Rob Ninkovich underrated and unappreciated

[NEPettyOfficer72]

I've been saying this for a long time now and not just me, but I've heard analyst like Tom Jackson, talk highly on OLB/DE Rob Ninkovich. Some people call him the new Mike Vrabel because of number and resemblance (guy even played TE at Purdue). I call him talented and clutch. I remember back in 2010 against MIA his old team, starting for the first time where he had 2 interceptions and 1 sack. The guy always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and is the master of the strip sack. He gets sacks, interceptions, tackles vs the run and is an all around smart player that doesn't get the credit, nor attention that he deserves. And like Mike Vrabel, he is productive and versatile and an underrated star and leader on D.

2010 - 4.0 sacks, 62 tackles, and 2 ints in 10 starts

2011 - 8.0 Sacks, 2 QB hits (both in post season), 79 tackles, 2 INTS (1TD), 1FF and 3 FF Recoveries lol first time starting all 16 games.

Move him to defensive end and still produces, and remember that 8 sacks is 3 above a LB or DE that's at least considered "good"

2012 -8.0 Sacks again, 58 Tackles, 5 forced fumbles! (2 against Peyton Manning), 2 QB hits, and a key INT.http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swikiP1ntUQ

Check out the video attached.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Stop. He's hated on this forum.

 

[Brady6]

I've been saying this for a long time now and not just me, but I've heard analyst like Tom Jackson, talk highly on OLB/DE Rob Ninkovich. Some people call him the new Mike Vrabel because of number and resemblance (guy even played TE at Purdue). I call him talented and clutch. I remember back in 2010 against MIA his old team, starting for the first time where he had 2 interceptions and 1 sack. The guy always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and is the master of the strip sack. He gets sacks, interceptions, tackles vs the run and is an all around smart player that doesn't get the credit, nor attention that he deserves. And like Mike Vrabel, he is productive and versatile and an underrated star and leader on D.

2010 - 4.0 sacks, 62 tackles, and 2 ints in 10 starts

2011 - 8.0 Sacks, 2 QB hits (both in post season), 79 tackles, 2 INTS (1TD), 1FF and 3 FF Recoveries lol first time starting all 16 games.

Move him to defensive end and still produces, and remember that 8 sacks is 3 above a LB or DE that's at least considered "good"

2012 -8.0 Sacks again, 58 Tackles, 5 forced fumbles! (2 against Peyton Manning), 2 QB hits, and a key INT.http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swikiP1ntUQ

Check out the video attached.

He is a very good player, I think he lacks that elite athletic ability that requires opponents to game plan against. He is certainly someone I'm glad to have on the roster just the same though.

 

[Fencer]

Vrabel without the two-way skills or the charisma. Or maybe Vrabel Lite.

 

[jah]

Worst starter in the NFL.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

Who wouldn't love a guy that you can do bad jokes about:

*bad Russian accent* "Ninko! Cousin! How are you?!"

 

[DocHoliday]

The ultimate try hard in a good way.

 

[Kontradiction]

Very hard worker and he always seems to be in the right place at the right time. That said, he's better suited as a 34 OLB than a DE in the 43. Additionally, he's someone that you'd love to have as a rotational guy than an every down starter. That's not talking bad about the guy, it's just the truth.

 

[RayClay]

Don't get the hate. compare him to somebody like TBC. He had a big sack year, but did nothing else. Liability against the run.

Ninko's not a pass rush specialist, but he's gotten a lot of sacks, has position flexibility and a knack for making the big play and smart play. Replacing him with a one dimensional player isn't going to help us. We need Jones to improve, 1 or 2 PRush specialists to chip in and a better rush from the inside. We've made moves in those areas. cutting a player who can do everything Nink can is just stupid. Improve the other ends and the line and maybe move Nink.

 

[FCB02062]

Good player but when guys like ninkovich are big time players on your defense, that defense is not suoer bowl caliber...

 

[patfanken]

Stop. He's hated on this forum.

I have been banging the Ninko drum for a long time now, to little avail. The problem on this site seems to be that there are only 2 kinds of players. Stars and Jags, and if you aren't a certifiable star then you are nothing but a JAG shown derision from the masses.

Ninko's stats over the last 2 years put him in some very special company. No he's not a top 10 player at either of his positions, but he's certainly a top 20- 25 player. And how many players are there in this league that are top 25 players at TWO positions.

When you compare the expectations when he was signed (most of us thought he was here to compete for the long snapping role), and the production he's given us over the last 3 seasons, Rob Ninkovich should be considered one of the top FA pick ups of the BB era. He's easily matched Vrabel's stats during his early years and only lacks that one big year (2007) to match him.

It's likely he'll never get that kind of year unless Jones becomes an major impact pass rusher. But when you consider what Ninkovich has given us at two different positions (actually its 3 since he has started a few games at ILB over the years), I find it unconscionable that for so many "supposed astute observers of the game", think that Ninkovich is always their first choice to be upgraded on defense.

But like I said, for too many people here, if you aren't an all pro, you have no worth. They want won't be happy until there are all pros at every position.

 

[lurker1965]

1) Ninko is OK. Not great. In fact he may, MAY, be good. He suffers when fools compare him to Vrabel. But I admit I'm a fool who can't get the Vrabel thing out of my head.

2) Since when do we think Tom Jackson knows anything?

 

[supafly]

I'd be happier if Ninkovich ended up as a little more of a rotational player and wasn't playing fulltime at DE, but he's a pretty good player who works hard and does what it is asked of him. The raw talent level isn't quite as high as we'd probably like it, but we could certainly do a lot worse.

He has improved just about every year, so if that trend continues we may see even more production.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Last year Ninko came up huge when he had too. The jets game stands out in my mind. I was in Vegas at the time on the road and was listening in the car and lost it when he caused that fumble...huge

 

[Big-T]

The worry for me is some team is going to give him stupid money (i.e. Kruger) when he hits FA, if he gets that far.

He might be under rated in the media/by fans but you can bet that GMs/coaches have taken note of his performances.

 

[sieglo]

Worst starter in the NFL.

He should change his last name to something like Warhammer and he'd be a Pro Bowler.

 

[Ring 6]

Great guy to have on the team. Very versatile and smart. Position flexibility. Average vs the run at DE and OLB.
Not a consistently good pass rusher who gets any real pressure on the QB but a tireless effort guy who will get a sack when pressure from elsewhere flushes them to him.
Best suited as an OLB. Out of position at 43 LDE, and the lack of a consistent pass rush by the Pats has a lot to do with that.
Would love him as the 8th or 9th man in the front 7.

 

[mgteich]

To me, this means that he is a valuable part of the 2013 53 and someone else's 53 in 2014. Some other team (or two or three) will consider him a starter, similar to the situation of Thomas.

Great guy to have on the team. Very versatile and smart. Position flexibility. Average vs the run at DE and OLB.
Not a consistently good pass rusher who gets any real pressure on the QB but a tireless effort guy who will get a sack when pressure from elsewhere flushes them to him.
Best suited as an OLB. Out of position at 43 LDE, and the lack of a consistent pass rush by the Pats has a lot to do with that.
Would love him as the 8th or 9th man in the front 7.

 

[twnickels2014]

It's actually amazing how similar Ninkovich and Vrabel were in each of their first 3 years as major contributors.

According to NFL.com:

Vrabel (2001-3): 17 sacks, 197 tackles, 4 FFs, 18 PDs, 5 Interceptions

Ninkovich (2010-2): 18.5 sacks, 194 tackles, 6 FFs, 9 PDs, 4 Interceptions

The strikingly strong similarity between Vrabel and Ninkovich both statistically and in terms of impact makes the title of this forum post 100% true: Rob Ninkovich is underrated and unappreciated by many people, both fans and analysts. While clearly not elite, Ninkovich is a good/very good player on the Patriots' defense, and is easily one of Belichick's best free agent signings.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

love me some ninko!