Patriots Star Defender Outlines Underrated Way Kevin Byard Will Help Patriots
Patriots Star Defender Outlines Underrated Way Kevin Byard Will Help Patriots originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The New England Patriots signed All-Pro safety Kevin Byard to a one-year deal in free agency, and his impact could go well beyond just the field.
Cornerback Marcus Jones thinks Byard will be a huge factor in the Patriots' game planning this season as well. According to 98. 5 The Sports Hub's Alex Barth , Jones told reporters that he thinks Byard's experience in the NFC over the last couple of seasons will help the team prepare for some of their NFC opponents.
"Marcus Jones says Kevin Byard, coming from spending the last few years in the NFC (Eagles, Bears), will be a helpful resource preparing for some of the non-conference offenses the Patriots play this year but don't see regularly," Barth wrote on X. Byard spent the last two seasons with the Chicago Bears. The Patriots will take on the NFC North next season, facing the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings at home and the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears on the road.
Even though no team is the same year-to-year, Byard's experience in the NFC North will help the Patriots. Coaches have tendencies, and game plans may be similar year-to-year. However, the Patriots do not have a game plan for those teams from last season.
They do not play the NFC North teams yearly, and Byard has extensive expertise in game planning for at least three of those teams. As for the Bears, Byard may have some insights into what may work against Ben Johnson's offense, having practiced against it last year. It's not a huge advantage, as the NFC North teams will look to create a game plan that isn't easy to predict, but it's enough of an advantage that Jones felt the need to point it out as a plus to having Byard.