Sporting News: Patriots 5th most needy defensive line

Sporting News has the Pats as the 5th most needy defensive line, but they should be all set for this season. I don’t really understand that logic, but I understand what they’re getting at. There’s still a question mark at RDE, and right now it looks like it will be Marcus Stroud vs. Brandon Deaderick barring any other free agent acquisitions.

5. Patriots. Just looking at the near future, they will be fine with Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren for ‘11, so now they need to protect against their age and injuries by making their 3-4 rotation deeper.

As always it just comes down to injuries. If the Pats stay healthy they should be just fine. Look at who they lost last year… Ty Warren, Mike Wright, Myron Pryor… basically three of their top four most experienced and best defensive lineman. How many teams could lose that kind of quality and still win 14 games? I’d say no one other than the Pats.