Kyle Van Noy is back where he belongs with the New England Patriots
Amongst a big free agency return for the New England Patriots, a familiar face at linebacker has returned.
The New England Patriots have signed former linebacker Kyle Van Noy to a two-year contract worth up to $13.2 million.
We backkkk!!! #patsnation #LFG #personal pic.twitter.com/wGoj5FTM4z
— Kyle Van Noy (@KVN_03) March 18, 2021
Van Noy will be returning to the Patriots where he really established himself in the NFL. In four years with New England, Van Noy logged in 45 starts in 51 games. Totaling 221 total tackles (21 for loss), 16.5 sacks, five forced fumbles (four recoveries), and two interceptions.
En route to winning two Super Bowls, Van Noy was extremely versatile and played a variety of roles on coach Bill Belichick’s defense. It’s fair to say that considering the way the offseason has gone for the Patriots, Van Noy returning to New England was almost inevitable.
With Dont’a Hightower returning after opting out of the 2020 season. At least another season with Devin McCourty. As well as defensive coach Matt Patricia returning after three years in Detroit, it’s almost like the Patriots are getting the old gang back together again on defense.
The versatility and speed of Van Noy allows him to play both on or off the ball as a linebacker. More likely than not though, he will be coming off the edge this season. But having the option to utilize a player in a variety of ways is something that has always intrigued Belichick about Van Noy.
Since he first joined the Pats during the 2016 season, Van Noy has proved to be successful in whatever role is expected of him. In doing so, he made 35 quarterback hits in his first four years in New England.
Coach Belichick has always been a fan of Van Noy and appreciates what he brings to the team. This is what the great coach said about his linebacker back in 2018:
“Kyle has turned out to be very versatile and very good at many things we’ve asked him to do, from the kicking game, to playing on the line of scrimmage, to playing off the line of scrimmage, to blitzing, to playing man coverage, zone coverage – so, multiple things.” – Bill Belichick, per Tanya Ray Fox of Patriots Wire
Belichick continued on about Van Noy and expressed how well he fits in as a prototypical Patriots player.
“It seems like it’s gone fast and he’s played here 10 years. But, yeah, he’s certainly been in a lot of roles for us, done them well and has given us great communication and leadership on and off the field.” – Bill Belichick, per Tanya Ray Fox of Patriots Wire
Speaking further upon the leadership factor that Belichick mentioned both on and off the field. Van Noy was the Patriots’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in his last season with the team in 2019. It further explains the first-class type of person he is off the field.
Van Noy is an organizational type of player. He can rally up his teammates at any point in a game for the Patriots. He’ll also be a great role model and leader for the young players on the team. Van Noy expressed that he wanted to do this when he joined the Miami Dolphins in free agency last offseason.
He can do it all for the New England Patriots. Van Noy will join a talented linebacker group including Hightower, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Chase Winovich, Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings, Terez Hall, and newly signed free agents Matthew Judon and Raekwon McMillian.
The linebackers struggled as a unit last season without Hightower. And after losing Jamie Collins, Elandon Roberts, and Van Noy in free agency without any real return. The Patriots defense ranked 26th in the NFL against the run last season. Allowing opposing teams to gain 4.5 yards per carry and average 131.4 yards on the ground per game.
Having an experienced veteran player like Van Noy back in New England changes the entire outlook of the Patriots defense. It’s going to be great seeing Van Noy playing again with the New England Patriots this season.
-Justin Trombino (@Trombino20 on Twitter)
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