How good can the defense be?

so, with the additions to the roster, how good do you think the defense can be next year?

Safety: McCourty/Harmon
CB's: Revis, browner, dennard, ryan, arrington
DT: Wilfork, kelly, jones, velano, siligia
DE: Chandler Jones, Ninkovich
LB: Hightower, mayo, collins

honestly, with health I think that looks like a top 5 defense. only thing I would say is we lack depth in Linebacker and Defensive end.

but the additions of revis/browner should definitely help our pass rush. and having "revis island" will allow belicheck to open up the playbook with some interesting blitz packages

If everyone stays healthy and Patricia gets creative in his schemes there's no reason why it can't be top 3.

Good enough to win a Lombardi, especially with the GOAT QB on the other side of the ball.

Elite providing good health, the addition of one to two pass rushers to throw into a rotation, and a starting caliber SS.

Assuming better health than last year (which shouldn't be too much of a stretch), they're a top half of the league defense at least.

With good health, they're a top ten.

With good health and good development of the young kids, they're a top five.

With all that plus lucking out on an impact rookie or two, and they're tops in the league.

A wide range of possibilities, all depending on whether the 2nd/3rd year guys are blossoming stars or JAG's in training.

With the right depth moves in the rest of free agency and the draft, they can be #2 in the NFL.

RIpats88 said:

so, with the additions to the roster, how good do you think the defense can be next year?



Safety: McCourty/Harmon

CB's: Revis, browner, dennard, ryan, arrington

DT: Wilfork, kelly, jones, velano, siligia

DE: Chandler Jones, Ninkovich

LB: Hightower, mayo, collins



honestly, with health I think that looks like a top 5 defense. only thing I would say is we lack depth in Linebacker and Defensive end.



but the additions of revis/browner should definitely help our pass rush. and having "revis island" will allow belicheck to open up the playbook with some interesting blitz packages

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Add some sub rushers via the draft @ DT & DE and a Coverage LB.

AndyJohnson said:

Good enough to win a Lombardi, especially with the GOAT QB on the other side of the ball.

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Will the GOAT start hitting wide open WRs down field?

If healthy of course(I thought the same thing last year), I think they are good enough to stop anyone from winning the Superbowl in the closing minutes. That's all I care about.

a SS, a rotational DE, DT that can vie for playing time from the draft and everyone stays healthy they might be able to take a trip to the SB.........

They still need a good pass rusher.

There are questions on the Defensive Line, Linebacker and the Safety next to Devin McCourty. A lot of these questions appear to be a matter of health and depth.

Right now, we're working from the position of potential. I am hopeful the Patriots continue to add to the mix as they draw closer to the 53. At that point, we'll have a better idea. Right now, I'd settle for top 10 but if things go well with health and the group develops chemistry, top 3 looks to be a possibility.

Top 4-8 assuming health and that Vince can play at 75% of his former self.

#2 in the league if:

1. Chandler Jones goes from very good to elite in year 3. (Robert Quinn & Cameron Jordan experienced this)

2. Jamie Collins has a strong 2 leap. The Colts game flashed elite player potential. Who knows how much he'll improve in play in year 2.

That would give us a front 7 with 3 elite players (Mayo, Jones, Wilfork) along with a couple very good players (Ninkovich, Collins) to complement the second best secondary in the league.

While we all want a good second safety next to McCourty, an elite defense could still be sculpted with just McCourty and the best CB trio in the NFL as the base (Revis, Browner, Dennard).

borg said:

Will the GOAT start hitting wide open WRs down field?

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No. He never, ever will.

Maybe Matt Patricia gets fired if we aren't elite. Win/Win.