Some comments on the comments:
1. I STRONGLY agree with those who think that this could be the strongest Pats D in a decade.
2. I wonder why some people who fear our "lack of a pass rush" have forgotten that last year's injured and jury-rigged front 7 ranked #6 in the league in sacks. Its like the lack of a pass rush in the AFCCG just erased the previous 17 games out of existence.
3. Those who fear a lack of a rush should instead be all excited about the additions of Easly and Armstead. the return of Kelly and Mayo, the likely improvements by the rookies like Collins, CJones, Siliga, Buchanon, etc, PLUS the potential use of guys like Hightower on the rush. That is a HUGE improvement on a Forcing unit that was already a top 10 pass rushing D. Optimism not fear should be the predominant emotion here.
4. Kontra - You and Mayo bring up a very subtle, but interesting position issue to watch this TC. I can see a strong case being made to have Hightower as the Mike, with Mayo as the Will, and Collins at the Sam. But on the other hand I can make an equally strong case to put Mayo at the Mike, with Hightower at the Sam and Collins at the Will. In the latter example you would get more use of Hightower coming off the edge as an impact pass rusher
5. The key this year is going to be position flexibility. In that there are really only going to be 2 positions in passing situations. rushers and defenders. So while we might not have 3 LB's on the field the majority of the time, that doesn't meant there won't be 3 "LB's on the field. Except in those cases Collins and/or Hightower might have their hands in the dirt
Think about it. Revis will be at CB - Mayo at LB, and Vince/Siliga in the interior. That's about all you can depend on. Everyone else couid end up anywhere. Everyone has some position flexibility. Its a HUGE advantage, and I'm getting more excited about as I think about the possibilities.
6. Like I've been saying for a while, the old position labels aren't going to be as accurately descriptive this season. We can expect DT's playing DE, LB's playing DE and DE's playing LB's When you think about it, there aren't too many of our top defensive players on the front 7 who DON'T have a lot of position flexibility. Guys like Collins are the rule rather than the exception. Do NOT underestimate the problems its going to cause opponents offenses when its hard to get a read on what defense they will see based on the personnel on the field. They won't be able to predict an alignment based simply on personnel
7. For most of the last decade the Pats defense has been something the Pats have had to overcome to win games. It's been a defense which bent and bent. Its been one that with blue smoke and mirrors somehow managed to be one of the better scoring D's and not much else. This year could change all of this. Not just because of the "stars" or "starters", but because of the potential of the entire unit. Granted its not perfect, but a LOT more perfect than any unit we've seen in the last 10 years.