{"id":88564,"date":"2021-10-14T01:25:35","date_gmt":"2021-10-14T01:25:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=88564"},"modified":"2021-10-14T17:37:07","modified_gmt":"2021-10-14T17:37:07","slug":"lazar-what-makes-patriots-lb-matt-judon-a-perfect-fit-signing-for-bill-belichicks-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=88564","title":{"rendered":"Lazar: Why LB Matt Judon is a Perfect Fit for Patriots"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although nothing is ever perfect, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has a pretty good track record of handing out big paydays in free agency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stephon Gilmore, Rodney Harrison, and Darrelle Revis are all in the conversation for best free-agent signings by Belichick, with the hits outweighing the misses (Adalius Thomas, Roosevelt Colvin) on the whole.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Quickly joining the list of Belichick hits is linebacker Matt Judon, an instant success with 6.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss in his first five games with the Patriots.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Pro Football Focus, Judon is tied for first in pass-rush productivity and is eighth in pass-rush win rate against true pass sets, which is a more stable way to measure pass rushers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Note: true pass sets – traditional drop-backs not including screens, play-action, or RPOs)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019ve put in the time. I think I\u2019m a smart player,\u201d Judon told CLNS Media. \u201cAs well as myself, just the guys in that locker room. It\u2019s really not me. I\u2019m making the plays and all that stuff. But me and Josh [Uche], we talk about pass rush and tackle placements, all that stuff. As we watch film apart, then we bring it back together. The coaches are making it easy on me. Just giving me hints, giving me tips. Just give me everything that I need to make plays and play fast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Judon is among the NFL\u2019s premier one-on-one pass-rushers and is putting up stats in a defense that doesn\u2019t typically lend itself to huge sack totals. Currently, the single-season high for sacks in the Belichick era is 12.5 by Chandler Jones in 2012. Judon is on-pace to shatter that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you get the one-on-one, that\u2019s when you really get to see what you got. The type of work you got. If I can win those matchups more than not, it\u2019ll help the defense, especially if I\u2019m getting pressure and making the quarterback hurry up or getting my hand in a throwing lane,\u201d Judon said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, Judon is a well-rounded edge defender adding 12 stops and a 79.5 coverage grade to his impact plays near the line of scrimmage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMatt’s [Judon] an explosive player. He’s certainly given us a number of significant plays,\u201d Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said. \u201cHe’s made a number of big plays. He’s strong. He’s fast, and he’s instinctive, so he’s got some good tools to work with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In Bill Belichick\u2019s defense, edge defenders have three primary responsibilities, and the importance of those assignments are in the following order: 1. Set the edge against the run and contain the quarterback, 2. Pressure the passer, and 3. Occasionally drop off the line into coverage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Typically, jobs one and three prevent Pats\u2019 edge rushers from racking up sacks and quarterback pressures (number two) at a high rate, but not Judon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking at Judon\u2019s pass-rush repertoire, his go-to move is a rip move that he pairs with different combinations to take advantage of an explosive first step and bend to turn the corner on tackles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n