Good stuff from Frenz on my favorite topic…
In 2010 (Wright’s last year, with just 320 defensive snaps), the Patriots leaned on 543 snaps from defensive tackle Gerard Warren, along with a rotation of Ron Brace (285 snaps), Brandon Deaderick (258) and Myron Pryor (242).
In 2011, Vince Wilfork played 1,173 snaps and Kyle Love played 696 snaps. Shaun Ellis was largely ineffective in 421 snaps, and Deaderick saw his snap total rise to 383. Gerard Warren (371) continued to contribute, as well. Albert Haynesworth (134) was released after eight games.
In 2012, Wilfork (1,041) and Love (591) once again carried a significant load. The Patriots utilized defensive end Jermaine Cunningham (487) as an interior pass-rusher in some nickel packages. Deaderick (467) once again saw his snap total increase. Defensive ends Justin Francis (301) and Trevor Scott (289) were the only other defensive linemen to carry a significant workload in 2012.
The question is what position will he play? The answer is he might play several, especially under the coaching of Bill Belichick. Given his dimensions, Armstead probably is best suited to be a five technique defensive end. But the personnel men I surveyed for this story also mentioned the following possibilities: three technique, nose tackle, and nickel rusher/outside linebacker in a 3-4. “You have to imagine him to project him,” one of the front office men said. “He’s a talent. You get him now and worry about what position he plays later. He can be so versatile because he is quick off the snap. He’s a jack of all trades.
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Scout Talk | National Football Post
Okay color me officially hot and bothered about Armond Armstead. From everything I’ve read and posted about it him it’s clear he *could be* exactly what this defense needs, and exactly what I’ve been preaching about for two-plus years.
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Just what the hoodie ordered…
What type of player are the Patriots getting? “They’re getting a 6-5, 280-pound active player who plays very smart. He plays with great leverage. He’s an above-average pass-rusher who plays the run well. He’s a solid all-around player, a phenomenal young man. As good a player as he is, he’s a better person. I think at a young age – he was 21 when he came up here – I think he grew a lot just living in another country on his own. I think his maturation level is going to be higher than if he were to come off a university campus. Not only a great player, but a fantastic person; he’ll be great in the community.”
Can you describe how Armond was utilized on defense with the Argonauts? “He was used for us both as a nose guard – he’s obviously not Vince Wilfork, that’s not what he does, he’s not a two-gap player in a 30 front – and 3 technique [outside shade on the guard]. He played on the edge some in the 30 front but not much. It wasn’t that he couldn’t do it, it’s that we didn’t play a lot of 30 front. He was moved around inside and was mainly an inside player for us. He ended up being named All-CFL as a rookie, which is very rare.”
In the 6-foot-5, 300-pound Armstead, an NFL team will be getting the equivalent of a high draft pick months before the April draft. The 22-year-old former USC standout went to Canada to prove he was healthy enough to play football again after suffering a heart attack, the subject of a lawsuit against the school in which Armstead alleges the attack was brought on by painkillers.
