How could the front 7 look next year - New England Patriots Forums

JoeShmoe · 04-27-2012, 08:00 AM

Given so far we have a projected roster of the following

Defensive Line (7): Vince Wilfork, Jonathan Fanene, Chandler Jones, Kyle Love, Andre Carter(assuming he comes back), Brandon Deaderick, Myron Pryor

Outside Linebacker (5): Rob Ninkovich, Dont’a Hightower, Jermaine Cunningham, Trevor Scott, Markell Carter,

Inside Linebacker (4): Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Dane Fletcher, Tracy White

I can see a lot of versatility there and decent depth

Foe example 3-4 you could go Fanene-Wilfork-Carter/Jones then Ninko, Spikes, Mayo, Hightower. Plus you can use Love at NT and move Vince around

Or 4-3 you could you go Fanene, Wilfork, Love/Pryor, Jones then Hightower, Mayo, Spikes

Hopefully Fanene and Jones on the line and Hightower off the edge will be a significant addition.

PatsFanInVa · 04-27-2012, 08:17 AM

Hope Carter comes back, but that went through my head last night... we're looking at Carter insurance (and of course building for the future).

***AndyJohnson*** · 04-27-2012, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeShmoe

Given so far we have a projected roster of the following

Defensive Line (7): Vince Wilfork, Jonathan Fanene, Chandler Jones, Kyle Love, Andre Carter(assuming he comes back), Brandon Deaderick, Myron Pryor

Outside Linebacker (5): Rob Ninkovich, Dont’a Hightower, Jermaine Cunningham, Trevor Scott, Markell Carter,

Inside Linebacker (4): Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Dane Fletcher, Tracy White

I can see a lot of versatility there and decent depth

Foe example 3-4 you could go Fanene-Wilfork-Carter/Jones then Ninko, Spikes, Mayo, Hightower. Plus you can use Love at NT and move Vince around

Or 4-3 you could you go Fanene, Wilfork, Love/Pryor, Jones then Hightower, Mayo, Spikes

Hopefully Fanene and Jones on the line and Hightower off the edge will be a significant addition.

Jones is not a 34 DE.

JoeShmoe · 04-27-2012, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyJohnson

Jones is not a 34 DE.

Where do you see him fitting Andy? In a 4-3 look?

PatsFanInVa · 04-27-2012, 08:25 AM

Stand him up?

Metaphors · 04-27-2012, 08:32 AM

Assuming a base 3-4, the Pats are missing a starting caliber DE unless Brace emerges...and even he doesn't have optimal height/reach. Warren could be brought back as a stop-gap or Love/Wilfork could play side-by-side, but in general that is a roster hole.

I don't buy Hightower as a pure OLB. I see him being the wildcard where he makes the QB/RB/OL have to think twice before making a decision. Being able to line up anywhere means mediocre QBs won't be able to drop back 3 steps and throw to their first read without consequence. If Belichick just puts Hightower at a position and gives him a single or vanilla role, I hate the pick.

Big-T · 04-27-2012, 08:38 AM

3-4:
Fanene-Wilfork-Deaderick
Jones-Spikes-Mayo-Hightower

4-3:
Scott-Wilfork-Fanene-Jones
Mayo-Spikes-Hightower

Both look fairly solid and better than last year. Now for Janoris Jenkins tonight and the defense will be leaps & bounds better than last year.

Palm Beach Pats Fan · 04-27-2012, 08:43 AM

I'm thinking big beef up front in a 3-4 look:

Wilfork, Love, Deaderick, backups Pyror, Fanene;
ILB Spikes, Mayo; OLB Jones and Hightower,

with possible flip-flop of Mayo & Hightower,

then Ninko, Fletcher, Cunningham, Carter as backups/situational players.

Love the depth and versatility