The 2018 Pats Defensive Line

[TheRainMaker]

Flowers has been dominant when healthy.

Dominant? He has his moments like the Super Bowl against the Falcons but he's just solid at best in my opinion.

 

[Ring 6]

Dominant? He has his moments like the Super Bowl against the Falcons but he's just solid at best in my opinion.

He was dominant in 2016 and banged up in 2017.

 

[RayClay]

How does that change the fact that you said it has been a weak spot for a couple of years?

If you want to argue that a team where Nincovich was injured and soon to retire and Sheard was benched soon to be dropped was strong at the position, that's fine. Fact of the matter is we've lost Chandler, Ninkovich Sheard and Long and not replaced them.

Out of our draft picks and acquisitions, Flowers was a success for a 4th.

At that pace, you need to work hard to find a few keepers among low picks and FAs and I'm fine with that. All I want is to see some additions in camp to provide competition to the players we've already acquired.

 

[Ring 6]

If you want to argue that a team where Nincovich was injured and soon to retire and Sheard was benched soon to be dropped was strong at the position, that's fine. Fact of the matter is we've lost Chandler, Ninkovich Sheard and Long and not replaced them.

Out of our draft picks and acquisitions, Flowers was a success for a 4th.

At that pace, you need to work hard to find a few keepers among low picks and FAs and I'm fine with that. All I want is to see some additions in camp to provide competition to the players we've already acquired.

We won the Sb in 2016 with the defense that allowed the fewest points in the nfl. If you want to call one of the most critical pieces of that defense weak, I guess you watched a different team than I did.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

There are a few posters (good people btw) that say all of our defenders are "mediocre" or "unproven". There is a salary cap as well as 31 other teams that have smart scouts and coaches too so we cannot simply sign anyone we want. I say we are forced to wait and see for n a real game or two to be played . I remember after the KC game last year, someone actually started a thread to list the "new faces" that would be in Foxborough in a few days... (N0 one arrived)

 

[RayClay]

We won the Sb in 2016 with the defense that allowed the fewest points in the nfl. If you want to call one of the most critical pieces of that defense weak, I guess you watched a different team than I did.

Well I guess when you win the Super Bowl every part of the team has optimal personnel and the front office can go on a vacation once they replace anyone that leaves. Or not replace them, in the case of Chandler, Nincovich, Sheard and Long

 

[RayClay]

There are a few posters (good people btw) that say all of our defenders are "mediocre" or "unproven". There is a salary cap as well as 31 other teams that have smart scouts and coaches too so we cannot simply sign anyone we want. I say we are forced to wait and see for n a real game or two to be played . I remember after the KC game last year, someone actually started a thread to list the "new faces" that would be in Foxborough in a few days... (N0 one arrived)

Not my point certainly. Top pass rushers cost a lot. We aren't going to spend a lot, so we need to bring in more developmental players.

 

[Ring 6]

Well I guess when you win the Super Bowl every part of the team has optimal personnel and the front office can go on a vacation once they replace anyone that leaves. Or not replace them, in the case of Chandler, Nincovich, Sheard and Long

Yeah that’s what I said.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Not my point certainly. Top pass rushers cost a lot. We aren't going to spend a lot, so we need to bring in more developmental players.

True. Bill's drafting methods can be painful t0 watch.

 

[RayClay]

Yeah that’s what I said.

Yeah, that's pretty much what you said. Funny you ignored the lack of replacements for those pass rushers, but that's the way you argue. Not my fault.

 

[RayClay]

True. Bill's drafting methods can be painful t0 watch.

I think he drafts well. Chandler was a low first rounder and he overplayed that IMO. Top pass rushers are often overdrafted and bust out to an extent. If he uses thirds and fourths and street free agents and hits on 40%, it's still better than wasting high picks, especially since we would need to trade up for them.

Remember, Grissom was a higher pick than Flowers. If you're drafting like that you aren't going to hit a high percentage, or hit right away to develop guys like Nink from other teams. I just hope they prioritize competition there.

 

[Ring 6]

Yeah, that's pretty much what you said. Funny you ignored the lack of replacements for those pass rushers, but that's the way you argue. Not my fault.

Not at all what I said. I disputed that it has been a weak spot for years when 2 years ago they won the Sb with a good 4 man de rotation. Replacing the ones that left has nothing to do with what they were in 2016.
You said that means I said every unit on every Sb winner is great.
I get why you twisted my comment into something it isn’t. But I’m done with this trivial word twisting you want to engage in. Have a great day.

 

[captain stone]

Remember, Grissom was a higher pick than Flowers...

That one still blows my mind.

 

[mgteich]

Not sure I raved. I listed the players on the roster.

Do you believe that we have quality depth, ready to step in and start as needed? (Wise? Rivers?)

 

[Ring 6]

Do you believe that we have quality depth, ready to step in and start as needed? (Wise? Rivers?)

We will have to see. We have starters in clayborn and flowers that I am fine with.
I like wise a lot and think he will make a huge jump. I like all of those guys’ ability to move inside on passing downs and wreak havoc.
I don’t know what rivers will be but I know he is competing for a role along with others.
We gave guy and butler who can play de especially on early downs and we have developmental guys like Davis and Lee.
Hightower can abd likely will see a lot of action as an edge rusher on passing downs.
I expect it will turn into a solid group.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

That one still blows my mind.

Go look at when Danielle Hunter was drafted. That will blow a gasket.

 

[captain stone]

Go look at when Danielle Hunter was drafted. That will blow a gasket.

Yeah, I had hoped that Hunter would've lasted until #97. I don't blame Bill for not taking him at 64, however. As for the guy he did take at 64...

 

[Chuck Walden]

He was dominant in 2016 and banged up in 2017.

I think a lot of his (relatively) quiet 2017 was based on him being the only defensive lineman worth blocking. Teams focused in on him, knowing that the other guys couldn't consistently win the one-on-one matchups.

With Hightower, Rivers, and Clayborne, Flowers has help. I'm expecting a big season out of him.