The New England Patriots head into the 2018 off-season in a way nobody at 1 Patriot Place should be happy about: fresh off a loss in Super Bowl LII at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles. While many can point to the myriad of bizarre coaching decisions (like SS Jordan Richards being a big part of the game plan or the benching of starting CB Malcolm Butler in favor of Eric Rowe and Lions castoff Johnson Bademosi) as the primary factor in the loss, nobody can deny that the 2017 Patriots team was not talented enough to win it all–especially on defense. Fortunately the Patriots get a chance to remedy what ailed them in 2017 via free agency and the draft. Over the next few weeks here at Patriots POV, we’re going to highlight a handful of pending free agents that we think can contribute to next year’s iteration of the Patriots in search of their 6th Lombardi Trophy.
As noted in the Avery Williamson breakdown the Patriots linebacker depth in 2017 was one beset by injuries, inconsistent play and an overall lack of talent the further down the depth chart went. Star linebacker Dont’a Hightower was out with a torn pectoral muscle, budding star Kyle Van Noy missed a handful of games with a calf injury and second year LB Elandon Roberts couldn’t consistently play to the standards expected of a player who showed promise during his rookie year. In 2018, the Patriots are going to need a more effective crop of linebackers if they want to return to the Super Bowl for the third year in a row. Enter LB Preston Brown of the Buffalo Bills.
Brown made headlines late this week when he noted to the Boston Herald that he wouldn’t mind being the next Buffalo Bill to jump ship from Orchard Park to play for New England Patriots, following in the footsteps of Chris Hogan and Mike Gillislee. Brown is a former 3rd round pick who stands at 6’1, 251lb and is entering free agency at the ripe young age of 25. Although he has stated his interest in New England, it’s worth noting that he is also vocal in his wish to remain with the Bills at the right price. Brown believes he can help the Patriots defense improve, but the question is can he really? We’ve looked at the 2017 tape of the league’s leading tackler and what we’ve seen might surprise you.
The Good
Unlike Avery Williamson, Preston Brown was used as a three-down linebacker in Buffalo’s zone heavy system. He is asked to stop the run, rush the passer and cover players over the middle. Brown shows good instincts manning the middle of the defense. He knows where the ball is going most of the times and makes a strong effort to get there. He led the league in tackles in 2017 and that’s not for no reason. He’s a strong tackler who usually finishes plays strong, rarely did we see a missed tackle on film. His instincts in the passing game are also pretty good. He has strong zone awareness and generally provides good coverage in his zone. In man-coverage situations he often lined up vs the TE and wasn’t out of place doing so. He can run well vertically with his opponents and covers vertical/seam routes very well.
The Bad
Speed. The big issue with the Patriots in 2017 was the lack of second level speed. Brown is more of the same. He isn’t the fastest LB in chase situations and it shows on tape–especially when running side to side. His lack of speed caps his ability in coverage and as a pass rusher. To add to his disappointing speed, he also struggles with agility. Quick twitch athletes (like ones found in the slot) create an issue for him and he usually ends up whiffing and looking silly on tape. He is not the type of LB that can or should be covering slot WRs or scat backs. The second big concern with Brown is that while he accumulated a high number of tackles, he hasn’t been that impactful elsewhere. He’s a below average pass rusher whose production (1.0 sacks in the last two years) matches the tape. In coverage he has strong zone awareness but his physical limitations keep him from being a stud in that area. As a run defender he can be pushed around by OL, and despite his good instincts he can sometimes be taken out of a play entirely by a shifty cut or an OL pushing him out of the way. Preston Brown is the quintessential jack of all trades–master of none.
Is it a Fit?
Brown absolutely fits what the Patriots want on defense; he just isn’t what they need. He’d be a MIKE LB in all of their fronts and would allow Hightower to continue to play on the edge in nickel situations without sacrificing in the run game. The question remains though, do the Patriots want another LB who struggles athletically on the field in “gotta have it” situations?
Brown is “okay” at everything but not special at anything. He’s not the thumper in the middle ala Brandon Spikes and he’s certainly not a coverage whiz like Jamie Collins. He’s something more of a Mason Foster type; he does most things adequately but nothing he does jumps out at you. As a depth piece, Brown would be a welcome addition to the Patriots. As a marquee signing however, Brown would be a disappointment to fans all across New England. He’s a fine player but nothing to write home about.
Patriots POV 