Patriots 2021 Position Preview: Reloaded at linebacker

Author Alex Barth

July 22nd, 2021 6:00 AM

Last year’s Patriots linebacker group was defined by one trait – youth. There certainly was – and still is – upside among the team’s linebackers, but last year’s unit lacked the experience normally seen on a Bill Belichick defense. 

Four of the team’s five most-used linebackers last season were in their first or second full year in the NFL. The fifth was Shilique Calhoun, who had mostly been a special teams player to that point. Ja’Whaun Bentley had the most defensive experience of the group, with just 19 NFL games under his belt.

This season, the script has been flipped. Between signing Matt Judon and Kyle Van Noy, and the return of Dont’a Hightower from his opt-out, the Patriots can now pair their young players with established veteran talent.

Although the money given to Judon and Van Noy may make them seem like flashier additions, Hightower’s presence should have the biggest impact. Lost in the youth movement up front last season was the ability to diagnose and adjust to what the offense was showing pre-snap. While Devin McCourty provided ‘the answers to the test’ on the back end, there was nobody in the front seven with similar experience. That changes when Hightower steps on the field.

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  Having Hightower as an “on-field coach,” as Jerod Mayo described him in May, will allow the Patriots to bring back some of their more complex defensive looks which in turn will help unlock the potential of their edge rushers, mainly Judon and Noy. 
  
  That trio projects to be the heart of the Patriots’ linebacker room in 2021, at least to start the season. With the defense projected to move to a base 3-4 look, that opens another linebacker spot. Based on what we saw during spring practices, Josh Uche seems primed to take that role.
  
  Not only was Uche, a second-year linebacker from Michigan, one of the best defensive players on the field during minicamp, he also brings tremendous versatility that the architects of the Patriots’ defense can exploit. They can line him up next to Hightower as a more traditional middle linebacker, or use him as essentially a third OLB. 
  
  If Uche continues rushing the passer like he did this spring, he’ll be somebody defenses have to keep an eye on - and having him line up in different spots will only make him harder to keep track of. His ‘breakout year’ stock should be through the roof.

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  When it comes to depth roles, the competition for the MIKE spot behind Hightower is a crowded one. Bentley, who filled the role last year, should have the inside track. However, Bentley is entering the final year of his deal, and with a strong push from another player at the position in camp, Bentley could turn into a trade piece for a Patriots’ team that needs to find roster spots wherever they can.
  
  Two players come to mind who could make a serious run at Bentley’s job. The first is Terez Hall, who saw significant playing time down the stretch last season coming off the practice squad. While Hall doesn’t quite have Bentley’s size, he’s still big enough to play the position (6-foot-2, 235 pounds) and can pack a punch at the point of attack. Hall also adds the sideline-to-sideline ability that may fit better with the Patriots’ new defensive personnel.
  
  Another name to keep an eye on is Raekwon McMillan, who was signed by the team back in March. Originally a second-round pick out of Ohio State in 2017, McMillan put together a 100-tackle season after missing his rookie year due to a torn ACL. He followed that up with another productive season in 2019 that was cut short due to an injury. The following offseason, he was traded to Las Vegas where he played mostly a special teams role.
  
  McMillan’s decline in usage in Las Vegas didn’t make a lot of sense last year, especially on a team that allowed the ninth-most rushing yards in the league. If he can stay healthy, he brings a lot of tools to the table that the Patriots typically look for in a linebacker, which combined with his special teams experience could see him slip onto the roster.

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  There’s one more player that will likely factor into the linebacker conversation this year, and that’s third year Michigan man Chase Winovich. Winovich’s playing time was erratic last year, and with so many talented edge rushers on the roster this year, he may need to prove he can play outside that role to get on the field.
  
  The good news for Winovich fans is that’s not an unreasonable expectation. In arguably his best game last season, he saw a significant amount of playing time at middle linebacker, helping the Patriots’ defense put the clamps on Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens impressive rushing attack.
  
  If Winovich can at least provide reliable depth at defensive end, outside linebacker, and middle linebacker, it’s going to be very tough for the team to cut him. That sort of versatility will save them roster spots at other positions, and he has more upside than other players he might be competing with. Overall, Winovich’s exact outlook for 2021 is still unclear, but it would be relatively surprising if he has a decent camp and still doesn’t make the team.
  
  Overall, this year’s linebackers group should be night and day from last season. The return of Hightower, free agency additions, and natural development from the likes of Uche, Winovich, and Anfernee Jennings will make the Patriots much stronger at the second level in 2021.

Patriots 2021 Positional Previews: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Offensive Line | Defensive Line | Cornerback | Safety

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].

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Author Alex Barth

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Alex Barth,Anfernee Jennings,chase winovich,Dont'a High Tower,ja'whaun bentley,josh uche,kyle van noy,Matt Judon,New England Patriots,NFL,patriots,Patriots position previews,patriots training camp,Raekwon McMillan,Terez Hall