Chandler Jones' Return Likely To Alter Akeem Ayers' Patriots Role (Mailbag)

Let’s put a popular misconception to bed.

The myth: New England Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington only should be used in the slot.

Arrington has proven over and over again this season that he’s a versatile cornerback who can line up all over the field and excel against various types of wide receivers. Arrington is pegged as the Patriots’ slot cornerback, because that has been his main role in the past. This season, however, he has just 27 more reps covering in the slot than the “Island,” Darrelle Revis (163 to 136).

First off, let’s appreciate Arrington’s season compared to secondary-mates Revis and Brandon Browner, who tend to steal headlines. Here are their stats, as charted by me:

Arrington: 22 receptions on 43 targets, 270 yards, 51.2 completion percentage, one touchdown, no interceptions, 78.6 passer rating, 291 cover snaps
Browner: 21 of 41, 347 yards, 51.2 completion percentage, two TDs, one INT, 86.1 passer rating, 280 cover snaps
Revis: 31 of 69, 448 yards, 44.9 completion percentage, two TDs, two INTs, 64.1 passer rating, 508 cover snaps

Revis’ numbers are pretty much otherworldly, but Arrington’s completion percentage and passer rating are better than Browner’s, and he has allowed fewer yards in more snaps and only one touchdown all season.

That’s not a shot against Browner, of course, since both players track different types of receivers. Since Browner follows bigger wideouts, he’s more apt to be beaten deep. Arrington covers smaller, shiftier receivers, which means he’s more likely to give up a high completion percentage, making that 51.2 figure even more impressive.

Let’s tackle that pesky misconception now. Arrington has spent more time outside this season than in recent memory because the Patriots have Revis to follow his receiver all over the field, including inside. Check out Arrington’s stats in the slot (per Pro Football Focus) and outside (charted by me) this season:

Slot: 13 of 25, 151 yards, 52 completion percentage, one TD, no INTs, 83.9 passer rating, 163 cover snaps
Outside: 9 of 18, 119 yards, 50 completion percentage, no TDs, no INTs, 71.3 passer rating, 117 cover snaps

Arrington actually has been better, if only slightly, outside than in the slot. How very interesting.

With a larger sample size covering a range of seasons, Arrington no doubt is better in the slot, but it’s absolutely worth noting he has been just as impressive outside this season and his versatility has been valuable in New England. Arrington is likely to take on Miami Dolphins rookie Jarvis Landry this week.

With that out of the way, let’s dive into a mini-mailbag:

@dougkyednesn how do you think Ayers will be used once Chandler Jones returns?
— @NouEngland1

I think his primary role still will be at defensive end, not linebacker. The Patriots use a nickel alignment on most of their snaps (four down linemen, two linebackers and five defensive backs), and I believe on first and second down, Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich still will receive the majority of the snaps at end. On third down, I believe Ayers will come onto the field as a situational edge rusher, pushing Jones inside to defensive tackle.

Ayers also likely will play linebacker in the base defense, though the Patriots could choose to use fellow midseason acquisition Jonathan Casillas in those situations.

It will be interesting to see how the Patriots’ defense looks when Jones returns, though. I believe Jones is a better overall player than Ayers, but Ayers adds a level of deception that Jones doesn’t, since he can drop back into coverage with ease at a moment’s notice alongside fellow edge defender Ninkovich. Jones is better, but Ayers actually might make the defense better and more deceptive.

Since Jones is coming back from a hip injury, it actually might make sense to ease him back into the defense as a situational rusher and keep Ayers as the “starter” in nickel.

@DougKyedNESN Has anyone asked Brady if he borrowed one of Bill’s hoodies the other day?
— @WordOfZac

No need. Patriots QB Tom Brady said last month that he borrowed the look from Brandon LaFell.

@DougKyedNESN I thought cannon was bad. Why did the team extend him?
— @Dylof_

I think it’s very unfair to say offensive lineman Marcus Cannon, who just reportedly signed a two-year, $9 million contract extension, bad. He’s a solid reserve swing tackle who proved earlier in the season that he can spell left tackle Nate Solder and right tackle Sebastian Vollmer in a pinch. Cannon actually played very well last season while starting eight games, including two playoff matchups, at right tackle after Vollmer broke his leg.

The initial numbers behind the extension look bloated, but Cannon is set to earn up to $9 million, which likely means a lot of that money is tied to playing-time incentives he might never meet.

@DougKyedNESN what style of uggs did TB12 get everyone?
— @CheBodega

If his gifts are anything like past seasons, then he bought them all one pair of slippers and a pair of lace-up boots — not the ones popularly worn by high school girls in 2009.

@DougKyedNESN Since Gronkowski posed with a kitten, what animal would the Patriots beat writers pose with?
— @NEPatriotsDraft

I definitely would not pose with a mouse.

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Patriots PR intern Travis Basciotta's most important duty of the day was ushering Felix The Mouse out of the media workroom.

A video posted by Doug Kyed (@dougkyed) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:41pm PST