New England Patriots Links 4/06/10 - Patriots Changing the Defensive Scheme?

Albert Breer examines how adding Damione Lewis could make the starters better.

But what might be more important here is creating a legitimate rotation up front. If you look at the playtime numbers from 2007 and 2008 (thanks, Pro Football Focus) versus those in 2009 for the New England defense, you see that a legitimate six-man rotation inside shrunk to five in '08 and four in '09. When the Patriots had a full complement of players, it was Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork, Mike Wright and Green on the field (Derrick Burgess did see some action inside, but was mainly an edge player), and the group suffered when Warren and Wilfork were hurt.

Adding Lewis could help lighten the load on the other players and, in turn, make them more effective over the long haul. The further development of Myron Pryor and Ron Brace would also help.

Ian Rapoport wonders which team got more bang for their high-powered trade, the Patriots with Richard Seymour or the Eagles trading Donovan McNabb.

There are definitely some similarities between these two deals. In both instances, teams traded a franchise institution, a former high-round draft pick who represented the community and made several Pro Bowls. The Patriots won a few Super Bowl rings with Seymour, the Eagles went to the big game with McNabb.

And in both cases, the aging-yet-still-productive player was entering the last year of his contract seeking a big extension. Both teams receiving the players seem committed to big-money contract deals.

The only thing is that McNabb is a quarterback, the toughest hole to fill, while Seymour is a tough, gritty DE who can rush the passer… which is tough to find, but not as impossible.

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino isn't overly excited about the pickup of Damione Lewis, saying the only way he could envision Lewis having a major impact is if the Pats switch to more of a 4-3 attacking scheme and need an extra tackle on the field.
• Patriots Today - Draft Preview: Quarterbacks. (5.07 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Hoyer embraces all competition. (3.31 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Albert Breer notes DT Brian Price (UCLA) is set to visit the Patriots, and wonders if it might be signaling a scheme change.
• Mike Reiss reports the Patriots hosted a draft party for their season-ticket holders on Saturday night and offers some quick hits from Floyd Reese's address to the crowd.
• Tom E. Curran said Vince Wilfork believes the Pats will regain the focus they sometimes seemed to lack in 2009.  Plus 4.27 min. video
  
• Tom E. Curran talked to a number of people familiar with Damione Lewis. The consensus was that he was lauded for his on-field and off-field capabilities.
• Mike Reiss notes Bill Belichick personally put DL Torell Troup (Central Florida) through a private workout back in March.
• Robert Lee profiles OLB Sergio Kindle (Texas) as a possible first round pick for the Patriots.
• WEEI looks at what the Draft 'experts' around the league are saying about the Patriots and who they'll pick.
• Mike Reiss says to count NFL.com analyst Pat Kirwan among those who believes the Patriots have legitimate interest in drafting Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
• Patriots Insider presents a Q&A with former NFL Scout Daniel Jeremiah, offering his wisdom on all things Patriots.
• The Vince Wilfork Foundation's 7th Annual Draft Day Fundraiser: April 22nd at Pinz in Milford, MA.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Kerry J. Byrne (Cold Hard Football Facts) A tale of six quarterbacks.
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Draft flashback: In the year 2000, Brady's star was born.
• Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) It takes three years to judge an NFL draft. With that in mind, let's take at how the team's in the AFC East have done over the past three years.
• Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) A look at draft averages: offense. Can the past help us predict what players and positions will be selected?
• The Trenches (Sporting News) Picking first is a curse, Professors say.
• Nolan Nawrocki (Pro Football Weekly) Top 100 draft prospects regardless of position.
• Matt Miller (New Era Scouting) 2010 Mock Draft. Pats pick OLB Carlos Dunlap (Florida) at 22.
• Andy Benoit (NY Times) Best Centers in the NFL: Top 10 list.
• Bill Williamson (ESPN) JaMarcus Russell has one last chance to regain his job in Oakland.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Campbell a fine consolation for Buffalo. One way we know Jason Campbell would look right at home in a Bills uniform is that he knows how to take a sack.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Goodell wants NFL to be earning $25 billion per year by 2027.
• Rob Daniel (Iowa City Press-Citizen) Kirk Ferentz reflects on success at a recent prayer breakfast.  He referenced a pep talk by New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick to the Hawkeyes before a 2004 game against Arizona State:

  "(Belichick) said everybody can be a leader," Ferentz said. "They have to display a strong work ethic. They also have to have a team first attitude. I don't think I've had more fun coaching than I have in the last two years. It's because of the people."