By now you probably have heard that the New England Patriots defense is struggling with consistency so far this season: the unit looks stellar one week, only to suffer from fundamental breakdowns and communication errors the next. This inconsistency is not limited to the play itself but also can be witnessed in another area. Through 10 weeks, the team has not found a player to permanently serve as its defensive on-field signal caller.
Overall, the Patriots have used three men to call signals this year: veterans Dont’a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy, and rookie Ja’Whaun Bentley.