Our Defense is NOT Loaded; our BACKUPS are weak.

[patfanken]

Well, this was a pretty provocative headline, but a pretty fair assessment of the state of our defense.

We have a truly AWESOME starting 5 secondary, with every starter in our nickel D either elite (Gonzo) or plus player in the group. Byard and Woodson are the best S duo we've had since Chung and McCourty had their best years together. But the fact remains we need to draft Byard's replacement next year and probably by the end of the 2nd day.

The 2nd level of the defense is clearly the weakest area, but it isn't bad. It just doesn't stand out. It's not great at anything, but it is not bad either. Whether it's by FA or the draft, we need to get better and younger at LB, especially at ILB. This year's group will benefit from the strength we have on the DL and secondary, so we have a chance to once again be a top 10 defense in the league. But MG is correct. Right now I would be very happy if our first pick next season is the best interior LB available when we pick.

The DL looks good both in the starter and the depth. The only thing lacking IMHO is that 360lb NT should we want to go to an odd configuration for whatever reason. Baremore was good last season. I'm hoping he will be even better in his 2nd season after the blood clots. We don't have what anyone would call a "dominant" edge rusher, but we have improved the strength of our edge setting players AND have some interesting pieces to watch like Ponder, Swinson, Jacas to watch compete for meaningful snaps behind Landry and Jones. I like the looks of this DL to be at LEAST as good as last season, and perhaps a bit better.

6 weeks until camp and that's a long time. It's time enough to add at least 3-4 more veteran FA's whose names we know, including at least 1 more LB

 

[Wozzy]

Man... you say this all the time. "How can you tell xyz when training camp hasn't started?"

This is a fan board for speculation. Just constantly saying that the pats staff knows more than us is boring and super played out at this point. Just fyi

The same people saying they’re thin at ILB because they lost Jack Gibbens were saying “who?” last year when he was signed as a free agent.

I don’t claim to know how good rookies Namdi Obiazor and Khalil Jacobs are, but they’re talented. I have a hard time believing these posters watched a lot of ILB play at Iowa Western Community College, TCU or Missouri. The simple fact of the matter is these guys are being dismissed because 7th round or UDFA status… when we know NFL players come from everywhere.

Chad Muma had two Pro Bowl caliber ILB’ers ahead of him on the depth chart in Jacksonville, but the special teams coach called him an “ace,” one of the best they had. He’s been a pro for 4 years.

Every other team, even division favorites don’t have Pro Bowl reserves sitting behind their pro bowl starters. Great team builders find players, the average career lasts three years.

If the Conference Champion Patriots who only added to their team are thin, then all 32 teams are thin…. silly.

 

[Love The Drake]

Defensive back and Linebacker depth worries me the most.
I really wanted Riq, looks like the Eagles got a steal there.
There is plenty of time for us to address this weakness or for players to show they belong.

But I’m concerned especially with the fragility of Davis and Gonzo.

 

[mgteich]

.

6 weeks until camp and that's a long time. It's time enough to add at least 3-4 more veteran FA's whose names we know, including at least 1 more LB

This certainly sounds good. But, I have less confidence than you about us adding players.

Our needs last year were greater. Who did we add between mid-June and the final cut? I know we claimed or signed some after the cut because of our high claim position (DiVito, Woods, Gregory and Durden).

 

[Bill Lee]

How can you tell the backups are weak? We’re in June, this isn’t football.

Ask me after camp when we begin to see how rookies and second year players shake out.

Is TC enough to say much these days?

I'm old enough to remember when TC was six games, never mind 4, never mind 3.

Even in the BB era we'd here people say "wait till Halloween" or "wait till Thanksgiving".

I feel like the first 2-4 games are extended training camp these days.

Witness our loss to Pete Carrol's Raiders with GeeNo Smith at QB last season.

I swear the default position for some here is “I don’t know that late round draft pick, free agent or UDFA prospect… so he must be bad.”

Most of you called last year a “rebuilding year” and predicted a 500 record or slightly better. Pretend for a second the Patriots staff know more than you.

At a cursory look and assuming health they’re already deeper than last year.

I agree.

I think one thing throwing people off is that we spent so much on the offense this off-season in terms of cash, cap and draft capital.

In the BB era it seemed he favored building the defense first and foremost, and it was the offense that went into the season with a large number of questionable backups.

 

[patfanken]

This certainly sounds good. But, I have less confidence than you about us adding players.

Our needs last year were greater. Who did we add between mid-June and the final cut? I know we claimed or signed some after the cut because of our high claim position (DiVito, Woods, Gregory and Durden).

Looks like the Jags just signed the UFL's Offensive player of the year. Any idea if there was a LB who stood out? That's the kind of guy (if he exists) I wouldn't mind taking a flyer on

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Core.

LOL okay, enough people get that wrong that you can keep doing it. But you're wrong.

(And I can't let someone just be wrong on the internet.)

 

[TheRainMaker]

LOL okay, enough people get that wrong that you can keep doing it. But you're wrong.

(And I can't let someone just be wrong on the internet.)

I seriously hope the poster was messing with you. I don't get why people continually say "core" either.

I get a kick out of when posters say they hope the team resigns a player. So you want him off the team? Lol.

 

[RxJock1120]

KC missed the 2025 post season and went 6 - 11 post SB loss to Philly.

How did they do after losing to the Tom Brady Bucs???

 

[BobDigital]

The only thing I disagree with is this starting unit isn't top 10. I think they are top 5 when they are right. People are sleeping on Byard and what he will mean. Woodson will be better in year 2. Our DBs are elite. Not just good elite. There is no good spot up attack. How many other teams can can that? Spillaine is being slept on a bit too. Elliss is on stronger last year. People remember his bad start. They forget he was solid the last 11 games. Worth his contract? No. A solid starter? Yes. Assuming he gives you that level of play all year he will make things hard for the other team.

Farmer should take a year 2 jump as well. How much? Idk. But he showed some promise. He was at the least a good rotational guy. He should improve on that. Williams is still an absolute beast. Barmore had a subpar year last year for him. No doubt. But I don't think that arguably worst year of his career will be repeated. As for the DE. People assume Landry sucks now cause he was injured. Do we forget how much of a menace he was week 1? To me this is the biggest oversight. People forget he is a pro bowl type player. Even hurt he gave you something, wait till he is healthy. To me that is the most slept on thing. I think this D has underestimated edge depth. If they some stay healthy. They are right there with the top Ds outside of Houston, which is just a whole different thing.

 

[rkarp1]

The only thing I disagree with is this starting unit isn't top 10. I think they are top 5 when they are right. People are sleeping on Byard and what he will mean. Woodson will be better in year 2. Our DBs are elite. Not just good elite. There is no good spot up attack. How many other teams can can that? Spillaine is being slept on a bit too. Elliss is on stronger last year. People remember his bad start. They forget he was solid the last 11 games. Worth his contract? No. A solid starter? Yes. Assuming he gives you that level of play all year he will make things hard for the other team.

Farmer should take a year 2 jump as well. How much? Idk. But he showed some promise. He was at the least x hood rotational guy. He should improve on that. Williams is still an absolute beast. Barmore had a subpar year last year. No doubt. But I don't think that arguably worst year of his career will be repeated. As for the DE. People assume Landry sucks now cause he was injured. Do we forget how much of a menace he was week 1? Too me this is the biggest oversight. People forget he is a pro bowl type player. Even hurt he gave you something wait till he is healthy. To me that is the most slept on thing. I think this D has underestimated edge depth. If they some stay healthy. They are right there with the top Ds outside of Houston, which is just a whole different thing.

I agree with everything you said, except;
-I thought Barmore played really, even if his stats do not bear that out
-Landry was very good the first 5 games, pre injury
-Elliss is a question for me

 

[mgteich]

The only thing I disagree with is this starting unit isn't top 10. I think they are top 5 when they are right. .

fair enough

I usually say "if they are healthy", but "right" seems reasonable.

 

[Wozzy]

Is TC enough to say much these days?

I'm old enough to remember when TC was six games, never mind 4, never mind 3.

Even in the BB era we'd here people say "wait till Halloween" or "wait till Thanksgiving".

I feel like the first 2-4 games are extended training camp these days.

Witness our loss to Pete Carrol's Raiders with GeeNo Smith at QB last season.

It's true it might take a game or two at the start of the season to get going, but camp and preseason will solidify the depth chart and let us know whether the rookies and 2nd year players have done their jobs in the offseason and secured those backup jobs.

ILB won't be "thin" if Muma and Obiazor are securely behind Spillane and Elliss on the team's depth chart. If the coaches weren't sure these guys could do the job, they would have scoured the free agent wire after cutdown day and found someone else. We won't be overly concerned with OLB either if Ponder and Swinson are shining in preseason. We need to see the depth chart after cuts to see how thin they are, in the meantime they're not thin on talent. Evey team deals with uncertainty and some level of projection from rookies and 2nd year players.

I agree.

I think one thing throwing people off is that we spent so much on the offense this off-season in terms of cash, cap and draft capital.

In the BB era it seemed he favored building the defense first and foremost, and it was the offense that went into the season with a large number of questionable backups.

I don't know, I can remember decades of worth of off-seasons where I found myself arguing new free agent signings like Lawrence Guy or UDFA signings like Jon Jones or JC Jackson looked promising only to have people on talk forums tell me they didn't get drafted so they must suck. This is such a low effort take, and nobody ever comes back a year later and says they were wrong. Much like in sport's media, there is zero accountability or admission they were wrong. Do some research, draft status doesn't mean crap after the draft is over.