12-26-2019, 08:35 AM
New England Patriots 2018 roster breakdown: #93 DT Lawrence Guy The New England Patriots currently have 89 players on their active roster. However Patrick Chung Jerseys 2019 , only 53 of them will be able to survive the cutdowns on September 1 and ultimately make the team. Over the course of the offseason, we take a look at the players fighting for those spots to find out who has the best chances of helping the Patriots recapture the Vince Lombardi Trophy.Today, the series continues with one of New England’s defensive tackles.Name: Lawrence GuyPosition: Defensive tackleJersey number: 93Opening day age: 28Experience: 6Size: 6’4, 315 lbs.2017 review: After spending the first five years of his NFL career with four different teams, Lawrence Guy might just have found a permanent home during last year’s free agency: the former seventh-round draft pick signed a four-year, $20 million contract with New England to become a core member of the team’s defensive tackle rotation. He did just that in 2017 and played more snaps than any other of the Patriots’ players at the position.Overall, Guy appeared in all 16 of the team’s regular season games and played 582 of a possible 1,060 defensive snaps (54.9%). He saw his workload increase during the postseason, playing 137 of 216 snaps (62.0%) in New England’s three playoff contests. When on the field, Guy did not stand out in any particular aspect of playing the defensive tackle position. He was, however, a consistent contributor all year long.The veteran saw most of his action as an early-down White Duron Harmon Jerseys , two-gap interior lineman that was used primarily as a run stopper but also as a part-time pass rusher. In that role, Guy registered a combined 72 tackles throughout the season – 64 of them coming against the run, including a team-high nine stuffed runs. He also notched 2.5 sacks as well as an additional three quarterback hits and seven hurries.While his numbers do not stand out compared to other defensive tackles across the league, Guy proved to be a valuable rotational piece along the Patriots’ interior defensive line – especially with Malcom Brown missing time due to an ankle injury, Alan Branch being phased out of the rotation, and rookie Adam Butler being primarily used as a sub-package pass rushing specialist. Guy, on the other hand, was as steady as they come.Besides playing defense, Guy also was regularly used in the kicking game as a rusher on field goal and extra point attempts. Overall, he played 199 snaps on special teams (of 540; 36.9%) and finished the season with a field goal block – coincidentally coming against one of his former teams, the now-Los Angeles Chargers.2018 preview: After a successful albeit at times unspectacular first year in New England, the Patriots opted to slightly alter Guy’s contract: they added a $500 Duron Harmon Jerseys 2019 ,000 renegotiation bonus to his deal after the defensive tackle narrowly missed out on a playing time incentive of the same value last year. The move reflects how the team views Guy and his role on the defense – and that he can be expected to be a regular contributor again in 2018.While the addition of Danny Shelton could potentially cut into his early-down playing time a bit, Guy will again see plenty of action as a de-facto starter along New England’s interior defensive line: he should be expected to be on the field for at least a half of the team’s snaps again as one of the top three at the position alongside Shelton and Malcom Brown. His role, however, might turn out to look a bit different.Playing mostly as a run defender in 2017, New England might opt to give Guy more pass rushing snaps with Shelton and Brown both primary run defenders. It would therefore not be a surprise if he ultimately saw more playing time than last year, and registered more than the 12.5 quarterback pressures he had last year. A development like this one would certainly help a Patriots’ interior pass rush that was inconsistent last season. Daily news and links for Wednesday"TEAM TALKAndy Hart tackles this week’s Patriots Unfiltered Q&A: Brady’s contract, Edelman’s contract and WR trades.Rob Rang’s Draft Prospect Profiles: Wide Receiver.From NFL Network - Ian Rapoport details how Bill Belichick extended discussions at NFL meeting. (2 min. video)Patriots Unfiltered: Pondering who will coach the defense; Draft talk; More. (2 hours)LOCAL LINKSMichael Hurley skewers Andrew Brandt’s bad take on Rob Gronkowski: “Would Gronkowski have been safer from a flying helmet tearing apart his knee ligaments if the ladies had been wearing one-pieces instead of bikinis? Perhaps if those gals had shown some more decency by covering up with a sarong, Gronkowski’s spine would have been able to better handle the rigors of getting hit by NFL linebackers and safeties. Same goes for his head being protected from a concussion, or his forearm snapping.”/Worth a read.Justin Leger takes Andrew Brandt to task for his implication of Gronk: A “free pass” never was given to Gronk, it was earned.Matt Dolloff also disagrees with Andrew Brandt, stating that actually it’s NOT a fair question “to ask whether Gronk would have been injured less and had a more productive career had he partied less.”“Partying had nothing to do with Gronk tearing his ACL when T.J. Ward launched his helmet into his knee. It had nothing to do with his back issues that preceded his NFL career... And it definitely had nothing to do with the concussion he suffered when the Jaguars’ Barry Church lit him up in the 2017 AFC Championship Game.”Alex Reimer notes WEEI guest Andrew Brandt tries to defend his lazy, bad take about Gronk receiving an undeserved ‘free pass’ for partying.Evan Lazar’s best Patriots draft fits: Edge defenders.Mike Reiss gives us the details on Michael Bennett’s reworked contract.J.P. Scott (PatriotsWire) Don’t bet against Braxton Berrios in 2019.Tom Keegan explains why he believes Mike Vrabel White Marcus Cannon Jerseys , not Josh McDaniels, should be the one to take over after Bill Belichick retires.Zack Cox NFL Rumors: Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots at odds over [gasp!] money in contract talks.Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Should Patriots draft a kicker if Stephen Gostkowski’s money demands are too high?Ricky Doyle NFL Rumors: Patriots not convinced Cardinals will trade Josh Rosen?Skyler Carlin (ClutchPoints) 3 reasons the Patriots should try to trade up for D.K. Metcalf.Nicole Yang notes that during a ‘Tonight Show’ appearance, Patrick Mahomes dishes on his post AFC Championship Game conversation with Tom Brady.Karen Guregian reports former Patriots character coach Jack Easterby joins the Texans as their Executive Vice President of Team Development.Michael Hurley takes a look at who Tom Brady is following on Twitter. /#Offseason.Alex Reimer gives us seven takeaways from Tom Brady’s first 100 Twitter follows: TB12 over everything, love for Barstool Sports.Doug Kyed offers his latest Patriots 7-round mock draft. Pats pick Alabama TE Irv Smith at 32.Phil Perry also releases his NFL mock draft 4.0. Pats move up to 21 in trade with Seahawks for Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson. Patriots Beat Podcast: Mike Petraglia welcomes Mark Schofield (Inside the Pylon) to discuss the upcoming NFL Draft & what approach the Patriots will take this year. (32 min.)NATIONAL NEWSPro Football Doc (San Diego Union Tribune) Only Rob Gronkowski knows if CTE concerns played role in retirement.Eric Edholm (Yahoo! Sports) top 2019 NFL draft prospects, No. 25: Notre Dame DL Jerry Tillery and No. 24: Alabama RB Josh Jacobs.Ben Kercheval (CBS Sports) As AAF suspends operations, let’s take a look at 10 players who’ve earned an NFL shot.Mike Jones (USA Today) NFL and its ‘Legends’ hit the mark with investment in youth and high school football. Willie McGinest included.Conor Orr (SI) The Super Bowl jump: Which 2018 non-playoff teams could contend in 2019?Zak Keefer (IndyStar) More than ever, Jim Irsay wants his Super Bowl(s). “I’d like to win three in a row. How hard it it?”Jonathan Jones (SI) Unveiling the official 2019 NFL draft hats from New Era.James Dator (SB Nation) Complete NFL draft grades for all 31* hats. Pats’ hat ranks last with a D- grade.EXTRACURRICULARDarren Rovell (ActionNetwork) AAF suspending football operations immediately, league’s future now in doubt.Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) XFL points to the importance of the right TV deal.Laurel J. Sweet reports Robert Kraft’s lawyers are challenging the sex-sting search warrant.NBC Sports Boston has the latest developments from Robert Kraft’s court hearing.