Jordan Richards embraces move to middle of the defense -- but is it only temporary?

FOXBOROUGH — The biggest surprise on defense for the Patriots this year? Jordan Richards playing a linebacker-type of role.



The Stanford product, a defensive back by trade, spent a portion of the preseason playing close to the line in what appeared to be a hybrid-type of position. That continued into last Thursday’s game against the Chiefs, where he was on the line for much of the night, playing 41 of a possible 68 snaps in the loss to Kansas City.

Asked about using the 5-foot-11, 211-pound Richards as a linebacker type, Bill Belichick said Wednesday he wasn’t going to get pinned down when it came to titles.

“We have different roles in our defense, so depending on what we ask a certain position to do or certain role to do, then we put players in there that we feel like have the skills to do that,” Belichck explained when asked about Richards. “You can call him whatever you want to call him. But in the roles that we put the players in, if we feel they have the skills to do it and they’re comfortable in it, then we play them there.”

So what’s the deal? Richards, who was thought to be on the roster bubble this summer, said on Wednesday afternoon that he had two goals coming into the season: earn a role on defense and play on all four special teams units. It appears, at least to this point, he’s achieved both of them. While his special teams work has been no surprise — he’s carved out a role as a core special teamer in his first two seasons — his appearance as a member of the starting defense was. And against the Chiefs, there were times where his presence left the Patriots light against the run. And there were times where his coverage skills were put to good use.

But the question remains: Was he there as a one-off experimental role because the Patriots were specifically game-planning to counter the speed of the Chiefs, and he was a more palatable option than the slow-footed Elandon Roberts and David Harris? Is this part of an overall shift in New England’s defensive philosophy where Richards will become part of the everyday defense? Or is it a stopgap while the Patriots figure out some defensive questions, including whether or not some youngsters like Deatrich Wise are capable of holding up on the edge so Dont'a Hightower can move back to middle linebacker?

Right now, when it comes to Richards, it appears to be a week-to-week proposition.

“They put a lot on us to be able to play and perform at a high level,” Richards said Wednesday. “That might be at slightly different positions from week-to-week as the game plan dictates. But that’s what we’re all trying to accomplish.”

To hear Richards tell it, versatility, adaptability and improvement are the watchwords, at least for now.

“(I’m) trying to obviously perform well, as best I can, and continue to learn and continue to (play well) and figure it out and play at a high level,” he said. “That’s the goal, no matter what position I’m playing. No matter if I’m playing in the middle of the field or close to the line of scrimmage. There’s never a time where it’s like, ‘OK, I got this.’ You never get to that point. It’s just trying to consistently improve. That could be things like tackling to communication to playing in different spots in the field and be adaptable.”

One thing that’s been a help? It appears that Richards bulked up over the offseason. He's broader in the shoulders, and carrying more weight than he has in year's past. In addition, there’s plenty of crossover between the middle and back end of the defense when it comes to coaching. As a result, the transition from being more of a traditional safety to playing a hybrid, linebacker-type of role hasn’t been overwhelming.

“As back end guys — linebackers, safeties, corners — we meet a lot for a reason,” he said. “There are our front guys, our front three or four guys. For the rest of us, communication has to be on point between linebackers, safeties, corners. So it’s not just only (Devin McCourty) and Duron (Harmon). It’s not just (Dont’a Hightower) or (Kyle Van Noy). It’s that whole group of all of us. That’s why we stress communication in our meetings. To make sure. You have to earn the trust of your teammates. That’s not just the safeties in our room, but that’s everybody.”

In the end, while the spot on the field and opponent may change, the goal remains the same.

“My goal going into it was just to get on the field and find a role,” Richards said. “I’m not going to be picky about it. I don’t care. I just want to try and get on the field. That was the opportunity that presented itself last week, and so I tried to take advantage of it.”