Now, for the defensive line. Oy. As Rich already said, much of the problem here comes down to scheming. The Patriots do not have the personnel to play a two-gapping 3-4 scheme.
Chandler Jones should not be a two-gapping 3-4 end.
Joe Vellano should not be on the Patriots in the first place.
Vince Wilfork and
Sealver Siliga have the capacity to play in the 3-4, but neither played well against the Dolphins. Siliga looked slowed by the club around his hand, preventing him from grabbing onto his man, and Wilfork missed at least three tackles, including one on the game-icing TD by Knowshon Moreno. Rob Ninkovich, a mainstay in 2013, was taken off the field in nickel packages and was rarely allowed to rush the passer. The Patriots are set up to play a 4-3 defense with a nose and undertackle. A front of Jones, Easley, Wilfork, and Ninkovich with the likes of
Zach Moore, Siliga, healthy
Chris Jones and (ugh) Vellano would at least allow for some sort of rotation to coalesce. Instead, the Dolphins were able to bully the New England front line and wear them down, sapping their energy for the remainder of the game.