FOXBORO — He may have lost the championship belt, but Brandon McGowan can still pack a powerful punch.
McGowan won Patriots Practice Player of the Week honors last week — and the belt that goes with it. He clearly was honored by the award, and hung it proudly from the top of his locker.
But despite the fact that he had to give up the title on Monday to defensive lineman Titus Adams, there won’t be any letup in the physical, gritty style that’s marked his play since he arrived in New England.
“I really don’t care about my body. I just try to go out and make plays,” said the solidly built 5-foot-11, 210-pound McGowan, who calls his style of play “reckless.”
On Sunday, the 26-year-old safety was the defensive spark for the Patriots in the 26-10 win over the Falcons. He delivered a big hit on Atlanta kick returner Eric Weems in the first quarter. In the second, he came on a safety blitz and decked Matt Ryan on a play that was initially ruled a strip sack but later overturned on review. Later in the second, he forced a Michael Turner fumble that fellow defensive back James Sanders recovered at the New England 27.
And throughout the day, he was all over Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez. While being careful to credit the rest of the Patriots defense, New England coach Bill Belichick said McGowan deserves a large chunk of credit for holding the Pro Bowl tight end to just one catch for 16 yards.
“He was on Gonzalez a lot,” Belichick said of McGowan, who finished the day with four tackles, a quarterback hit, a forced fumble and a special teams tackle. “He stepped up, met that challenge and gave Tony a very competitive afternoon.
“I thought the hit that he had [Sunday], the fumble that he caused, was really a pretty good play. I’m not sure there are a lot of players that would have made that play, [who] would have been able to get the hit that he did with the impact that he had on it. He knocked that ball loose and that was a huge play in the game.”
McGowan signed with the Patriots in May, but the 5-foot-11, 210-pounder who played four seasons with the Bears was seen as a little more than a spare part at the time. But he had a strong training camp and showed a real knack for causing havoc in the preseason. He didn’t start in the regular-season opener, but he got the call in the last two games, supplanting veteran James Sanders at free safety on both occasions.
Overall, since McGowan has been inserted into the starting lineup, the Patriots have allowed only two touchdowns, and just one in the air.
“Not allowing points is pretty big. Trying to keep the big plays to a minimum,” McGowan said when discussing the identity of the New England defense. “As long as you don’t give up any big plays, that’s when touchdowns don’t come.”
The University of Maine product credits the rest of the defensive backs and the coaching staff for his transition into the New England system, as well as his rapid improvement.
“Brandon [Meriweather], James [Sanders], [Shawn] Springs, Leigh [Bodden],” said McGowan, the third former Black Bear to play for the Patriots. “We do a pretty good job helping each other in the backfield. That makes it a lot easier on everybody.”
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