Patriots Training Camp Player Spotlight: Brandon Browner
 Brandon Browner brings a level of size and physicality to the corner position that the Patriots haven't had under Bill Belichick. (USA TODAY Images) |
The New England Patriots felt a need to upgrade the cornerback position in 2014 and signed Darrelle Revis to replace the departed Aqib Talib. But seeing the schedule and facing the likes of Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck, Matthew Stafford, and Jay Cutler who all have big, physical targets in the passing game, the Pats went out and signed Brandon Browner from the Seattle Seahawks.
Browner, 6’4, 221 has the size and physicality they were looking for to shut down the big physical wide outs they’ll face in 2014. Browner, who turns 30 on Aug. 2, had multiple suspensions from the league and after a slow start in 2013 had been replaced in the starting lineup by Byron Maxwell in Seattle.
But judging from the comments from his former coach Pete Carroll, the Super Bowl Champion Seahawks will miss his presence. “He’s a very unique football player,” said Carroll. “He’s got a great sense for the position and he’s tough, a really tough dude. He’s a fantastic football player.”
2013 Summary:
Browner’s season last year was probably one he’d rather forget. He started off slowly and was replaced in the starting lineup by Maxwell whose salary is just $645,000 and played well in his place. Maxwell, the younger, cheaper option played well and chipped in 4 interceptions in 2013.
Worse, Browner was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for marijuana use and was forced to watch the Super Bowl from home. His lengthy suspension was initially tied to missing drug tests while playing in Canada. It was eventually dropped to a four-game suspension which he will serve the first month of the season. Regardless, it was a sting he admitted that hurt him badly.
The NFL reinstated Browner as a free agent and he signed a 3 year deal with the Patriots that will pay him between $12 – 16 million dollars depending upon playing incentives and roster bonuses.
What To Watch For In 2014:
Browner is the biggest corner in the NFL at 6’4 and has the size and strength to match up with those big, physical WRs that the Patriots will face. One need only look at the AFC Championship Game, especially after Talib’s injury where Demaryius Thomas dominated and his value is apparent. Patriots corners weren’t able to deal with Thomas’ size and physicality and he had his way catching 7 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown.
Browner’s ability to jam wide receivers at the line and disrupt timing within the first five yards will be keys for his success. Both he and Revis excel at this and this should immediately help the Patriots pass rush, having opposing quarterbacks with the unenviable position to having to hold the ball a little longer going through their progressions.
Depending upon the opponent, Browner has the ability to match up with either the #1 or #2 wide receiver option and with over the top safety help in the deep passing game, forces quarterbacks to throw a pinpoint pass due to his height and length.
The NFL is a copycat league and the Super Bowl champion Seahawks showed the blueprint on how to shutdown the most prolific scoring offense in NFL history. With the additions of both Browner and Revis, the Patriots now can counter with arguably the best secondary in the Bill Belichick era.
Browner will miss the first four games of 2014 but the Patriots have the depth to cover his loss with both Logan Ryan and Alfonzo Dennard vying for starting reps in his absence. Both have done so in the past and played well. Ryan right now has the upper hand since Dennard is recovering from off-season shoulder surgery and hasn’t made an appearance in OTAs and mini-camp.
But the depth is now such that Kyle Arrington can remain in the slot where he is most comfortable and productive and there has even been talk of getting Ryan some reps at safety in an attempt to put their best players on the field.
Regardless, the Patriots secondary, most specifically the cornerback position has been upgraded in a big way in 2014. Browner, along with Revis gives the Patriots something they’ve been searching for quite some time, physicals corner that can jam at the line of scrimmage and re-route the opponent’s passing game.
Browner brings the size of a strong safety to the perimeter and will be one of the players to watch in training camp. The Patriots defense now (on paper) has the pieces to be one of the top units in the NFL. It will be interesting to watch how Belichick tinkers with it during the season to get the most out of it. And Browner figures to be a big part of it.
Be sure to follow PatsFans.com during training camp, we’ll have daily updates, photo galleries and any breaking news from Foxboro. We also are updating the stats database and now have the PatsPicker where you can play GM and select your own 53 man roster for the Patriots.
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
Listen to our Patriots 4th and 2 podcast on blog talk radio as the writers Russ Goldman, Derek Havens and I from PatsFans.com discuss the latest Patriots news Wednesdays at 12 noon.
