The New England Patriots made a statement about their defense during the early stages of free agency: We’re just fine running it back. Eliot Wolf agreed to terms with Anfernee Jennings, Josh Uche, while using the transition tag on Kyle Dugger. Even more noteworthy, and this could change with some talent remaining out there, the Patriots' biggest outside signing for the defense was Sione Takitaki. Love the name. Good player. NOT a big-ticket item.
We don’t know what we don’t know. Were the Patriots interested in some big names? Were they in on Danielle Hunter? Were they contemplating giving Christian Wilkins the bag? Nothing has been reported. It’d also be hard to believe that Wilkins was seriously on the radar with Christian Barmore extension talks reportedly on the horizon.
Without any hard intel on interest regarding the bigger names, what can we take from Wolf’s above decisions? Firstly, the team looked at the defense that was ranked in the top-10 last season in DVOA and decided those analytics were justified by performance. They believe in their guys. They believe this defense, as is, will allow this team to keep games close and ultimately compete against any NFL offense that resides on their schedule.
Secondly, Wolf and the front office are bullish on Jerod Mayo, DeMarcus Covington, and the rest of the defensive staff’s ability to get the most out of this group. To our knowledge, there’s not a single human on said staff that has called plays on an NFL sideline. With that known, it says a lot about the confidence in Wolf’s belief that this defense could be a top-performing unit without any significant outside addition.
Finally, by keeping most of the defense intact, not adding any significant outside names, and being so confident in the current staff’s ability to get most out of the returning talent, Wolf is telling all of us one more thing: This defense doesn’t need Bill and/or Steve Belichick to succeed. It’s a fascinating statement.
Bill is a defensive genius. That is not debatable. Many might call him the best defensive mind that’s ever coached the game. He had always been given credit for the most granular adjustments on that side of the ball. Greatest show on turf disoriented? Bill. Peyton Manning limited? Bill. Sean McVay left with no answers on the Super Bowl stage? Bill. We were to believe Bill was the difference maker. Wolf, while surely respecting Belichick’s ability and impact, is telling us that he believes this defense will still be damn good without him.
Steve, meanwhile, had been responsible for much of the play calling after Brian Flores departed the program. The son of the “Great One” got more and more credit for his in-game adjustments and game plans. Steve did a heck of a job, especially when we consider having to do so in the shadow of his father. It couldn’t have been easy.
But, while the Belichicks’ impact will be under scrutiny during the 2024 season, so will Mayo & Covington’s ability to run that side of the ball without hiccups or catastrophes. If this defense goes from a top-10 analytical unit to 15th or even lower, with most of the same talent, that’ll fall on the current staff. The story writes itself: “Without the Belichicks, Patriots Defense Craters.”
On the other hand, if we see the same kind, if not improved, performance by the defense this season, then we’ll have realized that it wasn’t all the hoodie’s work. That the defensive genius was there to lend a hand, but ultimately wasn’t the overwhelming factor that tipped the scales.
There’d also be one more takeaway: Belichick did a damn good job grooming an inexperienced and young staff. He might have left the offensive roster in shambles, but he left the strongest part of the team in good hands.
The fun part? There’s a scoreboard. We’ll know the answers sooner rather than later.
Jaylen Brown: Defensive Stopper?
While the Celtics continue to coast through the regular season on their way to a 1-seed in the Eastern Conference, it’s time for us to appreciate Jaylen Brown’s defense. We’ve all written, opined, and discussed Brown’s offensive improvement this season. The better rim reads. The better usage of his left hand. The bully ball he’s delivered post-All-Star break. But, don’t get it twisted, Brown is playing the best defense of his career.
Brown is less prone to “basketball watch.” He’s beaten on backdoor cuts less often. His contests aren’t prone to stretches of laziness. And, most importantly, Brown has started to embrace the challenge of defending the opposition’s best.
Luka Doncic? I’ll take him. Steph Curry? Put me on him, Joe. Brown was even frustrated after the recent Nuggets loss, because he felt he didn’t draw the Nikola Jokic assignment enough. Yes, that was actually something he said.
On Wednesday night, Brown was at it again. It seemed to us, the young star took the responsibility of defending Damian Lillard personally. At times Brown would pick up Lillard for all 94 feet. And, this wasn’t about ego, it was about effectiveness. Brown, compared to most of his teammates, shut down the future hall of fame guard.
This is just the latest step in Brown’s evolution. Usually a player improves through his first five years or so and then steadies at that level for a number of years, before starting the inevitable decline. What’s been truly amazing during JB’s career is that he just continues to get better. This is his eighth season and he continues to reveal that he has more tricks up his sleeve.
What has to be scary for the rest of the NBA is that Brown is JUST entering his prime.
Red Sox Remind Us What 2024 Is All About
If you needed any more reminders about what this upcoming season is all about for the Red Sox, we got two of them this week. First, we found out that Brayan Bello would be the opening-day starter. Congrats to Bello on a big couple of weeks. First, he got his contract extension. Then, he gets named this team’s #1. Now, of course, that is more necessity than design due to Lucas Giolito’s injury.
Then, just yesterday, we found out that Michael Lorenzen signed a one-year $4.5M contract with the Rangers. The deal maxes out at $7M. Now Lorenzen isn’t a season-altering addition, but he threw more than 150 innings last season and would have helped.
With those two events, we all know what 2024 is all about for this organization: Development. The most important part of this upcoming season is not the hunt for October. It’s about the youth. That’s what we have to hang our hat on. Does Bello prove to be an ace? Does Triston Casas hit 30+ home runs and cement himself as a middle-of-the-lineup thumper for the next decade? Does Ceddanne Rafaela claim centerfield as his home?
And, down in the minors: Does Roman Anthony continue to flourish and forge his path to Fenway? Can Marcelo Mayer stay healthy and fulfill his superstar potential? We can go on and on, but you get the point.
We all wish the Sox were challenging for a ring this summer. But, that’s not the reality. The reality is our best way to survive this season is to cheer for the future and hope that that future proves it’s ready for the bright lights and big expectations in 2025.