patsfaninpa

Maybe because Vollmer has made the pro bowl. Legitemately! And, Edelman has never shown he can be a NFL starting receiver.

DocHoliday

I believe we need to think about the NT of the future.

Wilfork is playing is mind out, and given Wilfork's progression over the years I think it's a good idea to consider drafting a replacement so when Wilfork does experience drop off, probably in the next 2-3 years we'll be ready.

Should be this coming draft or the year after, probably the latter unless there's spectacular talent available. Definitely a 3-4 NT too, not a 4-3 DT.

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mayoclinic

Priority #5 in the OP.

Louis Nix if he came out would be ideal, but will probably go too high; or Johnathan Hankins if he slipped a bit in round 1. Jesse Williams or John Jenkins if they fall might be options.

A couple of sleepers to keep an eye on:

1. Brandon Williams, DT, Missouri Southern. 6'2" 328#. Very athletic, very motivated, good work ethic. MIAA DPOY. Had 16.5 TFL and 8.5 sacks as the NT this year, supposedly runs a sub-5.0 40, so he has some athleticism. Got a Senior Bowl invite.

2. Brandon Moore*, DT, Texas. 6'5" 335#. Originally recruited to Alabama, suspended for undisclosed violations, transfered to community college and then to Texas. Has flown under the radar, but very stout. Had 8 TFL this year. Probably won't come out until 2014, so has another year to develop.

Guys like Daniel McCullers and Kwame Geathers might be options as space eaters, but they don't have the athleticism to be much more than that. But still, that could be effective.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

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patsfaninpa

Why are we drafting a NG if we're running a 4-3 defense? Not all, but most 4-3 teams have one big run stuffer to play the 5 technique and cover the run, and the other is a technique get up the field pass rusher. We have Vince for that 5 tech guy. Kyle Love is a solid backup and can also start. Deaderick is the backup at 3 tech. We need a starting 3-technique dt to get after the qb. Most 330lb NG's physically can't do it. Vince Wilfork's don't grow on trees. We got very luck to get him where we did. Nix won't fall as Mayo mentioned. But that's ok, we don't need that type of guy.

Sciz

Vollmer has also been dealing with back issues for most of the past two seasons and on and off since college. There's more injury risk there than a guy who has multiple unrelated injuries.

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DocHoliday

Because the Pats don't run a strict, vanilla 4-3. They do play 3-4 occasionally, and even their 4-3 fronts sometimes play Wilfork in the 3-4 NT role.

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patsfaninpa

Pro-bowl quality players are worth the risk. The contracts aren't guaranteed. You're only paying him the signing bonus if he gets hurt. It's not like baseball and John Lackey.

patsfaninpa

Did you read the rest of my paragraph? Kyle Love is more than suitable to backup Vince. We don't have a pass-rushing DT. I don't want Jesse Williams and his zero sacks chasing Ryan Tannehill. I want someone who can move.

DocHoliday

Kyle Love isn't anywhere on the same planet as Wilfork. Could you imagine the Ravens game in the AFCC without Wilfork? He's a good DT, but Love would be a miserable replacement as an anchoring NT.

The successful scheme we have been running in recent weeks absolutely depends on a dominating NT like Wilfork. Someone posted stats with Wilfork on the field and without, and it was damn clear that Wilfork is the linchpin to this front.

Nobody else on this team can get double teamed and still frequently get push up the middle.

The easy way to put this - this D cannot afford an adequate replacement. It needs a dominant player at that position.

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mayoclinic

The way I phrased it in the OP was "Depth at DT/penetrating DT/successor to Vince Wilfork", not specifically a NT. But I expect that, to use the Patriot's preferred term of art, we are always going to be "multiple", and it's important to have guys who are stout enough to play 3-4 NT, 4-3 NT, and 4-3 DT. We need depth at DT as well as a penetrating DT, and we will eventually need someone to succeed Wilfork. Louis Nix and Johnathan Hankins have the athleticism to be that kind of player. Jesse Williams and Johnathan Jenkins might, though it's less obvious. As you say, Vince Wilfork's don't grow on trees. Right now Brandon Williams looks like the closest facsimile who is likely to slip through the cracks - not a true Wilfork, but a decently athletic DT who can play in multiple sets. Not all top DTs go 1st round. Kris Jenkins went in the 3rd round, I believe.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi