The new Patriots defense: What is the best scheme after all the injuries?

The defense may be different on Sunday (Patriots.com)

After losing Jerod Mayo for the season, the Patriots learned that they could be without Chandler Jones for up to a month. In order to shore up a front seven that will be without two of their top leaders, the Patriots traded for OLB Akeem Ayers and signed free agent DE Alan Branch to the roster.

Without knowing specifically Bill Belichick has in mind, here are some possibilities for how the defense may line up going forward.

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3-4

Given how the Patriots seem to lack a good 4th linebacker, this package would likely be the most difficult to execute. The Patriots would likely have to have someone like Deontae Skinner at ILB, with Akeem Ayers coming off the edge. Dont'a Hightower would take over Mayo's role in the inside, and Collins would become the weakside linebacker due to his speed and athleticism.

The defensive linemen would most likely be Ninkovich at the end, Wilfork at nose, and Dominique Easley as the other end. Branch could come in at end for Easley or Ninkovich on rushing downs due to his size.





Overall, I think this format will be the least used due to Ayers' strength as a 4-3 OLB, and the lack of depth at linebacker. Should they somehow acquire another ILB (Ravens Arthur Brown for instance), then this personnel could be used, but at this point this would not get the best 11 players on the field for the Patriots defense.

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4-3

In the 4-3, the three linebackers we would see are Ayers, Hightower, and Collins. The four defensive linemen would likely consist of Ninkovich, Wilfork, Casey Walker/Chris Jones, and Easley. Alan Branch could take one of those four DL spots on 1st and 2nd down, or in short yardage situations due to his size and lack of pass rushing ability.





Given the additions they have made, the 4-3 makes the most sense. It will take away pressure to make plays for the linebackers, and allow the DL to use their size to plug holes. Against the run, this defense is the best suited given who they have at their disposal.

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Nickel

For the nickel package, the most likely configuration would be a 3-3-5. This will be the most likely fix for this team given their tendency to favor their sub packages to get an extra defensive back on the field. The secondary would consist of Revis, McCourty, Chung/Harmon/Wilson, Browner/Dennard, and Arrington/Ryan. The corners will of course be subjective due to what Belichick is favoring at the time. The linebackers would be Ayers, Hightower, and Collins. The defensive line would be made up of Ninkovich, Wilfork/Branch, Easley/Moore. This configuration would allow the Patriots to move around a lot of players, and gives them options to sub in and out players to allow them rest.





Due to the teams they have coming up that have strong passing attacks, and the Patriots defensive tendencies, expect this personnel grouping more so than anything else. It allows the Patriots to put their best 11 players on the field due to their strength in the secondary, and also keep players fresh with substitutions.

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