Last we saw the Patriots defense it was holding the high-flying Rams to just three points in Super Bowl LIII.
A big part of that defensive effort was the play of veteran linebackers Dont'a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy.
Now, as New England begins summertime preparations to defend its title, that veteran duo is expected to once again lead a defense that faces increasingly high expectations in 2019. Many expect that the linebacking corps they lead could be a key factor in the Patriots defensive success this fall.
Not only are Hightower and Van Noy back in their versatile roles, but the unit adds veteran Jamie Collins for a second tour through Foxborough as well as second-year player Ja'Whaun Bentley, who impressed last summer before missing most of his rookie season on injured reserve.
So, what do the players themselves think of the new-look, restocked linebacker position for 2019?
"Elite," Van Noy said this week without hesitation following a joint practice in Detroit with the Lions. "I think it's very elite, and I'm excited to let loose and see what we all can do together. I'm really excited for it. Some people have knocked us – we're slow and all that – but I'm excited to come out and play."
Hightower wasn't quite as strong in his assessment of the group, but made it clear the unit has the ability to do impressive things if it lives up to its potential.
"I think we know what kind of tools we've got, but if we don't use them then what do you really have? We're talented. We know we have experience or whatever you want to call it, but we've got to go out and execute and not get complacent," Hightower said.
Hightower is hopeful that the "ball hawk" abilities that Collins is known for adds "another element" to the unit, while Bentley has impressed with his football intellect as he potentially takes over at middle linebacker.
"He's a young player but he's very smart. He's definitely been a sponge," Hightower said of the 2018 fifth-round pick out of Purdue. "All of last year (while on IR) he wasn't one of the guys that went home or whatever. He stayed around, was in on all of the meetings, taking notes and stuff. Having guys like him around only helps not just our linebacker room, but the defense as well. Having a guy like that who knows the defense pretty well and is able to talk and help guys get lined up and make adjustments. Whenever you have all 11 guys on a page like that, that you can just simply look at them and say one thing and then be thinking the exact same thing definitely helps."
The more confident, capable, communicative bodies the linebacking corps has, the more looks the front can throw at opposing offenses. It's early, but this group certainly appears to have plenty of versatile options that can move around the front as needed in weekly game plans created by Bill Belichick and his linebackers coaches, Jerod Mayo and DeMarcus Covington.
"I think it's fun," Hightower said of the versatility. "A lot of times guys are just lined up in one particular spot, but one of the things that we do here is you get asked to do one, two, three different things if possible. It definitely makes our defense unique and a lot different. It's just good to be able to cover back here, drop in zone here, blitz here, coordinate a rush over here. I think everybody kind of enjoys not knowing where you're going to be. Just waiting to hear the call.
"I think it just helps us down the road. A lot of offense try to game plan for guys being in certain spots in situations, and whenever we're able to mix it up and line up different, or be in a different front, or blitz, or cover, or drop or whatever, nobody really knows where we're at. As long as we can continue to grow chemistry between ourselves and continue to learn the defense, we know we'll be alright."
And maybe even elite.
