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Patriots Defense Off-season Preview.
NT – Vince Wilfork, Titus Adams– Wilfork played very well this year. Adams spent the year on the practice squad. Wilfork is a UFA next season and the Pats need to prepare for the potential that he’ll be gone. Drafting a NT this year seems to be a given.
DE – Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, Jarvis Green, LeKevan Smith
Seymour and Green will be UFA after this year. Smith will be an RFA. Warrren signed a long term extension prior to the start of the 2007 season. Drafting a DE, possibly in the first round, seems very likely. Adding another via the draft or off-season also seems very likely.
ILB/OLB –Mike Vrabel, Adalius Thomas, Shawn Crable, Tedy Bruschi, Jerod Mayo, Vince Redd, Gary Guyton, Bo Ruud, Darrel Robertson, Angelo Craig -
The Pats brought in a LOT of youth last year with the crown jewel being Jerod Mayo, who was voted Defensive Rookie of the Year. Gary Guyton was the steal of the UDFAs, coming in and being a factor in the nickel sub-packages coming out of camp. Crable and Ruud were injured and never developed. Vince Redd got promoted to the team when Thomas was hurt after earning a black practice jersey 4 times in 9 weeks.
The Pats pass rush just wasn’t happening from the LBers. They weren’t able to get consistent pressure from the 4 positions like they normally have. This could be because Vrabel played the year hurt and Bruschi was spending more time back helping Mayo out. The Patriots also didn’t have Mayo rush the QB much, instead, having him focus on his run-stopping and coverage assignments.
Only the Patriots coaching staff knows what it has in Robertson, Craig, Redd and Crable. Keep in mind, though, that prior to tearing a pectoral muscle prior to the combine, Robertson was rated as a second round pick and being compared to the likes of Jason Taylor. Vince Redd and Angelo Craig were both very good pass rushers in college. Crable was a very good, all around, LBer who could rush the passer when needed. The Pats answer to their Pass rushing woes could already be on the team. We, as fans, just don’t know.
That being said, this stands to be the strongest LBer class in the last 15 years of the draft. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see the Patriots add 2 or 3 LBers so that the corp is fully replenished.
CB - Ellis Hobbs, Terrence Wheatley, Jonathan Wilhite, Mike Richardson -
The Fernando Bryant era in New England died in pre-season. The Deltha O’Neal experiment was a flop. Jason Webster was signed, cut, brought back and then left again with an injury. Terence Wheatley broke his LEFT wrist after he went arse over elbows deflecting a pass and landing with all his weight on it. Wilhite and Richardson had the normal rookie troubles, but played solid.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Patriots sign a veteran like a Bryan McFadden. If they could somehow steal Kelvin Hayden from the Colts, I’d be happy. The Pats could be looking at another CB in the draft as well.
Safety - Ray Ventrone, Brandon Meriweather, Matt Slater, Antwain Spann-
Meriweather played great, really stepping it up by the end of the year. Ventrone broke his jaw late in the season, but should be ready come TC. Slater had his good and bad moments. Spann was cut and then brought back off the Practice Squad
The Pats, with Harrison, James Sanders, Lewis Sanders and Tank Williams all being UFA, will likely be involved in free agenty to either re-sign or replace these guys. One intriguing name is Sean Jones, formerly of the Browns. The Pats will also likely draft a Safety. Some intriguing prospects include Will Moore, Taylor Mays, Chip Vaughn, Rashad Johnson, and Kevin Ellison.
Special Teams:
Kicker – Stephen Gostkowski -
Stephen Gostkowski became the Patriots single season leading scorer this year. He did extremely well on improving his kicks, though he still had a mistake or two. Gost is someone I hope the Patriots will keep for a long time.
Punter –Tom Malone - Chris Hanson had a decent season. But it can be improved upon.
Look for someone via free agency or via the draft, though Hanson could be brought back in a pinch.
Long-Snapper - None– This is a position that should be address prior to the draft.
NT – Vince Wilfork, Titus Adams– Wilfork played very well this year. Adams spent the year on the practice squad. Wilfork is a UFA next season and the Pats need to prepare for the potential that he’ll be gone. Drafting a NT this year seems to be a given.
DE – Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, Jarvis Green, LeKevan Smith
Seymour and Green will be UFA after this year. Smith will be an RFA. Warrren signed a long term extension prior to the start of the 2007 season. Drafting a DE, possibly in the first round, seems very likely. Adding another via the draft or off-season also seems very likely.
ILB/OLB –Mike Vrabel, Adalius Thomas, Shawn Crable, Tedy Bruschi, Jerod Mayo, Vince Redd, Gary Guyton, Bo Ruud, Darrel Robertson, Angelo Craig -
The Pats brought in a LOT of youth last year with the crown jewel being Jerod Mayo, who was voted Defensive Rookie of the Year. Gary Guyton was the steal of the UDFAs, coming in and being a factor in the nickel sub-packages coming out of camp. Crable and Ruud were injured and never developed. Vince Redd got promoted to the team when Thomas was hurt after earning a black practice jersey 4 times in 9 weeks.
The Pats pass rush just wasn’t happening from the LBers. They weren’t able to get consistent pressure from the 4 positions like they normally have. This could be because Vrabel played the year hurt and Bruschi was spending more time back helping Mayo out. The Patriots also didn’t have Mayo rush the QB much, instead, having him focus on his run-stopping and coverage assignments.
Only the Patriots coaching staff knows what it has in Robertson, Craig, Redd and Crable. Keep in mind, though, that prior to tearing a pectoral muscle prior to the combine, Robertson was rated as a second round pick and being compared to the likes of Jason Taylor. Vince Redd and Angelo Craig were both very good pass rushers in college. Crable was a very good, all around, LBer who could rush the passer when needed. The Pats answer to their Pass rushing woes could already be on the team. We, as fans, just don’t know.
That being said, this stands to be the strongest LBer class in the last 15 years of the draft. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see the Patriots add 2 or 3 LBers so that the corp is fully replenished.
CB - Ellis Hobbs, Terrence Wheatley, Jonathan Wilhite, Mike Richardson -
The Fernando Bryant era in New England died in pre-season. The Deltha O’Neal experiment was a flop. Jason Webster was signed, cut, brought back and then left again with an injury. Terence Wheatley broke his LEFT wrist after he went arse over elbows deflecting a pass and landing with all his weight on it. Wilhite and Richardson had the normal rookie troubles, but played solid.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Patriots sign a veteran like a Bryan McFadden. If they could somehow steal Kelvin Hayden from the Colts, I’d be happy. The Pats could be looking at another CB in the draft as well.
Safety - Ray Ventrone, Brandon Meriweather, Matt Slater, Antwain Spann-
Meriweather played great, really stepping it up by the end of the year. Ventrone broke his jaw late in the season, but should be ready come TC. Slater had his good and bad moments. Spann was cut and then brought back off the Practice Squad
The Pats, with Harrison, James Sanders, Lewis Sanders and Tank Williams all being UFA, will likely be involved in free agenty to either re-sign or replace these guys. One intriguing name is Sean Jones, formerly of the Browns. The Pats will also likely draft a Safety. Some intriguing prospects include Will Moore, Taylor Mays, Chip Vaughn, Rashad Johnson, and Kevin Ellison.
Special Teams:
Kicker – Stephen Gostkowski -
Stephen Gostkowski became the Patriots single season leading scorer this year. He did extremely well on improving his kicks, though he still had a mistake or two. Gost is someone I hope the Patriots will keep for a long time.
Punter –Tom Malone - Chris Hanson had a decent season. But it can be improved upon.
Look for someone via free agency or via the draft, though Hanson could be brought back in a pinch.
Long-Snapper - None– This is a position that should be address prior to the draft.