Is Vince Wilfork over the hill ?

ausbacker said:

Even today, I'm still scratching my head in amazement at the stupidity of yesterday's imposed defensive front.

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It feels surreal to me. I don't think I've ever seen something so stupid on a football field before.

NO!!!!

Vince Wilfork IS the hill.

Vince is not the dominant player he was, however he isn't a weak link and is very stout. Vince will be fine if they get some real DTs playing next to him. Vellano is a joke and seems like a coaches boy. I don't think Vellano should be on the team before Worthy or Quarles. I think we should have signed Arthur Jones or Melton. Easley looks small for a DT, he lost size from the acl injury he needs back. Chandler is slightly lanky at over 6'5 266 lbs and Easley looked small and not just short. He needs to be close to 300 like Geno Atkins. Atkins was one of my favorite draft prospects ever. He was listed 293-297 when drafted and now 305-310 depending on profile. Easley needs to be in that293-297 range. He is our #ONE pick and team needs him to make an impact.

I never thought I would see Vince fail to tackle a running back straight-up.

Marqui said:

It feels surreal to me. I don't think I've ever seen something so stupid on a football field before.

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We saw something similar in week 17 of 2009 with the infamous starting 3-4 DL of Jarvis Green at LE, Mike Wright at NT, and Derrick Burgess in the 260-pound 3-4 DE role. That was Arian Foster's breakout game, although any RB would have excelled against that front.

I don't think we will see him take over games like he used to (2011 AFC CG) but he's more than capable as a starter. In terms of skill, I'd say he's closer to a Paul Soliai than a Brandon Mebane at this point in his career. Chris Jones returning and Easley improving will help him out.

Boy, what a difference a few days make. We were just discussing how Wilfork was in the best shape of his football career, looked somewhat svelte, and worked extremely hard in the offseason.

Our first win can't get here soon enough

PATS16N0 said:

Our first win can't get here soon enough

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That's an understatement and a half. A win on Sunday will go a long way towards setting things straight, and then it's back home for the home opener vs. OAK, which should make things even better at 2-1.

cupofjoe1962 said:

Trust me I know all the Koolaid drinkers will hate this question.

Is Vince Wilfork over the hill?

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Vince Wilfork is on the "back nine", so to speak.

I just can't fathom why they even bothered using three down lineman when they got gashed on every down and got no pressure on the QB. Wilfork isn't the main problem it's the rest of the D-line. I'd rather see a 4-2-5 which is a better use of the personnel currently available. The O-line on the other hand is a sieve where no one played well in either passing or running situations.

I have questioned how well he would return from this injury given the injury, his age, and his weight; but it is too soon to make any definitive declarations about him. It is his first game back from a major injury. I didn't think their Gronk or Mayo looked all that good either. It will take him time to get back into game shape.

I am not sure if Wilfork will ever be remotely close to the same ever again, but I am not drawing any conclusions after this game.

He looked rusty, that's the most I'm willing to say after 1 game.

They also need to go back to a 4 man front with Wilfork & Siliga in the middle against the Vikings.

ausbacker said:

Playing a 34 would be fine if Tommy Kelly were one of the Defensive Ends. Wilfork + Kelly + Jones/Siliga would at least manage 2 gap assignment.

Even today, I'm still scratching my head in amazement at the stupidity of yesterday's imposed defensive front. The coaches really stuffed it.

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Look, our coaches aren't idiots. BB just didn't go senile overnight. So to me, the scary part is that they think running the 3-4 with the personnel we have is our BEST option on defense on Sunday. If that is the case considering our inactive players being Chris Jones the only other DL inactive, what exactly was the plan for our defense in the offseason? Is Chris Jones really going to play such a huge role?

I think he will look a lot better if they go back to the 4-3 with Chris jones playing next to him who is not any worse vs the run and had 6 sacks as a rookie. take Hightower off the field with chung in the box and play a lot more press man coverage if they do that I bet the defense plays worlds better

That press man comment reminds me, why was Revis playing 5 yards off the receiver?!

There was a LOT wrong with that defensive game plan and in the most basic sense of putting players in the wrong place.

ausbacker said:

Playing a 34 would be fine if Tommy Kelly were one of the Defensive Ends. Wilfork + Kelly + Jones/Siliga would at least manage 2 gap assignment.

Even today, I'm still scratching my head in amazement at the stupidity of yesterday's imposed defensive front. The coaches really stuffed it.

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Enough of blaming the entire coaching STAFF. Bill is the one ultimately responsible - not patricia.

Impossible to tell until the coaching staff realizes we don't have the personnel on the DL outside of Wilfork to run the 34. Move back to the 43 and put Siliga next to him at 3-tech with Nink/Hightower and Jones at 5-tech and we should be able to tell whether or not Wilfork is no longer Wilfork. I will say that he was thoroughly getting blown off the LOS on Sunday. But it's impossible to tell if that was because of him being "over the hill" or if it was because of Chandler Jones being put in the worst situation possible with Vellano on the other side.

Big-T said:

That press man comment reminds me, why was Revis playing 5 yards off the receiver?!

There was a LOT wrong with that defensive game plan and in the most basic sense of putting players in the wrong place.

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Not only Revis but also Dennard. Neither of those two should be lining up in off man or zone. They need to be in press.

KontradictioN said:

Impossible to tell until the coaching staff realizes we don't have the personnel on the DL outside of Wilfork to run the 34. Move back to the 43 and put Siliga next to him at 3-tech with Nink/Hightower and Jones at 5-tech and we should be able to tell whether or not Wilfork is no longer Wilfork. I will say that he was thoroughly getting blown off the LOS on Sunday. But it's impossible to tell if that was because of him being "over the hill" or if it was because of Chandler Jones being put in the worst situation possible with Vellano on the other side.

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But for the past month plus I've been reading a ton of posts on this board lauding a potential move back to a 3-4 base defense, and ignoring the personnel fit issues.