FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots are trotting out the rare “strong safety-by-committee” this season.
Duron Harmon, Patrick Chung and Tavon Wilson were supposed to compete for the starting job during training camp and the preseason, but head coach Bill Belichick chose to move forward with a rotation next to Devin McCourty through two regular-season games. Chung and Wilson have shared early downs in the regular defense, and Harmon has formed a specialty role in pass coverage.
The rotation allows the Patriots’ safeties to play to their strengths, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s keeping morale high among the unit. Chung, who returned to the Patriots as a free agent this offseason, said in July that sharing snaps would be a best-case scenario.
“No matter who plays, whether it’s starting, second string, special teams, doesn’t really matter, man,” Chung said during training camp. “It would be great if we could all get on the field at some point.”
Chung got his wish, and while he has been the starter next to McCourty in the Patriots’ first two games, he has played in just 58.6 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.
“It’s fun,” Chung said Thursday. “All my boys are playing, we’re all playing, contributing some way — special teams, defense, whatever it is. It makes it more fun, man.”
Belichick has been criticized for his inability to draft defensive backs — especially safeties. McCourty’s conversion from cornerback to safety has yielded All-Pro results, though, and it appears Belichick has successfully formed one starter out of three players who can contribute in different ways.
“We have, I think, a number of good players at that position,” Belichick said Tuesday. “There’s a lot of competition there, and there’s not an unlimited number of opportunities for all those guys, but we have a lot of confidence in that position. They all played solid roles for us last week, defensively as well as in the kicking game. I think we’re very fortunate to have the quality of players that we have at that position.”
The Patriots’ secondary has been extremely strong through two games, allowing just 332 yards through the air. They’re fourth in total passing and first in completion percentage, yards per attempt, interceptions and passer rating against. Despite playing against some big-play receivers such as the Miami Dolphins’ Mike Wallace and the Minnesota Vikings’ Cordarrelle Patterson, the longest reception they have allowed has been just 26 yards.
Allowing big plays has plagued the Patriots’ defense in the past, and their improvement in that area can be credited to quality safety play. Opposing quarterbacks are 0 for 5 on passes targeted toward the Patriots’ safeties.
McCourty stressed that the rotation shows each player earned a role on the Patriots’ defense, not that Belichick couldn’t find a suitable starter.
“Everybody that’s playing safety has earned the right to be out there,” McCourty said. “We’re able to use the rotation to guys’ strengths and to get guys in and out of there. I think that’s made us a better defense overall.”
Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia reiterated that point, saying a rotation shows the Patriots’ depth at the position.
“It’s a blessing for us to have those types of guys we can get out on the field that can give us different looks and different multiplicity when they’re out there,” Patricia said Tuesday.
The only issue with using a rotation is there could be a lack of chemistry because of the moving parts. That doesn’t appear to be an issue so far, and it helps that Chung, Wilson and Harmon all are familiar with the system and McCourty is a defensive captain.
“I think it definitely just helps everybody to know that even though I’m not starting or playing all the snaps, I know this man has got my back,” Harmon said Wednesday. “He’s gonna do his job, and as long as I do my job, too, I’ll be all right.”
