After the 2012 draft was completed, the Patriots seemed to be considered one of the “winners” of the draft. Procuring the high-upside Chandler Jones out of Syracuse coupled with Dont’a Hightower, the former leader of the Alabama stringent offense in the first-round paved the way. Adding the athletic yet unproven Tavon Wilson from Syracuse and the character flagged yet super productive cornerback Alfonzo Dennard from Nebraska also proved to be filled with great potential.
And after a narrow victory, one that saw a member of the 2012 draft class be the subject of much discussion, over the Jets on Thursday night, the Patriots can comfortably say that their 2012 draft class can be reconsidered a major victory for the always savvy drafting team.
Dont’a Hightower
With Jerod Mayo now out for the reminder of the season, Don’t’a Hightower has become the unquestioned enforcer in the middle of the field for the Patriots. After just three years in the NFL, Hightower has quickly become one of the best interior rushers in the league, both in production (with four sacks now on the year after two against the Jets) and in pressure caused. He’s also one of the most reliable inside linebackers in the NFL in terms of finishing tackles on run plays. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s one of just three inside linebackers with over 100 snaps this season to not miss a tackle.
With Mayo gone for the season, Hightower will need to be even more of a factor in run support, as Mayo was one of the NFL’s best at shutting down the run game. Chris Ivory, the Jets leading rusher, had 61 yards on 16 carries between the tackles in Thursday night’s game, while Chris Johnson added 38 more yards in the same area on eight carries.
Hightower has proved that his value as a Patriot lies in his pass-rush ability. He’ll now get the opportunity to show he can be a run game enforcer as well with an increased role as he attempts to fill the shoes of Jerod Mayo.
Chandler Jones
Coming out of Syracuse, Chandler Jones (brother of current Colts defensive tackle Arthur Jones and UFC fighter John Jones) was a highly coveted athlete whose draft value skyrocketed as he worked out for NFL teams. A long, athletic edge rusher, Jones fit the type of moldable defender they were looking for. While he’s had an up and down season in 2014, he’s still the team’s best edge pass-rushing threat, and after adding one in the Jets victory, he’s now up to five sacks and 13 quarterback hurries on the season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Jones has been merely adequate for much of his career in run support, but that’s not his primary job with the Patriots. As the leading edge rusher for the team, the right side edge player is tasked with creating pressure and forcing opposing quarterbacks off balance, which can happen with even more frequency this year due to the plus cornerback play the Patriots boast now.
Even after three years, Jones has continued to improve and should follow that path further into the future due to his athletic upside and high ceiling as a player. But three years in, the Patriots can certainly hang their hat on calling Jones a selection that paid off, despite the risks that were associated at the time.
Tavon Wilson and Alfonzo Dennard
With Logan Ryan now securing most of the outside cornerback starts away from Alfonzo Dennard and Tavon Wilson being a clear back-up/special teams player behind Patrick Chung, neither Tavon Wilson nor Alfonzo Dennard are key to the Patriots gameplan week-to-week in 2014. However, it’s finding value in a special teamer like Wilson and a slot cornerback (and former starter) like Dennard that turns a usual draft class into one that can help build a football team.
With two starters on defense already in the fold with Jones and Hightower, the Patriots don’t need great production from their mid and late rounders, but merely need them to have an impact each time they’re called up. For Wilson, he’s been adequate this year in relief duty for Chung and has found a home as one of the Patriots key special teamers (along with fellow 2012 draft pick Nate Ebner).
As for Dennard, while he’s been moved to slot cornerback this year (and despite his struggles thus far in 2014 and against Jeremy Kerley in their narrow victory on Thursday night), he’s been a plus value as a former seventh rounder, even despite his off-field issues.
A Win for the Patriots’ Drafting in 2012
Now three years removed from a defense-heavy draft (took just one offensive player in the seventh round in Jeremy Ebert), the Patriots’ focus on one side of the ball has paid off. All four of the players detailed here can allow the Patriots to focus offensively in years following, and may continue to allow them to do so in the future (AKA, they should draft more receivers/tight ends).
It’s drafts like the 2012 class that can set up a unit for years to come. And with Jones, Hightower, Austin and Dennard filling starter and depth roles across the defense, the 2012 group is a constant source of gameplan material for opposing offensive coordinators. The Jets certainly felt the weight of the 2012 draft class too in their 27-25 loss on Thursday night: their three 2012 drafted defenders combined for just six tackles and two touchdowns allowed.
