This Surprise Position Battle Could Define Patriots Training Camp
By Michael Luciano
The New England Patriots will once again have one of the league’s best defenses in the 2020 season, even if sorting out their linebacking corps after the loss of Jamie Collins to the Detroit Lions will prove to be quite the challenge for Bill Belichick.
Belichick did invest a lot of draft capital into figuring that position out, as he used a second-round pick on Michigan’s Josh Uche and a third-rounder on Alabama’s Anfernee Jennings, both of whom are versatile defenders that could end up with a starting role alongside Donta Hightower by the end of the season.
Josh Uche also worked well with others to generate pressure. Michigan ran a lot of the same types of games up front you see the Patriots use.
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) May 12, 2020
That’s by design. Don Brown told us on the Next Pats Pod that he always has the Patriots atop his offseason list of defenses to study. pic.twitter.com/HP20k5Jwqq
Of the two, Uche is more likely to start, given his freaky athleticism and dominant Senior Bowl tape. In addition, both of them are more explosive and have higher ceilings than Brandon Copeland and Shilique Calhoun, two veterans that are also vying for an OLB spot in New England’s flexible defense.
Belichick is likely not going to tolerate a lot of learning on the job from either of these two, so it wouldn’t be crazy if he decided to lean on the more experienced duo of Calhoun and Copeland.
The #Patriots have reportedly reached deals with quarterback Brian Hoyer and linebacker Brandon Copeland. https://t.co/UHuwWkRBlj
— Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) March 22, 2020
Belichick can go one of two ways here. He can side with the grizzled veterans in Calhoun and Copeland or opt for youth by picking either Uche or Jennings. The path he chooses to take could decide if the Patriots will be able to match their prolific defensive production from the 2019 season.