Defensive Front Seven In Fine Shape

[mgteich]

Yes, we need camp competition (including vets like this year's Scott). We already have camp bodies Robertson and Benard. However, we are in the best shape in years.

And sure I'd like to add a quality pass-rusher. So would every fan of every team.

FRONT SIXTEEN ON DEFENSE
DE Ninkovich, Jones, Armstead, Francis, Cunningham, Bequette
DT Wilfork, Love, Deaderick, Forston
LB Mayo, Hightower, Spikes, Fletcher
ST Rivera, Tarpinian

SUMMARY SO FAR
OUT Brace, Scott and White
IN Forston, Armstead, and Tarpinian

 

[mayoclinic]

Yes, we need camp competition (including vets like this year's Scott). We already have camp bodies Robertson and Benard. However, we are in the best shape in years.

And sure I'd like to add a quality pass-rusher. So would every fan of every team. I suspect that we'll add a special teamer like Koutovides by the time we have a final roster.

FRONT FIFTEEN ON DEFENSE
DE Ninkovich, Jones, Alstead, Francis, Cunningham, Bequette
DT Wilfork, Love, Deaderick, Forsten
LB Mayo, Hightower, Spikes, Fletcher
ST Rivera

SUMMARY SO FAR
OUT Brace and Scott
IN Forsten and Alstead

You might want to consider learning player's names. Such as Marcus ForstON and Armond ARMstead.

Also, consider that we also still have the rights to Myron Pryor for 2013. He could compete with Forston as a 4th or 5th DT. Armstead also has versatility at both DE and DT, and Ninkovich at LB as well as DE. Hightower can also play DE at times.

Also, Jeff Tarpinian could compete with Rivera for the ST/5th LB position as things currently stand.

But yes, it's a very solid starting point.

 

[satz]

I have to disagree , we are very thin in quality inside DT. after vince we do not have a presence. a tall , fast dt who can rush and cause issues for the bigger larger gaurds in the league -like the ravans used against us. The bigger vince is doubled and the larger gaurds are handling the inside deadrick and love 1 on 1.leaving the tackle to matchup against our pass rushers.

what we need a 6-8 sack dt inside who causes issues for gaurds. I think they should get seymour back . even injured he has more sack then our inside guys all season.

i would to see chandler or ninko on a TE due a disruptive presence.

 

[mgteich]

I have a habit of not learning names until a player is around for awhile. But, I stand corrected and have fixed the spellings. I had forgotten Tarpinian, who I have added.

You might want to consider learning player's names. Such as Marcus ForstON and Armond ARMstead.

Also, consider that we also still have the rights to Myron Pryor for 2013. He could compete with Forston as a 4th or 5th DT. Armstead also has versatility at both DE and DT, and Ninkovich at LB as well as DE. Hightower can also play DE at times.

Also, Jeff Tarpinian could compete with Rivera for the ST/5th LB position as things currently stand.

But yes, it's a very solid starting point.

 

[mayoclinic]

I have to disagree , we are very thin in quality inside DT. after vince we do not have a presence. a tall , fast dt who can rush and cause issues for the bigger larger gaurds in the league -like the ravans used against us. The bigger vince is doubled and the larger gaurds are handling the inside deadrick and love 1 on 1.leaving the tackle to matchup against our pass rushers.

what we need a 6-8 sack dt inside who causes issues for gaurds. I think they should get seymour back . even injured he has more sack then our inside guys all season.

We'll go into camp with 3 guys we didn't have in 2012: Myron Pyror (assuming the Pats pick up his contract), Marcus Forston, and Armond Armstead. Forston was promoted prior to the AFCCG, and Reiss noted that it was probably a sign of the team's plans for him in the future. Both he and Pryor have the potential to be much more disruptive than guys like Love and Deaderick. Armstead can play both inside and out, and provide some of that inside pass rush presence that we haven't had since Mike Wright.

The other big unknown is Jake Bequette, who could be anything from a complete bust to a big body who can play both outside and inside. He's a total question mark at this point, but it would be hard for him to produce less in 2013 than he did in 2012. Jones, Hightower, Francis and Bequette should all improve in their 2nd year in the league.

I called it a solid "starting point" above. That doesn't mean I don't think it should be neglected between now and FA. But I think we're already better off than we were in 2012.

 

[mgteich]

Isn't Pryor a free agent? Also, counting on him hasn't worked in the past.

 

[Patriot Missile]

The sponge factor is going to be huge. So much knowledge to be had and they handled it well their first year. Some people seem to forget the fact that Jones,Hightower,Francis,Spikes etc are very young players and haven't even untapped their full potential. They are only going to get more confident as the playing situations become second nature.

 

[mayoclinic]

Isn't Pryor a free agent? Also, counting on him hasn't worked in the past.

No. Pryor did not accrue a 4th year or "service" under his rookie deal, so his 4th year (which would have been 2012) automatically rolls over into 2013:

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday that neither of the team's two players on the reserve/physically unable to perform list -- defensive lineman Myron Pryor (shoulder) and tight end Jake Ballard (ACL) -- had begun practicing. In fact, the three-week window for either to begin practicing closed on Tuesday, meaning that both are ineligible to return this season.

The implication for Pryor in particular is significant. The 2009 sixth-round pick was in the final season of his four-year rookie contract and was set to become an unrestricted free agent next spring. However, since Pryor will now spend his entire final contract season on PUP, his contract will toll, keeping him under the Patriots' control for the 2013 season.

Pryor, Ballard ineligible for this season - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

So according to Rodak the Pats essentially retain Pryor's rights for 2013 under the terms of his rookie deal, since he didn't accrue his last year of service under his original contract.

As to whether Pryor can stay healthy, that's another matter. I personally see Pryor and Forston as most likely competing for one spot, but certainly if both stand out they could both stick. Having 2 guys at low cost competing instead of 1 certainly doesnt hurt any.

FWIW, Rodak also implies that Jake Ballard's original UDFA contract rolled over for 2013, so that he is not even an ERFA this year. That would mean that he would not be an ERFA until 2014 and an RFA until 2015, which would give the Pats long term control of Ballard at extremely low cost, which could be significant. Rotoworld seems to think that Ballard is an ERFA in 2013, which would make him a RFA in 2014 and a UFA in 2015 (if not signed to a long term deal). But that's a separate issue from the Pryor one.

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

Everyteam in the league can use a 6-8 sack defensive tackle. They dont grow on trees infact only show up every few years or so. Make a trade for Ndamakung suh?

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Will Jason Vega make the team?

 

[Joker]

no..he was killed at the end of Pulp Fiction...

 

[Ring 6]

Yes, we need camp competition (including vets like this year's Scott). We already have camp bodies Robertson and Benard. However, we are in the best shape in years.

And sure I'd like to add a quality pass-rusher. So would every fan of every team.

FRONT SIXTEEN ON DEFENSE
DE Ninkovich, Jones, Armstead, Francis, Cunningham, Bequette
DT Wilfork, Love, Deaderick, Forston
LB Mayo, Hightower, Spikes, Fletcher
ST Rivera, Tarpinian

SUMMARY SO FAR
OUT Brace, Scott and White
IN Forston, Armstead, and Tarpinian

Are we talking about the same front 7 that stunk in the afccg?
Is it that one that is in fine shape?
Status quo of guys like nink, love, Deaderick and no depth at lb, isn't what I would stand pat with


Posted from Patsfans.com App for Android

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

we need a pass rush....desperately...

 

[Sciz]

Are we talking about the same front 7 that stunk in the afccg?
Is it that one that is in fine shape?
Status quo of guys like nink, love, Deaderick and no depth at lb, isn't what I would stand pat with

Compared to the AFCCG, they'll have "added" Armstead, Jones, and Fletcher by the time they play another game

 

[Deus Irae]

The team needs players, even in the front 7. The question, as I see it, is whether the need is for 3-4 DEs and a cover LB or for 4-3 DTs, a 4-3 DE that can set the edge and a cover LB.

 

[RI Patriots fan]

FWIW, Rodak also implies that Jake Ballard's original UDFA contract rolled over for 2013, so that he is not even an ERFA this year. That would mean that he would not be an ERFA until 2014 and an RFA until 2015, which would give the Pats long term control of Ballard at extremely low cost, which could be significant. Rotoworld seems to think that Ballard is an ERFA in 2013, which would make him a RFA in 2014 and a UFA in 2015 (if not signed to a long term deal). But that's a separate issue from the Pryor one.

I've looked at the CBA and I can't figure out if Ballard is an ERFA or not...lol.

Section 1. Accrued Seasons Calculation:
(a) For the purposes of calculating Accrued Seasons under this Agreement, a
player shall receive one Accrued Season for each season during which he was on, or
should have been on, full pay status for a total of six or more regular season games, but
which, irrespective of the player's pay status, shall not include games for which the player
was on: (i) the Exempt Commissioner Permission List, (ii) the Reserve PUP List as a
result of a nonfootball injury, or (iii) a Club's Practice Squad.


https://images.nflplayers.com/mediaResources/files/PDFs/General/2011_Final_CBA.pdf

 

[Marqui]

I bet they're going to use their 1st pick on a DT.

 

[mgteich]

I suspect that we will trade our first pick. However, I am all for drafting a DT. The value is often there in the draft, although we might be drafting a RT.

Unfortunately, I believe that we will need to get WR's and CB's in free agency.

The fact that I think that we could start the season today with a solid front seven does NOT mean that we shouldn't use the draft to improve. After all, we could use upgrades/replacements of Love, Deaderick and Cunningham over the next couple of years.

I bet they're going to use their 1st pick on a DT.

 

[DocHoliday]

Compared to the AFCCG, they'll have "added" Armstead, Jones, and Fletcher by the time they play another game

Careful, always gotta bank on at least one guy not even making it through TC

 

[mgteich]

It seems that we should expect more from the kids in next year's AFCCG game. After all, Hightower, Francis and Bequette were rookies. Fletcher and Jones didn't play. We might even get production from Forston or Pryor.

You can wish to upgrade Deaderick, Love Or Ninkovich. I don't think that it is likely to happen.

HOWEVER, I do hope that we would use one of our top 3 picks on a defensive lineman who can help this year or next. We should always be upgrading the defensive front seven.

Are we talking about the same front 7 that stunk in the afccg?
Is it that one that is in fine shape?
Status quo of guys like nink, love, Deaderick and no depth at lb, isn't what I would stand pat with


Posted from Patsfans.com App for Android