Vince Wilfork is superhuman. He's big, strong, and fast. He was 3rd on the team in tackles last year with 45. He only has 7.5 career sacks, but that's because they don't award assists to the nose tackle who absorbs a double-team, allowing the ends and linebackers to get to the QB.
If the Pats go to a 4-3 defense, Vince Wilfork will become a highlight reel player. He'll get sacks, tackle RBs for a loss, and own an entire side of the field. They call the O-Line and D-Line "The Trenches." Wilfork is The Tank that makes trench warfare obsolete.
Ty Warren, much like Richard Seymour, was drafted as a tackle, then converted to an end in the Pats' 3-4 defense. I consider him to be one of the most underrated defensive players in the game. If he lines up as a tackle in the 4-3, he will prove me right. You can't double team Wilfork, then hope to stop Warren and either Green or Seymour on the end.
Warren's a sure tackler, and once he gets to the QB, he rarely allows him to escape. He might be a Pro Bowl contender this season.
Mike Wright and Jarvis Green provide the depth. Wright had 22 solo tackles and 2.5 sacks in limited time last year. Green only had 2 sacks last year, but before that he registered 6.5 in '07, and 7.5 in '06. He's an excellent backup D-End.
Then there's Ron Brace. I've seen Ron Brace in person and he's a giant. He's listed at 6' 2" and 330 pounds, both are lies. He's 6' 6" and 350. He was BJ Raji's partner in crime for Boston College last year, and it's nice to have such a large asset sitting on the bench.
The defensive secondary is weak, and the LB's have holes here and there. The QB pressure and run-stopping needed to atone for these deficiencies MUST come from the defensive line.
And it will.
Sources:
ESPN.com
Pro-Football-Reference.com
Patriots.com
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