Wilfork #3 DL in NFL?

[BTTA]

Versatile Watt, powerful Ngata, Wilfork best of defensive linemen - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy

and the "local" spin on it:

New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[Kontradiction]

If Wilfork played in a one gapping scheme, he'd probably get just as much, if not more, kudos than Watt. There's no doubt in my mind about that. As it stands, Wilfork's job in Belichick's defense is to take up double teams to let the LB's and DE's around him make plays, and he excels at it. As a matter of fact, in two head to head games this past season, Wilfork outplayed Watt. There's also little doubt in my mind that Watt is an exceptional talent, but Wilfork is the most dominating, yet underrated, DL in the league.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Top 3 is a pretty high ranking and good company for Wilfork to be in. Watt is just a freak. Wish we had drafted him. But Solder filled a need that year, so I guess there is that.

 

[ALP]

Decent rankings, lots of names I didn't know...seems like the 9ers, rams and Seattle have most of the best DLs....Miami and buffalo have a few as well...jets aren't on the list

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Top 3 is a pretty high ranking and good company for Wilfork to be in. Watt is just a freak. Wish we had drafted him. But Solder filled a need that year, so I guess there is that.

The Pats would have had to trade up at least eight spots to get Watt, so it would have likely been Solder + Vereen and more for Watt.

 

[Benjamin Brady]

Versatile Watt, powerful Ngata, Wilfork best of defensive linemen - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy

and the "local" spin on it:

New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Seems to me that Ngata has really declined over the last few years. It is hard to argue with Watt ranking higher than Wilfork but Ngata shouldn't IMO.

 

[randomk1]

I've seen geno atkins often mentioned ahead of big vince also.

Watt is clear #1 right now though. That was a special season he had.

 

[randomk1]

If Wilfork played in a one gapping scheme, he'd probably get just as much, if not more, kudos than Watt. There's no doubt in my mind about that. As it stands, Wilfork's job in Belichick's defense is to take up double teams to let the LB's and DE's around him make plays, and he excels at it. As a matter of fact, in two head to head games this past season, Wilfork outplayed Watt. There's also little doubt in my mind that Watt is an exceptional talent, but Wilfork is the most dominating, yet underrated, DL in the league.

I love vince but cmon. You see Vince getting 10+ sacks in the right scheme? The guy isn't built to be a passrusher.

 

[Benjamin Brady]

I love vince but cmon. You see Vince getting 10+ sacks in the right scheme? The guy isn't built to be a passrusher.

I completely agree. Vince is a 4-5 sack guy even in an aggressive 1 gap scheme. He isn't the type of guy who can pass rush from DE and DT like Watt. That is like saying Brady would be as good a running QB as RGIII if he played in a option read offense.

 

[Kontradiction]

I love vince but cmon. You see Vince getting 10+ sacks in the right scheme? The guy isn't built to be a passrusher.

Not sure where you're getting the 10+ sack number (as I don't think he'd be able to do that from a DT position either), but if his job were strictly one-gapping, there's no doubt his sack count would go up.

 

[Kontradiction]

I completely agree. Vince is a 4-5 sack guy even in an aggressive 1 gap scheme. He isn't the type of guy who can pass rush from DE and DT like Watt. That is like saying Brady would be as good a running QB as RGIII if he played in a option read offense.

That's an awful comparison, actually.

 

[Fencer]

Wilfork was billed as a 1-gapper coming out of college who needed coaching to 2-gap. In fact, I recall him not really "getting it" until BB tutored him personally; I forget whether the position coach at the time was Pepper or somebody else.

I don't actually know anything about his college stats.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Apparently someone didn't watch Ngata last year, because his body is breaking down. I loved the guy as much as anyone else in his prime, but he's past his prime now. Wilfork will always be underrated because of the Pats' scheme, and while that's unfortunate, it just shows how kickass he is.