“Very unselfish,” coach Bill Belichick said. “We play him in different positions, where we feel like he’s maybe the most needed, not necessarily where it’s going to feature him or give him a great opportunity to make plays. But a lot of times it is to eat up blockers or try to disrupt plays. “He’s an explosive guy that’s got very good football instincts. He knows where the ball is, he knows what they’re trying to do. He really responded to a lot of the different challenges or positions that we put him in. He’s done a very unselfish job and been very productive.”
vince wilfork
On the third down play, nose tackle Vince Wilfork did what he normally does, and that’s control the point of attack, take up two blockers, and free up space for linebacker Jerod Mayo to come down hill and make a play. Wilfork’s superb ability to anchor and not be moved laterally or horizontally is nearly unparalleled and vital to the defense’s success. On the following play (when Greene fumbled), Wilfork was able to penetrate a gap and cause disruption in the backfield with a host of teammates there to assist.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/on-the-third-down-play-nose-tackle-vince-wilfork/
What’s Wrong with Wilfork? | ProFootballFocus.com
What’s Wrong with Wilfork? | ProFootballFocus.com
Interesting breakdown from Steve Palazzolo on Wilfork’s season which we’ve touched on a bit here.
It all comes down to Wilfork playing better when he’s asked to two-gap at the point of attack. He’s able to use his strength to move offensive lineman and he has the awareness to find the ballcarrier. Wilfork is much less effective when he’s forced to shoot the gap in between two linemen. This job is generally reserved for smaller, quicker defensive linemen and it does not mesh well with Wilfork’s talents.
Vince Wilfork (437 of 542 snaps) – 80.6 percent
Wilfork is down a tick, from 86.8 percent last season, as the Patriots are finding spots to rest their captain and one of their best defenders.
New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston
This is a positive that they’re headed in the right direction, but I’d knock it down even a little farther if it was up to me.
Do you agree that Wilfork is not his usual dominant self, and is leaning towards average with his play this year? Also, what do you think about the incredible amount of holding going on by offensive lines, during both the replacement ref and professional ref eras so far?
Oh boy, I’m glad someone wants to talk about Big Vince because I don’t think it’s gotten much mention anywhere else.
Yes, it’s true that ProFootballFocus has graded Wilfork negatively the last five consecutive games, and he really hasn’t stood out much recently with a big play. But it’s also worth pointing out the Greg Bedard of the Boston Globe, someone who studies the film closely, has liked Wilfork’s performances recently.
It’s really hard to evaluate Wilfork fully because he does so much and isn’t in a position to rack up a lot of numbers. But what I will say is that I wish the Pats could use less of Wilfork, especially on obvious passing downs. Wilfork can be dominant, but I think he’d be more consistently dominant if he wasn’t asked to play 90% of the downs. Ideally if we could get him back to even 75% he’d be more effective, especially in crunch time.
The problem is just that after him there isn’t a lot of talent on the interior defensive line. I like Kyle Love, but I don’t love him. And Ron Brace? Not showing a whole lot this year.
So again it comes back to my favorite talking point, that the Pats need an interior penetrator-type who can spell Wilfork in clear passing situations, and give them a much needed pocket-pushing presence.
It may be futile but I’m still holding out hope Myron Pryor could be that guy.
Wilfork speaks about his interceptions this past year in that last video I posted. So of course I have to post this…
https://www.patspropaganda.com/wilfork-speaks-about-his-interceptions-this-past/
Still one of my favorite GIFs from 2011.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/still-one-of-my-favorite-gifs-from-2011/