Patriots Add Linebacker Depth, Sign LB Dekoda Watson
 Dekoda Watson, here in 2013 against the Patriots will add quality depth to the linebacker core. (SBalestrieri Images) |
YES! There is still some football news to talk about this week. The Patriots signed free agent linebacker Dekoda Watson on Tuesday to bring the roster to 90.
Watson, 27 has played for the Buccaneers, Jaguars and Cowboys in his five-year career and has logged 120 tackles, three sacks, four fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and four passes defensed.
Originally drafted in the 7th round of the 2010 with the 217th overall pick by the Buccaneers from Florida State, the 6’2, 240 linebacker played for four seasons in Tampa Bay before moving to Jacksonville in 2014. He played nine games last season for the Jags before being released and signed by Dallas. He played in one game for the Cowboys last season.
His best season came in 2013 with the Bucs, Watson produced 42 tackles, two sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one pass defensed, three tackles for loss and one blocked kick.
When coming out of college, Watson’s scouting report had him as a very disruptive, if undersized linebacker who was somewhat of a liability in coverage against running backs.
He was slowed in 2014 missing all OTAs, mini-camp and missing the first three weeks of training camp after undergoing double groin surgery in the off-season. He was released by the Jaguars after starting against Dallas in London logging two defensive tackles and three special teams’ stops. In a weird twist of fate, Dallas signed him just two days later.
“I came off the surgery and they were expecting something more once I came back and it kind of lingered a little bit,” Watson told the Dallas news after his signing with the ‘Boys. “Once I was at my peak, I was able to play against Dallas and I played with high energy, I felt good about it and I came with a lot of confidence.”
Where Watson Will Fit with the Patriots: Watson will be a sub-package and depth linebacker who should find a good niche on special teams. Much like former Buccaneer Jonathan Casillas, he’ll be used to cover tight ends and running backs in the flat, with the occasional blitz off the edge.
 Watson, here stopping LaGarrette Blount in 2013, is a physical, downhill style player despite his smaller stature. (SBalestrieri Images) |
While conducting joint practices between the Patriots and Buccaneers at Gillette Stadium back in 2013, I got a lot of looks at Watson during the couple of days the teams practiced against one another.
Watson got a lot of reps during that first joint session and was pretty impressive. He can run and covered a lot of ground from sideline to sideline. Watson ran a 4.55 in the 40 during the NFL Combine back in 2010 and has a very quick initial burst.
Despite his slightly smaller stature, he is a physical tackler and plays off of blocks pretty well. Watson can blitz a bit off the edge and the speed and agility to be effective in that role.
He’s not a great coverage linebacker and is at his best as a downhill player. Watson has very good play recognition and once he sees it, he’s very quick to react.
Watson is versatile, while with the Bucs he played both SAM and WILL linebacker positions as well as being a core special teamer.
With the Patriots beefing up their front seven, Watson is a quality veteran signing. Obviously with the Pats and Bucs holding joint sessions gave Bill Belichick plenty of time to watch him closely. And his good friend and confidante Greg Schiano was possibly contacted as well. Schiano coached Watson at TB.
Rumors were the team would sign Colin McCarthy from Tennessee who they had in for a free agent visit as well as former Patriots and Buc Dane Fletcher. But now with Watson signing, those possibilities seem more remote now.
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