Patriots Training Camp Primer - Defensive Line

[PatsFans.com Article]

Patriots Training Camp Primer - Defensive Line

Steve Balestrieri

The Patriots lost three of their linemen from a year ago. They traded Chandler Jones to Arizona, lost Akiem Hicks in free agency and released former first-round pick Dominique Easley. But the team is poised to be very good and is deep along the front four.

After years of trying to search for an undersized penetrator in the interior to beef up the pass rush, the Patriots and Belichick made a shift in their approach in 2016. The interior players that they brought in via free agency and the draft are all big men that are space eaters and run stuffers first. It is clear that the pass rush will come from the edge guys who are versatile and can slide inside on obvious passing downs.

Continue reading...

 

[PatsBoy12]

Ah yes, the boys up front. This position group interests me inside and out. Does Malcolm Brown build on a very impressive rookie campaign, especially down the stretch, or does he suffer a sophomore slump? Does Sheard become that dominant edge guy that Cleveland thought they drafted and the guy who was so disruptive for us last season? Does Ninko start tusk show his age a bit? What does Knighton bring? What can Geneo and Trey provide?

I think this group had the makings iof a solid, if unspectacular bunch. Sheard, I believe, will play extremely well. I fear he may play too well and we lose him after this season. As mentioned, I can't wait to see Pot Roast. If he's anything like he was in that '13 AFCCG, then we'll be tops against the run and those stud middle backers we have will rake in the numbers (sacks and tackles). He is, in theory, what Haynesworth was supposed to be. I expect Ninko to be his same cerebral, solid, make the big play when we need it most guy. But I tell you I'm most excited to see Brown. He was a revelation down the stretch in BOTH the run and pass, which means he should be a three-down player. He showed he can be a perpetrator, and I think this is partly why they let Chris Jones walk. This group should again give NE one of the better front sevens in the league.