Big Vince.....Not as Big

[BTTA]

I would expect that the root of the weight loss is much more likely to be Bianca than the defensive scheme.

I think this may be true. It may be time for him to put family and future health ahead of small advantages as a football player. And if he's that independent in his thinking, and clear about his priorities, and is able to say to the coaching staff, "this is what I need to do for my health and family, just deal with it" then more power to him.

 

[bresna]

I think he wants a pick 6 this year.

 

[zeroakuma]

He has the conditioning of a Navy Seal in the body of a walrus.

Thank you for the morning pick me up - hilarious stuff!

 

[patman52]

To me this is wonderful, less stress on his knees and ankles.

I see the pats are moving further away from a base 3/4 look. Along with that change they have been moving him out to the edge more even in the 3/4.

I agree with a previous poster who thinks the pats will emphasize him penetrating a little more.

 

[Kontradiction]

Wilfork played an exceptionally high number of snaps last year. I'm assuming that he's doing this to make it easier to stay on the field should the same thing happen this year. Like others, I would worry about the possibility of breaking down after a year's worth of wear and tear going up against centers and guards (assuming he'll be consistently double teamed as he has been since he's been in the league), but, in all, it's definitely good for his future as a human being.

 

[PatsBoy12]

I think he wants a pick 6 this year.

He came within 20 yards or so last season against the Chargers.lol

 

[wistahpatsfan]

Good for Vince. I know a big guy (friend's kid) who shed 80 lbs and he couldn't believe how muscular his legs had gotten from carrying that weight all those years. He spent another year toning and cardio and now he's a beast. This kid is much stronger since he lost the weight.

It's all about the legs pushing on the line. Shortened career, retirement with bum knees and back, insulin shots, heart attack, missing your kids' college graduation, leaving your wife alone to raise them vs. more snaps, longer career, longer life, seeing your kids grow up...no contest.

Maybe the best lineman in NFL just got better.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Good for Vince. I know a big guy (friend's kid) who shed 80 lbs and he couldn't believe how muscular his legs had gotten from carrying that weight all those years. He spent another year toning and cardio and now he's a beast. This kid is much stronger since he lost the weight.

It's all about the legs pushing on the line. Shortened career, retirement with bum knees and back, insulin shots, heart attack, missing your kids' college graduation, leaving your wife alone to raise them vs. more snaps, longer career, longer life, seeing your kids grow up...no contest.

Maybe the best lineman in NFL just got better.

From your keyboard to God's monitor.

 

[IllegalContact]

here's to the notion of longevity.....first in life, and the on the field

don't be suprised to see him put a few more pounds on by the start of the season.....I think his wife starves him from Feb to June......he's probably going by the word of someone he has entrusted with his health

 

[Husse]

Some of the comments about him being easier to move because he is lighter doesn't have to be true.

Sure, if you were to lift him it would be. But in this case it might make it harder to move him. It has to do with his centre of gravity and where the weight is positioned in regards to it.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I don't know. For an o-lineman it is easier to push back a 300lb guy than a 340lb guy at least in theory. That would be my biggest concern.

Vince would be 300 with no body fat. He's been playing at closer to 360 than 325. I would guess that after his fat loss he is still around 325. Either way it will never be easy to move him anywhere he doesn't want to go.

 

[WhiZa]

I'm thinking we will see a lot of nickel this year so it makes sense for him if he wants to be on the field 3-downs and be productive.

 

[BlueThunder]

I am with you one hundred percent on 2. Although I, and many on here will disagree with your first point. IF, the young talent can produce on a level of situational role players (jones, bequette, Hightower), this defense isn't going to be a true anything. If these kids can grasp the concept and fanene can be what fat Albert wasn't (team first, dominating role player), this team will be running out a front six that could effectively lend itself to a 2-x or 6-x functional description. In short, two, maybe less, hands in the dirt. Four lbs wandering, two edge threat/flat coverage types, mayo up the middle with Hightower (i am so high on this kid, the roles he played under Saban while leading that d...) the true wild card. Keep in mind the guy from Oakland (top pick, injured as late but productive while healthy) as an elephant...
I expect a heavy return to the ameoba type d of a few years ago, this time with more focus on acute zone overload apposed to the "three plus willie" attacks of almost a decade ago. Baltimore has been doing it for a while with ray in charge. Big two to up front with two limited coverage guys (edge rushers, more or less), a relative wild card, and Ray.
Enter Vince, fanene. Jones, baguette and that's just the early pick rookies...(one of two contributing would be fantastic). Hightower as your wildcard, and mayo as your ray-esque leader/do it all type (i am NOT comparing mayo to Lewis, mayo is out classed)...did I mention Hightower? Pretty sure he may fit that bill as well...
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[mayoclinic]

I am with you one hundred percent on 2. Although I, and many on here will disagree with your first point. IF, the young talent can produce on a level of situational role players (jones, bequette, Hightower), this defense isn't going to be a true anything. If these kids can grasp the concept and fanene can be what fat Albert wasn't (team first, dominating role player), this team will be running out a front six that could effectively lend itself to a 2-x or 6-x functional description. In short, two, maybe less, hands in the dirt. Four lbs wandering, two edge threat/flat coverage types, mayo up the middle with Hightower (i am so high on this kid, the roles he played under Saban while leading that d...) the true wild card. Keep in mind the guy from Oakland (top pick, injured as late but productive while healthy) as an elephant...
I expect a heavy return to the ameoba type d of a few years ago, this time with more focus on acute zone overload apposed to the "three plus willie" attacks of almost a decade ago. Baltimore has been doing it for a while with ray in charge. Big two to up front with two limited coverage guys (edge rushers, more or less), a relative wild card, and Ray.
Enter Vince, fanene. Jones, baguette and that's just the early pick rookies...(one of two contributing would be fantastic). Hightower as your wildcard, and mayo as your ray-esque leader/do it all type (i am NOT comparing mayo to Lewis, mayo is out classed)...did I mention Hightower? Pretty sure he may fit that bill as well...

I think you need to switch to "Faux Joe" like OTG. "Baguette"? Does that make Chandler Jones a croissant?

Seriously, good thoughts, as we've discussed elsewhere. Regardless of whether we run an ameboid defense or not, having Wilfork a bit lighter and quicker will probably help keep him on the field more and give him more playmaking versatility, so it's probably a good thing.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Great news about Vince

I think one of the big reasons he lost weight was not for health but also when he catches a few INTs this year he will be fast enough to be able to take them to the house.

 

[Deus Irae]

Good for him. Vince had been getting bigger and bigger, seemingly by the year. He needed to lose the weight.

 

[strongside]

IMO there is no downside to this

Your right, especially with the shift in defense style and the fact that he really isn't a NT anymore and more of a DT who can play nose. If this was still a strict 3-4 team w/ vince coming off the field on passing downs/sub packages then I'd have a different opinion on the weight

 

[Rob0729]

Some of the comments about him being easier to move because he is lighter doesn't have to be true.

Sure, if you were to lift him it would be. But in this case it might make it harder to move him. It has to do with his centre of gravity and where the weight is positioned in regards to it.

If weight had nothing to do with it though, most DTs would look like Gronk. I think weight might not have an affect in a 10lb difference, but when you start going 30 plus LBs, it can. Many DTs and NTs use their weight to their advantage hence why most are big fat loads.

There are advantages and disadvantages in losing the weight. If Wilfolk can use his loss of bulk to make him quicker off the line and have more agility to out maneuver his blocker, it can more than make up for the loss of weight.

Then again, if the Pats are moving to more of a 4-3, the loss of of the weight is less relevant anyway since he will not be lining up over the nose all the time like he is in the 3-4.

 

[RayClay]

Vince is by far our most talented interior lineman and we haven't been using him primarily as a 3-2 NT for a while. He should be even more athletic now and Kyle Love has done a great job as that stout lineman we could plug in the middle, allowing Vince to use his superior athleticism and skills.

It was different when he was bookended by Warren and Seymour. This is a guy with two interceptions and great runbacks at the higher weight.

Should be a whole different defense with Spikes and Hightower and all the defensive end/olb types putting a different type of pressure on offenses, either running or passing.

 

[Patriot Missile]

To me this is a huge deal. Vince has always been a phenomenal athlete. But there have been times where you would think he could of gotten more sacks with just a tad bit more speed. He is a natural penetrator and if he is able to keep his strength there is no doubt the opposing offense should be worried.

3 things happen/improve if he is able to get in the backfield quicker than before.

He gets the sack.
He flushes the Qb out to the Lb's and De's
He forces the Qb into some hurried/stupid decisions.