Looking at the 2006 Defense

[pats1]

Position - Name - Signed Through - 2006 Cap Hit

Defensive Line Starters--

LE - Ty Warren - 2008 - $2.225 mil.

Having a solid season this year, has started every game the past 2 years and is rarely injured. Reliable, I'd say.

NT - Vince Wilfork - 2009 - $1.78 mil.

Steadily improving but could use either an improved Mike Wright or someone bigger through free agency or the draft to rotate with. Has started every game this year, and rotated all of last year with Traylor.

RE - Richard Seymour - 2006 - $7.42 mil.

Has missed 7 games over the past 2 seasons, but is dominant when in there. Jarvis Green will likely be around for awhile and provides good insurance in case of 2006 injury.

Defensive Line Backups--

DE/DT - Jarvis Green - 2009 - $3.651 mil.

Is a pretty reliable backup, having only missed a few games lately due to injury.

DE - Marquise Hill - 2008 - $621 k

Has been injured often and inactive almost every game. Since Green and Wright are the only needed backups in the 3-4, he's still looking on the inside out and will be a backup his entire career with the Patriots unless Seymour isn't signed or if there is significant injury. Green is the DE backup, Wright the NT, and sometimes, Klecko the 3rd reserve. If Hill is just simply a reserve DE, he's going nowhere. Versatility reigns.

NT/DT/DE - Mike Wright - 2006 - $317 k

Wright isn't the ideal NT backup being undersized, and he could be on the outside looking in alongside Hill if the Pats do indeed bring in a larger NT.

NT/DT/DE/FB - Dan Klecko - 2006 - $546 k

He's been injured the past two seasons and will have to really hope for injuries to make the 2006 squad. Versatility won't help either.

Linebacking Starters--

LOLB - Willie McGinest - 2006 - $8.327 mil.

Despite getting older, he's started every game since October 2003 and has remained just about injury free. You never know how long that will last, and a good 3rd OLB to rotate in should be on the list for 2006. A special teams specialist (TBC, Izzo, etc.) won't cut it. Chad Brown is a big question mark for 2006. Willie will probably restructure as well.

ILB - Tedy Bruschi - 2007 - $2.231 mil.

With the stroke in the past, Bruschi should be just fine for 2006. We'll see if the Pats have trust in keeping Beisel as the main backup in 2006.

ILB - Mike Vrabel - 2009 - $3.139 mil.

He's made the transition inside just fine and hasn't been an injury liability in the past.

ROLB - Rosevelt Colvin - 2009 - $5.784 mil.

His easing into the starting role is now complete and he's a machine on the edge. The 2003 injury was freakish and Colvin has been healthy since then. He could use a rotating mate, though.

Linebacking Backups--

ILB - Chad Brown - 2006 - $1.249 mil.

As I've said, he's the biggest question mark of 2006. Will he retire? Will he be able to move outside full time and rotate with Colvin or Willie? Will he regain his pre-2005 form as a sack master? Is he injury prone? How much longer can he play? Will he be released? Replaced? Moved down on the depth chart? It would be a $ 242 k cap hit if he was cut, not much of anything, added to the already dead $418 k for 2006.

ILB - Monty Beisel - 2006 - $919 k

He's a bit of a question mark as well. Will a full offseason as a ILB help him adjust and be a reliable backup in 2006? Will he be released? Replaced and moved down on the depth chart until he can prove himself more? It would be a $212 k cap hit if he was cut, not much of anything, added to the already dead $418 k for 2006.

OLB - Tully Banta-Cain - 2006 - $474 k

He's been inactive or plays primarily on special teams. I don't see him going higher than that soon, along with Izzo. They'll stay alongside a possible re-signing of Davis and/or Stone in 2006 as special teams aces.

ILB - Larry Izzo - 2006 - $726 k

Just like Banta-Cain, he'd most likely be a liability if called upon to start full-time. It all depends on what happens to Brown and Beisel, but that Phifer/Johnson type LB should be on the list for 2006.

ILB - Ryan Claridge - 2008 - $352 k

He's coming off and injury but probably won't have to fight for a roster spot if there's no significant additions at LB, or if he can prove himself to be a big help on special teams.

Defensive Backfield Starters--

CB - Ellis Hobbs - 2009 - $481 k

Judging by what he's done this year, he's a damn good corner for less than a half million. Hasn't been injured and could be the top corner in 2006.

CB - Asante Samuel - 2006 - $579 k

He's stuck in that rut between a nickelback and full-time outside corner. Randall Gay is the same way. If Gay can show he's fully recovered and back to 2004 form, I think Samuel will slide back down to the nickel.

S - Eugene Wilson - 2007 - $913 k

With another year under his belt, he's the glue holding this secondary together.

S - Rodney Harrison - 2008 - $2.769 mil

It will be worth watching how quickly he can return from the injury. If it isn't by September, look for Sanders to step up as a starter.

Defensive Backfield Backups--

CB - Duane Starks - 2006 - $5.136 mil.

He'll be asked to restructure and be the #3 or #4 corner or will be cut. It's a hefty $5.484 mil. cap hit added to the already dead $418 k for 2006. Hell, he could even start if he proves 2005 was flawed by a nasty shoulder injury.

CB - Tyrone Poole - 2006 - $2.623 mil.

He's been injured the past two years, and unless he can regain 2003 form and become a starter, he'll be cut, with a $1.116 mil. cap hit added to the already dead $418 k for 2006.

S - James Sanders - 2008 - $411 k

If Rodney isn't ready for September, I like Sanders as the 2006 starter, even over Stone or Hawkins, who both might be back as special teamers and 6th/7th DBs. Sanders is now playing just about every 3rd down, replacing Stone, and has played pretty well despite coming off the preseason injury.

 

[nukin]

that must of taken forever to write up

 

[pats1]

that must of taken forever to write up

An hour or so.

 

[dryheat44]

An hour or so.

I appreciate the effort.
Thanks.

 

[Bertil]

I think you discounted somewhat the age factor. The Pats have to start getting younger primarily at LB. They have youth elsewhere on the D, but more questions than answers at this point.

Their youth at DL is secure for the near term (and long term if they can come to terms with Seymour). Vince needs an able backup, however. He's a load, but he takes almost every snap. Bottom Line: DL is not an issue.

At LB, let's face it, Willie can't keep this pace for too many more years, and Tedy's probably only a couple more as well. Vrabel is only 30 and Colvin's younger, so those two could bookend for a few after #55 goes into the sunset. Inside is where they need to address. Bottom Line: Major changes looming.

They have battle tested youth in the secondary with Wilson, Blue, Asante and Hobbs. IMO, we've seen the last of Poole and Starks. They need to address the Rodney question at some point. Sanders and Scott may not be the answer. I'd like to see them add some size there, too. Bottom Line: Need hitters at S, playmakers at CB.

 

[NOWAKJOE]

I think you discounted somewhat the age factor. The Pats have to start getting younger primarily at LB. They have youth elsewhere on the D, but more questions than answers at this point.

Their youth at DL is secure for the near term (and long term if they can come to terms with Seymour). Vince needs an able backup, however. He's a load, but he takes almost every snap. Bottom Line: DL is not an issue.

At LB, let's face it, Willie can't keep this pace for too many more years, and Tedy's probably only a couple more as well. Vrabel is only 30 and Colvin's younger, so those two could bookend for a few after #55 goes into the sunset. Inside is where they need to address. Bottom Line: Major changes looming.

They have battle tested youth in the secondary with Wilson, Blue, Asante and Hobbs. IMO, we've seen the last of Poole and Starks. They need to address the Rodney question at some point. Sanders and Scott may not be the answer. I'd like to see them add some size there, too. Bottom Line: Need hitters at S, playmakers at CB.

I disagree I think they will draft a DL on day one or get one via FA. If Vince gets injured we could be hurting. Like they say in baseball, you never have enough good pitching, the same could be said in football regarding DL.

 

[NEPatriot]

Very nice job. Thank you for the efforts.