If everything goes according to plan, DeMarcus Covington will be an NFL head coach someday. He's ascended professionally in Foxborough, from low-level assistant to defensive line coach for the last four seasons to now, the next big step, defensive coordinator — all by the age of 35. Covington is diligent - players routinely talk about the copious amount of notes he would take during meetings - intelligent and self-aware.
"I'm not trying to be anybody else," he told us in late May. "I try to lead my life through the way I do things through my actions - through my words - and hopefully, that carries to the players on the field and off the field. That's kind of how I do."
Covington has relationships with folks in many areas of the organization, not just with his position group. That undoubtedly influenced the positive response he received internally from players and staffers upon his promotion. They see who he is and what he's about and appreciate that openness. Covington's got that part down.
A more significant challenge is developing as a play-caller. Convington was a co-defensive coordinator in college for one season (Eastern Illinois) many moons ago. He's also had some opportunities here in New England during the preseason, such as practice (yes, we're talking about practice, Iverson), situational cut-ups, and the Senior Bowl. Of course, that doesn't equate to being experienced or fully equipped for what's about to come (even longtime play-callers will tell you every week is as challenging as the last), but Covington knows that.
"I think, every day, trying to make sure that I do everything I need to do to make us successful, knowing that everything is not going to be perfect. So, it really is just learning from day to day. I'm making sure I don't make the same mistake twice. ... I don't have all the answers. But I'm going to make sure I find out the right answer if I don't."
Covington is measured when he speaks. This title - and the responsibilities that come with it - are new, and there is pressure to succeed. He's inherited a defense that finished 9th in DVOA a season ago, and his defensive line group played a significant role in that success. But that was Bill Belichick's defense. Steven Belichick's defense. Jerod Mayo's defense. This year, it's Covington's turn to put his stamp on it, although he may not want to tinker too much. This was a well-coached group, fundamentally sound. The connective tissue between the levels - DL, LBs, and DBs - was strong, which is a question I had post-Devin McCourty.
The other aspect that stood out in 2023-24 was how much the personnel changed from week to week and series to series. The variety of looks presented proved troubling for opposing quarterbacks, even if, ultimately, the Pats settled into cover one on the back end more often than not.
Christian Barmore may have given us an insider trading tip to potential changes, at least up front, saying he expected the Pats to play more four-down linemen than in years past. There was some of that this spring, but Covington cautioned us not to get too carried away with things we see in April, May, and June (I agree). The one thing that shouldn't change all that much - and I would bet Covington scribbled this somewhere in one of his notebooks or on his iPad during a Belichick meeting - is that this is less about scheme and game plans and more about the guys that have to execute them.
"For me, I think about players and not plays," he said. "So, how can we use our players in the best way? How can we use our strength to the best of our ability? And how can we execute on a day-to-day basis, alright, by the stuff that our players do well? Once we figure out what our players do well, we put them in the right positions by the calls."
The essential pieces from last year who could have fled this offseason were retained. Could they use an additional cornerback? Perhaps, depending on the development of some of the younger pieces (Austin, Bolden, Marcus Jones), but by and large, this is a strong group, and it's now on Covington to prove he knows how to get the best out of it. The blueprint is already there.
QUICK HITTERS
- David Tepper is some kind of special. The Carolina Panthers owner somehow influenced the Charlotte City Council to approve an $800 million renovation to the Bank of America Stadium, and only $150 million will come from the owner, who Forbes estimates is worth $20.6 billion. This after Tepper backed out of a training facility deal in nearby Rock Hill, which left a hole in the ground and the failed promise of jobs and revenue for the city. Remarkable.
- Speaking of stadiums and public money, Jacksonville and the Jaguars agreed to $1.4 billion worth of renovations at EverBank Stadium. This is a more equitable split between the wealthy owner and the city. Shad Khan will pony up $650 million, and the city will absorb the rest. This still has to be voted on by the league in October, and there may be some bickering over the 50/50 proposition. Still, it's reasonable to believe it'll eventually be rubber-stamped.
The deal also locks the Jags into the stadium for 30 years, so we can finally stop with the relocation to London. It also states that the team loses only one home game annually to London unless the league mandates another overseas trip. Per reports, the redone stadium will be more in line with SoFi in California and have shaded canopies covering seats, reducing the temperature by 15 degrees (needed in that environment).
The Jags will have to play their 2027 home games elsewhere, likely at the University of Florida or perhaps in Orlando at Camping World Stadium. I'm curious to see if they can get their fan base to travel.
- Malik Cunningham is making the full-time switch to wide receiver. The team asked him if he'd be okay investing all his time at that spot before the draft, and he agreed.
"At first, I looked at it as like, 'Dang man, I want to be a quarterback,'" he said. "But at the same time, you have to do what's best for the team, and that's how I looked at it. I was like, 'Hey, I can make plays for the quarterbacks out there when I get the ball in space.' So, I looked at it as a plus, not as a fail.
"I believe in myself and my ability. Yeah, I can play quarterback. But that's not what they need me to do right now. They need me to do something else. I'm the type of guy, whatever it takes for the team to win."
Thus far, he's impressed John Harbaugh.
"Malik has looked good...He's shown a lot of speed, a lot of quickness. (He's) kind of a natural at the position. I've seen that he understands the game from the perspective of the quarterback, so (his) routes and coverage and timing and things like that have been excellent."
Cunningham was allowed to work as a quarterback after the Ravens claimed him in October. It didn't go well. As we pointed out during the spring and summer of last year, he needed to show more accuracy and processing speed to make the pro leap. From what I learned of him, I like the kid and wish him success. Currently, he's competing for the fifth receiver spot and as a returner.
- It feels like now or never for Kaiir Elam in Buffalo, and according to reports, the former first-round pick out of Florida had an excellent spring. Elam had several interceptions and thrived in a secondary without Rasul Douglas and Christian Benford.
Elam seemed like the heir apparent for Tre'davious White after being drafted out of Florida, but started just six games as a rookie, being outplayed by classmate Christian Benford, a sixth-rounder out of Villanova (of all places). Last year, Elam spent seven weeks on injured reserve and played in just three games.
"Mentally, I feel like it kind of ate at me. Well, not kind of, it did eat at me," Elam told reporters. "I learned to appreciate the struggles cause it helped me become into who I am now. It's not like I was cutting corners. It's not like I wasn't listening or wasn't taking notes, wasn't preparing the right way. It just, I felt like it allowed me to learn, though like that's just the reality of it, and sometimes you can't really force success."
- Positive buzz from Houston about wide receiver John Metchie. The former Alabama star received ample playing time with the first team, getting reps alongside Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, and Nico Collins. We have yet to see the same kid we saw in college, but apparently, the burst is back. Metchie missed almost all of 2022 after being diagnosed with cancer, and then last year had just 16 catches in a part-time role. His quarterback, C.J. Stroud, is pumping his tires quite a bit.
"Metchie looks amazing," he said this spring. "Everything that he will put on this field will be no surprise, but I think everybody in this room knows how special he can be, and he'll put that on the field."
- Guess who barely participated in anything for the Chiefs this spring? First-rounder Xavier Worthy, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury, and instead had to view practices alongside offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. I remain dubious about Worthy's ability to be much more than what Mecole Hardman was for KC, but I've been wrong before and will be wrong again. Still, you can't convince me that a 165-pound receiver/returner will hold up. It may be worth it if he proves to be a relatively reliable deep threat. We shall see.
- I'm no lawyer, but I imagine the NFL will monitor recent news involving Antonio Pierce. His wife has filed for bankruptcy, and in court filings, the Raiders head coach is "subject to judgments" in excess of $28 million. The debts come from being a "passive investor" in some car dealerships that eventually defaulted on loans. With his name on the paperwork, you have Nissan ($23 million) and Hyundai ($4.5 million), among others, trying to garnish Pierce's coaching wages.
- One leftover nugget from the Rhamondre Stevenson signing. His numbers declined last year, and while the offensive line played a role in that, the 26-year-old didn't run with the same power as in previous seasons, averaging just 2.8 yards after contact, a full yard less than he had in his career-best 2022-23 campaign. As I've written, he's redistributed his weight, looking leaner. Will that make him more explosive and less powerful?