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You’re speaking my language, brother. Defensive Ends and Linebackers are the only positions anyone talks about when it comes to pass rush, but really the best and most effective pass rushers are those coming from the inside. 

As I’ve said over and over again in recent years, the Pats were deficient in this area because they tended to have more nose tackle-types inside. It worked well in protecting against sub-runs and Wilfork was clearly a beast inside that caused problems, but they just didn’t have that upfield presence and I think they really paid for it on third-and-longs. They were the third-worst defense in the NFL from 2010-2013 on 3rd-and-8-plus yards.

So yes, I think guys like Chris Jones (as part of a rotation, not playing 90% of the snaps), Armond Armstead and even Chandler sliding inside should help the interior rush. But a guy like Easley, who embodies all that I want, would really be a great addition.

There’s still a place for big space eaters, but they just need to have more depth with different kinds of d-linemen.

Nothing, it’s silly talk. Specifically to Brady and Manning though I go back to some great insight that Eric Mangini gave on NFL Live a few years ago.

His main points: you must disguise pre-snap, “if you’re not lying, you’re not trying”. Having a different game plan to start the second half to give Brady/Belichick something to think about and then going back to the stuff that was working in the first half. Finally, long sustained drives on offense.

Watch the 2010 Pats-Browns game to see this game plan executed perfectly. Also helped that the Pats didn’t show up to play that day.

I think he was a little better as a zone corner but had good size and that’s what might’ve spurred the change. There was also just a void at safety in 2011 and 2012 when injuries and poor performance started piling up, so it was also partially by necessity.