Tag: Keion White

Patriots’ top 10 defensive players in Week 3, per PFF grades

Here are PFF’s highest-graded defensive players for the Patriots in Week 3.

Another defensive masterclass for the New England Patriots earned the team their first 2023 regular season win on Sunday. They pummeled the New York Jets offense (as is usually the case) in a 15-10 road victory.

Three games into the season and it’s already clear that the Patriots have one of the best defenses in the league. Keep in mind, this has been a team playing with only one of their starting cornerbacks. Jonathan Jones, Jack Jones and Marcus Jones have all been out with injuries.

That has left the bulk of the work to rookie first-round draft pick Christian Gonzalez, Myles Bryant and Shaun Wade. Gonzalez’s sudden emergence into one of the league’s top corners has obviously been a huge help, along with the pressure the Patriots have been able to get up front.

It was like a full-on WWE session in the Jets’ offensive backfield with quarterback Zach Wilson getting body-slammed and rag-dolled by Patriots defenders through four quarters.

Today, we’re ranking the top-10 Patriots defenders in Week 3 by their Pro Football Focus grades. It’s important to note that we haven’t taken snap count into consideration for this particular list.

So while a player like linebacker Matthew Judon was the obvious MVP of this game, he wasn’t given a top-10 PFF grade.

8 burning questions for Patriots ahead of Week 2 matchup vs Dolphins

8 burning questions facing the Patriots heading into a pivotal matchup with the Dolphins.

There are plenty of questions facing the New England Patriots ahead of their Week 2 divisional showdown with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Such is the case for a team coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last week. The possibility of starting 0-2 on the season is a scary thought for a Patriots team with the hardest schedule in the NFL this year.

Can they turn it around against Miami?

The Patriots Wire staff already gave their predictions on the matchup, and unlike last week’s game, most have the Patriots winning. Let’s delve deeper into some burning questions still facing New England heading into Week 2.

4 Big takeaways from Patriots’ 25-20 loss vs Eagles

A comeback wasn’t enough to overcome the Eagles, but the Patriots still played good football on Sunday. Here are 4 takeaways from the game.

A celebratory day at Gillette Stadium provided New England Patriots fans with fireworks on and off the field in their Week 1 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Legendary quarterback Tom Brady was honored both pregame and at halftime, with New England owner Robert Kraft making the announcement that the team would void the normal waiting period and would induct the signal-caller into the Patriots Hall of Fame this upcoming June.

On the field, New England’s offense overcame an early 16-0 self-inflicted deficit to make the game competitive, drawing within two and five points of the Eagles at different points throughout the match.

Ultimately, the self-inflicted mistakes were just too much to overcome, and multiple late drives by the Patriots deep into Philadelphia territory just couldn’t give the home team a lead.

Here are 4 big takeaways from the 25-20 loss.

Studs and duds in Patriots’ season-opening loss to Eagles

Here are the studs and duds from the Patriots’ season-opening loss to the Eagles.

The New England Patriots came within a drive of shocking the sports world on Sunday by knocking off the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles, but far too many mistakes and a failure to execute down the stretch cost them.

This game will feel like the one that got away for the team, especially after they watch the film and see all of the plays they left on the field. However, it could also be viewed as a building block for an improved effort in 2023.

The offense looks like it’s finally in a good place under Bill O’Brien, and Mac Jones is playing with the utmost confidence. Meanwhile, the defense held an elite quarterback in Jalen Hurts to only 170 passing yards and one touchdown in the 20-25 loss.

Here are the studs and duds from the game.

10 burning questions heading into Patriots’ season opener vs Eagles

10 burning questions for the Patriots ahead of Sunday’s season opener.

There are a bunch of questions facing the New England Patriots in Sunday’s opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

It will be their first real opportunity to wash away the stink of the 2022 season. They went 8-9 last season and missed the playoffs for the second time in three years.

That same model of consistency the Patriots have been known for hasn’t been there since Tom Brady was the quarterback. Coincidentally enough, Brady will be attending the game as an honorary guest of the team.

Perhaps his presence can help fuel the Patriots to beat the odds and knock off arguably the best team in football. Here are 10 burning questions facing the team ahead of Sunday’s matchup.

3 bold predictions for the Patriots’ 2023 season

Here are three bold predictions for the Patriots in the 2023 season.

It’s go bold or go home time as we gear up for the New England Patriots’ 2023 regular season. After a tumultuous 2022, everyone in New England would like to forget the past and move on to the Bill O’Brien era.

Mac Jones and company have looked improved in all facets of this camp, outside of the injury bug on the offensive line and lack of nose tackle depth on defense.

The Patriots got better, but so did everyone else.

These bold predictions are only considered bold because of the stigma the Patriots and Jones currently have on them. They’ll need to wash the stink off of them with their play, and these three things could help everyone forget.

Patriots rookie combo already earning fitting nickname

This nickname is very fitting for this dynamic rookie combo.

New England Patriots veterans have already given rookie first-round draft pick Christian Gonzalez and second-round draft pick Keion White a nickname heading into the 2023 season.

Both have clearly impressed during the preseason.

White in particular has  excited fans with his ability to rush the passer. Gonzalez came as advertised in the preseason as well, shaking off first-game jitters to put together some solid performances.

Now, the two could factor into the New England defense in a big way. The quiet demeanor they possess on the field and their ability to make ‘loud’ football plays is noticeable.

Defensive end Deatrich Wise and the rest of their teammates recognize this, as transcribed by NESN.com’s Dakota Randall.

“Keion and Gonzo, they’re doing tremendous work,” Wise said. “I call them the ‘quiet assassins’ because they don’t say much but their play is very loud.”

New England’s 2023 draft class needs to be a successful one, as they look to keep pace with the rest of the AFC East. Gonzalez and White still have to prove things in the regular season, but the early returns have been positive.

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Jerod Mayo impressed with DE Keion White in several areas

Keion White is making a strong impression on his coaches and teammates.

Positive reviews are continuing to pour in for New England Patriots rookie defensive end Keion White.

White had a solid first preseason game for the team, creating havoc in the offensive backfield. He tallied three tackles on the evening and played 27 snaps in total. He also had three quarterback pressures.

Inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo discussed White’s impact and his overall personality off the field. White may end up being a major contributor on the New England defensive line, as his youth and speed will be big assets in today’s NFL.

Beyond his play on the field, Mayo is impressed with the rookie’s personality off the field, as he told assembled media on Friday afternoon.

“That guy is pretty impressive,” said Mayo. “We still have a long way to go. I assume you’re talking about Keion, right? He’s a great athlete, and honestly, he brings a great attitude to the room. He’s honestly more personable in person than we saw on draft night.”

White’s development will be fun to watch over the final two preseason games, including Saturday’s road matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

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AFC East roundtable: Standouts from 2023 training camp

Who have been the AFC East standouts at training camp so far?

AFC East training camp standouts from BIlls, Jets, Patriots, and Dolphins including Dalton Kincaid, Aaron Rodgers, Tyreek Hill, Bill O’Brien

The AFC East looks poised to be one of the tightest divisions in the NFL during the 2023 season.

While the Buffalo Bills are vying for their fourth-straight divisional crown, the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and New England Patriots have all bolstered their rosters this offseason. It’s going to be a challenge.

That push to win the AFC East and earn a postseason bid starts in one place: Training camp. All four teams have hit the ground running at their respective camps and have had players standing out on both sides of the ball. 

To get a better idea of who, our divisional managing editors from Bills Wire (Nick Wojton), Dolphins Wire (Mike Masala),Patriots Wire (Jordy McElroy)  and Jets Wire (Billy Riccette) have teamed up to discuss which players are  standing out during AFC East training camps:

Three standout stars for Patriots in Thursday’s preseason opener

Here are the three standout stars from the Patriots’ first preseason game.

The New England Patriots opened the 2023 preseason with a 20-9 loss to the Houston Texans.

In a game where the Patriots rested most of their projected starters and veterans, we got to see rookies and young players fighting for their NFL lives in 2023.

Even though this exhibition game is meaningless for the 2023 season, it’s a good chance to take a look at players we might not ever get to see showcase their skills.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the three most impactful players for the Patriots in Thursday’s preseason opener.