With our version of the 3-4 and our DL, we should be able to tie up at least four OL's (you say five) with the DL with NO PASS RUSH FROM THE LINE. Obviously, if the offense doesn't double team Wilfork and Seymour they will have their share of sacks.
IMHO, sacks should come from the edges: OLB's, corner blitzes and safety blitzes. ILB's need to plug the line, the DL won't do everything. The ILB's also need to cover anyone coming across the center. The ILB's (as the DL) will have occasional sacks when blocks aren't held.
The open question is why we haven't seen sacks and pressure from our OLB's. Some of the reason is that the OLB's can't trust their secondary to do their job. Our secondary needs to be able to cover better and then be more available for run and pass blitzes.
SOLUTIONS
1) Improve the secondary, so linebackers don't have to be defensive backs. This has been accomplished. Bodden and Springs will replace O'Neal and Lew Sanders.
2) Maintain our DL. With the Wright re-signing, we will have the same line as last year, with some improvement as Wright and LeKevin get more experience.
3) Transition to the OLB's of the future to replace Vrabel and Thomas with reasonable depth. I expect that Thomas will be here as long as he is a top performer. His salaries are $4.9M for 2010 and $5.9M for 2011. The salaries are set up so that decisions will need to be made. We've drafted Crable. I would add two OLB's this year, one who is ready to contribure some this year.
4) Plug the hole for 2009. We have tendered Woods and will bring him back, presumably to start. We also have brough back Banta-Cain for passing downs. The combination may be our OLB opposit Thomas for at the first part of the year (presuming that we don't sign Taylor).
BOTTOM LINE
OLB is the ONE issue that MUST be addressed in this draft. Given that, the issue WILL be solved. The question is whether we add one or two players. This depends partly on Belichick's evaluation and future plans for Crable, Banta-Cain, Woods and Redd.
Dude, math is your friend, though.
Seymour requires a double team. Wilfork requires a double team. Warren requires some serious OL attention. Opposing offenses don't have enough guys to the pocket clean enough against that line-up on passing downs.