BOSTON — As outsiders, it is often pretty evident when a protection employs a No. 1 cornerback. In New England, there’s typically been a clear-cut hierarchy on the depth chart, going again to the times of Ty Legislation, shifting on to Asante Samuel, selecting up later with Aqib Talib, Darrelle Revis, Malcolm Butler, Stephon Gilmore after which J.C. Jackson. Whether or not it is by the use of accolades — like All-Execs and Professional Bowls — or big-money contracts, the idea of a “No. 1 nook” is pretty well-established.
Invoice Belichick, nonetheless, shouldn’t be huge on that form of terminology.
In the beginning of his Tuesday morning press convention, Belichick confronted some questions on Jalen Mills, who’s coming into his second season in New England.
“I feel everyone out there may be competing to be the most effective that they are often,” Belichick mentioned when requested if Mills seems like he would be the Patriots’ high cornerback this season. “No matter that seems to be, I do not know. We’ll see.”
Later, Belichick was requested about his philosophy in constructing a protection, and whether or not he believes the staff wants a “primary cornerback.”
“I do not know. I imply, defensively you might have who you might have, and also you play with who you play with. Quantity them nonetheless you need, would not make a distinction to me,” Belichick mentioned. “It’s a must to put 11 guys on the market and so they need to play nicely collectively, whoever these 11 guys are. I do not know, primary, quantity two, primary sort out, quantity two nook, I am unsure. I am confused about that.”
Whereas there are at all times a number of methods to construct a champion, Belichick has usually discovered essentially the most success when using what we generally seek advice from as a “No. 1 cornerback.” Legislation manned that position in 2001 and 2003, whereas Samuel elevated into that position in 2004, when Legislation bought injured. Samuel was nonetheless there in 2007 for the undefeated common season, and the Patriots had Revis (2014), Butler (2016) and Gilmore (2018) in that spot for his or her second dynastic run. The 2011 season — which led to a Tremendous Bowl look with Kyle Arrington as the highest cornerback and with Julian Edelman getting some in depth work at slot nook within the AFC Championship Recreation — can be the one outlier within the Patriots’ 9 Tremendous Bowl appearances.
Now, clearly, the Patriots are shifting on after shedding J.C. Jackson to free company. There’s doubtless a sense of want from the skin for a No. 1 cornerback to emerge. However in the intervening time, Belichick doesn’t look like involved about such issues.
