Patriots Training Camp 2013, A Look At The Defensive Tackles

[PatsFans.com Article]

Patriots Training Camp 2013, A Look At The Defensive Tackles
By: Steve Balestrieri

One of the missing elements of the interior of the line has been the inability to get to the quarterback and provide that pocket push ...

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS STORY​

 

[mgteich]

Wilfork, Armstead, Kelly and Forston

This seems fine. We also have two UDFA's fighting to replace one of the above, or for Practice Squad spots.

Personally, I would add Cunningham, who has been bulking up. In the end, it seems likely to be two out of Cunningham, Buchanan, Francis, Vega, and Benard.

 

[mgteich]

Defensive Tackle

THE LOCKS
Wilfork and Kelly

COMPETING for 2-3 roster spots
Forston
Armstead (on the non-football injury list)
Cunningham
Francis
Grissom
Velano

We could sign a free agent tomorrow who would be very competitive for a roster spot. DT depth is a team weakness. Who is Wilfork's backup when we play the 3-4?

I list the UDFA's because Belichick mentioned them today.

 

[jah]

Re: Defensive Tackle

The need for a Wilfork backup is why I've had Grissom making the 53 from the very beginning.

 

[JackBauer]

Re: Defensive Tackle

Forston seems highly likely to make the 53.

 

[cstjohn17]

Re: Defensive Tackle

Cunningham & Francais are sub players , not true DTs. The depth looks weak especially with the starts both in their 30s....

Ok, last time I bring this up. But how the hell did they pass on Jesse Williams and take that idiot from Rutgers...

Ok, that is out of my system

I would like to see more depth at DT.

 

[manxman2601]

Re: Defensive Tackle

Cunningham & Francais are sub players , not true DTs. The depth looks weak especially with the starts both in their 30s....

Ok, last time I bring this up. But how the hell did they pass on Jesse Williams and take that idiot from Rutgers...

Ok, that is out of my system

I would like to see more depth at DT.

I think the point was that they took him because the one thing he wasn't was an idiot.

 

[SacPete1]

Re: Defensive Tackle

Position is scary thin right now. Armstead on NFI is not a good sign and if he's not off the list in the next week, I'm not counting on him. Fortson has little experience and would likely be the first backup. Still scratch my head over both Deaderick and Love being cut although they were a 7th rounder and a free agent respectively so maybe I'm putting too much stock in a recognizable name versus a no-name. Its the 1st and 2nd down inside pass rush that has me most concerned (I had pegged Armstead as the answer) and the continued wear on Vince. Needless to say, I will be watching the non-starters during the pre-season very closely.

 

[jmt57]

Patriots we want to see more of - espnBoston - Mike Reiss

Defensive tackle Joe Vellano

The Patriots are thin behind starting defensive tackles Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly, and among the backups, Vellano has generated the most consistent interior pressure. He is undersized compared to the other defensive tackle backups at 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, and sometimes that plays to his advantage when he's displayed short-area quickness to knife through tight spaces, mostly when lining up closer to the center. But other times, when he's aligned closer to the tackle because the line might have shifted, he was more easily blocked. It's too early to say he could be a sleeper who could fill a potential Jonathan Fanene-type role as an interior sub rusher, but a few of his rushes piqued interest to see how he might fare on a consistent basis against starter-level competition. -- Mike Reiss​

 

[Marqui]

Vellano reminds me of Myron Pryor.