Check-In with the Patriots: Defensive Line

With five articles down in the series and only two to go, I’ll finish up the defensive side of the ball by talking about the defensive line.

In the Patriots base 3-4 defense, which they have utilized with incredible success this past decade, they feature one of the premier defensive lines in the league.

Right end Richard Seymour, left end Ty Warren, and nose tackle Vince Wilfork were all first round draft picks. All three were heralded out of college and lived up to their hype.

Coincidentally or not, all three were chosen prior to a Super Bowl year. Seymour was selected in 2001, Warren in 2003, and Wilfork in 2004.

Wilfork and Seymour have both been selected to the Pro Bowl (which many say is a popularity contest, but I still have both of them in my top five defensive players in the AFC East).

Seymour’s status as a three-time first-team All-Pro is plenty of indication that his ability isn’t overrated. Many would claim that he is injury prone and is losing his athleticism in his age. Thirty years old has been the “death sentence” for defensive ends (although Michael Strahan set the league record for sacks when he turned 30), so we’ll have to see how he performs. He returned to a respectable form last season, registering eight sacks on a defense that had major problems reaching the quarterback at all.

All that being said, the Patriots did a lot for their defensive line in the offseason.

This is the last season on Vince Wilfork’s contract. Drafting defensive tackle Ron Brace out of Boston College in the second round provided insurance against a possible defection by Wilfork should he choose to sign with another team in 2010. Brace is also a player whose value was underestimated going into the draft because of the hype around the man who lined up next to him, BJ Raji.

He sounds like a prototype 3-4 nose tackle, a player whose scouting report on nfl.com reads, “Brace won’t dazzle you in the statistical department, but he has played a critical role to the success of the team in shutting down the run the last two years. With his wide body, long wing span, and impressive power, he can terrorize guards and centers in the trenches.”

Oh yeah, the Pats also traded for some guy named Derrick Burgess. I’d never heard of him before until I found out he was some kind of multi-time Pro Bowler and a former league leader in sacks. I guess he’s supposed to help out the pass rush a little bit. He’s 31, though, so clearly he can’t be that good…can he?

In all seriousness, though, he figures to help out the defensive line in that they will have a better blind-side pass rusher when they line up in the 4-3. His frame (6’2”, 266 lbs.) is almost perfect to be a pass-rushing linebacker when they’re in the 3-4, which has been their preferred package in the past.

The Patriots also have incumbent back-up Jarvis Green, who has lined up at defensive end in the past when the Patriots enter the 4-3, and filled in to replace the injured Richard Seymour for the first few games of 2007.

As for depth at defensive line, let’s just say that the Pats will have their hands full when it comes time to cut down for the 53-man roster. They have a logjam of young talent in the trenches, currently featuring six defensive/nose tackles and six defensive ends.

Familiar names such as Jarvis Green and Mike Wright are most likely safe, but will sit behind Derrick Burgess for playing time. These veterans will more than likely make up the “back-up crew” for the Patriots.

Steve Williams and Titus Adams will battle for spots on the roster with rookies Myron Pryor and Darryl Richard, who are sixth and seventh round picks respectively.

Pryor flashed potential in the Patriots’ first preseason game, quickly breaking the pocket for a huge sack on Donovan McNabb. Adding two tackles, Pryor figures to be a threat in the battle on the depth chart.

Williams doesn’t seem to be far behind. He racked up four tackles in the latter portion of the game.

The defensive line figures to be as versatile this year as they ever have been. Although the defensive ends are all veterans, their leadership and knowledge will serve well for everyone on the defensive line. Wilfork could serve as the catalyst for knowledge to Ron Brace, who could eventually be his successor.

The saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Though the Patriots’ 3-4 scheme has been successful in the past, they were exposed for a lack of athleticism last season. This coming year, with a hybrid of 3-4 and 4-3 packages, I’d expect them to rebound with their adjustments along the line, and I’d expect the defensive genius Bill Belichick to utilize his talent and re-discover ways to get to the quarterback.