DropKickFlutie

Consider that in passing situations the Patriots will now feature:
-A front four of Wilfork, Haynesworth, Gerard and Ty Warren (or Ron Brace/Marcus Stroud)
-Linebackers Mayo and Guyton
-Corners McCourty, Bodden, and Ras-I Dowling
-Safeties Chung and Meriweather

The Pats are set up well to defend on passing downs now (even without a clear pass rush!)

patsfaninpittsburgh

T Warren, Haynesworth (if he plays), Wright, and Pryor/Vince give four guys up front who can pressure.

When BB says you can never have too many good CB's take him at his word. This should bring us to four pressure (through the middle)/ drop seven.

That's the formula for beating ELITE offenses.

fester

1) Let's wait and see what Dowling can do before we annoint him as "NFL Competent" much less Canton bound.

2) That front four is a monster run-stopping nickel package and it should be able to generate serious interior pressure with Haynesworth/Wilfork standing up their guards and walking them backwards. I would prefer replacing one of the 3-4 DEs with a 3-4 OLB (probably Ninkovich or Moore given the current roster) to add a bit fo speed, and replace the other 3-4 DE with Mike Wright or Myron Pryor.

__________________
Come on over to the Newshoggers for blogging on economics, football, policy analysis,and beer:


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Shockt327

In Nickel Situations the Pats - like many other 3-4 team such as PIT - use their OLBs as DEs. Ty Warren really should be out there on a 4-man-line. Gerrard Warren is kinda a step up. Wilfork can cause he has the quick burst, but having him play all 3 downs isn't good.

Really, the best options are Wright, along with Haynesworth and Stroud. Pair one of the 3 up with Wilfork or G. Warren and those are the 2 interiors.

But for DEs on the 4 man line? Ugh, slim pickins.

ausbacker

I've said it from the start and I'll say it again, the best pass rush starts with the defensive line. Assuming Haynesworth returns to the level of play he's capable of, the starters for the Patriots defensive line could be considered one of the strongest in the NFL.

Outside of getting an stud OLB like a DeMarcus Ware, this is the best possible outcome we as PatsFans could have possibly hoped for. It may not solve the problem of generating consistent pressure and collapsing the pocket on a regular basis, but it goes a long, long way to alleviating it.

My hope is Haynesworth feels that way too.

Rob0729

Considering that the Pats had the worst 3rd down defense last year, it is way too premature to annoint them the best nickle defense. The Pats still have questions at the outside rushing. We don't know if Haynesworth will be motivated. We still don't know how Bodden, Wright, Brace, Pryor, and Warren will rebound from their respective injuries.

DropKickFlutie

The Pats' 4 D-linemen might be the best in the league, and on passing downs this 4 against 5 O-linemen is a huge mismatch. It will require keeping a RB or TE in to help out, or this line will generate some major pressure up the middle.

cstjohn17

No they are not the best nickel team in the league, calm down. Last year they were the worst in the league so I don't think they have moved up 30+ spots.

Other comments:

• I don't think Gerard Warren is even on the team
• they will never play 4 DTs unless it is a short yardage situation
• the nickel would likely look like Moore, Wright, Haynesworth and Cunnigham

Of the top of my head I would rank the Steelers, Packers and Ravens near the top of the list of nickel defenses.

DropKickFlutie

The 2003 Pats defense did a massive turnaround compared to where it ranked in 2002. It can happen. Not only because of new guys like Haynesworth, but the leap made by a lot of young talented players on that defense.

The Pats just released Stroud, and I agree the nickel D would probably feature some of the quicker players like Wright, Pryor, and even Ninkovich off the edge.

patsfaninpittsburgh

I think a better way to look at this is who will be better against elite offenses in nickel and dime?

Ravens and Steelers suck against elite offenses. The Packers can be run on.

Also, if Albert works out and Wright, Ty, and Bodden are OK, who is getting more reinforcements?

The one good thing is our upgrades are addition by addition.