By Kevin J. Stone/@kstone06

We’ve gone through the early part of the schedule and taken a look at one hell of a year from Curtis Martin in 1996, but today we’re going to flip the field and take a look at some of the key defensive contributors to that Super Bowl run.

Arguably the best corner in Patriots history and possibly the best corner in the history of the game Ty Law was only in his second year in 1996, but he still had three interceptions and started 12 games for New England. Law had a pick six during the regular season as well as 56 solo tackles.

Law’s cornerback partner that year – at least for much of the year – was Ricky Reynolds. For those that don’t remember Reynolds, he was a 2nd round draft pick for Tampa Bay in 1987, so his veteran presence was surely welcomed on such a young Pats team. Reynolds finished the 96 season with 25 tackles and two interceptions in what was his final professional season.

Rookie strong safety Lawyer Milloy, free safety Willie Clay and Otis Smith made up what was ultimately an underrated back end of the secondary. Smith didn’t play much for the team that year, only playing 13 games total, 11 with the Patriots before finishing up with the Jets for two games.

Milloy wasn’t an elite player yet, but he did finish with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and 54 solo tackles his first year while starting 10 games. Willie Clay was in his fifth year in 96 after spending his first four in Detroit. Clay finished 96 with a forced fumble, fumble recovery and 73 solo tackles, by far the most in a single season for his career. Clay will be remembered more for his “big play” nickname and dancing after said big plays, but his veteran presence was obviously a factor.

Willie McGinest, Ted Johnson, Tedy Bruschi, Todd Collins, Chris Slade, Dwayne Sabb, Mike Jones, Mark Wheeler, Pio Sagapolutele and Chris Sullivan were all part of a rotating front seven in 96 that again was young, but a few of the guys were ultimately huge pieces to the puzzle in the 2001 season and the 96 run was the first taste of success for them.

McGinest was drafted in 94 and finished his third year with a 46-yard pick-six (against Buffalo which we talked about a few days ago), two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries (1 for a TD), 9.5 sacks and 49 solo tackles. “Playoff Willie” hadn’t been born yet but he did have a sack and 10 total tackles that postseason.

Ted Johnson was in just his second year but started all 16 games in a sign of things to come as the definition of a reliable force in the middle. Johnson finished 1996 with 87 solo tackles (115 total) a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. 12 solo tackles and a sack in the three playoff games weren’t too shabby either.

Collins is often a forgotten piece of that linebacker puzzle but he was a very good player for New England throughout his six years with the team. In 96, Collins finished with 46 solo tackles and an interception. In the postseason, Collins had 10 solo tackles and started all three games.

Chris Slade might be the most popular jersey when you think of your stereotypical jorts-wearing, Bud Light swigging Pats fan, and he was also a hard-nosed linebacker during his eight years in New England that unfortunately ended in 2000 one year shy of the core finally breaking through. In 96, Slade was in his fourth year and started in nine games while finishing with 50 solo tackles, three forced fumbles and an interception. In the three-game playoff run Slade had nine tackles and two sacks.

Bruschi will forever be a legend in these parts but in 96 he was still just a rookie and despite appearing in all 16 games, he never started. Bruschi finished his first year with four sacks, 10 solo tackles and a forced fumble. Bruschi also made his presence felt in the postseason with an interception, two sacks and five tackles.

As a whole, the 1996 Patriots defense finished 14th in points against and 19th in yards against, but more importantly it was the first Pats’ defense in 11 years good enough to reach a Super Bowl. It obviously doesn’t hurt that the offense finished second in points for and seventh in yards, but I believe the success this defensive core had in 96 was critical to getting over the hump in 2001.

Check back for Day 7 tomorrow as we continue our 25 day celebration for the 25th anniversary of the 1996 Patriots winning the AFC championship.