Milton Williams

[n1997y]

Looks like he’s getting himself into shape…

https://www.reddit.com/r/Patriots/s/7fUwMbHp15

 

[TheRainMaker]

Pats have the best DT's and defense in the division. This is an easy call.

Barmore had no help, but still had a career year in 2023. Williams assisting with Landry off the edge is going help other guys like White and others to have a good year.

 

[DarrylS]

Looking forward to the '25 edition of our Defense some new players + better coaching + playing to the strengths of our existing players will make our D respected and feared in the conference and entire league.
Is this a top 10 defense??

 

[reflexblue]

Looks like he’s getting himself into shape…

https://www.reddit.com/r/Patriots/s/7fUwMbHp15

Thats cheating, hes not bringing it all the way down, he has a pillow on his chest.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Is this a top 10 defense??

Yes. I think they'll be able to match up with many teams. The only team I can see them struggling with is week 2 in Miami's heat where their offensive players will be fresh. After that only the Bengals, Ravens, and possibly the Buccaneers have firepower to worry about.

I think they're going to match up very well against the Bills.

 

[Patriot Missile]

405 6 times. Could of got 7 or 8 if he chose to use his spotter. Big boy weights. Just checked his pro day results and he benched 225 34 times. Powerful DT was he.

 

[Ross12]

Yes. I think they'll be able to match up with many teams. The only team I can see them struggling with is week 2 in Miami's heat where their offensive players will be fresh. After that only the Bengals, Ravens, and possibly the Buccaneers have firepower to worry about.

I think they're going to match up very well against the Bills.

It is an interesting matchup against BUF defensively. The DL will likely be better than BUF’s OL, and will pressure Allen into throwing bad balls or trying to be the hero and running around. Their RBs are fine. Their WRs are decent but not scary and not much deep speed. Gonzo and Davis will be able to lock those guys down. Kincaid is a solid receiving TE, hopefully Spillane/Ellis/Dugger can hold him down.

The Jets just have… Justin Fields… and Miami has Tua hanging onto his career by a thread and a slowing-down Tyreek. The division isn’t really very scary from a defensive perspective.

 

[n1997y]

Looking forward to the '25 edition of our Defense some new players + better coaching + playing to the strengths of our existing players will make our D respected and feared in the conference and entire league.
Is this a top 10 defense??

Williams, Barmore, and Keion seem like a decent foundation. Add Landry and Spillane, with Gonzo and Davis, and I think they’ve got a decent chance to be a top 10 defense. The guys who aren’t quite starters are still pretty good.

 

[DarrylS]

Williams, Barmore, and Keion seem like a decent foundation. Add Landry and Spillane, with Gonzo and Davis, and I think they’ve got a decent chance to be a top 10 defense. The guys who aren’t quite starters are still pretty good.

A healthy Kyle Dugger will also pay off.. then there are the rookie defenders Farmer, Swinson and Woodson who will be given an opportunity to show if they belong..

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Williams, Barmore, and Keion seem like a decent foundation. Add Landry and Spillane, with Gonzo and Davis, and I think they’ve got a decent chance to be a top 10 defense. The guys who aren’t quite starters are still pretty good.

A healthy Kyle Dugger will also pay off.. then there are the rookie defenders Farmer, Swinson and Woodson who will be given an opportunity to show if they belong..

I strongly agree. I think Williams, Barmore, and White will be more than decent.

My hope is that Mapu blossoms in Y3 and is a sideline to sideline guy (Matt Milano clone), and Woodson works out at FS. I think we are missing those two key pieces. Peppers and Duggar seem to be missiles, not sideline to sideline guys.

 

[Ross12]

I strongly agree. I think Williams, Barmore, and White will be more than decent.

My hope is that Mapu blossoms in Y3 and is a sideline to sideline guy (Matt Milano clone), and Woodson works out at FS. I think we are missing those two key pieces. Peppers and Duggar seem to be missiles, not sideline to sideline guys.

Woodson seemed to draw some pretty positive press playing as a FS during spring practices, so there's reason for optimism. Marcus Epps is alright too. They should most likely be better than what they had in 2024.

 

[WazzuWheatfarmer]

405 6 times. Could have got 7 or 8 if he chose to use his spotter. Big boy weights. Just checked his pro day results and he benched 225 34 times. Powerful DT was he.

He’s certainly not lacking for strength. If him and Barmore can stay on the field this season, it’s going to be really fun to watch. Having those two in the middle opens up so many possibilities for blitz schemes.

 

[rkarp1]

Pats have the best DT's and defense in the division. This is an easy call.

Barmore had no help, but still had a career year in 2023. Williams assisting with Landry off the edge is going help other guys like White and others to have a good year.

I like the call out on White.
no excuses this year. he will get coaching. he will be allowed to get after the QB and compile sacks ($$$)
he will have players around him, leaving him with numerous single blockers.
no excuses. put up or shut up

 

[Water Boy]

I like the call out on White.
no excuses this year. he will get coaching. he will be allowed to get after the QB and compile sacks ($$$)
he will have players around him, leaving him with numerous single blockers.
no excuses. put up or shut up

Keion is a bad man. I think it is a stone cold lock that he will flourish with good coaching, the proper role and a supporting cast around him. Can't wait to see him on the field with Williams and a healthy Barmore.

 

[jdlboot14]

We've all fallen into the early "on paper" trap before. But, it's hard to not assume this D should be better than the '23 version (7th overall) now that we have NFL caliber coaches again. Should be very exciting to watch.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I like the call out on White.
no excuses this year. he will get coaching. he will be allowed to get after the QB and compile sacks ($$$)
he will have players around him, leaving him with numerous single blockers.
no excuses. put up or shut up

He's my #1 player on the hot seat for defense. He complained all last year throwing coaches under the bus for his disappearance after week 2 getting 1 sack in 15 games and going 7 straight games without a sack twice during the season. You can say he didn't have any help, but Barmore didn't have help as a DT in 2023, but he still had a career year notching 8 sacks rushing from the inside.

White will have plenty of guys to take attention away from him putting a lot of pressure on him to clean up for the defense.

 

[n1997y]

Woodson seemed to draw some pretty positive press playing as a FS during spring practices, so there's reason for optimism. Marcus Epps is alright too. They should most likely be better than what they had in 2024.

Woodson got a lot of rave reviews during the draft as well. I’m excited to see what he brings on the field.

 

[mgteich]

Yes, almost every player got rave reviews during the draft.

1) I expect a lot of Woodson, a 4th rounder with great potential.

2) I would note that almost none of us wanted us to draft him when he was drafted.

3) His rating by Jeremiah was that he was he was a bargain when drafted; we just want those rated higher). We did get two of the players we wanted: Farmer and Swinson.

Woodson got a lot of rave reviews during the draft as well. I’m excited to see what he brings on the fiel

 

[WhatJustHappened]

He's my #1 player on the hot seat for defense. He complained all last year throwing coaches under the bus for his disappearance after week 2 getting 1 sack in 15 games and going 7 straight games without a sack twice during the season. You can say he didn't have any help, but Barmore didn't have help as a DT in 2023, but he still had a career year notching 8 sacks rushing from the inside.

White will have plenty of guys to take attention away from him putting a lot of pressure on him to clean up for the defense.

Barmore had much more help, and a far better coach than White did last year.
Let's not let facts get in the way.

 

[Wozzy]

Barmore had much more help, and a far better coach than White did last year.
Let's not let facts get in the way.

Agreed, assuming health White should have a bounce back season. The coaching and scheme was a disaster last year, plus Barmore was missing so there was a massive hole in the center of that defense.

The entire defense went from near top ranked in points and yards allowed to near dead last with mostly the same players. Coaching matters, no matter what QB fanboys say.