New England Patriots' Defensive Breakdown: Cornerback Is the Only Concern

With the Patriots fielding one of the best offenses in NFL history once again, all eyes are focused on the defense.

The loss of Asante Samuel will hinder the team’s plans greatly, but that doesn’t mean they will be a bad defense. In fact, this defense has the ability to be more successful than last year, which ranked fourth overall in the NFL.

There are several question marks on the roster, but the Pats have done their best to mask their weaknesses. Here’s how the positions break down.

Defensive End  Chris Norwell, Kenny Smith, Le Kevin Smith, Santonio Thomas, Ty Warren, Richard Seymour, Jarvis Green

Defensive end is a make-or-break position for the Patriots. The entire defense is predicated on having an effective pass rush and a strong run-D, which is why all three starters on the Patriots D-line were first-round picks by the team.

Richard Seymour showed his dominance almost instantly after being drafted by the Patriots. His size, skill, and smarts helped him to become recognized as one of the top DEs in the NFL. His tackling skills are top-notch, and he commands double-teaming on every down.

His skills have also been noted by team officials, making him one of the only Patriots players to successfully hold out for a larger contract. Although he has been marred by injuries as of late, he has still found a way to consistently contribute.

During minicamp this year, Seymour claimed to be in better shape than he had been in the past two years.

Ty Warren is also a top-notch defensive end. He definitely benefits from the presence of Seymour, but has a great amount of skill himself. He is better at moving and eluding blockers than he is at taking them on face-to-face, and he has had some inconsistencies in his game in the past. He had a career year in 2007, and looks to continue his mean streak this year.

Behind those two, Jarvis Green is the best backup end on the roster. With enough skill to be a starter on most NFL teams, Green has thrived in his backup role in New England. He is also necessary for the “grind-it-out” type of defense the Patriots play.

He has shown consistency playing both right and left end, and the team doesn’t show much of a drop-off when he spells for Warren or Seymour.

With Green serving as the No. 3 DE on the depth chart, the Patriots don’t need much more depth. Santonio Thomas and LE Kevin Smith will most likely make the 53-man roster, but won’t see much playing time (barring injuries, of course).

Needs: None. 

Expected Cuts: Chris Norwell, Kenny Smith

Nose Tackle 

Vince Wilfork, Mike Wright, Steve Fifita

Vince Wilfork has improved each year since being drafted in the first round out of Miami. He is a large, powerful tackle, with great athleticism for his size (6’2”, 325lbs). He is the perfect puzzle piece for the Patriots’ 3-4 defense; he is near impossible to move (even with a double-team), and has the power to move the pocket against the pass or penetrate against the run.

He is best suited as a pass rusher, and he has shown inconsistencies against the run. His greatest quality seems to be his intelligence. He is quick to pick-up blocking schemes and is one of the best defenders against the screen in the NFL.

It’s shocking to see an offense run a screen against the Pats without Wilfork being in great position to shut it down. Wilfork will be a starter in the 3-4 defense for many years to come.

Mike Wright proved to be a worthy backup for Wilfork, and also has served as a DE. He has great straight-line speed, but has shown a tendency to overcommit. He has above-average speed and power, but he won’t overpower many NFL offensive linemen. As a second-year player, he continues to show steady improvement in his game.

Fifita is 6’0” 312lbs. He was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free-agent by the Dolphins, though he didn’t see much playing time. He was released at the end of last season, and the Pats brought him in to add some extra depth to their D. He will be a long-shot to make the roster, especially since the big DEs on the roster can moonlight at tackle.

Needs: A better backup for Wilfork; if he goes down with a serious injury, the NT position will be a weak link. 

Expected Cuts: Steve Fifita. He will most likely be re-signed to the practice squad.

Linebacker 

Pierre Woods, Vince Redd, Bo Ruud, Gary Guyton, Shawn Crable, Jerod Mayo, Tedy Bruschi, Larry Izzo, Mike Vrabel, Victor Hobson, Adalius Thomas, Eric Alexander, (Junior Seau)

The Patriots have consistently stockpiled a very strong, smart LB corps. Linebackers are the field generals for Belichick’s defense, and the intricacies of their roles caused the team to start experienced veterans at the spot.

However, the previous two postseasons showed that LB was one of the Pats’ biggest weaknesses—notably, their age and speed. Belichick & Co. decided to address this issue in the offseason.

Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel don’t need much of a discussion. Bruschi is one of the most respected football players in the league, and is admired even by those who don’t watch the sport. Mike Vrabel, released by the Steelers out of necessity (they just had too much talent at the spot), has been consistent throughout his career in New England. Both players look to start this season, with Bruschi spending a bit more time on the bench than last year.

Adalius Thomas came to the Pats last offseason and didn’t deliver the type of results fans expected. Make no mistake about it, Thomas is an amazing football player. He was less effective because the Patriots were forced to use him at MLB, rather than his natural OLB spot.

In the few games he started at OLB, Thomas recorded several sacks and was clearly a threat on every down. With the release of Roosevelt Colvin, the Patriots will definitely use Thomas on the outside as his primary spot. Look for him to have a monster year.

Jerod Mayo, the Patriots’ first-round draft pick this year (No. 10 overall), will be a great NFL player. Most teams didn’t scout him thoroughly because he declared for the draft after his junior year.

This caused him to slide under the radar a bit. His stock was rising at the combine, and many NFL analysts rated him higher than Keith Rivers, the ninth-overall pick in the draft.

He has great speed and instincts and has been spending most of his time learning the intricacies of the defense. Look for him to become a starter by the end of the season, and he may be starting on opening day.

Victor Hobson was signed by the team in the offseason after spending the past few years in the Jets’ organization. He will most likely line up as an inside linebacker, as his height and size could be exploited on the outside. He will definitely make the roster and will have a good (if not great) year. Look for him to be backing up Bruschi and Mayo by the end of the year.

Pierre Woods, Bo Ruud, Shawn Crable, and Eric Alexander will make the roster and serve as backups for the strong LB corps. Alexander saw playing time in the 2006 playoffs, specifically in the loss against Indianapolis. Bo Ruud could be a great player, as his brother (who plays for Tampa Bay) has been getting praise for his strong play in the NFL.

Larry Izzo won’t serve at LB unless the Pats are winning by a large amount. He will continue to be one of the team’s best special-teams contributors.

Needs: Not much. The Patriots have addressed their speed and age deficiencies this offseason and could have one of the best LB corps in the NFL with their recent additions. 

Expected Cuts: Gary Guyton. Woods, Alexander, or Ruud may be released if Junior Seau comes back, but don’t count on it.

Cornerback 

Lewis Sanders, Fernando Bryant, Terrence Wheatley, Jonathan Wilhite, Antwain Spann, Mike Richardson, Ellis Hobbs, Jason Webster

Cornerback is arguably the biggest question mark for the Patriots. With the departure of All-Pro CB Asante Samuel, and nickelback Randall Gay, the team is clearly lacking in talent.

Ellis Hobbs has served as a starter for the past two seasons, though he hasn’t proven that he can hold his own against a No. 1 WR. Quarterbacks seemed to prefer throwing to his side of the field, but that may have been a product of Samuel’s dominance on the opposite side.

He is a solid defender, but he is not great. Hobbs has battled injuries throughout his career and has not had a full injury-free NFL season. His hands are questionable, but he was playing with a cast on his hand and wrist for most of the 2006 season. He will most likely stay in his No. 2 CB role on the depth chart.

Fernando Bryant is one of the more important offseason signings by the Patriots. He has good speed, experience, and has great instincts. However, he is small and doesn’t play physical football. He is not effective against the run and can be “manhandled” by receivers who use their arm-strength to get separation.

He will most likely serve as the No. 1 CB on the roster because of his ability to cover the deep, vertical routes. His success ultimately depends on the ability of the Patriots’ defensive line to generate a strong pass rush and an effective run-stop.

If he has to stay with his receiver for more than a couple seconds, he will be beaten.

The Pats drafted Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite this year to add some depth to the roster. Wheatley, a second-round pick, will most likely compete with Lewis Sanders for the nickelback spot. Expect Wheatley to win out and large-sized Sanders to serve as a hybrid fourth CB and safety.

One “sleeper” on this roster is Mike Richardson, who was drafted by the team before the 2007 season. Injuries forced him to the IR after the preseason, but he shown signs of greatness. After watching him in workouts and limited amounts of drills, he reminds me of Asante Samuel at the same point in his career.

I completely expect Richardson to have a good year, and will continue to work his way up the roster for several years to come.

Needs: More skill. The Pats drafted a couple CBs high in the draft, and signed several other aging CBs for their experience. If these signings work out, the Pats won’t need any help. However, none of these players will fill the void left by Asante Samuel. 

Expected Cuts: None. The Patriots will hold on to all of their CBs because the depth chart is still up in the air. The team doesn’t know how any of these players will perform and will keep them all around as insurance.

Safety 

Brandon Meriweather, Mark Dillard, James Sanders, Raymond Ventrone, Tank Williams, Rodney Harrison, Matthew Slater

Safety has been an area of concern for the Pats over the past few seasons. Injuries and general lack of skill have caused the Pats to seek extra safety help this season. The Pats lost Eugene Wilson in the offseason, but he had been underperforming for several years; it was as if he suddenly forgot how to play the position.

Rodney Harrison, one of the hardest-hitting safeties in the NFL, has gone down with injuries each of the last two seasons. His speed and skills are diminishing, and he is definitely nearing the end of his great career. He has some gas left in the tank, but his biggest question mark is his health. He plays at 110 percent on every down, and his overly-aggressive style of play is a red flag for injuries.

The emergence of James Sanders as a safety in 2007 was necessary for the Patriots to have a solid defense. Without him stepping up and earning a starting role, the Pats would have been in deep trouble. However, he was used as a free safety, when he is clearly built for the strong safety position—he is a hard hitter who doesn’t have great speed.

Look for him to split playing time with Harrison in order to keep both players healthy. If Harrison goes down, Sanders is a worthy replacement.

The team addressed their lack of speed at the FS position by drafting Brandon Meriweather before the 2007 season, and he looks to be fighting for a role as a starter this year. Meriweather is very fast and delivers sledgehammer hits. He was used at CB in the 2007 preseason, giving him some extra versatility (as well as slowing down his ability to learn the safety position).

He has also bulked up this year and looks ready to be a full-time player in the NFL. Look for him to be a starter by the end of the season.

Tank Williams also serves as extra depth at the position. He is similar to Cowboys’ safety Roy Williams in that he is a big, strong safety but is a liability in coverage. The Patriots have been practicing with him at linebacker, so expect him to be used in many exotic defensive schemes (e.g. the 2-5, or one-down-lineman defenses the Pats like to throw at opponents).

He will also be fighting for a starting spot, but his lack of coverage skills most likely limits him to a backup/role player.

Matthew Slater, who is also listed as a WR, will not play much safety and will most likely be the team’s primary special-teams return man.

Needs: None. Meriweather will step up this year, and the team added extra depth with Tank Williams. 

Expected Cuts: Mark Dillard, Raymond Ventrone. Ventrone has been with the squad for a couple years and has been spelling as a WR. He will most likely be re-signed to the practice squad.

Overall

After analyzing each defensive position, I have to admit that there is only one area of concern: cornerback. There are plenty of CBs on the roster, but none are a lock-in on the depth chart. Every other position is very well stocked and has been re-tooled this offseason.

Many critics have been claiming the Patriots defense is their weakest link (which is inevitable when you compare it to their NFL record-setting offense), but it is not a bad defense. Considering the Pats’ offense will be on the field for most of each game, this defense could deliver some of the best numbers in the NFL this year. Expect this defense to do great things, even if other NFL analysts think differently.