Pats sign LB Matt Judon
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Here I am thinking that we've been doing Thanksgiving wrong all these years by not adding mac and cheese. Why the hell hasn't my family thought of this? We love that shit.
TBH, it's kind of poor people food and that's why I love it. Brings me back to my childhood when all we could afford was some noodles and cheese. My family tradition was to add in tomato soup as a special treat.
Next year I'm bringing the mac!
TBH, it's kind of poor people food and that's why I love it. Brings me back to my childhood when all we could afford was some noodles and cheese. My family tradition was to add in tomato soup as a special treat.
Next year I'm bringing the mac!
Amen my brother. Especially to the Braised Short Rib Mac & Cheese. But Sausage Mac & Cheese is also fucking awesome, as well as Bacon Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese.
What sort of Thanksgiving Dinner would make you choose between mashed potatoes and mac & cheese? That there is some bullshit.
Exactly. Why is this an either/or? It's fucking Thanksgiving. Make everything, and then let your stomach sort it out.
Peter King with a few words from Judon:
“What was your meeting with Bill Belichick like in free agency?” I asked Judon on Sunday, after New England routed the Titans 36-13.
“I didn’t have one,” he said. “I just signed.”
“No meeting with Bill, at all?” I said.
“Naw,” he said. “I thought free agency would be like ‘Let’s Make a Deal,” but we went through that legal tampering period, I had a couple ideas where I might go, and then I was working out on the day the deals could get done, and I heard nothing. Then we had the offer and I had to decide and boom, it was done.”
Judon’s rush ability has been helped by the depth along the line, plus a secondary that doesn’t miss 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore. When I mentioned the Patriots now have the Bills twice in 21 days and was he thinking about that, Judon said, “Hell naw. We got a one-game mentality around here. All we care about’s this week.”
“What was your meeting with Bill Belichick like in free agency?” I asked Judon on Sunday, after New England routed the Titans 36-13.
“I didn’t have one,” he said. “I just signed.”
“No meeting with Bill, at all?” I said.
“Naw,” he said. “I thought free agency would be like ‘Let’s Make a Deal,” but we went through that legal tampering period, I had a couple ideas where I might go, and then I was working out on the day the deals could get done, and I heard nothing. Then we had the offer and I had to decide and boom, it was done.”
Judon’s rush ability has been helped by the depth along the line, plus a secondary that doesn’t miss 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore. When I mentioned the Patriots now have the Bills twice in 21 days and was he thinking about that, Judon said, “Hell naw. We got a one-game mentality around here. All we care about’s this week.”
I loved Judon's response to the question about his roughing call yesterday. He knows that he was jobbed there, but he took the blame. Ref made the right call, need to roll next time, etc. Udoka should show that tape to Tatum.
I thought Judon didn't set the edge a few times yesterday and allowed some big gains. Unless I'm mistaken, I'd guess he was taken out of the game at one point for this very reason. One of the commentators mentioned he was out on a critical passing down and that was right after he failed to set the edge again.
They missed some edges yesterday for sure, more than usual. Not sure if all were on Judon or not. It was noticeable because it was so unusual for this team.
Kyle Van Noy gave an interesting answer when he was asked by Chris Long why Matt Judon wasn't more known for his pass rushing skills while in Baltimore. Starts at 12:58 (hopefully the timestamped link works):
View: https://youtu.be/8HLHHAFxbuI?t=778
I went back and looked at Judon's snap counts with Baltimore. Sure enough, he's playing a higher percentage of defensive snaps with the Patriots (84%) than he ever did with the Ravens.
His previous career high in sacks (9.5) came in 2019, the only season he had ever played >80% of the snaps (81%) prior to this year. His next highest sack total was in 2017 (8.0), when he played 72% of the defensive snaps. Outside of those two years, he topped out at 65% of the defensive snaps (2018). He's already played more snaps this season (700) than he did in the entirety of three of his previous five seasons. He was inactive for two weeks as a rookie, and he missed two weeks last year on the COVID list, but otherwise has never missed a game.
Perhaps the main difference between what he's doing here versus his time in Baltimore is simply that he's playing more.
View: https://youtu.be/8HLHHAFxbuI?t=778
I went back and looked at Judon's snap counts with Baltimore. Sure enough, he's playing a higher percentage of defensive snaps with the Patriots (84%) than he ever did with the Ravens.
His previous career high in sacks (9.5) came in 2019, the only season he had ever played >80% of the snaps (81%) prior to this year. His next highest sack total was in 2017 (8.0), when he played 72% of the defensive snaps. Outside of those two years, he topped out at 65% of the defensive snaps (2018). He's already played more snaps this season (700) than he did in the entirety of three of his previous five seasons. He was inactive for two weeks as a rookie, and he missed two weeks last year on the COVID list, but otherwise has never missed a game.
Perhaps the main difference between what he's doing here versus his time in Baltimore is simply that he's playing more.
Love KVN starting to say he hates rotating then catching himself and going to “you gotta do what you gotta do.”
At the 14:45 mark Chris says he's surprised to see that Judon "gets carte blanche to run the hoop at 9-10 yards". I think he's referencing that Judon will sometimes get too far up field when he tries to beat his blocker to the outside and this allows the QB to step up in the pocket and then escape outside into the gap that Judon created. I have noticed this happening to Judon and it is something you don't usually see on the Patriots.
It gets frustrating to see it happen repeatedly but I guess when you are getting to the QB as often as Judon is you get a little more leeway.
It gets frustrating to see it happen repeatedly but I guess when you are getting to the QB as often as Judon is you get a little more leeway.
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I’m hoping that the late bye will really help Judon. As you note, in terms of plays, hes already surpassed entire season’s worth.
I think it cuts both ways, as he's also gotten a few sacks that way. As long as he picks his spots and doesn't get greedy, I'm not sure it's a huge issue. He allowed that big scramble to Allen on Monday night, but the next time Judon was rushing, he made sure to stay level with the QB and not run by him. Took his shot, got burned, learned his lesson. Not great, but not the end of the world.
What a fantastic acquisition this has been. This guy feels like he was born to play in New England. If anything, it feels like his sack totals understate his impact.
Agree. He’s been outstanding this year(as he was for much of last year). Just an aggressive, instinctive playmaker. Who’s also become a team leader, and a vocal, engaging guy in the best way. One of BB’s best FA acquisitions to date.
Here's great footage of his strip sack.
View: https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1579178769335582721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1579178769335582721%7Ctwgr%5E48769bbc79297ef909df7c6e9c9ad9f49c18de8c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpatriotswire.usatoday.com%2F2022%2F10%2F10%2Fmatt-judon-breaks-record-one-patriots-all-time-greats%2F
View: https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1579178769335582721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1579178769335582721%7Ctwgr%5E48769bbc79297ef909df7c6e9c9ad9f49c18de8c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpatriotswire.usatoday.com%2F2022%2F10%2F10%2Fmatt-judon-breaks-record-one-patriots-all-time-greats%2F
That's awesome. I particularly like how the video ends with Strange and Dietrich Wise in mid-leaping-bro-hug.
Last year, while his sack totals were very good it seemed like he was often failing to set the edge and for mobile QBs or running backs was overpursuing leaving his side open for huge plays. To my eye he seems to have made a major correction here. It's possible that the Patriots are just using him more situationally where he's not in that position any more, but if that's the case it certainly doesn't seem like it's slowing down his productivity.
Last year in the regular season, Judon played 81% of defensive snaps (877) and 26% of special teams snaps (115). A total of 992 snaps, or 58 snaps per game.
His previous career highs were 933 in 2017 (also 58 per game) and 877 in 2019 (55 per game).
Through the first 5 games last year, Judon averaged 62 snaps per game (308 snaps).
This year, Judon's ST snaps have been cut way down. Through 5 games, he has played 75% of defensive snaps (238) and just 8 ST snaps (7%). An average of 49 snaps per game.
Judon had a career high 12.5 sacks last year. But he had zero sacks during the final 4 weeks of the regular season and in the playoffs.
Seems like the Pats are trying not to burn him out this year.
His previous career highs were 933 in 2017 (also 58 per game) and 877 in 2019 (55 per game).
Through the first 5 games last year, Judon averaged 62 snaps per game (308 snaps).
This year, Judon's ST snaps have been cut way down. Through 5 games, he has played 75% of defensive snaps (238) and just 8 ST snaps (7%). An average of 49 snaps per game.
Judon had a career high 12.5 sacks last year. But he had zero sacks during the final 4 weeks of the regular season and in the playoffs.
Seems like the Pats are trying not to burn him out this year.
Very very smart by NE. The guy is a beast but he definitely seemed to just collapse at the end of the year. I like the way they're handling him this year.
I was happy to see his
Agreed. And on this past Sunday, he was only at 55% of defensive snaps. It seemed like they sat him once the game was comfortably in hand.
Breaking it down, he is down roughly 4 snaps per game on D, and roughly 5 on ST.
I wonder if the ST snaps actually save him more energy than a defensive rep - more running involved on punt / kick teams?
I wonder if the ST snaps actually save him more energy than a defensive rep - more running involved on punt / kick teams?
I just assumed he picked up an injury towards the end of last season and it slowed him way down. He's healthy again and kicking ass, just like he did last year.
The Patriots franchise record for sacks is 20, by Tippett, which would be hard to break but not impossible.
The Patriots franchise record for sacks is 20, by Tippett, which would be hard to break but not impossible.
I think it's actually 18.5, as set in 1984:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TippAn00.htm
IIRC, he went out for a bit during the first Buffalo game (the wind game). He was never quite the same after that point, so he likely was battling something.
Tuly Banta Cain he's coming for you! This franchise hasn't really had that many strong pass rushers has it?
Chris Slade being 3rd tells you all you need to know.
Deatrich Wise will finish in the top 15 this season too.
Much different league now though.
Yeah, we really haven’t. Tippett’s record is never getting challenged although Chandler Jones would have come close if he got a second contract with the Pats.
22 years of BB as a coach not prioritizing setting up individual DEs for big sack numbers doesn't help.
As flawless notes, it's amazing that Slade is third. From like a golf ball in the high grass (lost) he turned it on!
Wait, you're telling me all those Chris Slade cards I've been saving for nearly 30 years aren't worth anything?? They're in a hard plastic case!
I loved Slade back in the day as a 12 year old.
Season record maybe, but assuming health Jones would've likely set the Pats career record. 6 seasons in AZ and he's their career leader, and his 107.5 career sacks would be 1st in Pats history (Tippett had an even 100).
Does pro football reference track sacks differently? Im seeing Slade at 6th on here when sorting by sacks...and it does appear they only use sacks with the patriots.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/career-defense.htm
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/career-defense.htm
If you apply his sack rate while in NE to his total career, he’s be at around 93-94 total so could be close. But he definitely would be right there for sure. And that’s not even counting the 30-40 sacks he didn’t get because of holding!
I think a big part of it was that the dude just looked like a menacing football player in uniform even if the stats didn't always back it up.
