New England Patriots: Defensive line posed to be a top threat in 2018

With key additions to a shaky defensive line this offseason, the New England Patriots are early front-runners to boast one of the most effective defensive lines come the 2018 season.

Stopping the run was one of the New England Patriots’ biggest struggles in 2017. Injuries were a notable issue this past season, but improvements can still be made. The addition of Danny Shelton shines brightest amongst the moves.

Shelton, a defensive tackle, was acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Browns earlier in March. He was a prominent figure in the second best run-stuffing defense in the league (according to www.footballoutsiders.com).

Where did the Patriots land in those rankings? 31st (not including playoffs). They were the second-worst team in the NFL when it came to stopping the run. According to that same site, opposing running backs averaged 4.69 yards per run, the second-worst in the league.

The Patriots can only hope that Shelton can fill the much-needed Vince Wilfork-esque role that worked out so well for them during the 2000s and 2010s. Not many can compare to the prowess that Wilfork brought to the table, and Shelton brings that potential. He’s a young fellow too; at only 24, the former 2014 first-round pick can become a staple of the Patriots defense for years to come.

Thrown into the mix with Malcolm Brown, Lawrence Guy, and Adam Butler, and the Patriots are slowly building incredible depth in the defensive tackle department.

Another name that stands out is Adrian Clayborn. The Patriots signed Clayborn on March 17th, just two days after the Danny Shelton trade.

Clayborn was a guy that moved some heads this season after a monster performance during Week 10 last season. It was a game against the Dallas Cowboys, and Clayborn was able to sack Dak Prescott a record-tying six times.

Although he wasn’t able to replicate anything close to that at any other point during the season, he’s still a player to watch out for. He only started two of the 16 games that he appeared in this season. However, during that time he was able to rack up 9.5 sacks, according to www.pro-football-reference.com.

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What’s great about Clayborn is that he can proficiently play both the run and the pass. Clayborn has some experience playing in an interior role of the defensive line, which gives him leverage in his run-stuffing abilities.

There’s no guarantee that Clayborn will instantly become a starter on the team, but his addition is a fantastic depth move for the Patriots.

While New England struggled against the run, when it comes to stopping the pass, the Patriots are already fairly well-off.

Back to footballoutsiders.com. The Patriots were ranked as the tenth-best pass-rushing unit in the league in 2017. Trey Flowers and Deatrich Wise Jr. each bolstered impressive performances on the season, combining for 11.5 sacks. Wise Jr. is an intriguing case, as we should expect to see the sophomore earn even more play time than he did his rookie season.

And you can’t forget about Derek Rivers, either. If that name rings any bells, that was the defensive end that the Patriots drafted 83rd overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was an athletic freak coming out of Youngstown State. According to the school’s website, he set a school record of 41 sacks during his career there. His senior year alone he racked up 14, which is what made him a target for Belichick come draft time.

Belichick and many others had high hopes for Rivers, but unfortunately, he tore his ACL during training camp last August and was immediately out for the season.

He has the potential to be one of the most talented threats the Patriots’ defensive line has to offer, and we’ll get to see what he really can do once he’s back and healthy this season.

Additionally, with the Patriots’ hybrid defense, they often send linebackers after the quarterback. Kyle Van Noy quietly reached the top of the team’s charts with 5.5 sacks on the season, which ranked second-best in 2017. Pairing him with star linebacker Dont’a Hightower shall make for a powerhouse of a duo this coming season.

The Patriots’ depth gets even more impressive with the likes of Marquis Flowers returning, who was recently re-signed to a 1-year deal. Yet another impressive young talent that has shown capabilities of stuffing the run and getting to the quarterback.

Next: Grading Patriots Recent Free Agent Signings

Don’t be surprised if the Patriots’ defense overpowers opponents like you’ve never seen in 2018.