Need For Change - The Defensive Line

[Snake Eyes]

I think the Patriots release Wilfork and add a DE. I think Michael Johnson could be that guy

Johnson could be that guy but some other team is going to vastly overpay for him.

 

[RayClay]

Wilfork will be replaced by Siliga who has proven to be a top of the line starter.

Yeah, he really collapsed the pocket against the Broncos. Peyton was running for his life.

 

[All22PatsFan]

Yeah, he really collapsed the pocket against the Broncos. Peyton was running for his life.

He is a beast against the run he manhandled Vasquez, Wilfork isn't a pass rusher, he is a force against the run though . I have seen all the film of Siliga he is a beast, he takes on double teams, and is a great anchor. Other people big on Siliga are PFF and Doug Kyed who watch a ton of film. Aaron Donald could take that interior pass role. It boils down to Wilfork being paid 8M and the Patriots already having a run stuffer, and I'd think they will prefer a DE like Michael Johnson to Wilfork.

 

[TonyTucker]

I think they should make DE/DT their priority over everything else on defense. They couldn't touch Manning.

 

[patsderoer]

I think they should make DE/DT their priority over everything else on defense. They couldn't touch Manning.

They were doing pretty well until Talib went down. Then everything fell apart. I think Ninkovich said that even if Denver wouldn't block them, they still wouldn't get to Manning in time, because he got rid of the ball so fast.

CB1 would be my first priority. A strong push for Alterraun Verner is required

 

[mgteich]

Yup. It tough to defend when the ball comes out in under a second to a slot receiver, tight end or running back.

I agree that we could cover when Talib was there.

As a side issue, Brady has the same abilities, if and when he has receivers in place at slot WR, TE and RB.

I think Ninkovich said that even if Denver wouldn't block them, they still wouldn't get to Manning in time, because he got rid of the ball so fast.

 

[patsderoer]

As a side issue, Brady has the same abilities, if and when he has receivers in place at slot WR, TE and RB.

Of course Brady has the same abilities, if and when Gronk plays.
I would sign and draft like 3 TEs, and play Gronk as little as possible in the regular season, just that he could play in the playoffs.

 

[Love The Drake]

This conversation is based on the defensive line so let's keep it on course. My thoughts are that you have to release Vince Wilfork due to the fact he has no more dominant football left In his body.
At this point he is not a major upgrade over Silliga at stopping the run and is not a pass rusher. That much salary you better be able to do one or the other at a elite level. The defensive tackle position is young and ready for improvement you can't waste a mid round pick at this position and get a guy who will do the same production of a Jones or Vellano so you either bring in a top tier free agent or draft a sure fire prospect late first early second round. I say the Patriots will look to bring in a free agent. We know it won't be Hardy based on his comments about the truckload of cash. But one will be brought in who can rush the passer. A Jared Allen? That seems like a move where he would have to play for reasonable money or he won't be here. Kraft already said that he will not mortgage the future for the present.

 

[Brady6]

This conversation is based on the defensive line so let's keep it on course. My thoughts are that you have to release Vince Wilfork due to the fact he has no more dominant football left In his body.
At this point he is not a major upgrade over Silliga at stopping the run and is not a pass rusher. That much salary you better be able to do one or the other at a elite level. The defensive tackle position is young and ready for improvement you can't waste a mid round pick at this position and get a guy who will do the same production of a Jones or Vellano so you either bring in a top tier free agent or draft a sure fire prospect late first early second round. I say the Patriots will look to bring in a free agent. We know it won't be Hardy based on his comments about the truckload of cash. But one will be brought in who can rush the passer. A Jared Allen? That seems like a move where he would have to play for reasonable money or he won't be here. Kraft already said that he will not mortgage the future for the present.

My theory on Vince Wilfork is that prior to the rupture/tear in week 4 he was playing with one of the following:

• Achilles Tendinosis
• Achilles Tendonitis
• Achilles Tenosynovitis
• Tennis Leg

So for that reason I do not assess Wilfork based on his play over that period and time. I think that his play during those first 3 games created a misconception in regards to the level at which Vince Wilfork is capable of playing, if you watched the first 2 preseason games prior to him missing the 3rd and 4th due to injury he was the Wilfork we all know. Clearly whether or not he can recover is a question mark but if he can make a full recovery I think that people need to stop selling him short strictly based on age, Wilfork just turned 32 less than 2 months ago, he is consistently recognized as 1 of the hardest working Patriots in the offseason and for a man his size (not currently) he is tremendous shape.

 

[mayoclinic]

My theory on Vince Wilfork is that prior to the rupture/tear in week 4 he was playing with one of the following:

• Achilles Tendinosis
• Achilles Tendonitis
• Achilles Tenosynovitis
• Tennis Leg

So for that reason I do not assess Wilfork based on his play over that period and time. I think that his play during those first 3 games created a misconception in regards to the level at which Vince Wilfork is capable of playing, if you watched the first 2 preseason games prior to him missing the 3rd and 4th due to injury he was the Wilfork we all know. Clearly whether or not he can recover is a question mark but if he can make a full recovery I think that people need to stop selling him short strictly based on age, Wilfork just turned 32 less than 2 months ago, he is consistently recognized as 1 of the hardest working Patriots in the offseason and for a man his size (not currently) he is tremendous shape.

Personally I don't sell Wilfork short based on age, except insofar as it factors into recovery from injury. I agree that he was likely playing with some degree of Achilles' impairment, which would explain exactly why Vlad Ducasse was able to push him around. I discount his play during the first 4 games of the season.

What I don't discount is Wilfork's ability to come back and play like he did from 2004-2012. His age, weight, and significant family history of diabetes are all medical factors affecting his ability to recover. Without a full recovery of his Achilles' tendon he'll be unable to push off with any force and will be playing on skates. What I suspect we'll end up getting is Wilfork more like he was during the first 4 games of this season than the old Wilfork, if he comes back at all. That's what scares me, along with the fact that he'll be at some risk for re-injury given his age, weight, family history of diabetes, and the ridiculous stress loads that he would be subjected himself to.

 

[Sciz]

This seems like a good time to remind people that the Patriots can't go on the DL spending spree that the Seahawks did. They don't have a top QB and an elite CB each with a cap hit under $1M.

But hey, there's still a lot of upgrading that could be done.

 

[everlong]

Tonight's Hawks performance in the first half just proves what a good DLine can do.

 

[mgteich]

Unfortunately, a likely scenario is that we extend or restructure Wilfork's contract and then have a liability when he is injured again.

Personally I don't sell Wilfork short based on age, except insofar as it factors into recovery from injury. I agree that he was likely playing with some degree of Achilles' impairment, which would explain exactly why Vlad Ducasse was able to push him around. I discount his play during the first 4 games of the season.

What I don't discount is Wilfork's ability to come back and play like he did from 2004-2012. His age, weight, and significant family history of diabetes are all medical factors affecting his ability to recover. Without a full recovery of his Achilles' tendon he'll be unable to push off with any force and will be playing on skates. What I suspect we'll end up getting is Wilfork more like he was during the first 4 games of this season than the old Wilfork, if he comes back at all. That's what scares me, along with the fact that he'll be at some risk for re-injury given his age, weight, family history of diabetes, and the ridiculous stress loads that he would be subjected himself to.

 

[mayoclinic]

Unfortunately, a likely scenario is that we extend or restructure Wilfork's contract and then have a liability when he is injured again.

It's a huge risk, and the FO will have no one to blame but itself if that scenario plays out.

 

[superpats]

EVERYBODY needs to be realistic bout wilfork. He is 33 will b close to 34 next yr by playoffs time on a major injury thats tough for young lean athletes. Consider his age and the fact his decline began b4 this season and its doubtful he will even contribute. I expect him to consider retirement. Last yr he was neutralized by Incognito and Then Osemele in the playoffs. EVERYBODY watching the super bowl can see what happens when a team can get a legit passrush just four dlineman. EVERYBODThe qb is under fire and his targets are swarmed. No qb can succeed through that. EVERYBODI know we r near the cap but if the fat is cut then they can resign talib and pursue some difference makers at wr and dline. We cant sport wendalls and gregorys against LOB"s. Talib should be our only priority to keep.blount,edelman,spikes we need to let walk. We need to cut wilfork,gregory,wendall,soapaga,wilson,restructure brady mankins ninko mayo and bring in some mean athletic physical guys like they used to have along with true #1 wr. If we waste cap space we wont be able to make free agent splashes to Be able to compete with hawks and SF.

 

[superpats]

They should talk with Gronk bout restructure as well. He should be eager to help considering how often he hasn't been available to help. Speaking of that im sure injuries bring Talib"s price down. Some good can come from the injuries.

 

[captain stone]

You're certainly consistent.

At least he was right about Derek Wolfe.