Risky living on the edge
End rushers suddenly thin on the depth chart
HOUSTON — To say the Patriots are hurting for edge rushers right now, less than three weeks from the Thursday night season opener with Kansas City, is an understatement.
The retirement of Rob Ninkovich, the season-ending injury to Derek Rivers (torn ACL), and recent time missed by Deatrich Wise and Shea McClellin, who are nursing other ailments, puts the Pats in a situation that’s less than ideal at the moment.
And making matters worse, Geneo Grissom missed last night’s preseason game with the Texans for unknown reasons, while Trey Flowers stood on the sideline and didn’t play the entire game.
Flowers, the team’s best remaining edge player, was kept safe and out of harm’s way.
“I’m good. They just felt I didn’t need to play,” Flowers said following the 27-23 exhibition loss. “It was their decision, but I’m good.”
So let’s not get too crazy over seeing Texans quarterback Tom Savage look more like Tom Brady, completing 8-of-9 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown during the time he played in the first half.
While this is clearly not what coach Bill Belichick is looking for right now, it’s not at the crisis stage. Whether managing inhouse with creative solutions, which might have been the route that was planned anyway, or applying a remedy with some outside help, Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia aren’t about to let this derail the defense going forward.
They still have time to solve the problem, if they even consider it a problem.
Last night, they primarily used Harvey Langi and Caleb Kidder on the edges, while also allowing Kony Ealy, who has had a few encouraging moments of late, more time to get better acquainted with the defense.
They did get some pressure on Savage at times, although it was largely missing during the Texans 11-play scoring drive in the first quarter. While Kidder struggled, Langi and Ealy flashed at times while Lawrence Guy registered a sack from the interior. Kyle Van Noy also got to Savage but was flagged for unnecessary roughness after driving the quarterback to the turf.
“We still have a lot of playmakers on this team who can step in and make plays,” said Flowers, who led the team with seven sacks last season. “I think we did a decent job, but I’ll have to go look at the film.”
Looking ahead, Van Noy is a linebacker but has the versatility to rush from the edge. The Patriots front seven has quite a few versatile defensive lineman and linebackers who can play a variety of positions. That’s where Belichick’s creativity might come into play.
While you might not necessarily see him tip his hand in a preseason game, if he’s going to stay in-house, Van Noy and Langi can play out on the edge. Ditto McClellin. Perhaps undrafted rookie defensive lineman Adam Butler, who has played just about everywhere on the line including nose tackle, will see more time on the outside as well.
Another logical place to turn would be Dont’a Hightower, once he gets off the PUP list. He can be a dynamic pass rusher, as everyone saw in Super Bowl LI. Typically he gets to the quarterback via the blitz, but he can also rush from the edge.
With Hightower on the outside, the Pats would still have David Harris, Elandon Roberts, McClellin, Van Noy or even Langi inside. Or, perhaps, the Pats will look for help elsewhere.
There are a few free agents who might help, namely former Colts and Falcons standout Dwight Freeney, who has caused Brady and the Pats fits in the past. Jared Odrick is another free agent possibility.
It’s also possible the Pats will explore some trade options.
During a radio interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub prior to the game, Belichick indicated he would be looking into all avenues when asked if he felt any pressure to make a move.
“It’s that time of year,” he said. “We’re evaluating our roster, but other rosters as well. So yeah, that’s going on. We’ll stay on top of that.”
After the game, however, Belichick wasn’t interested in discussing his lack of depth on the edge, or lack of pass rush. He was more interested in looking at the game film and correcting mistakes, uttering one of his favorite comebacks: “We have a lot of work to do. There’s a long way to go.”
That’s Belichick-speak for relax. It might not look good now, and we’re a little thin, but it’s still August.