How can the Patriots improve their pass rush?

It seems odd to be posing this question. After all, the 2013 Patriots posted 48 sacks, the most of any team during the Bill Belichick era. However, a stat like this certainly sounds the alarm, regardless of how well the regular season went.

Peyton Manning was under pressure on just 11.6% of dropbacks v NE, his SB opponent Russell Wilson against SF? 50% of his dropbacks
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) January 21, 2014

The Broncos were exceptional at protecting Manning all season long, in part because of a short passing game that got the ball out of Peyton's hands quickly. Against the Patriots, Manning actually spent a little more time in the pocket than usual (an average of 2.51 seconds compared to his regular season average of just 2.36), but still was only pressured on five of his 43 dropbacks.

Despite the gaudy regular season numbers, this disappearing act was a problem all season long. The Patriots pass rush would occasionally have dominant stretches, such as when the racked up six second half sacks of Ryan Tannehill in October, but they also had long dormant stretches, often enabling the opposing quarterback to get in a rhythm as a result.

So, how do the Patriots get more consistency from their pass rush? For starters, adding a few more horses to the stable. No team asked for more from it's starting defensive ends than the Patriots, with Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich playing 98% (Jones) and 95.5% (Ninkovich) of the team's defensive snaps in 2013. Getting these two some help, along with a needed chance to catch their breath, could be vital for a defense looking to rebound with some better health next year. Pass rushing effectiveness is known to decline with fatigue, and those two players had every reason to be fatigued by the season's end.

Whether that help could come by the draft or free agency is unknown, but it's unlikely to come from within. Jake Bequette looks in danger of being cut two invisible years since being a third round pick and Andre Carter is also unlikely to return considering his age. Michael Buchanan flashed some potential in the preseason, but he'll need to make a big jump in year two to justify taking Jones or Ninkovich off the field.

A sign of hope for the pass rush comes via possibility that Jones takes another big step forward next year. Jones improved dramatically from his promising rookie season, leading the Patriots with 11.5 sacks, but he still has quiet stretches that prevent him from becoming an upper echelon pass rusher. If he can take that step next year (remember, pre-draft projections said he was a high upside player that would take several years to adjust to the NFL) and becomes a dominant pass rusher, it will dramatically open things up for the rest of his teammates.

Finally, the Patriots would be well served to find an interior pass rushing presence. Tommy Kelly looked poised to be that guy for the defense this year, but he has to be considered a question mark at age 33 and coming off of a knee injury. With out Kelly, the Patriots failed to get any consistent push from the inside on opposing passers. The onus too often fell entirely on their overworked defensive ends to generate some pass rush.

The team would presumably prefer to limit Wilfork and Kelly's snaps in 2014, considering the age and recent injuries to both players. Given that, they simply need to add some insurance options behind those guys, as a failure to do so last year doomed the defense to a 27th overall finish against the run. Fortunately, the Pats appear to have found a good early-down option in Sealver Siliga, who projects as a Wilfork-type space eater. However, the rest of the in-house options are uninspiring. Chris Jones was the best of the bunch, hustling his way to six sacks, but even he didn't provide much in terms of consistent pressure and was consistently pushed around in the running game.

One intriguing option out there in free agency is Chandler Jones' brother, Arthur. At 6'3, 315 pounds, Arthur brings some interior pass rushing power to the table. He's improved in every season, developing into a solid contributor for the Ravens during their 2012 Super Bowl run. He also fits the profile for what the Pats are looking for. He's versatile enough to line up at both defensive tackle (where his quickness makes him a strong pass rusher) and end (where his bulk helps him in defending the run), giving the Patriots more options in terms of rotating players against different looks and situations. He's also unlikely to command a massive salary, allowing the Pats to save that money to address other needs.