Does Our DLine Frighten You

[pencilneckgeek]

A picked-up bit from Reiss's chat today:

Somebody (Gary?) asked:

Hi Mike, is it possible that a front four of Ninkovich, Wilfork, Kelly and Jones could actually strike fear into the hearts of opponents come playoff time?

I see those names, and I have to say, "Yes." Let's not forget that we only saw that line out there for the very beginning of two games this pre-season, and there was a fair amount of havoc in the Philly and TB backfield, especially with Spikes flying around like a maniac.

Last year, we were middle of the pack with sacks, right alongside the Ravens, between the Seahawks and the Niners. I think the added beef up front translates to third and longer and over 40 sacks this year. I still want more talented depth at Big Sey, er DT, but I'm ready to see some opposing QBs wilt under the pressure. :bricks:

 

[Mack Herron]

Kelly is the only difference from the line that started last year. And we have nothing but question marks behind them. You should have printed Reiss' answer.

 

[JackBauer]

Kelly is the only difference from the line that started last year. And we have nothing but question marks behind them. You should have printed Reiss' answer.

Good point. The improvement from Kelly to Love sure is a marginal one.

We also shouldn't expect much improvement from Jones between year one and year two.

 

[ausbacker]

Good point. The improvement from Kelly to Love sure is a marginal one.

We also shouldn't expect much improvement from Jones between year one and year two.

That's the single biggest upgrade the Patriots have undergone this season, starting DT next to Wilfork. The question marks on DL aren't the starters but the depth. That said, you can say the same for the the 49ers. The Patriots should be so lucky to enjoy an relatively injury free season as per the 49ers 2012.

 

[Brady6]

Good point. The improvement from Kelly to Love sure is a marginal one.

We also shouldn't expect much improvement from Jones between year one and year two.

I have to assume you’re being sarcastic, because Kelly is considered by most to be a top 20 DT overall and the prototypical 3 technique DT.

 

[TriplecHamp]

Me? No, other teams fans? Maybe, at the end of the season? Certainly.

 

[BelizePats]

If Armstead was healthy and had a training camp, we'd all be feeling better. This kid can play.
Here's my fear. We have been so lucky over the years with Big Vince staying pretty damn healthy, given the ugly reality of working in the trenches. I fear that as he ages, that our (his) luck may not hold out. Hopefully he stays healthy this year. If he he goes down for any length of time, we are screwed

 

[RayClay]

If Armstead was healthy and had a training camp, we'd all be feeling better. This kid can play.
Here's my fear. We have been so lucky over the years with Big Vince staying pretty damn healthy, given the ugly reality of working in the trenches. I fear that as he ages, that our (his) luck may not hold out. Hopefully he stays healthy this year. If he he goes down for any length of time, we are screwed

Here, take a cup of this...

 

[mgteich]

Our starting front seven should frighten opponents. We even have a bit of depth in Fletcher and Collins.
===============
It is DL depth that is our problem.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Would you want to be in close range and alone holding the last box of dunkin doughnuts when they turn their hungry eyes towards you?

Yeah, I bet you're feeling scared now.

 

[Miguel]

Mike Reiss replied:
"Gary, it could be the best they've had in recent memory. Not to strike a negative tone, but the depth has to be a concern. Significant drop-off after those four."

 

[DocHoliday]

We absolutely MUST draft a wilfork replacement this coming draft.

 

[supafly]

We absolutely MUST draft a wilfork replacement this coming draft.

I would envision at least 2 "higher round" picks (1-3) used on younger talent in the trenches.

An interior offensive lineman and a defensive tackle have got to be priorities come springtime.

That said, I'd be very happy with the approach that Belichick took this past draft again, accumulating more picks in the middle rounds to address both the trenches and the secondary.

With some cap room rolled over, we could also be a bit more active in FA for the middle of the road talent, along with even one bigger named player at the position also.

 

[supafly]

No coincidence that Marvin Austin recently worked out for the Lions on Monday.

If there is any team in the league who'd potentially be interested, it would definitely be DET.

Character issues aside, he does intrigue me in terms of bringing in some talent and depth at the DL position. It's such a gamble though, for more reasons than one.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

We absolutely MUST draft a wilfork replacement this coming draft.

Consumate pros like Wilfork are rare in the draft at any position, let alone in an agile 330-pound package. You could pick first overall for several years running and still face long odds of replacing Wilfork. That said, I agree that using some draft chips to get in a position to pick a top talent at DT could be a worthwhile investment next year.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Our starting front seven should frighten opponents. We even have a bit of depth in Fletcher and Collins.
===============
It is DL depth that is our problem.

Our front seven is scarier when it's coming forward. However, early down passing defense continues to be a weak spot. Spikes and Hightower aren't the best in coverage, and two-gapping on play action makes it tougher for the DLine to get after the quarterback. A healthy mix of run blitzes would make them scarier on those plays, but that puts more pressure on the secondary, when things go awry.

 

[Mack Herron]

Our front seven is scarier when it's coming forward. However, early down passing defense continues to be a weak spot. Spikes and Hightower aren't the best in coverage, and two-gapping on play action makes it tougher for the DLine to get after the quarterback. A healthy mix of run blitzes would make them scarier on those plays, but that puts more pressure on the secondary, when things go awry.

Did we scare anyone last year? We return the same starters with the addition of Kelly, who had 1 sack last year, and rotational depth is a giant question mark. Maybe everyone will improve and it will all work out great, but I little reason to expect things to be dramatically different from last year.

 

[MTM558]

I think the whole "make the opponent fear you" tactic is a bit exaggerated. Intimidation is a part of every sport but I don't think there is any player out there that someone genuinely fears. It's about making plays and getting the job done.

Can this Defensive Line make plays and do the job? Yes. Will they rank in the top 10? No. But that's ok, because the #6 team in the playoffs has just as good a chance to win it all as the #1 team.

Ninkovich-Kelly-Wilfork-Jones

Buchanan-Francis-Vellano-Bequette

That's how our 1st team and 2nd team Defensive Lines look. It's important to note that Ninkovich and Jones will never leave the field (barring injury), so if another DE comes in, it would be at DT in place of either Kelly or Wilfork in sub packages.

With Francis and Vellano, they'd come on for Kelly and Wilfork only AFTER a DE has kicked inside. These guys are purely "breather guys," they'll be on for maybe 3 snaps at a time in relief before returning to the bench.

Depth is important, don't get me wrong, but I think fans factor it in a little more than they should. Yes, injuries happen, but otherwise defensive football is all about running the starters and scheming the less-than-spectacular for success.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

With Francis and Vellano, they'd come on for Kelly and Wilfork only AFTER a DE has kicked inside. These guys are purely "breather guys," they'll be on for maybe 3 snaps at a time in relief before returning to the bench.

Depth is important, don't get me wrong, but I think fans factor it in a little more than they should. Yes, injuries happen, but otherwise defensive football is all about running the starters and scheming the less-than-spectacular for success.

I think you are right in general about an overemphasis on big talent at the back-end of the roster. However, I believe that DT is the position at which this is most warranted, because of the need to rotate the big guys, whose often have to take on two OL at a time and to create push, when they are single-teamed. No other position demands such a combination of stamina and explosiveness. Thus, most teams use a rotation at DT. We're solid when we have four guys out there, or when we're in sub packages where one of our DEs spells Kelly or Wilfork, but I expect that we'll regularly find Vellano and Kelly out there for entire drives, when the other team goes hurry-up to give Wilfork some extended rest.

I still think our guys are going to get after the QB though. As the year goes on, we'll have more options. In addition to Jones-Wilfork-Kelly-Ninkovich, we'll see Jones-Kelly-Armistead-Ninkovich, and in sub groupings, we may even see something like Buchanon-Wilfork-Jones-Ninkovich.

 

[dales804]

It could (should) be better than it has been. Everyone knows Jones needs to make that leap and Kelly has to show something. We know what they've got in Wilfork and Ninkovich.

I'm also frightened thinking about an injury to any one of the starters.