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Patriots Defense Off-season Preview.
DT/NT – Ron Brace, Myron Pryor, Darryl Richard– The Pats took Brace in the 2nd round last year and many people were very down on him because he didn’t spend much time on the field. Well, people over-look that the Pats were playing a LOT of 4-3 to start with and that limited the personnel they could put on the field. Brace played decently enough in the 2 games he started for Wilfork. He was double and triple-teamed most of the time he was on the field. He’s still a major work in progress. Myron Pryor came out of nowhere and forced himself onto the team. He was probably the 3rd best rookie for the Pats. Richard spent his time on the Practice Squad.
DE/DT - Ty Warren, Mike Wright, Adrian Grady – What was once a strength for the Pats has become a potential weakness. The Pats traded Seymour just prior to the start of the season last year. Jarvis Green was forced to step up and didn’t. Mike Wright and Ty Warren did well during the season. Grady spent the season on the practice squad.
ILB/OLB –Adalius Thomas, Shawn Crable, Jerod Mayo, Gary Guyton, Stephen Alexander, Bruce Davis, Thomas Williams, Tyrone McKenzie, Rob Ninkovich – Prior to last season, the Pats had brought in 3 guys who had been very good college pass rushers, but whom has issues of one sort or another in Angelo Craig, Darrell Robertson, and Vince Redd. Those three were gone before camp ended and the Pats were scrambling for OLBs for their 3-4 because of the trade of Vrabel to the Chiefs. Add to this the retirement of Bruschi prior to the start of the season, and the LB corp was in disarray.
Adalius Thomas is likely gone after he butted heads with BB this past season. The status of Tyrone McKenzie, who tore his ACL in rookie camp last year, is up in the air. Bruce Davis and Thomas Williams are the developmental LBers.
The Pats pass rush just wasn’t happening from the LBers. They weren’t able to get consistent pressure from the 4 positions like they normally have. This is the second year in a row for this.
CB - Terrence Wheatley, Jonathan Wilhite, Shawn Springs, Darius Butler, Kyle Arrington- The Pats made a splash by adding Darius Butler in the 2nd round of the Draft after having signed Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden. That allowed them to trade away Ellis Hobbs.
Wheatley disappeared for almost the entirety of the season, being inactive on game days. Wilhite couldn’t make up his mind as to whether or not he wanted to be the #2 Cb opposite Bodden. Butler showed signs that he’ll be a starter in this league for awhile.
Springs spent much of the season “injured” and rumors were abound that he and BB weren’t seeing eye to eye. Much like BB and AD.
Arrington was amazing on special teams. He definitely opened some eyes and its no wonder the Pats signed him to their practice squad and then activated him when Lockett went down.
Safety – Brandon McGowan, Brandon Meriweather, James Sanders, Patrick Chung, Brett Lockett -
The Pats really solidified their group of safeties last year with the addition of Brandon McGowan and Patrick Chung. Chung looks to be a future starter and McGowan took the Pats like gang-busters, forcing Sanders to the bench. However, by the end of the year, McGowan was on the bench and Sanders had re-taken his spot as a starter.
Lockett was good on special teams, but Arrington proved to be better.
Special Teams:
Kicker – None -
Gostkowski is an RFA this year. I fully expect the Pats to tender him at the 1st round pick or 1st/3rd round pick level. Though a long term deal would be better.
Punter –None - Chris Hanson had a good. But it can be improved upon.
Look for someone via free agency or via the draft, though Hanson could be brought back in a pinch.
Long-Snapper –Jake Ingram – The Pats added Ingram via the draft and the kid didn’t disappoint. He was as solid as Lonnie Paxton was for the Pats.
DT/NT – Ron Brace, Myron Pryor, Darryl Richard– The Pats took Brace in the 2nd round last year and many people were very down on him because he didn’t spend much time on the field. Well, people over-look that the Pats were playing a LOT of 4-3 to start with and that limited the personnel they could put on the field. Brace played decently enough in the 2 games he started for Wilfork. He was double and triple-teamed most of the time he was on the field. He’s still a major work in progress. Myron Pryor came out of nowhere and forced himself onto the team. He was probably the 3rd best rookie for the Pats. Richard spent his time on the Practice Squad.
DE/DT - Ty Warren, Mike Wright, Adrian Grady – What was once a strength for the Pats has become a potential weakness. The Pats traded Seymour just prior to the start of the season last year. Jarvis Green was forced to step up and didn’t. Mike Wright and Ty Warren did well during the season. Grady spent the season on the practice squad.
ILB/OLB –Adalius Thomas, Shawn Crable, Jerod Mayo, Gary Guyton, Stephen Alexander, Bruce Davis, Thomas Williams, Tyrone McKenzie, Rob Ninkovich – Prior to last season, the Pats had brought in 3 guys who had been very good college pass rushers, but whom has issues of one sort or another in Angelo Craig, Darrell Robertson, and Vince Redd. Those three were gone before camp ended and the Pats were scrambling for OLBs for their 3-4 because of the trade of Vrabel to the Chiefs. Add to this the retirement of Bruschi prior to the start of the season, and the LB corp was in disarray.
Adalius Thomas is likely gone after he butted heads with BB this past season. The status of Tyrone McKenzie, who tore his ACL in rookie camp last year, is up in the air. Bruce Davis and Thomas Williams are the developmental LBers.
The Pats pass rush just wasn’t happening from the LBers. They weren’t able to get consistent pressure from the 4 positions like they normally have. This is the second year in a row for this.
CB - Terrence Wheatley, Jonathan Wilhite, Shawn Springs, Darius Butler, Kyle Arrington- The Pats made a splash by adding Darius Butler in the 2nd round of the Draft after having signed Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden. That allowed them to trade away Ellis Hobbs.
Wheatley disappeared for almost the entirety of the season, being inactive on game days. Wilhite couldn’t make up his mind as to whether or not he wanted to be the #2 Cb opposite Bodden. Butler showed signs that he’ll be a starter in this league for awhile.
Springs spent much of the season “injured” and rumors were abound that he and BB weren’t seeing eye to eye. Much like BB and AD.
Arrington was amazing on special teams. He definitely opened some eyes and its no wonder the Pats signed him to their practice squad and then activated him when Lockett went down.
Safety – Brandon McGowan, Brandon Meriweather, James Sanders, Patrick Chung, Brett Lockett -
The Pats really solidified their group of safeties last year with the addition of Brandon McGowan and Patrick Chung. Chung looks to be a future starter and McGowan took the Pats like gang-busters, forcing Sanders to the bench. However, by the end of the year, McGowan was on the bench and Sanders had re-taken his spot as a starter.
Lockett was good on special teams, but Arrington proved to be better.
Special Teams:
Kicker – None -
Gostkowski is an RFA this year. I fully expect the Pats to tender him at the 1st round pick or 1st/3rd round pick level. Though a long term deal would be better.
Punter –None - Chris Hanson had a good. But it can be improved upon.
Look for someone via free agency or via the draft, though Hanson could be brought back in a pinch.
Long-Snapper –Jake Ingram – The Pats added Ingram via the draft and the kid didn’t disappoint. He was as solid as Lonnie Paxton was for the Pats.
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