When asked by reporters Thursday morning why the Patriots signed interior defensive lineman Davon Godchaux to a two-year, $20.8 million contract extension the day before, Bill Belichick offered a simple explanation: “He’s one of the best defensive linemen in the league."
Though not many others might proclaim such a thing about a player whose primary function is stopping the run, especially for a team that tied for the eighth-highest yards-per-carry average allowed in football last year (4.5 ypc), Belichick must believe Godchaux wasn't the problem. Otherwise, why make such a statement?
Of course, Godchaux wasn't about to contradict his coach when reporters asked the veteran defensive tackle if he agreed with Belichick's lofty praise.
"I'm being honest: Yes, I do [believe I'm one of the best in the league]," he said. "I feel like for a big D-tackle, first you gotta be able to stop the run…it starts with the run. If you can't stop the run, you can't pass rush."
In his mind, it's the job of run stuffers like himself and Lawrence Guy, who both led the Patriots in run stops according to Pro Football Focus, to help set up the likes of Matthew Judon, Josh Uche, and Christian Barmore to get after the quarterback.
It's a thankless job, but a necessary one. And he said the Patriots' mentality on defense to take away the run meshes with his play style perfectly: "I felt like when I first signed here, this was home…I fit right in."
This year, Godchaux might be needed even more than ever with uncertainty at the linebacker and cornerback positions behind him. Fortunately, you won't need to worry about him slacking off now that he's got another contract with the team.
"I'm the same person every day. You can ask each one of my teammates," he said. "I'll never let the money change me. Still the same person, still the same hunger…I'm happy but not satisfied."
