Is Keion White New England Patriots' Matthew Judon Solution?
The New England Patriots lost more than just the game in last Sunday's 38-3 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys. They lost perhaps their best overall player in outside linebacker Matthew Judon.
Reports surfaced this week that Judon may miss upwards of two months after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair a torn bicep in his right arm.
There's really no direct way to replace a player of Judon's caliber - but the Patriots have several young candidates poised to receive opportunities to prove themselves.
Perhaps the most intriguing name of the bunch is second-round rookie Keion White, who outside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo said has a mixture of both Judon and Deatrich Wise Jr. in his game and is staring down a prime chance to emerge on New England's defense.
“He’s going to play more,” Mayo said. “He’s going to play more simply said and we really need him to show up.”
White set a career-high in defensive snaps played with 27 against Dallas, which was 39 percent of the Patriots' overall total. His snap counts have hovered in the high teens to early 20s and sat around 30 to 35 percent.
The 6-4, 286-pound White has played in all four games with one start, coming in Week 3 against the New York Jets. He made his first career tackle against the Cowboys and also has a deflected pass to his name.
This is only the beginning for White, who New England has steadily worked into the fold with an eye towards a long-term development plan ... and so far, the former Georgia Tech standout has impressed the Patriots' coaching staff.
“Every week we try to put more on his plate,” Mayo said. “He’s doing well and he’s growing each and every week in the classroom and on the field.”
With Matthew Judon out indefinitely, rookie Keion White needs to step up for the Patriots.
This praise from New England's coaches extends beyond Mayo, all the way up to Bill Belichick, who's pleased with the progress White's made and is optimistic about what the future holds.
"Keion's coming along well," Belichick said. "He's a smart kid. He's out there every day, works hard. He's improved a lot. Still got a long way to go, but he's certainly tracking in the right direction."
The Patriots aren't expecting White - or others such as Anfernee Jennings and Josh Uche - to match Judon's production; he posted 28 combined sacks in the past two years and had four in as many games this season.
But instead of looking outside, like how New England reunited with cornerback J.C. Jackson following star rookie Christian Gonzalez' shoulder injury, the Patriots have looked inward for their Judon solution.
And that, if nothing else, speaks louder than any words on just how pleased New England is with the development of White and the rest of its edge defenders.
White's first chance at an extended role comes Sunday, when the Patriots host the New Orleans Saints for a 1 p.m. kickoff inside Gillette Stadium.
