The Brandon Browner Effect: Pats Life Roundtable
Below is a group of Patriots Life writers in a round-table discussion focused on newly acquired cornerback Brandon Browner, and what his impact will be on the defense this year. Feel free to voice your opinion in the Comments section or on Twitter: @PatriotsLife
Liam Cunningham (@LC_NEP): Let me preface my opinion, which is likely not going to be well received, by making it clear that I do like the acquisition of Brandon Browner overall, and I think he will contribute to the defense this season. He has a toughness and attitude that I feel that side of the ball has been lacking since the days of Rodney Harrison and Teddy Bruschi. He is big, physical, and can knock receivers, tight ends, and running backs on their rear-ends with ease. He is a talented bruiser and one of the league's most unique cornerbacks, no doubt.
That being said, I have thought from the get-go that Patriots fans views of Browner's true skill level has been a bit skewed, to the point where I feel a good chunk of fans feel like Browner is an elite cornerback. Well I am hear to express my opinion that he definitely is not. Furthermore, I think Browner is going to struggle this year and will ultimately lose playing time to Alfonzo Dennard, Logan Ryan, and maybe even Malcolm Butler. Let's not forget how much promise Dennard and Ryan have shown. Butler is unproven for sure, but has been making plays left and right when he has had the chance.
I feel this way for a couple reasons. First and foremost is that Browner has been one of the most penalized players in the league throughout his career. And that was BEFORE the new rules, which will apparently result in an ungodly amount of flags being thrown, with a particular focus on illegal contact penalties by defensive backs. Brandon Browner's middle name might as well be Illegal Contact. If these new rules are here to stay, it does not bode well for a guy who makes a living mauling whoever he is covering.
Secondly, I think he is a relatively limited player. He plays one position: RCB. That is all he has played and apparently all he will play. The fact that he will be fixated in one spot will in turn limit players around him (including Darrelle Revis) and their ability to move around the field. Earlier in August Boston Globe beat writer Ben Volin discussed how Bill Belichick's usage of Revis could be somewhat basic as a result of some of Browner's limitations.
In addition to his positional limitations, Browner has a skill set that is lacking in a number of areas. He does not have great foot speed, so quicker receivers in the slot generally torch him, so long as he doesn't get his hands on them. Back in June of 2012 (outdated information I know, but I think some of these details still ring true for Browner's game), ESPN writer KC Joyner provided some statistics to support why he felt Browner was one of the game's more overrated players:
I also believe Browner benefited from being in the Seahawks system, where he fit perfectly. Players fit into very specific, defined roles in Seattle, compared with New England's defensive schemes which tend to be more complex.
Once again, I would like to circle back and make clear that I do like Browner. I think he is a good player and will help the defense. I just think he is being vastly overrated by many and could take a backseat to our other talented corners if some of his negative tendencies surface when he gets on the field in Week 5. And please, don't tell him I said any of this, because he is one scary dude.
William Stiles (@TheFib0624): I think the truth on Browner is somewhere between boom and bust. Bill Belichick is a master of utilizing matchups that give him the edge, and this would be no exception. I think that there will be weeks within the season where Browner is used heavily, and others where he’s only in certain sub packages. He’s big and physical, which will really benefit the Patriots in weeks with bigger receivers.
The Chicago Bears matchup comes to mind here, as their receiving core is sizable, which Browner would counter nicely. In weeks with smaller groups like the Green Bay Packers matchup, I think that you’ll see other players take the challenge. The quicker receivers Browner has played against in practice may also explain his struggles, as he hasn’t been given the opportunity to play a receiver which his skills match up well against.
Though he has struggled, I also think that he should start in any matchup come the postseason, as the flags tend to stay off the field. At that point Browner can bully the quicker receivers in the first 5 yards (and maybe a few beyond that). The smaller corners have not gotten the job done in the postseason, so I think this is a signing specific to postseason play. With the postseason being the bar by which we’ll measure this Patriots team, I think that the team will benefit greatly overall from his addition to the team.
Mike Saver (@MikeASaver): I believe Brandon Browner is both a little bit overrated and underrated. When he was first signed, many were celebrating like the Revis/Browner combo guarantees a Super Bowl. Recently, the tide has turned a bit. Some people are now convinced Browner will be useless this season, mainly due to the league's new emphasis on illegal contact in the secondary. I don't think either is the case.
Brandon Browner IS going to contribute this season. Let's not pretend he is going to the Pro Bowl though. I can picture the headlines now after week 4, "Brandon Browner returns, plays sparingly". I believe in what Greg Bedard recently stated, that Browner will line up against the bigger receivers but won't be on the field 100% of the time, and that's OK.
As we get later into the season, and the game continues to get more physical, Browner may be used more. The key to his addition was that he gives the Patriots the versatility to match up against different types of offenses. Let's not forget how the secondary was physically abused in the AFC Championship by the Broncos' receivers. With Brandon Browner on the team, that will not happen.
He won't be the star many were building him up to be, but I don't think he was ever signed to be that.
Paul Murphy (@_prmurphy): Brandon Browner is overrated. Pete Carroll has all of them believing that they are the greatest: Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Cam Chancellor. Pete is going to put Seattle in salary cap hell. I predict Pete's next stop will be in Minnesota. New building. New hopes. Browner is just another guy.
 |
| Getty Images |
Liam Cunningham (@LC_NEP): Let me preface my opinion, which is likely not going to be well received, by making it clear that I do like the acquisition of Brandon Browner overall, and I think he will contribute to the defense this season. He has a toughness and attitude that I feel that side of the ball has been lacking since the days of Rodney Harrison and Teddy Bruschi. He is big, physical, and can knock receivers, tight ends, and running backs on their rear-ends with ease. He is a talented bruiser and one of the league's most unique cornerbacks, no doubt.
That being said, I have thought from the get-go that Patriots fans views of Browner's true skill level has been a bit skewed, to the point where I feel a good chunk of fans feel like Browner is an elite cornerback. Well I am hear to express my opinion that he definitely is not. Furthermore, I think Browner is going to struggle this year and will ultimately lose playing time to Alfonzo Dennard, Logan Ryan, and maybe even Malcolm Butler. Let's not forget how much promise Dennard and Ryan have shown. Butler is unproven for sure, but has been making plays left and right when he has had the chance.
I feel this way for a couple reasons. First and foremost is that Browner has been one of the most penalized players in the league throughout his career. And that was BEFORE the new rules, which will apparently result in an ungodly amount of flags being thrown, with a particular focus on illegal contact penalties by defensive backs. Brandon Browner's middle name might as well be Illegal Contact. If these new rules are here to stay, it does not bode well for a guy who makes a living mauling whoever he is covering.
Secondly, I think he is a relatively limited player. He plays one position: RCB. That is all he has played and apparently all he will play. The fact that he will be fixated in one spot will in turn limit players around him (including Darrelle Revis) and their ability to move around the field. Earlier in August Boston Globe beat writer Ben Volin discussed how Bill Belichick's usage of Revis could be somewhat basic as a result of some of Browner's limitations.
In addition to his positional limitations, Browner has a skill set that is lacking in a number of areas. He does not have great foot speed, so quicker receivers in the slot generally torch him, so long as he doesn't get his hands on them. Back in June of 2012 (outdated information I know, but I think some of these details still ring true for Browner's game), ESPN writer KC Joyner provided some statistics to support why he felt Browner was one of the game's more overrated players:
Browner made the Pro Bowl on the strength of his six interceptions, but he had abysmal coverage metrics and was a penalty machine. He was terrible against short passes (6.7 YPA, ranked 72nd), vertical passes (11.3 VYPA, ranked 63rd) and stretch vertical passes (14.8 SVYPA, ranked 66th). Plus, one of his interception returns for a touchdown was a gift, due more to the highly inaccurate arm of Bears quarterback Caleb Hanie than any action on Browner's part. All Browner did was drop back into zone coverage and catch a pass that was thrown right to him.
I also believe Browner benefited from being in the Seahawks system, where he fit perfectly. Players fit into very specific, defined roles in Seattle, compared with New England's defensive schemes which tend to be more complex.
Once again, I would like to circle back and make clear that I do like Browner. I think he is a good player and will help the defense. I just think he is being vastly overrated by many and could take a backseat to our other talented corners if some of his negative tendencies surface when he gets on the field in Week 5. And please, don't tell him I said any of this, because he is one scary dude.
William Stiles (@TheFib0624): I think the truth on Browner is somewhere between boom and bust. Bill Belichick is a master of utilizing matchups that give him the edge, and this would be no exception. I think that there will be weeks within the season where Browner is used heavily, and others where he’s only in certain sub packages. He’s big and physical, which will really benefit the Patriots in weeks with bigger receivers.
The Chicago Bears matchup comes to mind here, as their receiving core is sizable, which Browner would counter nicely. In weeks with smaller groups like the Green Bay Packers matchup, I think that you’ll see other players take the challenge. The quicker receivers Browner has played against in practice may also explain his struggles, as he hasn’t been given the opportunity to play a receiver which his skills match up well against.
Though he has struggled, I also think that he should start in any matchup come the postseason, as the flags tend to stay off the field. At that point Browner can bully the quicker receivers in the first 5 yards (and maybe a few beyond that). The smaller corners have not gotten the job done in the postseason, so I think this is a signing specific to postseason play. With the postseason being the bar by which we’ll measure this Patriots team, I think that the team will benefit greatly overall from his addition to the team.
Mike Saver (@MikeASaver): I believe Brandon Browner is both a little bit overrated and underrated. When he was first signed, many were celebrating like the Revis/Browner combo guarantees a Super Bowl. Recently, the tide has turned a bit. Some people are now convinced Browner will be useless this season, mainly due to the league's new emphasis on illegal contact in the secondary. I don't think either is the case.
Brandon Browner IS going to contribute this season. Let's not pretend he is going to the Pro Bowl though. I can picture the headlines now after week 4, "Brandon Browner returns, plays sparingly". I believe in what Greg Bedard recently stated, that Browner will line up against the bigger receivers but won't be on the field 100% of the time, and that's OK.
As we get later into the season, and the game continues to get more physical, Browner may be used more. The key to his addition was that he gives the Patriots the versatility to match up against different types of offenses. Let's not forget how the secondary was physically abused in the AFC Championship by the Broncos' receivers. With Brandon Browner on the team, that will not happen.
He won't be the star many were building him up to be, but I don't think he was ever signed to be that.
Paul Murphy (@_prmurphy): Brandon Browner is overrated. Pete Carroll has all of them believing that they are the greatest: Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Cam Chancellor. Pete is going to put Seattle in salary cap hell. I predict Pete's next stop will be in Minnesota. New building. New hopes. Browner is just another guy.
