new england patriots

Yesterday we posted our Patriots big board which lists the draft prospects we like most for the Pats. I wanted to clarify some things as to what my thinking is when looking for guys who fit, mainly for the front seven on the defensive side of the ball.

This is the first year which I don’t feel beholden to specific schematic traits for personnel. This means I don’t have a 3-4 or 4-3 box that each prospect needs to fit neatly into. I never thought I’d be the one to do this but let’s declare the whole 3-4 vs. 4-3 debate dead, and useless to take into account.

Take this quote from Greg Cosell as evidence of why:

“With the Patriots, it’s complicated. You’ll see a three-technique. You’ll see a nose shade, not a nose tackle. Sure, there were snaps where they played a true 3-4 with a true nose tackle or a zero technique and two ends who are five techniques. But just because you have three down linemen, it doesn’t mean you are playing a 3-4.”

The number one thing that I want along the defensive line is versatility.  The quickness to get up the field, and also the strength to hold ground. Just behind that I’m looking for violent, physical players who can dominate in the trenches. And if they’re clean prospects who are football nerds who may have been captains even better. 

Gone are the days when we would specifically look for a five-technique 3-4 defensive end or a two-gapping nose tackle. I love Michael Brockers not because I think he’s a “Richard Seymour replacement”, but because he can do a number of different things that will give Belichick creative freedom like he has with Wilfork.

The other position I’d like to discuss is difficult-to-project DE/OLB. In years past we specifically were trying to fill a Willie McGinest or Rosevelt Colvin void, axing any player who didn’t fit the 6-04, 250 minimum framework.

Those benchmarks are nice, and there’s no doubt a tall prospect with long arms is better suited to battling offensive tackles, but ultimately it’s about the player and not the player’s dimensions.

Again, what I believe the Patriots need most right now at the OLB spot is athleticism. It’s not just about a pass rusher, it’s about finding someone who can make an impact in pass coverage as well. This is why I really like Shea McLellin over guys like Andre Branch and Melvin Ingram, and even Whitney Mercilus to some extent.

Branch and Ingram are talented prospects, but when you’re trying to run a amoeba defense that changes every week you need players who can do multiple things.

Rob Ninkovich is a good example of what I’m talking about here. Ninkopoop doesn’t have the prerequisite size that we always talk about, but he’s tough against the run, can put his hand down and rush the passer, and has grabbed a fair share of interceptions.

There’s a reason the Patriots have given him two (!) contract extensions. He’s a swiss army knife, and when I see guys like Branch and Ingram I see buck knives. Really good for one thing, but they’re always going to be doing that one thing game to game, snap to snap.

In the modern NFL if the good quarterback knows what defense is coming he’s going to torch it. Versatility enables unpredictability, that’s why I see it as a paramount trait when looking at potential Patriots picks for all defensive positions.