Why Vince Wilfork is so hard to replace – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

The point of this vignette is that it illustrates Wilfork’s rare athleticism for a man of his stature, proof that men who stand 6-foot-2 and well over 300 pounds can be exceptional athletes, not merely human mountains. But not all defensive tackles have Wilfork’s movement skills. In fact, maybe a handful of others around the league do. And that is – at least in part – what makes Wilfork such an invaluable member of the Patriots’ defense. It’s the ability to align in a variety of spots on the defensive line, the quickness and agility to disrupt as a pass-rusher and, yes, the hands to make a play on the ball as a pass defender, as we saw against the Chargers back in 2011 when he nearly returned an interception for a score. Three down defensive linemen are hard to find, especially among interior defensive tackles.