Patriots security Adrian Phillips offers key to stopping Eagles: ‘All of it begins with Hurts’

Patriots

“If we disrupt him … I believe we’ll have a very good day.”

Adrian Phillips broke down how the Patriots must assault Philadelphia’s explosive offense. (Winslow Townson/AP Pictures for Panini)

The New England Patriots’ protection has a tall job forward of it, opening the season in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Philadelphia had one of many NFL’s most dynamic offenses a season in the past.

Franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts performed a giant half in that, and unsurprisingly he has been a significant speaking level for the Patriots main as much as week one. Invoice Belichick heaped reward onto Hurts, calling him “arguably one of the best participant within the league.”

In an interview with Steve Burton, Patriots security Adrian Phillips talked about matching up in opposition to Philadelphia’s offense. As soon as once more, Hurts was on the forefront of the dialog.

“All of it begins with Hurts, you must disrupt him,” Phillips stated. “If we disrupt him, get him off the spot, and don’t let him have an effect on the sport along with his legs, then I believe we’ll have a very good day.”

Hurts was among the best dual-threat quarterbacks within the NFL final season. He handed for 3,700 yards and threw 22 touchdowns with simply six interceptions. On high of that, Hurts added 760 extra yards and 13 extra touchdowns on the bottom.

The weapons round Hurts make the Eagles’ offense much more troublesome to cease. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are of their second season as a receiving duo, Dallas Goedert returns at tight finish. Philadelphia additionally added working again D’Andre Swift in free company.

The Patriots might want to carry their greatest to decelerate Hurts and the Eagles. And Adrian Phillips is aware of it.

“He’s a competitor, he performed within the Tremendous Bowl final yr,” Phillips stated of Hurts. “He’s a type of guys that wishes to come back out and show everyone improper, and he did it final yr. So, he’s going to be trying to do the identical factor this yr.

“We’ve to hit him within the mouth, we’ve to get him off his timing, and we’ve to cease the run recreation.”

The Patriots will likely be with out Jack Jones for the season opener, placing much more stress on Phillips and the New England secondary. On Friday, Belichick expressed happiness with what he’s seen from two different defensive backs this offseason, Myles Bryant and Christian Gonzalez. He referred to as Gonzalez “even keel” and “constant,” whereas referring to Bryant as “a really reliable participant.”

Each Bryant and Gonzalez will seemingly play elevated roles in Jones’ absence.

All eyes are on the road-favored Eagles on Sunday, however Phillips is assured within the Patriots protection.

“If we make them one dimensional and don’t enable them to do what they need to have the ability to do, I believe Sunday will finish in good reward,” Phillips stated.