Hybrid defender Marte Mapu was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. As soon as the pick was turned in, fans could see Mapu was a perfect Bill Belichick chess piece for one of the league’s best defenses.
But is Mapu more than just a rook on a chessboard? Perhaps the king is a better example of Mapu as a chess piece with his raw athletic traits, football intelligence and positional versatility.
Mapu has been in a red non-contact jersey since arriving. It’s a jersey typically reserved for quarterbacks or injured, limited participants. But, as any sane Patriots fan would do, I began to question if Mapu really is injured or if the red non-contact jersey served a more unique purpose.
Maybe, just maybe, Mapu’s role will be to serve as the engine, playing on all three downs. Could the red non-contact jersey keep blockers and contact off of him so he has a better chance at playing fast, reading the defense and playing the “star” role?
Mapu has been all over the place, getting reps with defensive backs and linebackers. But what is more telling is that Jahlani Tavai started in the preseason game and has been getting sizeable reps thus far on early downs, despite Belichick’s philosophy of playing the guys who haven’t seen reps.
This notion, if true, could be more evidence that Mapu is actually No. 1 or No. 2 on the depth chart with Ja’Whaun Bentley. The Patriots often run a 5-2 hybrid front, and the two linebackers are considered starters. So if Tavai got all the reps in camp, making him a starter, why was he out there with Mack Wilson Sr. and not Chris Board or Calvin Munson to start the game?
The evidence points me to believe that Mapu is in fact an integral part of the defense, and the red non-contact for a pectoral injury suffered in college is more strategic than injury prevention.
Mapu should not only remain an integral part, but he could have a chance to develop into one of the Patriots’ more elite defenders. What was shown on tape and what has been seen in practice, so far, matches. He really pops in all scenarios, making him the ideal “star” role for the Patriots defense. His abilities allow the Patriots to virtually use all of their safeties at once.
It seems like they have big plans for the talented rookie, and although this might be seen as conspiracy, all of the signs point to him being the cog that moves the defense.
For a Belichick-led defense, that “star” role plays an integral part and aligns with the talented safety room and the selection of a hybrid player like Mapu.
In an AL.com article, Nick Saban mentioned his time with Belichick in Cleveland and how that defense was constructed.
“Well, when I went to Cleveland, everything that Bill Belichick does has some purpose, from what you call blitz to what you call fire-zone front,” Saban said. “The Star really is the Sam, so he wanted an s-word for that position. When you put six guys in the game, whether it’s a sub linebacker or a sixth defensive back, we had nickel, dime, dollar. Different money terms.”
It’s interesting to see such a defense continue to give teams the same issues it did 30 years ago. But when it comes to Mapu, does he fit what Belichick likes to do?
Saban went on to explain what makes a good “star” in a Belichick defense
“You can be a really good Star and not have the long speed to be a good corner,” said Saban. “Long speed being that if a guy runs a takeoff on you, you have to run and not get out run when the ball is in the air.
“If you have really good quickness and cover ability, the slot guy (receiver) has a hard time beating you in that position, because he’s closer to the safeties, he’s closer to the middle of the field. So a good tackler, a good blitzer, a good cover guy on a slot player, which is different than a good cover guy on an outside player.”
Devin McCourty allowed the Patriots to play differently as he was an incredible free safety that played center field, allowing the tacklers to have more flexibility in the box to focus on their specific roles. However, in camp to this point, we haven’t seen the same defense.
There are more two high safety looks than previously seen.
With that, the Patriots had Mapu in mind to replace McCourty, but his replacing McCourty is not replacing him as a centerfielder. It would be changing the defense back to the basics with a star-backer, one with the ability to tackle, blitz and cover faster receivers, as Saban pointed out.
In that defense, the Patriots could run a 5-1 front with five defensive backs. Let’s take a look at the potential personnel with a fun graphic I made.
On obvious passing downs, the linebacker could also be swapped for Wilson, and on more obvious rushing downs, especially first down, it could be Bentley. This defense aligns with the Belichick led-defense with the Browns, and it would allow Mapu to truly shine as a playmaker.
He has the speed to cover slots, running backs and even lighter tight ends, but he also packs enough of a punch to be able to assist in the run game, blitz occasionally and act as a roll out spy for mobile quarterbacks who escape the pocket.
If anything, the red non-contact jersey is a signal that the Patriots feel like Mapu is significantly valuable to the defense. They want to keep him from getting hit until it matters. Kyle Dugger has occasionally played the “star” role, but this will allow him to roam as a strong safety and make plays, while increasing the Patriots’ defensive versatility.
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