What Could Rob Ninkovich's Position Change Mean for Patriots Defense?

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.—Rob Ninkovich is no stranger to the linebacker position. In the course of his seven-year career with the New England Patriots, Ninkovich has played all over the defensive front, from outside linebacker in a 3-4 to linebacker and defensive end in a 4-3.

That's why it was hardly a surprise to see the versatile veteran lining up at linebacker during spring practices.

"I've played multiple positions many times in my life. Whatever I am at, it's just to help the team and do whatever I can," Ninkovich said. "Be multiple. I figure that is one of the strengths of my game is playing multiple positions."

First, let's dispel the notion that Ninkovich is changing positions. It's June. What better time to get ahead of the curve than now, when the pace is slow and expectations are low. In the spring, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick can get a good read on where Ninikovich stands individually at the position. 

Let's not forget that this is a team that was ravaged by injuries at linebacker in 2015, to the point where Jonathan Freeny played nearly as many snaps as (recently retired) veteran Jerod Mayo, according to Pro Football Focus.

It's still too early to know where Ninkovich would rank on the depth chart relative to other linebackers. We won't have an answer to that question at least until training camp begins. Therefore, discussing a potential impact on the scheme is premature at best. It's more likely that the Patriots would stick with their versatile defensive style rather than pigeonhole themselves into either a 3-4 or 4-3 alignment.

Besides, the implications of Ninkovich's position change are only truly implications if Ninkovich is changing positions. It's not entirely clear that he is. Ninkovich could be a starter at defensive end while also being a backup at linebacker—similar to how Sebastian Vollmer is a starter at right tackle and the top backup at left tackle.

There's also the possibility that Ninkovich could be two halves of a whole, so to speak, as Doug Kyed of NESN.com discussed in comparing Ninkovich's role to that of Seattle Seahawks defensive end Bruce Irvin:

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Rob Ninkovich was Irvin before Irvin was Irvin in 2011, when he was a base strong-side outside linebacker in the Patriots’ 4-3 and put his hand in the dirt to rush the passer as a defensive end. By the Super Bowl that season, Ninkovich was playing both positions equally.

The difference between what Ninkovich did in minicamp and what Irvin did with the Seattle Seahawks and what Ninkovich did in 2011 is that he was playing middle linebacker this week, not outside linebacker. … The Patriots' linebackers are essentially asked to play every role, however, which is probably why we saw Ninkovich playing inside in minicamp.

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This would mean a heavy workload for Ninkovich. We know he can handle a tremendous snap count, having played upward of 1,000 snaps each year since 2011, according to Pro Football Focus. The bigger hurdle to clear will be the testing of the limits of Ninkovich's mental capacity.

It's hard enough to learn one position in the Patriots defense, but to learn multiple positions—and to be ready to play either position at a moment's notice—is a tall task. That being said, Ninkovich's experience at both defensive end and linebacker make him well-prepared to handle such a workload.

If Kyed is correct and Ninkovich plays linebacker in a base defense and defensive end in nickel and dime defenses, it could open opportunities for veteran defensive end Chris Long and young defensive ends Trey Flowers, Geneo Grissom and Rufus Johnson to earn playing time on the edge. There's also Shea McClellin, who was projected to play linebacker but practiced at defensive end this week. 

The Patriots' young depth at defensive end is what allows the coaching staff to experiment with Ninkovich in the first place.

But before we go racing to etch Ninkovich's name in stone at one position or another, let's give that experiment a chance to play out.