a year ago.

Linebackers:

Many people- myself included- were surprised when the Patriots, who held multiple selections in the first two rounds of the draft, completely ignored the linebacker position. Belichick stated that he simply wasn’t that high on the draft crop at linebacker in terms of getting value for the pick, so he passed, bulked up at other positions, and acquired assets for next year. It’s hard to argue with the man when it comes to his draft strategy.

Nevertheless, without a young ‘backer entering the depth chart (3rd Rd. pick Tyron McKenzie, who some thought was a steal, was placed on IR with a torn ACL), the Patriots are somewhat barren at a crucial position in their 3-4 defensive scheme.

What the Patriots do have is a developing star at the position. Jerod Mayo is the rock of the group and should only improve upon his Defensive Rookie of the Year status in year two. Mayo and veteran leader Tedy Bruschi will start on the inside, with second year man Gary Guyton serving as the primary backup. Guyton, Eric Alexander, and the newly signed Paris Lenon (who led Detroit in tackles a year ago) are likely to assume varied, albeit considerable, playing time given the age and deterioration of Bruschi.

On the outside, there will be plenty more competition throughout summer camp, with the only “sure thing” of the group being Adalius Thomas. Thomas is coming off an injury that limited him to just nine games a year ago, but his health and level of effectiveness is certainly not foremost on the mind of linebackers coach Matt Patricia. The battle for the remaining outside spot and the top slots on the depth chart will involve two holdovers from a year ago in Pierre Woods and Vince Redd, an ex-Patriot brought back in the fold in Tully Banta-Cain, and a second year player who spent his rookie year on IR in Shawn Crable.

Banta-Cain knows the system best and was fairly productive in his past stint under Belichick, but his lack of agility and athleticism are definite downsides. Woods and Redd showed marginal improvement a year ago, but neither have proven anything as starters in this league. As of now I’d say Woods is the more developed talent. Crable- much like McKenzie this year- was thought to be an outside candidate for playing time a year ago, before a pre-season shin injury sidelined him for the season. Crable spent his time on the IR wisely though, learning up on Belichick’s complex system and devoting himself to the mental aspect of playbook and film room analysis. He has prototypical size for the 3-4 scheme, and he could emerge alongside Thomas on Belichick’s second level.

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