Jarrad Page training with Chuck Liddell. Is Page the forgotten man of the New England secondary?
https://www.patspropaganda.com/jarrad-page-training-with-chuck-liddell-is-page/
Jarrad Page
Patriots not ready to flip the Page
The Pats extended a tender offer on Jarrad Page today. Mike Reiss explains:
Page’s tender is a sign that the Patriots are interested working with him. Page enters his sixth NFL season and prior to last season, the team had traded a 2012 seventh-round draft choice to Kansas City to acquire him, and paid him a one-year salary of $1.7 million.
Page’s 2010 season in New England was limited by a calf injury, as he appeared in 10 games (1 start). In all, he played 17 percent of the team’s defensive snaps while also contributing on special teams. In 2011, he would join a deep safety mix that includes Brandon Meriweather, Patrick Chung, James Sanders, Josh Barrett and Sergio Brown atop the depth chart, although it’s imporant to note that under a new collective bargaining agreement, he could qualify for unrestricted free agency.
Page peaked in playing time near the end of the season, playing 43% of the snaps against the Jets (45-3) then 64% Bears, 11% Packers, 64% Bills. He’s a physical in the box safety type. Looks like Brandon McGowan has been replaced.
Some new twists for the New England Patriots defense
It’s hard to know where to start when breaking down the New England Patriots dismantling of the New York Jets, so to kick it off here are some observations from the Pats defensive side of the ball.
The first player I’d like to talk about is Darius Butler who suddenly emerged as the teams nickelback last night. Patrick Chung had been playing that spot in place of Jonathan Wilhite, but it was not his strength. Putting Butler in forced Chung back into a rotation at safety, meaning less playing time for him.
Jarrad Page also suddenly emerged, making it a four man rotation at safety. I will need to look more closely at how exactly all of them were used, the snap counts should give some insight into it. Page looked like he was playing fast and physical last night, we forget that he was steadily getting more and more play time before getting hurt.
Dane Fletcher saw time as a 3-4 OLB for the first time this season. It wasn’t his traditional pass rush/spy role. This sheds a little more light on the decision to let Shawn Crable go. I’ve always been curious to see if Fletcher could play OLB in the base defense, it seems like he has the length and smarts needed. Hopefully he will continue to improve, but chalk another undrafted rookie up on Bill Belichick’s success list.
Devin McCourty… what can you say. I don’t think it’s too early to say we’ve finally got an elite corner. Partner him with Leigh Bodden next year and I guarantee this unit won’t be ranked last in anything. But that’s next year, for now McCourty is really the difference maker in the secondary.
Brandon Spikes’ interception is a huge sign of progress. Had he bit on the play action it would’ve been a touchdown. Instead he stayed in his zone and Sancheesy threw it right to him.
To think that this defense held the Jets to 3 points without Ty Warren, Leigh Bodden, Mike Wright, Myron Pryor and Jonathan Wilhite… wow.
More to come later…