I think all of us are guilty to some extent of fantasizing about the all-out pass rush package, but I really don’t think it’s a grouping that will be utilized that much unless we’re talking third-and-long. The easiest way to go is Ninkovich-Easley-Chandler-Sheard up front with Mayo and Collins at LB. Could even see Hightower in there for some pass rushing snaps, maybe in place of Ninkovich.
The problem of course is that just about every team would try to run on this, even if was 3rd-and-15. That was the beauty of Vince Wilfork – he had that ability to singlehandedly occupy the entire middle of the line, even if he wasn’t getting much push.
What will be most interesting to see is how the Pats adapt without Wilfork. They had to do it on the fly in 2013, but now with a full offseason to plan, I think we could see some schematic tweaks to make up for his loss, and it will almost certainly involve more heavy rotation along the DL.
