NE IDP Situation (1 Viewer)

[Rovers]

I've been reading how Seymour's injury may be fairly serious, but I've read conflicting opinions on how this might affect NE's defensive scheme. Some seem to feel that losing Seymour means more 3-4, others seem to think it means a continuation a of much more 4-3. Seymour is perhaps the best 3-4 DE in the NFL. It seems to me that with Green coming in to replace him, NE would want to run even more 4-3 than they have already. Green is better suited as a 4-3 DE at this point in his career, isn't he?

In particular, Vrabel's value changes a lot depending on the scheme. Any other thoughts/opinions on this?

 

[Jene Bramel]

I've been reading how Seymour's injury may be fairly serious, but I've read conflicting opinions on how this might affect NE's defensive scheme. Some seem to feel that losing Seymour means more 3-4, others seem to think it means a continuation a of much more 4-3. Seymour is perhaps the best 3-4 DE in the NFL. It seems to me that with Green coming in to replace him, NE would want to run even more 4-3 than they have already. Green is better suited as a 4-3 DE at this point in his career, isn't he?

In particular, Vrabel's value changes a lot depending on the scheme. Any other thoughts/opinions on this?

This is the way I read the situation as well -- which means Belichick is likely to do the opposite. Green has the size to hold his own as a 3-4 end, but he's really a much better fit in the 4-3. This is probably one of those cases where we can speculate all we like but won't know for certain until the Pats put the cards on the table. As of right now, Seymour is talking like the elbow injury is minor and he expects to play, which of course means little in NE.