Backup NT

[mgteich]

We still need one. The defensive line is aweful if Wilfork is out or not playing NT. Counting on Wilfork to play 100% of the defensive resp at NT is NOT a good idea.

Belichick has tried.
2007 4th Karren Brown
2009 2nd Brace
2010 UDFA Love

Maybe Love is the answer; maybe not.

Jarvis Green played some backup NT when needed.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

We still need one. The defensive line is aweful if Wilfork is out or not playing NT. Counting on Wilfork to play 100% of the defensive resp at NT is NOT a good idea.

Belichick has tried.
2007 4th Karren Brown
2009 2nd Brace
2010 UDFA Love

Maybe Love is the answer; maybe not.

Jarvis Green played some backup NT when needed.

Maybe we can pry Cody lose from Baltimore. (Ha! Ha!)

If not I think that with an entire off season of technique and strength work, we may have a keeper in Love.

In the draft Ellis of Hampton is a kid that with a year or two of strength and technique work could fit the bill nicely for us. Boom or bust type kid.

 

[Charles Barwin]

He tried G Warren there this year also

 

[patsfaninpa]

I've come to the conclusion that there aren't too many people on the planet who can play NG well. Wilfork, Hampton, Ngata come to mind. A couple of old stalwarts like Ted Washington and Jamal Williams(sd) are done. We're not going to find one in the 5th round. We'll just have ride Vince as long as we can. Then draft another in the 1st round when he's nearing the end. You can't really justify using a first rounder on a backup ng.

 

[Sciz]

Feel the Love

 

[UofApatsfan]

Phil Taylor is worth a look. He's similar to Mt. Cody as his weight is always gonna be an issue and he's nowhere near an every down player, but he's also a 350 pounder who could take snaps at NT when Wilfork needs a breather and can be productive on a limited basis. But yeah, as already mentioned, there are only so many quality 3-4 NTs out there, and it's unlikely you're team has two of them.

 

[anotherbruschi]

Hall of Fame scout John Lennon determined a long time ago that Love is all you need.

 

[furley]

Makes you glad that New England has one of the best nose tackles in the NFL signed long term.

It looks doubtful to sign a free agent nose tackle, so Belichick will have to look to the draft for depth.


Aubrayo Franklin
Casey Hampton
Haloti Ngata - FA
Sione Pouha - 1 year
BJ Raji
Jay Ratliff
Ahtyba Rubin - 1 year
Jamal Williams
Kyle Williams

 

[patchick]

Gerard Warren has proved to be an extremely valuable moving part along the line, including at NT. I have to think he'd be pretty easy to re-sign.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Phil Taylor is worth a look. He's similar to Mt. Cody as his weight is always gonna be an issue and he's nowhere near an every down player, but he's also a 350 pounder who could take snaps at NT when Wilfork needs a breather and can be productive on a limited basis. But yeah, as already mentioned, there are only so many quality 3-4 NTs out there, and it's unlikely you're team has two of them.

Why would you think that? Just because they have had weight issues doesnt mean they're condemmed to it.

Anyway, that being said I'm very interesed in Taylor but as a DE, though he could probably provide NT depth as well.

 

[Sciz]

Gerard Warren has proved to be an extremely valuable moving part along the line, including at NT. I have to think he'd be pretty easy to re-sign.

This is where that numbers game comes into play. Pick 7:

Wilfork
TWarren
GWarren
Wright
Brace
Pryor
Love
Deaderick
Rookie DL

 

[UofApatsfan]

This is where that numbers game comes into play. Pick 7:

Wilfork
TWarren
GWarren
Wright
Brace
Pryor
Love
Deaderick
Rookie DL

Good point, you can only occupy the roster with so many Dlinemen. IMO best case scenario:

Wilfork
Dareus
TWarren
GWarren
Deaderick
Wright
Brace

w/ Dareus and Ty Warren starting.

GWarren is a good substitution pass rusher who can play both NT/DE.
Brace is a good substitution run stuff who can play both NT/DE.
Wright has gotten great pressure this year as a sub.
Deaderick is a good all around DE who might ultimately takeover as starter once Warren is done.

That 7 man rotation gives the line two great anchors with Wilfork and Dareus but also tons of depth and versatility.

 

[DaBruinz]

We still need one. The defensive line is aweful if Wilfork is out or not playing NT. Counting on Wilfork to play 100% of the defensive resp at NT is NOT a good idea.

Belichick has tried.
2007 4th Karren Brown
2009 2nd Brace
2010 UDFA Love

Maybe Love is the answer; maybe not.

Jarvis Green played some backup NT when needed.

The Pats have used Brace, Wright, Love and Gerard Warren there on different occasions. The Pats also have Kade Weston who is currently on the IR. Plus they added Cohen. I could easily see Brace and Gerard Warren getting reps at NT next year depending on what happens with RDE.

I don't see the Pats looking at NT until late in the draft, if they look at it at all.

 

[sg14]

Am worried that two on that list may not have much longer for the NFL, with Wright with his head injury and Pryor with his bad back. It is the Not For Long league.

Am a proponent to get the best DE we can get for overall DL dominance comparable to the Warren-Wilforl-Seymour line. So if Wright can't go it would prioritize the drafting of DL-men. Wright has been out for so long, it is not a good sign.

On a different slant,, And for what ever the reason is with all the concussions this year, maybe the roster should expand by 5 or so players (for a 16 game season).

This is where that numbers game comes into play. Pick 7:

Wilfork
TWarren
GWarren
Wright
Brace
Pryor
Love
Deaderick
Rookie DL

 

[MaineMan]

Am worried that two on that list may not have much longer for the NFL, with Wright with his head injury and Pryor with his bad back. It is the Not For Long league.

Am a proponent to get the best DE we can get for overall DL dominance comparable to the Warren-Wilforl-Seymour line. So if Wright can't go it would prioritize the drafting of DL-men. Wright has been out for so long, it is not a good sign.

On a different slant,, And for what ever the reason is with all the concussions this year, maybe the roster should expand by 5 or so players (for a 16 game season).

Well, that's the thing, isn't it? It's also possible that Ty Warren doesn't come back as strong as he was, plus he'll be entering his 9th season (already!) in 2011. Gerard Warren will be entering his 12th (?) season. With Brace, Love, Deaderick and (possibly) Weston, we appear to have some competent and at least YOUNG reserves. Even Cohen (only in his 3rd season) may have some upside yet.

Seems to me that we need to draft for a top end guy now - at DE.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Phil Taylor is worth a look. He's similar to Mt. Cody as his weight is always gonna be an issue and he's nowhere near an every down player, but he's also a 350 pounder who could take snaps at NT when Wilfork needs a breather and can be productive on a limited basis. But yeah, as already mentioned, there are only so many quality 3-4 NTs out there, and it's unlikely you're team has two of them.

Taylor plays too high, maybe he can be coached out of it, but we'll be calling him a bust like we did Brace while he's going through that transformation.

My #1 NT candidate: Stephen Paea.
-- I'd also consider Jerrell Powe who looks to have the pad level, but needs to get stronger and do more conditioning work.
-- Jarvis Jenkins will probably be better at DE, but he's showed some okay strength and pad level playing inside.
-- Anthony Gray plays more of a one gap, but he looks like a late round prospect who can be developed.
-- A wild card UDFA option Harold Ayodele 6-1/338.

We also need to note:
-- G.Warren has done okay inside for playing with new techniques;
-- Mike Wright is a proven reserve NT;
-- Myron Pryor struggled this season after doing okay last year, we need to see how he does next year;
-- I agree with Ochmed that Love has flashed some potential;
-- Kade Weston was getting some NT reps in preseason before going on IR.

NE may not have an All-Pro reserve available, but the depth is better than it has been since Truck rotated with Rookie Vince.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Am worried that two on that list may not have much longer for the NFL, with Wright with his head injury and Pryor with his bad back. It is the Not For Long league.

I don't know exactly what's going on with Wright. . . . he basically hasn't practiced since that injury, but, OTOH, despite the havoc on the DL, they haven't put him on IR, either, which they certainly would do if they didn't expect him to be able to contribute in the playoffs.

 

[sg14]

From Patriots Football Weekly crew (12/28);

"Well, the injury report lists Wright each week with a concussion, and we have no reason to believe otherwise. It must be more severe than most, however, for him to have been out for so long. We haven’t even spotted Wright in the locker room since the Indy game back in November. It’s worrisome, actually, but we have no other information to go on."

Read more at: Ask PFW: Final edition of 2010

I don't know exactly what's going on with Wright. . . . he basically hasn't practiced since that injury, but, OTOH, despite the havoc on the DL, they haven't put him on IR, either, which they certainly would do if they didn't expect him to be able to contribute in the playoffs.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Phil Taylor is worth a look. He's similar to Mt. Cody as his weight is always gonna be an issue and he's nowhere near an every down player, but he's also a 350 pounder who could take snaps at NT when Wilfork needs a breather and can be productive on a limited basis. But yeah, as already mentioned, there are only so many quality 3-4 NTs out there, and it's unlikely you're team has two of them.

Big difference here is that Cody played NT in OUR defense at Alabama and excelled at holding his ground, even against double teams like no other NT I have ever seen in college.

Taylor gets very high and is a pure 1 gap NT.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Taylor plays too high, maybe he can be coached out of it, but we'll be calling him a bust like we did Brace while he's going through that transformation.

My #1 NT candidate: Stephen Paea.
-- I'd also consider Jerrell Powe who looks to have the pad level, but needs to get stronger and do more conditioning work.
-- Jarvis Jenkins will probably be better at DE, but he's showed some okay strength and pad level playing inside.
-- Anthony Gray plays more of a one gap, but he looks like a late round prospect who can be developed.
-- A wild card UDFA option Harold Ayodele 6-1/338.

We also need to note:
-- G.Warren has done okay inside for playing with new techniques;
-- Mike Wright is a proven reserve NT;
-- Myron Pryor struggled this season after doing okay last year, we need to see how he does next year;
-- I agree with Ochmed that Love has flashed some potential;
-- Kade Weston was getting some NT reps in preseason before going on IR.

NE may not have an All-Pro reserve available, but the depth is better than it has been since Truck rotated with Rookie Vince.

There is a huge gap between being a big fat guy playng on the nose and a big fat guy capable of playing the nose.

To that end, I think Taylor, Powe and Gray are big fat guys playing the nose.

Pea on the other hand is listed at about the same height as Wilfork, but looks so much shorter on the football field. However I absolutely love the way he plays inside and if he truly is 6'1 or 6'2" then I would welcome him as a backup to Wilfork.