How Would You Build Our New England Patriots Defense?
by Richard Hill on Feb 12, 2010 9:00 AM EST
in Opinion/Analysis
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PrintI'm going to immediately say that I don't have an answer. This will be a good off-season discussion and can help us decide for ourselves which positions on defense hold the most value. There's no question that our defense has been lacking the same spark our Championship teams possess. However, I believe that we're missing personnel as well as leadership.
When I was checking out ESPN's top Patriot Priorities, I noticed they had OLB as #1 and DE as #3. That got me thinking- Chicken or the egg? Which position can make the other much better? In my opinion, and especially in the 3-4 style defense, the DE plays the much more vital role. The DE in the 3-4 is supposed to occupy two blockers, plug the gap and free the LBs so they can get into the backfield. Our main problem this year has been the lack of generated pressure on the opposing QBs. I believe that an elite DE can better conceal the weaknesses in the rest of the defense while an elite OLB can only do so much in the defense.
More after the jump.
So in order to build the Patriots defense, this is what I think needs to be done:
- Get an elite NT. We need to resign Vince Wilfork. No questions here. (1)
- Get an elite MLB. That should be Jerod Mayo next year. Another year under his belt and he should assume leadership. (2)
- Get a strong CB. This can be Leigh Bodden. He was one of the best in the AFC, although he didn't get much notice. (3)
- Get two elite DE. We have Ty Warren. We need another one. The D-Line is the most important part of the 3-4, in my mind, as they shoulder most of the work in the trenches. If they do their job, the secondary can create turnovers and the LBs can make plays. (4,5)
- Get a versatile OLB. They need to be able to cover and they need to be able to reach the QB. We don't have an OLB who can do this. (6)
- Get a playmaking S. They can prevent big plays by the other team and can lay down the law. Brandon Meriweather fits the bill. (7)
- A second CB who can cover. We don't have one. Hopefully Darius Butler can emerge, but we need another one. (8)
- A second MLB. They must complement the first. If the first is better at stopping the run, this one must be good at stopping the pass, either by rushing the QB or dropping into coverage, or vice versa. Gary Guyton has potential and Tyrone McKenzie is an unknown. (9)
- A second OLB. They must be able to be a general playmaker. They have to be able to cover, rush, stop the run and tackle. We don't have one. Tully Banta-Cain is too one dimensional, but could work. (10)
- A second safety who can tackle. We have this in James Sanders, Brandon McGowan and Pat Chung. (11)
What we're missing: Player 5 (DE), Player 6 (OLB), Player 8 (CB) and Player 10 (OLB)
I can understand why ESPN says our #1 priority is OLB. We don't have two multi-dimensional OLBs on the team- Burgess can stop the run, TBC can rush the QB, but we don't have any who can do both. Doing both is essential in a 3-4 defense because it allows us to have more depth instead of investing in players to perform individual roles. Teams have been able to run over us because our LBs aren't up to par. We need to invest in Linebacker position. We have Sean Crable and McKenzie coming back from injuries, but I wouldn't trust anyone on our team at OLB (except TBC, but only to a certain extent). However, due to the vital nature of DE (in my opinion), I believe we'll be using our first draft pick on the best 3-4 DE available, and our 2nd on an OLB. I'm expecting a CB in the middle rounds as well.
What are your thoughts?
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Definitely defensive end
If Crable can manage to stay healthy, he’s been getting the best-in-practice award both preseasons he’s been here. I think he’ll at least compete for playing time, and I think that Guyton will continue to improve.
On the other hand, especially if we don’t resign Wilfork/are going to lose him after this season if we franchise him, we need to get another dominant D-line player to build forward from in the future.
Losing Seymour and Vrabel really did a number on our pass rush, and because they both left in the same offseason it’s hard to tell which one really cost us more. It makes the rebuilding job that much tougher that it’s hard to pinpoint which is a bigger need. Fortunately we’ve got plenty of draft picks!
the hill and NE defense
I thought “the Hill” was very insigtful with his comments. I disagree however on the defensive end and feel that a true,rush outside linebacker that can also stuff the run is more important. Unless you have a defensive end that can truly rush the passer( hard to do in a 3-4 defense since they usually have more than one offensive lineman?tight end to control) – you need to get the pressure either by blitzing ( which the Patriots don’t do a lot of, and ,don’t have the secondary personell to do it on a consistently good basis) or by rushing the passer via the outside linebacker spot , in a 3-4 defense.I agree that a good defensive end is very important for the reasons already mentioned and would try and get one in the 2nd round. However, with Brandon Graham, a PROVEN, college linebacker with the stats, the heart, the energy and the ability to both rush and pass, even though he is only 6’1" tall- he could very well make any defensive end better by decreasing the attention on that side of the field. Other options can include Sergio Kindle and Sean Witherspoon and Jerry Hughes- at the moment I feel that only Graham has true first round potential and value at that slot. I think the Patriots need improvement almost everywhere and we won’t solve their problems with 4 picks in the first 2 rounds- i expect a few free agent pick ups. From the possible selections, I like Jared Odrick,DE- Amari Spivey and Kyle Wilson, CBs, Ed Dickson and jermaine Gresham TE,Anthony Dixon- power running back, Jahvid best cat quick running back, Mike Iupate a massive ,powerful road grater blocker. Finally, I have my doubts about Shawn Crable- it seems to me a long shot for him to contribute after 2 years already. Tyrone McKenzie will be a good one if fully recovered as will Brandon tate. This all makes for interesting conversation but I feel this draft year, 2010 , it is CRITICAL for the Patriots to make good picks ,especially the first 4 picks.
I think we're going to see several schematic changes this year.
With Pees out, I think we can expect a LOT more blitzing (especially disguised/zone blitzes) from this D. To that end, I think it’s necessary to ensure that the front 3 are taking up as many blockers as possible. Mediocre LB pass rushers are all you need when the OL is consumed with blocking three excellent DTs/DEs. I think one of the failings of Pees’ Ds (haha) was the reliance on the DL to generate a pass rush – that just doesn’t happen in a 3-4. Seymour, Warren and Wilfork were the keys to opening up the blitz for DBs and LBs. When you replace Seymour (a rabid consumer of blockers) with Green (a pass rusher), you lose a significant portion of your leverage on the defensive front. As a result, your rushers hit more resistance than they should when charging the pocket. So, you can either try to find an LB with the ability to get past those extra blockers that the DL can no longer absorb, OR you can eliminate the blockers from the outset with a big, dominating, Warren/Seymour type DE. It just makes more sense to me to bring in the DE to take care of the blockers up from, rather than bank on the ability of an LB to get around blockers that shouldn’t be in his way in a 3-4 scheme in the first place.
Agreed.
A great and versatile OLB is still limited by how the D-Line in front of him performs.
by Richard Hill on Feb 12, 2010 2:01 PM EST up reply actions
A great DE will make average OLBs look great; the reverse is not guaranteed
If a DE is constantly commanding double-teams from the O-line (or even triple-team – sucking in a pass-blocking RB or TE), the the OLB has a 50/50 chance of a free shot at the QB. Even a hopeless OLB can hit a QB if his path is uninterrupted by blockers.
On the flipside, a stud OLB will only have average success if the DEs only command a single blocker. If a Guard takes a DE out of the game, that means the OLB will be running at a Tackle, maybe a TE, and probably a RB in pass protection. That’s not ideal – even at 6’5, a Hoodie prototype OLB surrenders 60 pounds to a Tackle, and even if he gets around, he’s still likely to run into the second-string blockers.
If you want an example, look to San Diego last year. They had some of the premier pass-rushers around, but after a couple of injuries in the D-line, their OLB corps looked pretty weak. Shawn Merriman is who, again? He got less sacks that Tully Banta-Cain… Command the trenches first. The rest will follow.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Feb 12, 2010 10:24 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
guys
do you think carlos dunlap could fit as a 3-4DE? he played 4-3DE @ florida. he is 6’6 293lbs.
from the video i saw of him, he did better as a 3-4DE when florida played 3-3-5 than he did when florida played 4-3-2 defense.
the only knock on him from college is that he is lazy and a drunk.
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
i love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.....159mph is my top speed
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
6'6, 293lbs is Seymour-ish
Anyone who’s that big and is athletic enough to play 4-3 DE will definitely get a thorough look-over from Hoodie and the scouting staff. Doubly so if he’s likely to drop due to character issues – they’ll want to know what kind of risk he is in the future, as opposed to what he’s done in the past. He might drop the boards due to he latter, but if the staff decides the former is good, he might be worth a pick.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Feb 13, 2010 8:52 PM EST up reply actions
3-4DE i like in the draft
Jared Ortirick 6’5 296lbs Penn State
Carlos Dunlap 6’6 293lbs Florida
Corey Wootton 6’7 280lbs Northwestern
Vince Oghobaase 6’3 305 Duke
Alex Carrington 6’5 284lbs Arkansas
next year Cameron Hayward will defentily be the top 3-4 DE in the 2011 draft. he is 6’6 287lbs from Ohio State…and he is the son of former nfl running back-Iron head Hayward. Maybe use the oakland pick to take him to replace Ty Warren. Hayward would have been the a mid-1st rounder if he came out early but he decided to stay for his senior year…which is good news for me….OSU bcs champs in 2010!!!
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
i love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.....159mph is my top speed
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
don't forget
Brandon Grahm.
Beastly DE/OLB pass rusher.
these are all 3-4de
graham will be a 3-4 olb
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
i love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.....159mph is my top speed
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
That's a thought...
We have enough young players that we brought in that our D-Line should be able to hold another year to pick up an early pick stud. We resigned Mike Wright, as well as have Pryor, Brace and Daryl Richard, to go alongside Warren and (hopefully) Wilfork.
Should we utilize our early picks on other positions and save D-Line for next year? We could use the 1st rounder this year on an OLB and use our 2nd rounders on other positions of need (OT, RB, ~WR, CB, ANOTHER OLB)
by Richard Hill on Feb 13, 2010 5:54 PM EST up reply actions
Where are you hoping to pick up the RG?
Or are you sold on Connolly?
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Feb 13, 2010 9:17 PM EST up reply actions
I'm sold on Connolly...
…and we still have Ohrnberger and Bussey. That’s three extremely young guys. I think Belichick will give all three of them a year or two to prove themselves. Drafting another guard would just overload a position we have plenty of young players at.
by Richard Hill on Feb 15, 2010 9:29 AM EST up reply actions
DE/OLB hybrid.
One guy in particular caught my eye for a first rounder.
Brandon Grahm.
Check this guy out:
*scouting charts
don’t know why I thought depth.
Jerod Mayo was good last year
But he needs another LB to work with to be more effective. Lance Briggs? Rosevelt Colvin?
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Feb 13, 2010 7:48 PM EST reply actions
Roosevelt Colvin delivers.......
I feel so dirty.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Feb 13, 2010 9:18 PM EST up reply actions
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