Patriots offseason to-do list: Get younger and faster on defense

Putting together a to-do list for the Patriots this offseason? It’s easy. Get younger and quicker on the defensive side of the ball, and maybe think about tweaking your defensive philosophy a bit to include some of what they saw from Philly in the Super Bowl.

We asked a current NFC personnel man, and two former scouts for their opinions on what New England needs to address this offseason, and they all agreed that the priority for the Patriots should be on defense.


None of this is to say they should ignore offensive upgrades. History, as well as the current roster situation, suggest they'll take a quarterback. And all three guys suggested that regardless of Rob Gronkowski's future plans, they need to start looking at some available options at tight end sooner rather than later.

But when it comes to immediate priorities this offseason, it's defense first.

“It really starts with two areas: pass rush and team speed,” said the NFC personnel man. “Those are both keys for them on defense this offseason.”

First, the pass rush: While acknowledging that New England will get some pieces back off injured reserve in linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Shea McClellin -- and Trey Flowers has done as well as could be expected -- that won’t be enough if they want to get back to where they need to be. They'll need to do something about it, either in free agency or the draft.

“They’ll get some (pass rush) back when Hightower returns. He’s an option there,” said the personnel man. “But if I’m looking at this draft class, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Patriots try and find someone who could give them a power rush up the middle, a big disruptive body. The question is: Can you find someone like that at the end of the first round?”

Dan Hatman, a former scout for several teams who is now at the helm of The Scouting Academy, agrees, and speculates whether or not the Patriots might be inclined to change part of their defensive strategy just a bit and find an interior defensive lineman capable of bringing some pressure.

“With quarterbacks getting the ball out quicker, a guy in his face is not his friend. If you can find people who can consistently bring pressure in those A and B gaps, you have something,” Hatman said. “I mean, the sack and fumble on Brady in the Super Bowl from Graham came in the B gap. The Eagles created a nice framework there, with guys like Fletcher Cox and Timmy Jernigan and Brandon Graham. That’s a trio of good interior rushers.

“I know that might fly in the face of what the Pats have done in the past — they’ve always gone after the Alan Branch’s and Malcom Brown’s and Vince Wilfork’s who have had the primary goal of maintaining those A and B gaps to give the linebackers more freedom to make plays at the second level. But maybe that changes.”

The other area? Team speed. In recent years, the Patriots have looked a step slower than their counterparts, especially when they get into domes. Matt Williamson, a former AFC scout, believes the Patriots need to target a coverage linebacker who is a little undersized than some others, but still has the speed to run with tight ends and running backs.

“They need help up front, specifically, that front seven needs more speed. They’re slow. I know Hightower’s return is going to help from a big-picture perspective. But he’s not the sort of fast linebacker they need,” he said. “They need another reliable corner. They need a second-level linebacker who is 230 pounds who can run and cover, and you might get that at the end of the first round or in free agency. I mean, Nigel Bradham is available as a free agent. That type of guy. They need some speed on the second level.”

“Team speed is important on defense, and there need to be improvements when it comes to the pass rush, particularly when it comes to getting a push up the middle and making the quarterback move,” said the NFC personnel man. “I remember when Bill (Belichick) would run his old 3-4 defense, and his guys would be able to mug the A gaps on every play and also be able to find pressure by exploiting mismatches on the edges and other places. In the Super Bowl, I don’t think they had anyone who could get any push up the middle and could get Nick (Foles) off his spot.”

One other thing worth mentioning, at least in the context of this conversation — you need to check on the health of all of your guys who ended the year on injured reserve. If you feel comfortable with the state of some of the guys who finished the season on the sideline, you might rearrange those priorities when it comes to free agency and the draft. When it comes to 2018, some of the best options might be in your own building.

“Derek Rivers coming back should give them some help when it comes to the pass rush. And we know Hightower will be a nice addition in 2018 for them as well,” Hatman said. “You’re hopeful that you can get more out of a guy like Cyrus Jones. And Shea McClellin is a versatile piece who really hasn’t found a role — he’s kind of been a jack-of-all-trades type. But you need to find more depth to help in those areas.

“Basically, you don’t have to go out and get a Stephon Gilmore and set the market a day or two in,” Hatman said. “You talk to your doctors and figure out where guys like Hightower, Jones and McClellin are. A lot of that stuff can be impactful when it comes to decision-making in free agency in the draft. It’s easy to forget about those guys, but their health situation will likely make the difference in just how active the Patriots are at those spots in the draft and free agency this spring.”