Wilfork's improvement at NT / New Writer on the Pats beat?

Decent article on the big guy in the middle. http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/08/25/he_now_knows_nose/

Wilfork took a completely different approach after his talk with Belichick. He relaxed, stopped focusing on tearing his opponents apart, and, most importantly, backed up from the ball before the snap, sometimes more than a yard, to get better reads.
...
``With the young guys in now," Wilfork said, ``I tell them quick, `You know, back up off the ball to get your reads. It won't hurt you. You're big and strong, you need to see what's going on.' That's the easiest way to learn -- back up off the ball."

Click to expand...

Of course this is nothing new to US here, since the minute the change was made in the way Wilfork lined up, one of our astute posters (was it Box or pats1 or someone else?) pointed it out right away. Then later kept reminding us that VW's continued performance coincided with his continued backing up off the ball. I love this place.

On a related note... this appears to be Kelsie Smith's second football article for the Glob, coming over from the Desperate Housewives beat. Could be wrong, I don't follow the mediots as much as some of you around here.

Nice article. You're right, T -- not news to this board, but well presented and explained.

I have had the feeling that perhaps Wilfork was a bit frustrated with the limitations of playing NT in our system -- wanted a role that would get him more prominence in tackles and sacks, like he had in college -- but it seems that he's aware of the importance of being the anchor for the defense. Whatever may happen behind them, you can't help liking our defensive line!

Good article. Wilfork's made strides in his maturity. It's easy, what with all the "baby-Sapp" comparisons coming out of the U, for a guy like Wilfork to want to "dominate" and "push people over." It looks like Wilfork was willing to be coached, to put ego aside and play the role that he was drafted for.

This season I think Wilfork ascends to the Casey Hampton/Jamal Williams eschelon on nose tackles.

It's just one more reason that this is where I start and finish for almost anything Patriots related. You always hear the real scoop LONG before the news guys that get paid to do this stuff get around to it.