Wretch

Ty Warren injury latest concern on New England Patriots' lines - ESPN Boston

With the injuries/non-participation issues going on with the DL I wanted to pose a question to the board.

Will the Pats be forced to go to more 4-3 because of the injuries?

Gerrard Warren and Lewis are both comfortable in the 4-3, and a lot of people say Pryor and Wright are more cut out for the 4-3 and Wilfork played the 4-3 in Miami so I think the DTs are all set.

This would make TBC, Cunningham, and Ninkovich (Burgess if he shows up) DE instead of OLB.

Who becomes our OLB and MLB? I think Mayo is the starting MLB, and Guyton an OLB. Do McKenzie and Spike have the skill sets to be OLB in the 4-3?

Thoughts?

Sicilian

I think we use a fair amount of 4-3 anyway, but it's certainly possible. Though I think Warren's injury might affect the nickel and dime packages more than the base-D. We might see more 4-2-5 nickel than 3-3-5 for example, taking advantage of depth at interior line and TBC/Cunningham playing with their hands down.

patriotscpfc

If we went 4-3, Mayo and Guyton would have to be the 2 OLBs.

Spikes could not play outside in any formation.

I doubt McKenzie could either.

And if i'm honest, I wouldn't want Mayo to play outside either.

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Paul, London - Patriot and Proud

RayClay

McKenzie played OLB at Florida. Probably more than ILB.

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Wretch

A small tidbit from Reiss was Spike playing OLB on some snaps. I don't think that means too much but its worth noting that the coaches are experimenting with Spikes on the outside.

BradyFTW!

Either way, the Pats will spend more time in a 4-2-5 nickel than a base 3-4, if prior years are any indication. I think that 3-4 will remain the base, though. In a 4-2-5, I'd expected Guyton and Mayo to be the LBs on the field, with either Sanders or McCourty entering into the game w/ the starters.

patsfan-1982

BB likes to play 6 and 7 DB's so i dont think they will stay in any base defense 3-4 or 4-3 for very long in any game they will play a lot of 3-2-6

Rob0729

I don't get how losing Warren would get the Pats to switch to a 4-3. You lose one of your best d-linemen and you and it means you have to switch from three d-linemen to four d-linemen.

If Cunningham, Spikes, and McKenzie come along in real games as the reports on them in camp are stating how they are standing out. The LBing corp could actuallly be a strength of this team rather than it being a perceived weakness.

The Pats are staying in a 3-4 base.

SammyBlueCat

He is a big dude. One of the practice reports observed that he is much bigger than Mayo even though they are listed as the same size in the program.

AndyJohnson

I would agree with AS MUCH, not necessarily more. And thats not Pats-specific its pretty consistent thoughout the league. 5+ DBs are out there as often as only 4 are.