Defense chasing more sacks, takeaways
Watts, Takitaki excited to get to work
FOXBORO >> The “Do Your Job” signs around Gillette Stadium may be gone or moved, but the core tenet of the Patriots’ defense remains.
New Patriots defensive lineman Armon Watts and linebacker Sione Takitaki were both asked Thursday about what coaches have emphasized on defense early in the voluntary offseason workout program. What Takitaki passed along sounded like it was still being preached by former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
“First, it just starts off with everyone doing their job,” Takitaki said. “Doing their 1/11. That’s always been the Patriots’ mantra here. Everyone has a job. We’re not gonna have anybody just out there doing their … you know what I mean, undisciplined. Disciplined football, and then we can go from there with making plays. It’s been a success for the Patriots’ defense.”
Of course, new Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo and defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington both learned under Belichick. And in Mayo’s case, he also played under Belichick. Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers said Tuesday that he hasn’t seen the old “Do Your Job” signs around the building. So, though Belichick is gone, his coaching points live on inside of Gillette Stadium, even if the walls aren’t adorned with them.
The message Watts relayed is a little bit different, however.
“(Covington) was saying he wants us to get more sacks, wants us to get the ball more,” Watts said. “I think those two things are going to be a big emphasis for us this year.”
Under Belichick, the Patriots stressed pocket containment more than sacks. They had one of the NFL’s top defenses in 2023 but ranked tied for 23rd in turnovers and 27th in sacks. It hurt the unit to lose starting cornerback Christian Gonzalez and outside linebacker Matthew Judon in Week 4. They were also playing without safety Devin McCourty, who had retired after the 2022 season.
Belichick isn’t the only coach gone from last year’s staff. The team will also have a new defensive playcaller after Steve Belichick departed to become the University of Washington’s defensive coordinator.
Defender scouts possible LT
Armon Watts is slowly getting accustomed to his new home, locker room and defense after signing a one-year deal in free agency.
But there are a few familiar faces Watts sees in Foxboro, including a teammate he had last year with the Steelers: offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor.
Okorafor is among the group of veteran backups who could land the Patriots’ starting left tackle job this season. He’s primarily played right tackle over his sixyear career, including the past three and a half seasons as the starter in Pittsburgh. The Steelers released Okorafor early this offseason, and he opted to sign a modest deal with the Patriots before free agency.
The 6-foot-6, 320-pounder has believers inside New England’s building — including Watts.
“He’s a great guy. Very athletic. Tall, lean, he’s been in the league for a while,” Watts said Thursday at Gillette Stadium. “Great guy in the locker room, I’m excited to see what he does here.”
Mayo mentioned Okorafor last month when asked who would start at left tackle. Last year’s starter, Trent Brown, recently walked for a one-year, free-agent deal in Cincinnati. Aside from Okorafor, who has played left tackle in the preseason, the Patriots did not sign any other outside offensive tackles in free agency.
“You look at our roster, we brought in some — we brought (Okorafor) in. Look, we’ll see when we put the pads on. It’s going to be tough,” Mayo said at the NFL Annual Meetings. “We have options.”
The Patriots’ other in-house options do not include a proven starter, from Conor McDermott to Vederian Lowe, Calvin Anderson and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. Mayo raised the possibility of newly resigned right tackle Mike Onwenu switching sides, though Onwenu has never played left tackle in the NFL.
Coach Hightower
Expectations might not be high for the Patriots this season, but Takitaki is excited to play under Mayo and inside linebackers coach Dont’a Hightower.
“I’m just happy to be here,” Takitaki said Thursday. “I know it’s new times here. I’m new. Just from the last couple days here, excited. Really excited. You guys should be pumped, because I am.”
Takitaki grew up watching Mayo and Hightower patrolling the Patriots’ defense for years at his position. Takitaki, at 6-foot-1, 238 pounds, was an obvious fit for the Patriots as a bigger, versatile linebacker in the mold the team typically values in that role. Hightower, 34, hasn’t played since the 2021 season. He’ll be a first-time assistant coach under Mayo.
Takitaki, who signed a twoyear, $6.645 million contract with the Patriots this offseason, described Hightower’s coaching style early on in the first week of the offseason workout program.
“These last few days, we’ve had meetings. Just to be there and be a sponge to (Hightower),” Takitaki said. “With Hightower, man, he’s played the game at such a high level — Pro Bowl, All-Pro, and he’s done it for a long time. A good, great player. Just to see how smart he is in the classroom when he breaks down tape.
“As players learning, that’s really good for us. He knows. He sees a play. He’s like, ‘I see what you’re seeing right here. I understand.’ He definitely makes it really good for players learning from him, just because he’s been in those positions. And a good leader. He knows how to relate to the guys.”
Former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady left the door open to a possible NFL return Thursday, saying he wouldn’t be opposed to playing again if he received a lateseason call from a playoff team that had lost its starting quarterback.
Brady was asked on the DeepCut podcast if he would pick up the phone for such a team, possibly the 49ers. Brady then mentioned the Patriots and Raiders, before saying the following: “I’m not opposed to it. I don’t know if they’re going to let me if I become an owner of an NFL team. But I don’t know if — I don’t know.
“I’m always going to be in good shape, always be able to throw the ball. So, to come in for a little bit, like (Michael Jordan) coming back; I don’t know if they would let me, but I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”
Brady is on track to become a minority owner of the Raiders, according to NFL Network, which reported his pending investment was recently altered to clear certain league hurdles and finally allow him to join ownership ranks. Brady’s group is expected to buy roughly 10% of the Raiders franchise, which was recently valued at $5.8 billion. Brady’s group will need at least 24 of the 32 NFL majority owners to approve their purchase in a league-wide vote.
However, if/when Brady becomes a minority owner, he can no longer play. NFL players, like all non-family club employees, are not allowed to own equity in teams.
It’s possible owners could vote on a rule change, but that would also require approval from at least 24 of 32 owners.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed Brady’s expected purchase last month at the NFL Annual Meeting, when the owners did not vote on his deal with Raiders majority owner Mark Davis.
“We’re just going through our process,” Goodell said. “We’ve been in touch with their side. I think it’s been making progress.”
Brady is also set to become the lead NFL game analyst at FOX, which signed him to a reported 10-year, $375 million deal. On his own podcast, Brady recently said he’s already begun preparing for his new role.