The Patriots have historically been a matchup-oriented mixed team in the defensive backfield, deploying both man and zone to confuse opponents. A majority of the team’s interceptions come in zone looks or on deep passes in man coverage. The scheme has changed over time, most notably due to rules changes in 2004 and the press ability of Aqib Talib in 2013, which rendered the likes of Devin McCourty and Darius Butler obsolete at the position after the Patriots spent premium picks on both of them. Thankfully, the Patriots currently find themselves in a fairly stable place at the position, with Stephon Gilmore coming aboard and Eric Rowe serving as the press player.
17 years of Patriots: Analyzing cornerbacks under Bill Belichick
