The Patriots DE Position.. What to do.

FreeTedWilliams said:

Two Words:


Conor Barwin

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Well, if it comes to that, here are two more:

Jake Bequette.

Have seen this guy looking pretty athletic out there on the poker table, and still making good use of his hands to win matchups

Sounds like he might not be so okay after all...

Time to explore the trade market

Noooo when will we find out?

Keyser Söze said:

Time to explore the trade market

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Unless Wise/Ealy absolutely balls out, we're gonna need something.

Derek Rivers was amazing how the heck did the injury occur?

ChrisR2223 said:

Derek Rivers was amazing how the heck did the injury occur?

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He's had a couple flashes at most during camp. Wouldn't exactly call him amazing..

We're fine at DE in the 3-4.

In the 43, we will have one of our hybrids playing DE. We have discussed Hightower in that role since the day Harris was signed. Perhaps Ealy can play this role some. I suspect that Van Noy can also (perhaps McClellan also).

Finally, we have 2 rookies, one of which may be able to be an adequate DE/OLB with meaningful reps this year: Wise and Langi.

IMHO, knowing that a rookie won't help out this year isn't a big deal for Belichick.

SOME THOUGHTS
1) We are fine with our 4 DT's. Both Brown and Guy can play DE in the 3-4.
2) We have one top level DE in Flowers.
3) We are fine at MLB with Harris and either Van Noy or McClellan also playing inside. In addition, we will likely have either Roberts or Freeny (ST) as an additional backup.
4) At OLB/DE, we have Hightower, backed up by either VanNoy or McClellan. We also have the newcomers: Ealy and Langi. We may also have STer Grissom.
5) IMHO, Ealy just made the 53. Of course, his roster spot could be taken by an acquisition.
6) There are many formations. My labels are for convenience only.
7) As I have thought for weeks, I think that Belichick will make a choice between Roberts and Langi. I now suspect that both STers will make the 53: Grissom and Freeny.

ELEVEN FRONT SEVEN
DT (4) Branch, Brown, Valentine, Guy
MLB (2) Harris, McClellan/Van Noy
DE (2) Flowers, Wise
OLB/DE (3) Hightower, Ealy, VanNoy/McClellan

PLUS THREE OR FOUR
Langi (DE/OLB) and some ST's
Roberts (MLB) and NO ST's
Grissom (ST/DE)
Freeny (ST/MLB)

Keyser Söze said:

He's had a couple flashes at most during camp. Wouldn't exactly call him amazing..

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A moron would.

Bruins29 said:

A moron would.

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This kitty has claws
The word amazing is a stretch sure
But athletically he was the most explosive pass specialist we had.
Plus in this league you need to get to the passer.
It more than likely will have little to no effect to the record.
However it may cause some annoying third down conversions and surely could stunt his NFL development hindering the second year leap.
I didn't feel like typing that all out before with my sons playing on me excuse me for being a quote un quote moron.
I don't personally know you so I won't stoop to calling you a name.

ChrisR2223 said:

This kitty has claws
The word amazing is a stretch sure
But athletically he was the most explosive pass specialist we had.
Plus in this league you need to get to the passer.
It more than likely will have little to no effect to the record.
However it may cause some annoying third down conversions and surely could stunt his NFL development hindering the second year leap.
I didn't feel like typing that all out before with my sons playing on me excuse me for being a quote un quote moron.
I don't personally know you so I won't stoop to calling you a name.

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Well Christopher, I appreciate that well thought response about Mr Rivers. I have high hopes for him as well. BUT amazing after a couple of joint practices and a PS game? Its kinda moronic to go there at this point. But I like your enthusiasm.

Oh, BTW you are not a moron for that comment. Its the stuff you post like "Brady is whipped" that makes you a moron.

Enjoy your day

Hightower with his hand in the dirt on 3rd downs is likely to be the solution. A veteran (or unproven) pass rusher will probably become available after cutdowns. A Bobby Hamilton type would get the job done.

JMC00 said:

Just look who posted it. No surprise that he is trying to say that the worst DE on the team last year is somehow the difference.

The funniest part of his post is

Guess he doesn't realize that Flowers replaced him mid-way through the season last year. It's Flowers that was the one that came up big in the SB, not Sheard and that's because Flowers had become the LDE

Had he said Chris Long I probably wouldn't have said anything because while Long wasn't a sack master he did a very good job at creating pressure. But he made his bed with "Sheard was a big loss" and now he has to lay in it.

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Flowers was playing RDE with Ninkovich at LDE..
Long and Sheard were back-ups..

TheFlyingWedge said:

Hightower with his hand in the dirt on 3rd downs is likely to be the solution. A veteran (or unproven) pass rusher will probably become available after cutdowns. A Bobby Hamilton type would get the job done.

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Hightower has always been better the closer he plays to the LOS. We probably needed depth even if Rivers hadn't got hurt. Seems like he's behind Wise this
year and would have been a back-up . Maybe, not even dress on game days guy.

From Chatham.

patsfaninpa said:

Hightower has always been better the closer he plays to the LOS. We probably needed depth even if Rivers hadn't got hurt. Seems like he's behind Wise this
year and would have been a back-up . Maybe, not even dress on game days guy.

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Meanwhile, Kony Ealey is running with the third stringers...

TheFlyingWedge said:

I don't personally love this option, (expecting some dislikes) but Hightower could be moved to the outside (maybe with his hand in the dirt) with the addition of Harris and other depth at ILB.

Of all the linebackers on the roster he is probably the most versatile and best suited for a transition to a more dedicated pass rusher.

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I've been thinking along the same lines but as you say Im not in love with the idea either. I love his game and I would never underestimate his ability to adapt to a new position along the line but on a number of occasions last year I saw him swallowed up by larger O-Linemen.

Another intriguing edge draft prospect left out for injury . ready to come in..

(had a tryout w Texans after draft)

TheFlyingWedge said:

Meanwhile, Kony Ealey is running with the third stringers...

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Last I checked Kony Ealy was running solo penalty laps for not knowing wtf is going on. That's before he checked out and went home early, and felt being kept out of practice was "just a thing BB and I have going on".