With the 34th pick, Patriots select S Patrick Chung, Oregon

by MaPatsFan on Apr 25, 2009 7:58 PM EDT

S Patrick Chung is the newest member of the New England Patriots. After a pins-and-needles Round One, the Patriots finally utilize the pick they received from Kansas City, number 34. From Mike Reiss:

In selecting safety Patrick Chung with the 34th overall pick, the Patriots land one of the draft's most experienced players. Chung projects to join James Sanders and Brandon Meriweather atop the team's safety depth chart.

Chung also could make the return of Rodney Harrison, already considered a bit of a longer shot, that much longer.

Belichick likes players that have skills across the board and Patrick Chung could fit that bill. He's not a standout, but people are projecting him to be a hard worker. This from www.draftcountdown.com:

competitive...Major special teams potential...Great work ethic...Durable...Has lots of experience against top competition...Team leader in every sense...Was super productive.

Word is Chung is more of an in the box player and should do well up close while Meriweather and Sanders hang back in coverage.

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Comments

Quack quack...

Brace and Butler too….wasn’t surprised they took Butler but they did get him in the second rather than the first. I’m sure teams dropped him down the board after he didn’t lift at the combine. “I’m not ready” isn’t going to fly anymore, Darius.

by Danno11 on Apr 25, 2009 8:40 PM EDT reply actions

Chung had a great tendency at UO to make big plays

When we needed them. Hope he does well for you in NE!

Proud member of Duck nation!

by skywaker9 on Apr 25, 2009 9:14 PM EDT reply actions

where are we putting our safeties?

From the description of Chung, he sounds like a run-stuffing SS. So does that mean we are hoping to transition Meriweather to FS? Or is Sanders the starting FS and then Chung & Meriweather duke it out for the starting vs. backup role at SS? Or some sort of rotation where Chung is in on running downs and Meriweather in on passing downs?

by JohnPaul on Apr 26, 2009 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

I think Chung is going to be something of a safety-linebacker tweener in the Pats’ system, kind of like what Harrison would do on some plays.

by RSNexile on Apr 26, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

I picture Chung being somewhat of a lurker, getting into the box when needed.

Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit

by MaPatsFan on Apr 26, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Chung played in the Rover position the last couple of years, which is exactly that. A Safety that plays in the box, and comes up to the line. In 2007, he lead the Oregon Ducks in tackles, including TFL. Usually that’s not a good thing from your secondary, but he was a lot like Troy Polamalu, somehow getting in on every play.

It’s spelled "S-H-U-M-W-O-W"

by JShufelt on Apr 27, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions