I am trying to understand how the Pats will set up the DL/Edge. Teams these days tend to have 3 DL and 4 LB (classic 3-4 set up). The DL guys tend to be 300+ lbs guys, the LB more in the 250 lbs range. The Pats have Williams and Barmore to anchor the DL. I view them both at more D-Tackles, not Nose Tackles and not really DEs either. I am not sure you need a true NT.
If Williams and Barmore at playing the traditional DT role, then you need at least one more 300 pounder to play DE. We have Pharms and Farmer who can play that role. Or maybe Williams is the DE and Farmer/Pharms is the DT. But then you have an outside linebacker at the other end, usually referred to as the "Edge". The edge is very important, whether it is an OLB or a DE, that position has to contain both against the run and against a scrambling QB. That is the role I think they have in mind for Dre'Mont Jones. That role is not just about sacks though, which is how a lot of fans and talking heads seem to view it. You can't give up the edge in the name of getting sacks.
Good points. I wonder if the Pats could view Durden as that guy. He was a rotational piece for them last year and very valuable alongside Tonga, especially during the period Milton Williams was out. Losing Tonga was a big blow, but yeah Durden could help I imagine.
I think in the draft, they need a young coverage-LB to sort of pair with Spillane at that level, and then if they can, add another pass rusher to develop. I admittedly don't know much about Dre'Mont Jones, but people seem to like him. I just hope he's not another Landry. I would have rather kept Chaisson for cheaper, but idk their thinking there.
Our secondary though with Byard is a legit unit. Gonzalez, Jones, Davis, Byard, Woodson is definitely up there as one of the best secondary units in the league.
