FOXBORO, Mass. -- New England Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo made an interesting observation earlier this week when discussing Kyle Van Noy's penchant for disrupting passing lanes.
Van Noy, Mayo said, does a good job of "just hearing what the quarterback is saying" -- an uncommon compliment for a defensive player to receive. Mayo explained how this trait, along with Van Noy's thorough film study, above-average anticipation and positional versatility, has helped the linebacker rack up nine passes defended over his last seven games, more than any Patriots front-seven defender has tallied in any full season since 2003.
Ahead of the Patriots' Saturday night matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, Van Noy was asked about Mayo's distinct praise. He smiled.
"I like to say I'm one of the smartest players in the NFL," the 30-year-old said Thursday. "I do a lot of study. I listened to older guys when they talked to me growing up. As you get older, your athleticism may go down a little bit, but you can make up for it by knowing where to go and knowing what the other team's doing. It's fun calling out (the other team's) plays."
Van Noy recalled a 2018 game against Matt Patricia's Detroit Lions in which he and fellow Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower, who'd both played for Patricia in New England, simultaneously sniffed out a Lions play call.
"We both said 'Toss!' " Van Noy said. "I think the (TV) camera picked it up. But that's sick. I'm like Tony Romo for a second -- but I guess right. I'm just messing. But we just take pride in it."
Van Noy's return -- he spent last season with the Miami Dolphins -- has given New England's defense an undeniable boost this season, as have the reintegration of Hightower (after his 2020 opt-out) and the arrival of sack leader Matthew Judon.
The Patriots enter Week 15 ranked first in the NFL in scoring defense, second in Football Outsiders' defensive DVOA and tied for third in takeaways. They've allowed just 36 total points over their last five games and are outscoring opponents 144-73 during their seven-game win streak.
"As a group, we put in a lot of extra time as a group watching film and try to see keys and figure out what offenses are going to do to try to go against us," said Van Noy, who leads all non-defensive backs in passes defended this season. "You put that work in, and it just shows up on Sunday. And when it does, it's just that much better because the work you put in that week is paying off."
