Rob Ninkovich: 91 tackles

[primetime]

I also think the belief that he is mediocre as a pass rusher is a misconception, Ninkovich led the team with 86 total pressures and Chandler Jones was second with 80.

Dont?a Hightower, Logan Ryan Stand Out Among Patriots in 2013 Coverage, Pass Rush Statistics | New England Patriots | NESN.com

Yeah, I agree with this. He's certainly not as dynamic an athlete as Chandler Jones, but he has a good array of pass rushing moves that help him get to the quarterback. 8 sacks is nothing to sneeze at.

But where he really shines is in his ability to read and play contain. It's remarkably rare to see a running quarterback get outside on him - and Chandler Jones improved markedly on this front as well this season - which, given the shift towards athletic scramblers in today's NFL, is an incredibly valuable, rare, and underrated skill.

 

[pdangle]

He's had a tremendous season. Those tackle stats are ridiculous.

 

[BelizePats]

Dude is rock solid and with a shiny new 4 year extension.

 

[ivanvamp]

I also think the belief that he is mediocre as a pass rusher is a misconception, Ninkovich led the team with 86 total pressures and Chandler Jones was second with 80.

Dont?a Hightower, Logan Ryan Stand Out Among Patriots in 2013 Coverage, Pass Rush Statistics | New England Patriots | NESN.com

91 tackles, 86 pressures, 8 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries

He's a pretty darned good football player, period. Glad to have him on the team for sure.

 

[Brady6]

91 tackles, 86 pressures, 8 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries



He's a pretty darned good football player, period. Glad to have him on the team for sure.

I agree completely he has developed into an outstanding player, I would add 6 stuffs (tackles for a loss) which was second on the team behind Chandler Jones who had 7 stuffs.

 

[Brady6]

Yeah, I agree with this. He's certainly not as dynamic an athlete as Chandler Jones, but he has a good array of pass rushing moves that help him get to the quarterback. 8 sacks is nothing to sneeze at.



But where he really shines is in his ability to read and play contain. It's remarkably rare to see a running quarterback get outside on him - and Chandler Jones improved markedly on this front as well this season - which, given the shift towards athletic scramblers in today's NFL, is an incredibly valuable, rare, and underrated skill.

Great post I think you hit the nail on the head especially with your last sentence. I noticed as the season progressed that unlike most 4-3 DEs both Jones and Ninkovich had the ability to delay their pass rush maintain containment and still have the explosiveness and athleticism to get to the QB.

 

[dales804]

I think another overlooked stat concerning both Ninkovich and Jones is that both have played over 97% of the defensive stats. That is remarkable in a season where just about every other player on defense missed at least one game. Imagine the cost if either of THOSE guy were lost for a time. They have been the Rocks that this defense has built itself around. Thank God for our DE's

That's one of my concerns going into this game. Both Chandler Jones and Ninko play so much and really never come off the field. Playing in DEN and the altitude, will they be able to be effective as the game goes on if they play that much? Will BB limit their snaps to try and keep their legs for later in the game? If so, who's their replacement and how do they play? I think the Patriots roll with the two of them and if they need a rest later in the game, so be it.

How did BB handle the snaps when the Patriots visited there in 2011? Obviously, Jones wasn't on that team but Ninko was and I seem to remember him having a sack.

 

[Brady6]

In my opinion Rob Ninkovich and Chandler Jones both highlight how significant being a complete defensive end is to Belichick.

Rob Ninkovich: 91 tackles, 86 total pressures, 8 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 6 stuffs.
Chandler Jones: 79 tackles, 80 total pressures, 11.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 7 stuffs, 1 blocked kick.

I firmly believe that Jake Bequette possess the ability to rush the QB, probably even pretty well the problem is he's one dimensional and horrible against the run and containment which is why he never sees the field. That is also why Buchanan was demoted and Andre Carter was signed. Our defensive ends do more than any others in the NFL.

I feel that Belichick has made a real effort to move away from these one dimensional players in the front 7.

Then:
Kyle Love
Brandon Deaderick
Ron Brace
Brandon Spikes (TBD)
Isaac Sopoaga (TBD)

Now:
Chris Jones
Sleaver Siliga
Joe Vellano
Jamie Collins
Armond Armstead (TBD)

Take a look at Chris Jones for example he might not be a rare talent but he had 54 tackles and 6 sacks this season compared to Kyle Love who had 65 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 3 seasons here - why because Jones is active and always moving instead of just eating space.

I know many people think of Wilfork as a space eater but he wasn't he made a lot of plays along the line, he was always in on 50 or more tackles, knocking down passes, stuffing runners in the backfield, etc. Tommy Kelly as well he is multi dimensional, these youngster are the same way and what the lack in talent they compensate for with activity.

 

[patfanken]

Talk about player development. IIRC, the general attitude of most of us was LESS than ho hum. Camp fodder at best, with perhaps a shot at competing for the long snapper job. I don't think there was a single fan here who had even a smidgen of excitement about the signing. He wasn't even high enough on the radar to have anything negative said about him either. We was the epitome of JUST another anonymous TC signing.

Even his first year was rather non-descript. Most of us found it surprising he played as much as he did that first year, and after that first season he was firmly atop most fans' list of player to upgrade A position that he's been in for most of his career here. Just another example that, yes, BB DOES know more than us.

It brings to mind seeing reports on how important being "coachable" is to the FO when making personnel decisions. They feel, if they are coachable, they can get better. We see it so often, there has to be something to it. Otherwise why do so many UDFA's find a home here, when 2nd and 3rd round guys fail. Its because regardless of draft position or physical talent, players who don't get better (for whatever reason) don't last.

Ninko is a prime example of a kid who even after 4 years in the league, got better in every year since that time and carved out a great career in NE. BTW-I believe coaching is the key to why Blount has gone from a talented "dancer" who was a failure in short yardage situations in TB, to "Blount force Trauma" here in NE. It wasn't an accident. Blount obviously was coachable.

 

[JackBauer]

It's pretty uncanny how much Ninkovich reminds of Vrabel. And at 29 he's got several years of high-caliber play left in the tank.

Someone should bump the "Is Ninkovich the worst starter in the NFL?" thread. That's gotta be Patsfans.com HOF material right there.

 

[Huckleberry1]

It's pretty uncanny how much Ninkovich reminds of Vrabel. And at 29 he's got several years of high-caliber play left in the tank.

Someone should bump the "Is Ninkovich the worst starter in the NFL?" thread. That's gotta be Patsfans.com HOF material right there.

Lmao-who started that gem?

 

[dales804]

Lmao-who started that gem?

Take a look for yourself:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/671582-rob-invisible-man-ninkovich-worst-starter-nfl.html#.UtlniBAo6Uk

 

[Marqui]

I wonder why he doesn't get more probowl consideration.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Take a look for yourself:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/671582-rob-invisible-man-ninkovich-worst-starter-nfl.html#.UtlniBAo6Uk

Lmfao-it alway amazes me how the haters in this forum get away with trashing player after player after player, as well as Belichick and the team in general, and then when they ultimately disprove them once again they simply act like it never happened and say "go team," "I always liked that guy....." Plenty of Cunningham love and some Edelman hate mixed in that thread as well. That dynamic has really ruled the day this season, as everyone from Belichick to Brady to Amendola, McCourty, Blount, Hightower, Gregory as well as many more, and the entire roster which was actually deemed "pitiful.." by several posters here. This season's Patriots SUCKED, except that they didn't, and the kneejerk haters who deem everything this team and its players does as not enough once again look like a bunch of know nothings. Some things never change, and if they don't win the Super bowl this season they will have failed again and Belichick will have squandered yet another year, and he will have another epic fail in this coming draft because he suuuuuucks. Simply amazing.

 

[patsinthesnow]

(excluding rookie contracts)

Rob Ninkovich is the best value out of any 4-3 DE in the league. First off, he's a great player and IMO a more consistent DE than Jones, and the stats back that up. Obviously Jones ceiling is much greater, but it just shows how good of a player Ninko is in his own regard.

» Over the Cap- Top NFL Contracts: 43 Defensive End

Ninkovich: 3.56 million a year
Mario Williams: 16 million a year
Chris Long: 12 million a year
Charles Johnson: 12.5 million a year
Cameron Wake: 8.3 million a year
Jared Allen: 12 million a year
Julius Peppers: 14 million a year
Carlos Dunlap: 7.8 million a year

To this day, I still hear people saying that we should upgrade Ninkovich. The only way that is happening is if we spend 10+ million a year on a #2 DE or have a top 15 draft pick. Neither is happening. Ninko is here to stay and I'm glad BB extended him for a steal of a price.

 

[Froob]

He's a strange player. At the surface it's easy to dismiss him because he's pretty mediocre when it comes to the pass rush but when you look deeper you realize the guy is wearing many more hats than just "pass rusher"

8 sacks is mediocre?