A) We are fine at DT and NT with Wilfork, Pryor and Brace.
B) We are set with two starting DE's in Warren and Wright.
C) We need to improve on Green and Burgess.
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D) Banta-Cain should again be an important factor in pass rush situations, so we needn't expect that all the pass rush will come from the DL.
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E) There are lots of possibilities in the draft. We should be drafting at least one DE.
30 front: - Warren -- Wilfork -- Wright/unk
--------- Brace -- Pryor/Brace/Grady -- Richard
Analysis: Warren and Wilfork are proven starters, and at least borderline elite. Wright IMO is proven as a spot starter at NT, he struggles more when he's had to fill in at LDE, but I think he holds up better at RDE and will be adequate at worst.
It's possible NE finds a primary RDE in Free Agency:
-- RFA Barry Cofield (NYG) would be better as Ty Warren's back-up, but he's a strong run stuffer who could play either DE.
-- UFA Jason Ferguson (MIA) is a step in the wrong direction with his age (assuming he doesn't retire), but he's a good stopgap option.
-- UFA Le Kevin Smith (DEN) is an excellent reserve capable of playing either DE.
The "need" is for a strong enough RDE candidate to push Wright for the job. Bruschi, the ESPN analyst, indicated Wright flashes starter quality talent, but isn't consistent enough - it looks as if the draft is the place to find someone to push him, over the hump or back to reserve status.
40 front: - Warren -- Wilfork -- Pryor/Wright -- Banta-Cain
----- Woods/Davis -- Brace -- Grady/Richard -- Ninkovich/Crable
The three Free Agents above are more than adequate in a 40 front, in this case Wright and Pryor are both starter quality three-techs who can also play the one.
NE's strength under BB has been a multi-front defense capable of shifting on the fly. The clear priority is to find a RDE starter candidate who can challenge Wright for the job, either pushing him to fully seize the job, or back into reserve status.
A secondary priority involves the OLBs in a 30 front, capable of playing DE in a 40 - the edge rushers.
-- TBC clearly fits the bill.
-- Ninkovich flashed a speed rush last season which may prove effective this season with a year of experience in the defense.
-- Woods had three good games as an injury replacement in 2008 before his jaw was broken, he never regained that form in 2009, perhaps like TBC he needs a little more time, perhaps the broken jaw took some tone off his conditioning, what is certain is a bunch of wankers will call him a bust and worse (as if a UDFA can ever be a bust).
-- Davis is an unknown who earned a new chance when he was re-signed.
-- Crable is an unknown.
-- Thomas is an unknown - trying to shoot his way out of town.
Additional competition has been desired here for some time. NE made a bid for Peppers, but it was a foregone conclusion other teams would outbid any price NE had set on Peppers as an OLB. There may yet be a Free Agent acquisition who can help here - re-signing Burgess, Kampmen, etc., but the draft again appears the most likely place to acquire an additional edge rusher(s).