This season there is a lot of competition among Patriots cornerbacks. One youngster is worth paying attention to for the first-time. A youngster can step in to replace Jimmy Garoppolo, who is aging. But which cornerbacks will be the best in 2014? Here are five cornerbacks you should be paying attention to this season. All three of them will be crucial to the Patriots’ defense.
Kyle Arrington: Arrington, a seven-year veteran of the NFL, may have some valuable experience that will help him grow in 2014. Unlike other players in the NFL, he has struggled to develop in the past few seasons with the New England Patriots, but he could be a top cornerback in 2014. Arrington was able to recover a crucial onside kick against Cleveland Browns, had one interception, two fumble recovery and one fumble recovery last season. Arrington was thrilled to have recovered a key onside kick against the Cleveland Browns, as the Patriots had only managed one since 1995.
Meanwhile, the other top cornerback on the team is Justin Durant. The Patriots lost Wes Welker in Denver so they will have a young and inexperienced wide receiver group. However, Brady will likely use Julian Edelman a lot this season. He will also be using Thompkins, Dobson, and Slater. The former Carolina Panther Brandon LaFell has also caught Brady’s eye during the preseason.
A big reason to start Stevan Ridley is his size and athleticism. He is also a great runner with 201 yards on 35 carries, and four touchdowns. He can also tackle opponents who throw the ball in the air. He can also make plays on defense, as his size and strength help protect Tom Brady. He’s a great choice to replace Adrian Peterson, who was recently suspended due to a domestic violence case.
In addition to the veteran cornerbacks, there are a number of intriguing rookies on the Patriots’ depth chart. Devin McCourty and Brandon White, both of whom were drafted a year ago, may be the best picks among the cornerbacks. These rookies are still uncertain about their safety position. In addition, there are a few unproven cornerbacks that could emerge on the waiver wire.
The New England Patriots won the AFC East title with a record of 12-4. The team’s 12-4 record earned them the top seed in the AFC playoffs, and they also received home field advantage in both the conference finals and AFC Championship Game. The Patriots were fourth in the NFL in scoring and eighth in points allowed. They were also favored to win Super Bowl fifth consecutive year.
After the Packers’ early touchdown, the Patriots rallied in the second game. With 0:08 remaining in the first quarter, Aaron Rodgers hit Richard Rodgers with a 32-yard touchdown catch. Eventually, the Patriots pulled within two, but the Bengals recovered. In the fourth quarter, the Patriots were down and the game was over with a Brady-Gronkowski touchdown. The Pats defense didn’t allow the lead to slip below two points.