Patriots Defensive Position-by-Position Breakdown and Depth Chart Analysis

Breaking down and analyzing anything to do with the New England Patriots defense is a grievous task. 

After all, this is a defense that flows as freely from a 3-4 to a 4-3 as a metronome sways from one side to another, but with absolutely none of the rhythm that makes the timekeeping device so predictable. 

Everything head coach Bill Belichick does on defense is predicated around the opponent any given week. Even those distinctions of 3-4 and 4-3 are met with derision from Belichick at times, and he has even called it a "media fabrication." He preaches the teaching of fundamentals, spacing and techniques over base systems.

It makes perfect sense, since his defense has spent more time in a sub-package than in any kind of base defense over the past few years.

There's a fair amount of obscurity in terms of how the Patriots defense will line up, but there's already some clarity as to who will be the top dogs carrying the sled.

Defensive End/Outside Linebacker

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

Starters: Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich

Backups: Jabaal Sheard, Trey Flowers, Xzavier Dickson, Geneo Grissom

The first and oftentimes most interchangeable component of the Patriots defense is whether the edge defenders bear the distinction of defensive ends or outside linebackers. Bill Belichick has built a depth chart full of players who could feasibly fill either role in the defense.

At 6'5" and 265 pounds with 35.5" arms, Chandler Jones has all the classic traits of a 4-3 defensive end, which is exactly how he entered the NFL. He has also played outside linebacker, but regardless of his positional designation, he has spent a majority of his time moving forward (either rushing the passer or setting the edge in run defense) and not backward (in coverage). 

Rob Ninkovich has moved all over the defense in his career, with stints as an outside linebacker in both a 3-4 and a 4-3 and as a defensive end in the 4-3. The 6'2", 260-pound edge defender is capable in nearly any situation the Patriots put him in, and his production bears this out. He has notched eight sacks in each of the past three seasons despite moving around a considerable amount in that time.

The biggest change to the Patriots depth chart here is the extra bodies to help give Jones and Ninkovich some much-needed rest. Jabaal Sheard has experience in both defensive end (4-3) and outside linebacker (3-4) spots with the Cleveland Browns, but his best fit was as a defensive end when he notched 15.5 sacks in his first two seasons. As an outside linebacker, he produced only 7.5 sacks from 2013-14.

Rookies Trey Flowers and Xzavier Dickson both have experience in 3-4 and 4-3 fronts, particularly Dickson, whose roots at Alabama under Nick Saban give him a rough understanding of what to expect in Belichick's defense. Both men have the interchangeable build at around 6'3" and 266 pounds, so expect to see them as part of a rotation regardless of what scheme the Patriots are in. 

The Patriots selected Geneo Grissom in the third round of the 2015 draft, and although his positional designation remains a mystery, that would have been the case no matter where he landed—he played all over the place at Oklahoma, even playing some tight end at times. At 6'3" and 262 pounds, he could project as a defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid.

Defensive Line

Stephan Savoia/Associated Press

Sealver Siliga (above) is a big man capable of filling big shoes in the Patriots defense.

Starters: Dominique Easley, Malcom Brown, Sealver Siliga

Backups: Chris Jones, Alan Branch

Again, we are slaves to Belichick's whim with regard to positional designations. 

Dominique Easley and Malcom Brown would be easily pegged as defensive tackles in a 4-3, but both men can fill a number of different roles in a 3-4—either as defensive ends or as nose tackles. Even Easley, at 6'2" and 285 pounds, was spotted playing the 0-technique (nose tackle) at times in 2014. Brown manned that spot at times in Texas' scheme-versatile defense as well, but was also a defensive tackle and a defensive end at times. 

Sealver Siliga is a bit easier to peg; at 6'2" and 325 pounds, he will probably spend most of his time purely in the middle, filling Vince Wilfork's shoes as the nose tackle. Easley and Brown are likely to be the defensive ends when that is the case. Siliga has never had to shoulder a full-time load in an NFL defense, so this season could be an interesting peek into what he can do in such a role.

Chris Jones and Alan Branch should reprise their roles as the top backups on the depth chart. Jones' experience in the Patriots defense and Branch's experience in the NFL overall help round out a young, green group of starters. 

Linebacker

Uncredited/Associated Press

Jerod Mayo (left) and Dont'a Hightower (right) will be key figures in the Patriots defense regardless of alignment.

Starters: Dont'a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Jerod Mayo

Backups: James Morris, Jonathan Freeny, Dane Fletcher

There's no reason to think that the Patriots' starting linebackers will be any different from the group they have fielded in those spots over the past few seasons. 

Yes, Jerod Mayo is coming back from his second season-ending injury in as many campaigns. Yes, he is 29 years old and could easily be released next season to free up $7 million in cap space, according to Spotrac. Yes, the Patriots have been proving they can do without Mayo for the past two seasons with Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins stepping up.

His role on the 2015 Patriots will be valuable, though, as one of the leaders of the defense and a scheme-versatile player who can line up in multiple spots: inside in a 3-4, outside or inside in a 4-3.

Hightower fits the same description, though, and has become a leader for the defense in each of the past two years in Mayo's stead. He has even added 3-4 outside linebacker to his repertoire, and spent some time in that role in 2014 as the Patriots sorted through some early defensive struggles.

Collins is the highly athletic linebacker that is used all over the field, in coverage, run defense and blitz packages. That blitzing role was occupied by Mayo over the years, but Collins proved he could get after the quarterback if given the chance, and notched 21 hurries, eight hits and four sacks on 108 pass-rush attempts in 2014 (30.6 percent of the time), according to Pro Football Focus). 

James Morris had the look of a potential backup linebacker last year before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. His value on special teams will help his chances of making the roster, as will the fact that he was serving as a starting linebacker at OTAs and minicamp while Hightower and Mayo continue to recover from their injuries. The same could be said for Jonathan Freeny, who was last seen in spot duty for the Miami Dolphins.

Dane Fletcher's return to the defense also brings a steady presence, and one that is knowledgeable in the defense and experienced on special teams. The Patriots' depth at linebacker looks much more promising this year than it has in recent years. 

Cornerback

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Malcolm Butler (above) has a chance to be a starter in the Patriots defense.

Starters: Logan Ryan, Malcolm Butler

Backups: Daxton Swanson, Darryl Roberts, Robert McClain, Bradley Fletcher

Trying to guess what the secondary will look like in 2015? Good luck with that.

It's hard to remember a time when the Patriots carried six cornerbacks into the regular season, but it's also hard to remember a time when they had as much uncertainty at cornerback as they have headed into the 2015 season. 

Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler get the early nod at cornerback due to their experience in the defense—two years and one year, respectively, which is still more than anyone else can say. Ryan burst onto the scene in 2013 as a rookie with five interceptions, and he looked like the next big thing for the Patriots at cornerback. However, a change in scheme and the arrivals of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner threw a wrench in his development.

Now, back to a more zone-coverage-based scheme, Ryan could be primed for a return to form.

Butler proved he could be a fit as a man-coverage cornerback, but he has the skill set for zone coverage as well, as he showed by recognizing the route and closing on the pass on the Seattle Seahawks' final offensive play in Super Bowl XLIX. 

Daxton Swanson has been a minicamp maven the past two seasons, and if he can ride that momentum through training camp, he could make the final cut for the first time. Darryl Roberts has been getting a lot of attention for his size (6'0", 182 pounds) and speed (4.36-second 40-yard dash at Marshall's pro day). He also earned some run as a gunner on special teams in the spring, so he's already helping to increase his value.

Robert McClain and Bradley Fletcher are two veterans who have struggled in recent years, but both could benefit from a change of scenery and a change of scheme. The two combined to allow completions on 108 of 185 passes thrown their way last season, according to Pro Football Focus, so expectations should be kept low, but the Patriots just don't have many more suitable options. 

Safety

Elsa/Getty Images

Devin McCourty (32, right) and Duron Harmon (30, middle) are the last of a dying breed of Rutgers players in the Patriots locker room.

Starters: Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung

Backups: Duron Harmon, Jordan Richards, Nate Ebner

There's no doubt that Devin McCourty will be one of the Patriots' starting safeties in 2015. There is doubt, however, about who will be lining up next to him.

It could be Patrick Chung, who had a redemption year in 2014 after being cast off by the Philadelphia Eagles. He started all but one game at strong safety and finished the year as Pro Football Focus' 12th-highest-graded safety. A majority of his positive grade came in run defense, though, and if the Patriots want a speedier strong safety with better ball skills, then Duron Harmon could be the answer.

Harmon was a relief safety, playing mainly on passing downs in 2014, but he made some big plays (game-ending interception in the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens) and earned a majority of his positive grade in pass coverage.

The Patriots made Jordan Richards the latest in a long line of surprising second-day draft picks at strong safety. Richards' skill set as a tough-nosed in-the-box safety with special teams ability is a bigger threat to Chung's playing time than it is to Harmon's. 

Nate Ebner may not play much on defense, but his role on special teams is valuable as he has proved time and time again throughout his career. He played on all four special teams units in 2014, and should reprise that role once again in 2015.

Unless otherwise noted, all advanced stats provided by ProFootballFocus.com.