Jones, Bequette, Carter, and Scott

[Pneumonic]

These 4 guys have me very excited about how the Pats elephant role can perform for the Pats moving forward. Toss in a returning Nink, and possibly even Cunningham - as well as perhaps Hightower - and there is plenty of potential to get after the QB with this grouping.

I don't think I have been this excited about a positional group on the Pats in some time.

 

[BostonTim]

Appreciate your enthusiasm. I'm cautiously optimistic. :fingerscrossed:

Cheers, BostonTim

 

[king of kings]

I did not see anything from Markell carter last year. That would get me excited about him. This is a huge training camp for Cunningham . He so far has been a 2 year bust. I can't wait to see Scott, Jones, bequette play on defense.

 

[midgar8784]

I am more excited about Hightower than anyone.

 

[MaineMan]

About all I can really say at this point is that there seems to be a lot of young potential among the front seven now, as well as, again potentially, some enhanced scheme/positional versatility.

 

[O_P_T]

I'm not sure we should count Carter in the fold until he signs.

I've seen more than one report that Baltimore would be interested in him to replace Suggs.

I know Carter has said he wants to come back, but if Baltimore offers him big $ he might sign there instead.

I haven't looked at Baltimore's cap situation, so I don't know what they can offer.

 

[Pneumonic]

I'm not sure we should count Carter in the fold until he signs.

Ooooopppps, meant other Carter, Markell

 

[TommyD420]

These 4 guys have me very excited about how the Pats elephant role can perform for the Pats moving forward. Toss in a returning Nink, and possibly even Cunningham - as well as perhaps Hightower - and there is plenty of potential to get after the QB with this grouping.

I don't think I have been this excited about a positional group on the Pats in some time.

See, I thought they drafted Hightower specifically to play the Elephant. Jones strikes me more as a DE exclusively, in either 3-4 or 4-3 or sub packages.

I'd be very surprised if they asked Jones to play much LB.

 

[Pneumonic]

See, I thought they drafted Hightower specifically to play the Elephant. Jones strikes me more as a DE exclusively, in either 3-4 or 4-3 or sub packages.

I'd be very surprised if they asked Jones to play much LB.

I see Jones more as a hands down guy when in a 4-3. But, the Pats play a ton of 4-3/3-4 hybrid. What about when in a 3-4? Jones (along with Hightower, Bequette, Scott and M Carter) don't have the size to play 3-4 DE .... what do you do with them?

 

[TommyD420]

I see Jones more as a hands down guy when in a 4-3. But, the Pats play a ton of 4-3/3-4 hybrid. What about when in a 3-4? Jones (along with Hightower, Bequette, Scott and M Carter) don't have the size to play 3-4 DE .... what do you do with them?

Jones is 6'5" 265 with room to grow on his frame. By the time the season starts, he should be around 280-285 or so. That's big enough to play every-down DE, regardless of scheme or package.

Bequette's a pass-rush specialist, and I would be very surprised if Markell Carter made the team.

 

[Taint Ed Love]

Jones is 6'5" 265 with room to grow on his frame. By the time the season starts, he should be around 280-285 or so. That's big enough to play every-down DE, regardless of scheme or package.

Bequette's a pass-rush specialist, and I would be very surprised if Markell Carter made the team.

As long as it is muscle and not McDonalds, it is cool.

 

[Pneumonic]

Jones is 6'5" 265 with room to grow on his frame. By the time the season starts, he should be around 280-285 or so. That's big enough to play every-down DE, regardless of scheme or package.

Bequette's a pass-rush specialist, and I would be very surprised if Markell Carter made the team.

Thing is even if Jones does bulk up to 285+ he's still small for a 3-4 DE in the Pats system where the Pats 3-4 DE's are really 2 gap 4-3 DT's who weigh-in the 300+# range. I'm not so sure it makes sense to ask the kid to bulk up another 30+# .... why not just let him use his current prototypical 3-4DE/4-3 OLB sized and let him play the elephant spot that the Pats have been trying to fill with a stud talent since Willie left? The need there is HUGE!

I agree that M Carter is not a certainty to make the final 53 but, by all accounts, the Pats brass love his upside.

 

[chevss454]

Funny. From the moment he was drafted I thought Chandler Jones was a base 43 DE/34 OLB same as Andre Carter was last year but perhaps less OLB use than Carter was used. I never considered him a 34 DE, not even for a second. I expect Jones will come out of the game, at least early in the season, when we go 3/4 (unless he's stuck out there by a hurry up).

 

[Maxjax]

I am more excited about Hightower than anyone.

Me too. And it has as much to do with what his presence will allow other players to maybe do (like Mayo) as it does with his own abilities. I really believe he's going to give Belichick some flexibility and versatility, and that it will allow him to stop under-utilizing guys who can probably pass rush but who were not given an opportunity to do it much with the old scheme and personnel. If Spikes can also stay healthy, then the LB corps went from decimated to one of the up-and-coming groups in the NFL in just a couple of seasons.

 

[MaineMan]

Thing is even if Jones does bulk up to 285+ he's still small for a 3-4 DE in the Pats system where the Pats 3-4 DE's are really 2 gap 4-3 DT's who weigh-in the 300+# range. I'm not so sure it makes sense to ask the kid to bulk up another 30+# .... why not just let him use his current prototypical 3-4DE/4-3 OLB sized and let him play the elephant spot that the Pats have been trying to fill with a stud talent since Willie left? The need there is HUGE!

I agree that M Carter is not a certainty to make the final 53 but, by all accounts, the Pats brass love his upside.

IDK. It seems to me that the Pats "system" has evolved beyond the classic Fairbanks-Bulloch 3-4 as epitomized by the Warren-Wilfork-Seymour line. I mean, there are still elements of that present and Fanene-Deaderick kind of represent that type of DE, but I think there may be plenty of room in the current "Ambiguity" scheme for a somewhat lighter version - such as, for instance, a guy like Jones at, say, 280 or so.

ANyway, I see Jones' role possibly evolving over the course of a couple years, too. Maybe he does see some pseudo 3-4 OLB snaps this season, but perhaps tracks away from that and more toward a consistent DL role in his sophomore year as he bulks up (and I think I agree that he has the frame for it).

 

[MightyMitts]

IDK. It seems to me that the Pats "system" has evolved beyond the classic Fairbanks-Bulloch 3-4 as epitomized by the Warren-Wilfork-Seymour line. I mean, there are still elements of that present and Fanene-Deaderick kind of represent that type of DE, but I think there may be plenty of room in the current "Ambiguity" scheme for a somewhat lighter version - such as, for instance, a guy like Jones at, say, 280 or so.

ANyway, I see Jones' role possibly evolving over the course of a couple years, too. Maybe he does see some pseudo 3-4 OLB snaps this season, but perhaps tracks away from that and more toward a consistent DL role in his sophomore year as he bulks up (and I think I agree that he has the frame for it).

It's true the only traditional 3-4 ends on the roster are Fanene and Deaderick. In a 40 front late last season Deaderick played one end while Anderson played the other end further out (7 or 9 tech?). So I think Fanene is going to provide depth and competition for Deaderick, while Chandler Jones should be a stouter version of Anderson. Markell Carter I think is camp competition and depth for Jones.

Most of the front seven roles won't be determined until camp. My question is how can we get Jones, Hightower, Spikes, and Mayo on the field at the same time? Can they cover well enough? At this point I do not know.

 

[Pneumonic]

IDK. It seems to me that the Pats "system" has evolved beyond the classic Fairbanks-Bulloch 3-4 as epitomized by the Warren-Wilfork-Seymour line. I mean, there are still elements of that present and Fanene-Deaderick kind of represent that type of DE, but I think there may be plenty of room in the current "Ambiguity" scheme for a somewhat lighter version - such as, for instance, a guy like Jones at, say, 280 or so.

ANyway, I see Jones' role possibly evolving over the course of a couple years, too. Maybe he does see some pseudo 3-4 OLB snaps this season, but perhaps tracks away from that and more toward a consistent DL role in his sophomore year as he bulks up (and I think I agree that he has the frame for it).

True, the Pats seem to have less of the Seymour/Warren prototypical DE/DT types.

I would expect to see Jones with his hand down in a 4-3 along with standing up as a pass rush 3-4 OLB. Hopefully he'll perform like Willie did all those years.

 

[Pneumonic]

My question is how can we get Jones, Hightower, Spikes, and Mayo on the field at the same time? Can they cover well enough? At this point I do not know.

I think we'll see plenty of this .....

............. Wilfork - Love - Fanene/Deaderick
........... Hightower - Spikes - Mayo - Jones

and

........... Deaderick - Love - Wilfork - Jones
.............. Mayo - Spikes - Hightower

 

[midgar8784]

I think we'll see plenty of this .....

............. Wilfork - Love - Fanene/Deaderick
........... Hightower - Spikes - Mayo - Jones

and

........... Deaderick - Love - Wilfork - Jones
.............. Mayo - Spikes - Hightower

With that first lineup, I hope we are not facing anyone with any speed.

 

[Patriots-Lifer]

Jones is 6'5" 265 with room to grow on his frame. By the time the season starts, he should be around 280-285 or so. That's big enough to play every-down DE, regardless of scheme or package.

Bequette's a pass-rush specialist, and I would be very surprised if Markell Carter made the team.

I would be far more surprised if Markell did not make the team. Many have said things like they didn't see anything from him last season. He was the recipient of 8 of BB's black jerseys last season. He cam in at 245 and worked his ass off he is now at 278 and looks just as quick and agile as he was at 245. The guy has dedicated himself to being the best that is possible because of his sister who has lupus. The guy is motivated like no one I have seen in a long time. Much about his drive, effort, and work ethic reminds me of this guy drafted in the 6th round in 2000.