BradyManny

Intersting to take a look back:

First thing that jumps out: 3 of those guys are no longer with the team. One way or another, this will be a very different defense next season.

Second, it makes me wonder about how we value DL vs. DB. We've always placed a much, much greater value on DL for the obvious reasons, but one thing that lends DBs some value is the sheer number of snaps they play. 4 out of the top 7 snap-leaders are the DB members.

If it weren't for injury, both OLBs, Vrabel and Thomas, would be in the top 5 or so - AD was on pace to play the most snaps of anyone I believe.

It also makes me wonder about Wilfork's value to us...we've been considering him the most important piece to this defense, but maybe that's a little overstated. Wilfork is in on the base D, and then sparingly in the subpackages [though I personally like what he brings to the table as a space eating pentrating NT in the nickel and dime, he isn't used there as much as I'd like, maybe the addition of Brace will allow Wilfork to play this role some more]. Does Seymour, as someone who can be and is used in any package, and does have a higher % of snaps, have more value to the team than Wilfork?

Shockt327

ILB Tedy Bruschi -- 399 of 950 (42 percent)

ILB Gary Guyton -- 300 of 950 (32 percent)

This also stands out to me. I know Bruschi missed 3 games and Guyton 2. But I never realized how little the difference was between them in playing time. Good stuff.

JSn

And didn't Gary's rotations start off slowly? I guess Reiss has the info to follow his snaps game by game, but... hrgh. Might be easier to just watch the '09 season. hehe

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ctpatsfan77

Not entirely. There was at least one game early on in the season where Guyton actually was on the field more than Mayo.

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BradyManny

Yup, it was the San Fran game. I think it followed the Miami game when Mayo really struggled in coverage. Vs. San Fran, we ran a lot of nickel packages, and Guyton was the only ILB in one of those packages if I recall. Mayo's coverage really improved as the year went on to the point where by the end of the season, I think Mayo had surpassed Guyton in coverage, by a decent amount.

maverick4

Belichick had time to look over his entire defense, and apparently found why we had league bottom red zone D, 3rd down D, and 3rd and long D.

DarrylS

Agree have been pretty consistent with this thought since the end of the season.. change had to come.

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Box_O_Rocks

Here are the critical numbers heading into Training Camp:

OLB Adalius Thomas -- 466 of 950 (49 percent)
OLB Pierre Woods -- 247 of 950 (26 percent)
OLB Vince Redd -- 35 of 950 (4 percent)

Crable & Craig have no reps from 2008.
TBC played in 12 of 16 games for SF last season. He did not play in the month of September. He did not record any statistics in 3 of 12 games played, including weeks 15 & 16.

Even if Jason Taylor is signed, this unit is the one to watch in preseason. Assuming Taylor is signed, as of today we can project Adalius and Pierre are penciled in as starters, with TBC and Taylor penciled in for passing downs. Craig is the most likely to be headed to the Practice Squad. Redd and Crable remain Practice Squad eligible.

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stinkypete

I think it is the position of NT that is valuable, not the player himself. The base 3-4 cannot function without a competent NT. We've been spoiled with an ascending player who may be the best in the league at what he does. Then again, this defense functioned just fine with Keith Traylor and Ted Washington, who were 1 dimensional players compared to Wilfork.

Wilfork plays a role. What does that role ask him to do? Play his gaps correctly, take on double teams, get off blocks to stop the inside run. Wilfork's role does not require him to rush the passer much. He does not drop into coverage. Wilfork has skills that exceed the definition of his role. He is an elite NT, but it is possible that the things that make him elite do not contribute much to the overall functioning of the defense.

It is possible that the defense as an 11 man unit, not 11 individual men, could be equally successful with Brace at NT as it is with Wilfork, if Brace fills the role of NT as well as Wilfork can.

xmarkd400x

If A=B, F(A) = F(B). =)

Valid question. Like BB has always said: If you only fill one role on the Pats, you had better fill it better than anyone else (a la Corey Dillon). I'd argue that Vince is more important, but the Patriots certainly get more use out of Seymour. Think of it like this: is the person who works the most at a given company the most important? Not necessarily.