New England Patriots safety Adrian Phillips is not Duron Harmon’s replacement. It just so happened that Phillips’ signing occurred within 24 hours of Bill Belichick’s decision to send Harmon to the Detroit Lions. But they don’t seem to be too deeply related.
Yes, Phillips plays the same position as Harmon, nominally. They are both safeties. Harmon was more of a free safety in 2019, working in the deep half of the defense, where he served as a ballhawk. That’s not really Phillips. He is a bigger, bruising safety who is just as likely to line up inside the box as he is to cover a tight end. Sound familiar?
Patrick Chung does that already in the Patriots’ defense. Chung has long been a versatile defensive back, who is just as competent as a run-defender as he is in coverage. The Patriots often use Chung as a hybrid linebacker, which is no small feat for a 210-pound defensive back. When Chung dealt with injuries, the team turned to Terrance Brooks, who wasn’t entirely dependable in that role. Brooks, largely a special teams player with the New York Jets, saw 27 percent of defensive snaps. Chung got 63 percent of defensive snaps.
It’s likely both of their roles will get scaled back. For Chung, the Patriots surely respect both his age, 32, and his physical playing style. Fewer snaps during the regular season could help him play more in the postseason. After Brooks’ struggles, the Patriots may want an upgrade for their backup strong safety.
Devin McCourty will get a huge workload as the team’s top free safety. He’s most likely to take on Harmon’s snaps.
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