NFL: Breaking down the 2015 New England Patriots

Linebackers

Starters: Jamie Collins, Jerod Mayo, Dont’a Hightower

Depth: Jonathan Freeny, Dane Fletcher, Dekoda Watson, Darius Fleming, Eric Marten, Chris White, Rufus Johnson, James Morris, Matthew Wells [R], DJ Lynch [R]

If the defensive line is very good, the linebacker corps is fantastic. Jamie Collins lock down the WILL but his athleticism allows him to make plays anywhere and if the team needs to shift him around, they can.

Jerod Mayo holds down the MIKE is a veteran the defense can count on to make big plays. The problem with Mayo has been injuries and the last two seasons have seen him off the field due to health issues. They need him healthy this year, and he is the lynchpin of this front seven.

Dont’a Hightower can blitz or shore up the middle and holds down the SAM position in the Patriots’ 4-3. Of course, the Patriots shift their formations around a lot and so the fact that Hightower can blitz as well as clog up the inside is a big deal.

For depth, the Patriots picked up Johnathan Freeny who, while he was mostly a special teamer in Miami, has some upside as more than someone for kickoffs and punts. Which is a lot like Chris White, a special teamer who the Patriots are hoping can contribute more in sub-packages.

Which is what they think they have in Dane Fletcher. Fletcher was a special teams denizen for four years with the Patriots, then played very well for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a middle linebacker. In a group which has very little veteran depth (unless it’s veteran special teams depth), Fletcher could be a keep contributor off the bench.

Beyond them, it gets murkier.

Dekoda Watson has bounced around the league for a while and will have a hard time catching on in New England with the crowded field. Darius Fleming has had a hard time landing anywhere permanently as well and carries injury concerns to boot. Eric Marten likely will be stuck on the practice squad and Rufus Martin is a much better fit on the defensive line but will be crowded out there and have to try and improve on his play at linebacker over what he did in New Orleans with the Saints. James Morris has already been cut once and while he is a dedicated and smart player, his lack of athleticism, strength and speed keep him from being a contributor.

Finally there are the two rookies, Matthew Wells and DJ Lynch. Wells was productive at Mississippi State, can drop into coverage effectively and will likely cut his teeth on special teams early on. Lynch was an undrafted free agent who lost large portions of his senior year to injury. He showed tremendous leadership and had a huge impact for Bowling Green when he returned from injury, but he lacks the measurable you look for in an NFL linebacker. It’s going to be a struggle for him to make the roster.

This is an interesting position group for the Patriots. It’s very top heavy in terms of talent and while there is also a ton of upside among the younger players, the youth makes the depth a little shaky.

Next: Secondary