Pat Kirwan: The Patriots and the 'Big Nickel Defense'

[captain stone]

I personally think this approach is a lot more likely to be successful than the kind of traditional "big nickel" personnel which Pat Kirwan discusses in the article referenced by the OP.

Although I believe that a kind of Big Nickel package was what Bill might've had in mind when he signed Tank Williams, and later Josh Barrett: Safeties with 4-3 OLB size who could run (before injuries ruined them) with TEs.

 

[mayoclinic]

Although I believe that a kind of Big Nickel package was what Bill might've had in mind when he signed Tank Williams, and later Josh Barrett: Safeties with 4-3 OLB size who could run (before injuries ruined them) with TEs.

Absolutely. It helps to be able to run those kind of packages on occasion, and if Barrett pans out it will be a plus. In addition, Jeff Tarpinian has the potential to function as a LB/S hybrid - Tarpinian's 4.56 speed and 6.78 3-cone with a 37" vertical at 6'2" 235# are comparable to many safeties.

 

[JoeSixPat]

This is nothing new.

Belichick loves to create mismatches for other teams whenever he can.

It's the "whenever he can" part that's a challenge for Belichick and every other coach in the league (though leave it to Belichick to often create a silk purse from a sow's ear in terms of talent.)

All coaches can only use the players they have - and even if they want to "copy" the Patriots, wanting two big TEs (or any other players that offer a mismatch opportunity in the game) and having quality players are two different things.

Belichick has wanted to run this dual TE offense for a decade and just couldn't truly get it done with the TEs he had under contract - until now!

 

[captain stone]

Absolutely. It helps to be able to run those kind of packages on occasion, and if Barrett pans out it will be a plus. In addition, Jeff Tarpinian has the potential to function as a LB/S hybrid - Tarpinian's 4.56 speed and 6.78 3-cone with a 37" vertical at 6'2" 235# are comparable to many safeties.

If both Tarp & Barrett make it out of TC in one piece, then there could be one spot open for either one or the other: whoever displays better ST skills, better coverage skills, and - perhaps most importantly - better tackling skills. And based on the little we saw of Barrett last year, I would say that he is likely behind Tarp in the tackling department, unless Tarp is a really, really bad tackler.

 

[mayoclinic]

If both Tarp & Barrett make it out of TC in one piece, then there could be one spot open for either one or the other: whoever displays better ST skills, better coverage skills, and - perhaps most importantly - better tackling skills. And based on the little we saw of Barrett last year, I would say that he is likely behind Tarp in the tackling department, unless Tarp is a really, really bad tackler.

I tend to agree with this, though others may not. I can see the Pats having a defensive roster that looks something like the following:

6 DT/DEs: Wilfork, Love, Fanene, Pryor, Deaderick, Warren/Brace
4 DE/OLBs: Jones, Scott, Bequette, Cunningham/Carter
6 LBs: Mayo, Hightower, Ninkovich, Spikes, Fletcher, Carpenter/White
1 SS: Chung (Tavon Wilson or a hybrid LB/S could back up Chung)
6 hybrid CB/FS: McCourty, Dowling, Gregory, Wilson, Moore, Dennard
1-2 CB/slot: Arrington, +/- Allen
0-1 hybrid S/LB: Tarpinian/Barrett

In this scenario, Tarpinian and Barrett would essentially compete for 1 spot as a hybrid LB/S in the Tank Washington kind of role, and would also back up Patrick Chung. Barrett has had trouble staying healthy. Both guys are athletic and are excellent STers. The Pats could also opt to keep neither and could keep Will Allen as an extra CB/slot CB.

 

[mayoclinic]

Matthew Jones of NE Patriots' Draft looks at S Steven Gregory:

Steve Gregory: Starting Patriots Safety? | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2013 NFL Draft

I expect Gregory to get a lot of time next to Pat Chung. If Tavon Wilson develops, I would expect Chung/Wilson/Gregory to become he core S rotation.

 

[captain stone]

I'm expecting the same thing, too. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Chung on the sidelines
during obvious passing situations. I know that some posters don't like to use FS - SS designations;
but whatever they're called, we absolutely must get better coverage from our back end than what
we received last season from Diggy, Sergio, Slater, Barrett, Phil Adams, Bubba Jr, and from Chung himself.

 

[mayoclinic]

Alfonzo Dennard has gotten some nice comments from the recent OTAs, and Field Yates and CBS Sports' Rob Rang like Dennard as a sleeper at DB:

Under Belichick, the Patriots use various strategies in the secondary, but typically rely heaviest on zone concepts -- a strategy that should minimize Dennard's average height and ball skills -- and maximizes his rare physicality, instincts and toughness. Dennard lined up strictly at cornerback for Nebraska. For the Patriots, however, Dennard might serve not only as a potential cornerback on the outside, but inside covering the slot and potentially even deep as a safety.

Could Dennard be surprise contributor? - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston
Finding the Fits: If legal troubles behind him, Patriots got a steal in Dennard - CBSSports

I tend to think of Dennard as the "anti-Darius Butler". Butler was a prototypical CB prospect in many ways, with fluid hips, great footwork and 4.4 speed. He stood out at the 2009 Combine for how smooth he was. But he lacked mental and physical toughness, and when he lost confidence he went downhill fast. Dennard is the opposite - a squat build that isn't prototypical for a CB, hips that aren't as fluid as you would like, a little shorter and heaver than ideal. But he's a tough little SOB who doesn't back down, and I think that he'll prove to have both the mental and physical toughness that Butler lacked. It will be interesting to see how he develops.