Patriots’ Alfonzo Dennard looks up to Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner
The Patriots secondary is a smattering of age and experience. Veterans Devin McCourty, Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner are great players at their position. Kyle Arrington has been around the block. Youngsters Alfonzo Dennard, Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon are poised for breakout seasons. The young cornerbacks in Dennard and Ryan have two thoughts about the new veterans in Revis and Browner. They are not threatened. They’re ready to learn.
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Dennard looks up to the veterans, “It’s nice. They come in and make sure everybody does their work,” Dennard said Wednesday after practice. “They’re helping us learn, helping young guys learn. They’re very good role models to look up to as older guys.”
Dennard and Ryan both had the opportunity to play No. 2 cornerback last year. This year, their snaps are threatened by the arrival of Revis and Browner. The competition, however, is healthy. The secondary is working with, not against, each other and there’s an air of mutual respect.
“I think it’s a give and take relationship,” Ryan said Wednesday at Gillette Stadium after training camp practice. “You gotta always respect players of their caliber, but it’s not about what they’ve done, it’s what they do here in front of us and in front of myself each and every day. They’re great leaders, they’re great players and they’re learning from us, guys who have been in the system a little bit, as well.”
They are all helping each other learn the position. The No. 2 spot will be anyone’s for the taking all season long, as Browner has a four-game suspension that will allow the others to establish themselves. They all have different skill sets, too. Arrington is a slot specialist. Browner is a rangy player. Ryan has excellent ball skills. Dennard is more of a shift, shut-down type. Belichick may start them situationally week to week.