Now more than ever, the safety position has become an integral part of the defense. gone are the days of your traditional free safety and strong safety. Safeties are now hybrids who have to be able to play in all three levels of a defense and play all three downs. The position has changed thanks in large part to more offenses running the spread offense. Defenses have to play more…
The cornerback position is one of the deepest positions in this year’s draft. There could be as many as five cornerbacks that go in the first round. Here are my top 20 cornerbacks and my thoughts on the position. XNOJOE’s Top 20 Cornerbacks 1. Minkah Fitzpatrick, 6-1 201, Alabama 2. Denzel Ward, 5-10, 191, Ohio State 3. Josh Jackson, 6-1 192, Iowa 4. Mike Hughes, 5-10 189, Central Florida 5….
The Patriots added two intriguing pieces this past weekend when they signed free agent running back Jeremy Hill and traded for return specialist Cordarelle Patterson. At 6-1 233, Hill is a big back who runs down hill and pushes the pile. He is a short yardage, goal line back who could complement the other running backs on the roster well. The Patriots signed Hill to a one year, $1 million…
When it comes to acquiring players, Bill Belichick prefers to sign draft players or sign free agents from schools where he has or had a relationship with the head coach. Want proof? Look at the Patriots acquisitions this week. New England traded for cornerback Jason McCourty who played at Rutgers for Greg Schiano. Schiano and Belichick are good friends. They are so close in fact that Schiano almost joined the…
The Patriots agreed to terms with free agent defensive end Adrian Clayborn. Terms of the deal were not disclosed but the former Atlanta Falcon finished with 9.5 sacks last season. Six of those sacks came in one game against the Dallas Cowboys. The 6-3 280 pound Clayborn can play both the five technique and nine technique defensive end spots. Clayborn is primarily a power rusher but he is also a…
Count me as a fan of the Jason McCourty trade. The Patriots acquired Devin’s twin brother along with a 2018 seventh round pick for a 2018 sixth round pick. McCourty played well in his one and only season in Cleveland. He will be a good fit with the Patriots because of his style of play but also because of his brother being here to guide him through the learning process…
NFL free agency has been interesting to say the least. Here are my thoughts on what has transpired around the NFL thus far this week 1. Kirk Cousins can lead the Vikings to a Super Bowl because he has a solid running game to work with and a championship caliber defense. Forget about the guaranteed money. It’s the price of doing business today. 2. I like the Allen Robinson acquisition…
Nate Solder is one of four former Patriots who left via free agency in the last 24 hours. The Patriots lost four key contributors in the last 24 hours as Danny Amendola, Malcolm Butler Dion Lewis and Nate Solder all signed deals elsewhere. Here are my thoughts on their departures and the contracts they got. Amendola Flies South to the Dolphins: Danny Amendola signed a two year, $12 million dollar…
NFL free agency starts tomorrow and expect fireworks as several key free agents will be looking to get paid. This year’s free agent class is by no means “loaded” but there is plenty of talent available, particularly for teams that are in the market for a quarterback or receiver. So, with further ado. Here are my top ten free agents and where I think they will end up. 1. Kirk…
The Patriots acquired defensive tackle Danny Shelton from the Cleveland Browns for two draft picks. The 24 year old Shelton is coming off arguably the best season of his career finishing with 33 total tackles At 6-2 335, Shelton is your prototypical two gap nose tackle but he is athletic and versatile. He can play the nose in 30 fronts and the 2i defensive tackle in a 40 front. Shelton…