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Pats-Bengals preview: Defensive plan for Burrow is ‘controlled chaos’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
When asked to describe how his defense will try to bother Joe Burrow on Sunday, DeMarcus Covington’s eyebrows shot up and he flashed the hint of a smile.
“Controlled chaos,” he said.
The new Patriots defensive coordinator was the hire who flew furthest under the radar in an offseason where New England saw changes at head coach and offensive coordinator before bringing aboard a quarterback with the third pick in the draft.
There is no mistaking, though, this team’s clearest path to putting forth a competitive product on a week-to-week basis in 2024 is by fielding a punishing defense. And Sunday’s matchup in Cincinnati will give Covington, 35, an opportunity to show how he’ll put his own spin on a Bill Belichick-inspired scheme that has survived the test of time; since 2018, no organization has generated a better defensive EPA (expected points added).
“We always preach to the players about playing fast, playing aggressive, being fundamentally sound, and being able to create takeaways,” Covington told Next Pats this week. “That’s what we always talk about… That’s the formula for us.”
🔊 Next Pats: Patriots plan to drive quarterbacks crazy with CONTROLLED CHAOS | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
The nuances of said formula have gotten more complicated with the introduction of a few new variables since Covington stepped into his current role after serving as Patriots defensive line coach since 2020. The best player in his position group a season ago, Christian Barmore, is out with blood clots. The team’s best edge rusher, Matthew Judon, has been traded to Atlanta.
In the absence of proven star-caliber sack artists, “controlled chaos” is the way. The Patriots are loaded with capable pressure-generators, including linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai, as well as versatile linemen Deatrich Wise and Keion White. Edge players like Joshua Uche,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/pats-bengals-preview-defensive-plan-124238141.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2024-09-08 12:42:38
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