Malcom Brown, the Man For the Job in New England
May 27, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft (left) and president Jonathan Kraft (right) pose with first-round draft choice defensive lineman Malcom Brown at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots lost nose tackle Vince Wilfork, the heart and soul of the defense this offseason. Not that losing both of his lockdown corners wasn’t enough from his Super Bow winning team. So in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, the Patriots picked Malcom Brown to replace him, position-wise.
And you know he’s the man for the job because he’s avoiding any type of comparisons while looking to make his own mark. He told the Boston Herald, “I’m not here to replace anybody. “Vince was a great player, and obviously everybody sees that. But I’m not here to replace anybody, and whatever role the coaches give me, I’m going to take that role and play my best at it.
Head coach Bill Belichick has been successful in so many different ways, he doesn’t need Brown to be Wilfork. Any time he picks a player, we all should know by now that he has a plan for him. But don’t think Brown not wanting the comparisons is rooted in a lack of confidence as he has already went Tom Brady on ’em.
He told Comcast SportsNet New England when asked if he had any message for Patriots fans, “Ya’ll about to get the best player ya’ll have ever drafted so just be ready for when I touch the field.”
Over 13 games with the Longhorns last season, Brown had recorded 6.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and 72 total tackles. The made the 6’2″ 320-pound junior a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy, which is given to the nation’s top defensive player. He was also a finalist for the Outland Trophy, which goes to the nation’s best interior lineman.
Belichick loves versatility up front and Brown can play the five-tech, three-tech or slide down and play nose. With no pads during offseason workouts, it’s tough to evaluate a defensive lineman. But so far, they like his quickness and the knee-bend he plays with as they already know how powerful he is.
We’ll really see who and what he is in five weeks but right now, he looks like the man for the job.