Patriots' Defense on the Edge Will Have a Different Look in 2017

[PatsFans.com Article]

Patriots' Defense on the Edge Will Have a Different Look in 2017

Steve Balestrieri

If there was one element the Patriots front seven lacked on the edge last season was speed. Rivers will bring that to the pass rush with athleticism

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[archstanton543]

That's an all-encompassing thread title isn't it.

 

[Ian]

That's an all-encompassing thread title isn't it.

Yes - Microsoft Word characters seem to have an issue when these get imported. Very annoying. I just fixed it.

 

[BobDigital]

I think Rivers contributes year 1. I look at his speed and bend and think they will work instantly at this level. Not gonna be a 10 sack guy year 1 but can step in and just win with his athleticism and his few polished moves on occasion as is without improving anything.

 

[maineman209]

It seems possible that HT works the edge on the LoS, too, and that Rivers lines up at OLB. Rivers adds another movable piece, in addition to speed.

Langi and Van Noy also seem sufficiently versatile to line up at ILB, as well as at OLB.

With the defense sometimes ending up in sets with effectively only 2 LB, it seems to me that the ILB-OLB distinction and the OLB/DE distinction and the DE/DT distnction have all gotten a bit murky.